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scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 12:12 PM Nov 2014

I'm curious about the age demographics in this Group - please vote!

This poll is strictly about what age groups are present in this Group, the numbers in the poll choices are years of age. If you're under 25 or older than 66, it would be cool if you posted your actual age in the thread - but only if you want to, of course! Thanks!


40 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
under 25
0 (0%)
25 - 30
0 (0%)
31 - 35
0 (0%)
36 - 40
1 (3%)
41 - 45
4 (10%)
46 - 50
6 (15%)
51 - 55
4 (10%)
56 - 60
8 (20%)
61 - 65
4 (10%)
66 and up
13 (33%)
Show usernames
Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll
61 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I'm curious about the age demographics in this Group - please vote! (Original Post) scarletwoman Nov 2014 OP
So I guess I'm the only under-25er here. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #1
In context of DU membership, those who are politically active and post often. NYC_SKP Nov 2014 #2
I think it's true of politically active liberals in general. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #3
True but they have great pot-lucks. nm rhett o rick Nov 2014 #47
Yah. Missus Yonson is bringen Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #50
True, but go to any active campaign office-- eridani Dec 2014 #59
The large 50+ age politically active block is believable. Heavy school-work-family decades of appalachiablue Nov 2014 #4
I googled: I hate Bush. narnian60 Nov 2014 #10
Never thought of that. Good one. appalachiablue Nov 2014 #14
I got here in Spring 2001, Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #11
Wish I'd known of DU then or 2005. Better late than never though. I've heard other liberal, appalachiablue Nov 2014 #23
General annoyance? I was thinking major annoyance, but then field-grade officers always confused me. Scuba Nov 2014 #24
... scarletwoman Nov 2014 #25
There's a colonel of logic in there somewhere. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #36
I was shocked in 2000 that the Democrats capitulated to the election theft. rhett o rick Nov 2014 #49
A friend mentioned DU LiberalElite Nov 2014 #12
Good to know. appalachiablue Nov 2014 #15
I Googled "when did liberal become a dirty word?" CrispyQ Nov 2014 #48
Hah! Seeing your subject line in My Posts gave me a good laugh! scarletwoman Nov 2014 #5
There was also a functioning LiberalElite Nov 2014 #13
There were liberal Republicans back in those days because liberalism was NORMAL. scarletwoman Nov 2014 #17
I recall how the Dems LiberalElite Nov 2014 #18
That was largely thanks to the DLC. However, it started before that, with McGovern's loss to Nixon. scarletwoman Nov 2014 #21
Ah. I wasn't aware of that - tks LiberalElite Nov 2014 #22
So in 1976 we got Carter, who won out in the primaries over Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #43
I thought the beginning was with Reagan - LiberalElite Nov 2014 #45
In some ways, it began with Nixon. Starting to privatize the Post Office, for example. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #46
This message was self-deleted by its author scarletwoman Nov 2014 #19
Good analysis. I think some would-be progressives Eleanors38 Nov 2014 #42
This probably explains the attraction of "Roosevelt"? Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #6
Not really. If you compare the usernames of the votes for the Roosevelt option in the naming poll scarletwoman Nov 2014 #7
Just an observation about the PRG overall. Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #8
Every time there's been an age poll done in GD, the 45-55 age group has always been the largest. scarletwoman Nov 2014 #9
Another way to look at it...is KoKo Nov 2014 #53
I was 51 in 2001 when I joined DU, probably not too long after you joined. scarletwoman Nov 2014 #54
I know.... KoKo Nov 2014 #55
Jackpine Radical's not the only one under 25 anymore! F4lconF16 Nov 2014 #16
Thanks! There's always been a serious deficit of younger people on DU. scarletwoman Nov 2014 #20
I've been trying to get more people on here. F4lconF16 Nov 2014 #31
I'm really glad you're doing that - showing people the articles. scarletwoman Nov 2014 #32
21 here Alittleliberal Nov 2014 #26
There sure are. F4lconF16 Nov 2014 #38
Yes another 19 year old! minivan2 Nov 2014 #34
I'm shocked! F4lconF16 Nov 2014 #37
75 jzola Nov 2014 #27
You've lived through a lot of changes in our country! scarletwoman Nov 2014 #28
69 williesgirl Nov 2014 #29
You're certainly in excellent company! scarletwoman Nov 2014 #30
19 minivan2 Nov 2014 #33
Yes! So glad you're here! scarletwoman Nov 2014 #35
Somebody's gotta get up and dance. Eleanors38 Nov 2014 #41
Interesting that it skews so much older. vi5 Nov 2014 #39
I'm just a little TBF Nov 2014 #44
Another re-naming poll: Spiketail Democrats. Eleanors38 Nov 2014 #40
A bit surprising. I'm 27, and much of the resistance I've run into has been from UrbScotty Nov 2014 #51
Not surprising, imo. People tend to be resistant to change in general, scarletwoman Nov 2014 #52
Your profile says you've been a member since 2001. If you are 27 now, you joined DU at 12 o 13 and merrily Nov 2014 #56
Nope. Joined later than that. UrbScotty Nov 2014 #57
"When I did join, we were getting close to war in Iraq was well underway" nt merrily Nov 2014 #58
You were 15 when you joined DU? merrily Dec 2014 #60
36 (nt) bigwillq Dec 2014 #61

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
1. So I guess I'm the only under-25er here.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 12:44 PM
Nov 2014

Oh, crap. You're probly talking about chronological age. I just had my 56th annual 14th birthday last month.

Anyway, isn't it always the role of the old folks to impart wisdom to youth?

There's a lot to be said for remembering the post-war optimism and Roosevelt's long shadow, despite all the problems of those days. Not to mention the hippie era, when we thought we could change the world (and in some measure accomplished that). Having been through all that gives you a different sort of consciousness if you have no direct memories of the world before Reagan.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
2. In context of DU membership, those who are politically active and post often.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 01:02 PM
Nov 2014

I think we skew toward the over-50 crowd.

Sad, nonetheless, that we don't have more engagement if my suspicions are correct about the board.

Is it true of our current society?

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
3. I think it's true of politically active liberals in general.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 01:08 PM
Nov 2014

Go to any county party mtg & it looks like the rec room at the nursing home.

eridani

(51,907 posts)
59. True, but go to any active campaign office--
Mon Dec 1, 2014, 09:42 PM
Dec 2014

--and all the staffers are young enough to sleep on the floor when necessary. Younger people like spending evenings looking for Mr/Ms Right, or Mr/Ms Right Now.

appalachiablue

(42,863 posts)
4. The large 50+ age politically active block is believable. Heavy school-work-family decades of
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 01:32 PM
Nov 2014

the 20s, 30s, 40s are usually people's busiest, obviously. Also too many people are unaware of online independent left news sites & the RW, corporate consolidation of 90% of mainstream media. I wish this was not the case. Yet I've also noticed a good number of active millennials on DU which is hopeful.

Much damage has been done by 20+ years of prolific RW Radio, esp. now, & TV heard all over the US for free in stores, offices, hotels, cars, trucks. If the left doesn't develop a quality, accessible Media outlet, on TV, Radio, online & in print soon, to try to combat this I don't know how we'll ever overcome the dominant widespread lies & misinformation on the right. I think the left underestimates this phenomenon favoring the internet which many people don't even know to use for alternative news.

I'd like to know HOW & WHEN folks came to DU? (I heard of it from Thom H. several yrs. ago).

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
11. I got here in Spring 2001,
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 03:49 PM
Nov 2014

brought here from a link on the old Democrats.com, whare I had taken refuge after the insane election results.

Been here, fulfilling my role as a general annoyance ever since.

appalachiablue

(42,863 posts)
23. Wish I'd known of DU then or 2005. Better late than never though. I've heard other liberal,
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 06:41 PM
Nov 2014

progressive news sources like Thom H. say there's always a lot of 50-60+ who attend mtgs., lectures since younger people are heavy into work. A young guy called his program last week to say he was switching his college major to poly sci since tuning in. Very encouraging. There are plenty of younger liberal, progs., Occupy type youth, not attached to DU or PRG for whatever reason. Don't know, I'm fairly new here.

FDR, Truman, JFK, LBJ were always huge figures to me & I knew my parents, esp. mother respected all.
Recently I read a DU commenter who referred to schools as that kind of 'product'. Really stopped me. I don't know how you can think of a school, library, farm etc. in the language of B-school marketing, the monetary. The pre-Reagan world, the commons I well remember & value. This world of privatization, markets, Reaganomics has eaten away a lot in 35 years. Need to try to turn the neolib. economics around, the 2008 burndown should have done it. In the meantime my 'brand' is liberal as always.

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
24. General annoyance? I was thinking major annoyance, but then field-grade officers always confused me.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 07:54 PM
Nov 2014
 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
49. I was shocked in 2000 that the Democrats capitulated to the election theft.
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 12:31 PM
Nov 2014

But I had myself convinced that in 2004 it would be straightened out.

But the Democrats betrayed us again and supported, some (HRC) actually promoted the Iraq War.

When 2004 and the Democrats once again allowed the Republicans to steal another election without a whimper, I became active and found DU in 2005 determined to help the Democratic Party to throw out the complicit Conservative Democrats and get some back-bone.

Bless Air America and DU for helping me keep my sanity, so to speak.

LiberalElite

(14,691 posts)
12. A friend mentioned DU
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 05:45 PM
Nov 2014

(although now she denies it LOL) I joined some time later in Oct. 2012 as a "refugee" from HuffPost which was increasingly anti-Obama.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
5. Hah! Seeing your subject line in My Posts gave me a good laugh!
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 01:49 PM
Nov 2014

Happy belated birthday, btw. I just hit Medicare eligibility age week before last. Got the card and everything!

Yeah, imparting wisdom would be lovely, if only anyone cared. I never knew there was so much hatred for Baby Boomers out there until I saw it on DU.

Still:

There's a lot to be said for remembering the post-war optimism and Roosevelt's long shadow, despite all the problems of those days. Not to mention the hippie era, when we thought we could change the world (and in some measure accomplished that). Having been through all that gives you a different sort of consciousness if you have no direct memories of the world before Reagan.

That pretty much nails the way I see it, too. Thank you for saying it so well.

I think that hardest thing of all for younger folks to conceptualize is that when you and I were growing up, a sort of generalized cultural/political liberalism was the default state of our country pre-Reagan. Not that there wasn't always some form of conservatism fighting for space in the public consciousness, but aside from the rightwing fringe of those days (the Birchers and their ilk), it didn't actively seek to completely undo and destroy all things liberal. It was more about seeking accomodation for conservativism within the existing paradigm.

The sense of The Commons was taken as a given - being as it was a traditional value going all the way back to English Common Law. We as a nation were proud of our system of free public schools. We as a nation saw our government as the means by which our needs and the needs of our fellow citizens would be met with impartiality. Government wasn't the enemy, it wasn't "other", except to the fringe nutjobs.

I know I'm glossing over a lot - it's just that life in the U.S. felt different in those days. Workers were proud of their Unions, and we were proud of them for having Unions. We were proud of our National Parks, we proud of the WPA and CCC. We were proud of our arts, proud of our libraries, proud of our universities, proud of our scientists, proud of our family farms, proud of our small businesses, proud of our "classless" society. We felt like the U.S. was doing a damn good job of being an advanced, civilized nation. We knew how to make it all work and we were only going to get better and better.

Yeah, we had the extraordinary good fortune to have lived through a time of general optimism. I can understand how that would be hard to grok if you weren't around then.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
17. There were liberal Republicans back in those days because liberalism was NORMAL.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 06:10 PM
Nov 2014

It wasn't shameful, it hadn't been demonized, it was just a regular part of our politics. Regular people liked liberal, generally thought it was a good thing.

Democrats (although not necessarily "liberals&quot controlled Congress from 1955 to 1980.

It's SUCH different country now.

LiberalElite

(14,691 posts)
18. I recall how the Dems
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 06:11 PM
Nov 2014

ran from liberaism during the Clinton years. Just about the only one left was Ted Kennedy, R.I.P.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
21. That was largely thanks to the DLC. However, it started before that, with McGovern's loss to Nixon.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 06:33 PM
Nov 2014

The Democratic Party powers that be decided that the 1972 loss was due to McGovern being "too liberal". So they started flailing around trying to figure out how downplay the liberalism thing.

By the time Clinton ran, they had come up with their "solution": the DLC. Which promised that the Democrat party would be showered with campaign contributions from Big Business, if they would simply turn their backs on the old traditional constituancies, like labor unions and civil libertarians and environmentalists and such.

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
43. So in 1976 we got Carter, who won out in the primaries over
Mon Nov 24, 2014, 02:46 PM
Nov 2014

more liberal candidates. Then Reagan 1980 and the strangling of unions, destruction of the commons, and the unrelenting descent of the nation into corporatocracy, which is modernized and re-branded fascism.

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
46. In some ways, it began with Nixon. Starting to privatize the Post Office, for example.
Tue Nov 25, 2014, 10:51 AM
Nov 2014

Among other things, Carter deregulated the airlines. These were minor moves compared to what happened in the Reagan years, but they were something of a beginning phase in the repudiation of the New Deal.

Response to LiberalElite (Reply #13)

 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
42. Good analysis. I think some would-be progressives
Mon Nov 24, 2014, 09:32 AM
Nov 2014

have let the wine of the FDR, LBJ yrs age too long and are just now beginning to realize the cellar door is broken off, half the racks are smashed, and the bastards what done the deed are still there, whoopin' it up. So, they and we are in a state of shock, and younger folks looking at the mess don't know what it's about, but they think they'll still get their share.

We talk a lot about advantageous future demographics. Well, progressives are as subject to the mass extinction theory of politics as any white guy.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
7. Not really. If you compare the usernames of the votes for the Roosevelt option in the naming poll
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 02:39 PM
Nov 2014

with the usernames who have voted in any age group in this poll, there's only one name, so far, that appears in both places.

So unless more of the "Roosevelt" voters show up in this poll, no conclusions can be drawn at this point.

Cosmic Kitten

(3,498 posts)
8. Just an observation about the PRG overall.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 03:19 PM
Nov 2014

There is only 1 (one) respondent who is 40 or under.
I don't know about DU's demographics
but the PRG is Gen-X and Baby Boomers.
No Gen-Y or Millennials????

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
9. Every time there's been an age poll done in GD, the 45-55 age group has always been the largest.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 03:32 PM
Nov 2014

And over 55 has always been the second largest age group. Probably the largest these days, since the earliest 45-55 group has been aging into older than 55. So the results of this poll aren't surprising.

It's too bad, though. If younger folks aren't hanging around DU, are they hanging around any other political forums? Or just not into discussing politics at all? I have no idea how to bring them in - although I must say that referencing Roosevelt doesn't seem like much of a way to attract them.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
53. Another way to look at it...is
Sat Nov 29, 2014, 05:40 PM
Nov 2014

What would DU be without that 50 and Older Group? What would attract the 18 to 20 Somethings to sign up here these days?

Weren't Skinner, Earl G, Elad in their late 20's when they started DU? How old are they now? And Will Pitt in the same late 20's age Group.

Interesting to think about what happened to those in their late teens or Early 20's who were around here back then.

I joined in Spring, 2001. I think you've been here close to the beginning, too.


---------

As you said:

And over 55 has always been the second largest age group. Probably the largest these days, since the earliest 45-55 group has been aging into older than 55. So the results of this poll aren't surprising.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
54. I was 51 in 2001 when I joined DU, probably not too long after you joined.
Sat Nov 29, 2014, 06:59 PM
Nov 2014

Your registration number is 6358, mine is 6679.

I wonder if from the beginning the majority of DU members skewed older - Skinner, Elad, and Earl G aside. (I wonder how old Walt Starr was? )

I think it's the pre-Reagan generation that retains the memory of how things used to be, and has been most incensed about how things have degenerated since the years of our early adulthood. It pains me when I see younger people post diatribes against the Boomer generation, when we DUers from that generation have remained the most vocal and active and politically engaged for decades - before there even was an internet.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
55. I know....
Sat Nov 29, 2014, 07:19 PM
Nov 2014

I cringe at the "Anti-Boomer" posts, also. Like we were some "special privileged group" when they have NO IDEA what we lived through in our "young years."

The sad thing is...I liked Walt Starr.....until his flame out. I felt he was just OTT with outrage and needed to go.

"Some" thought he was a long time Troll or something...but, I felt he'd just had enough and went out the way he did...because he just didn't feel right about where he was at that place in his time. I always try to have respect for people who just have ENOUGH of what they've done...and need to leave.

But, he did an all time classic "Flame Out" on DU....didn't he? Who knows....he might STILL be here under Another Name!

DU is a funny place...sometimes like living in a Spy Novel Plot...and other times like "Save the World" .....We Can Do it. I've always been a "Save the World" sort....but, that's not always practical.



Regards,
KoKo

F4lconF16

(3,747 posts)
16. Jackpine Radical's not the only one under 25 anymore!
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 06:08 PM
Nov 2014

However, I'm surprised I'm the only one who is chronologically under 30. I'm 19, since you were interested in hearing.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
20. Thanks! There's always been a serious deficit of younger people on DU.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 06:19 PM
Nov 2014

And that's not a good thing, imo. If we're going to move forward, we NEED the voices of the young, the ones who will taking on the world after us oldsters die off.

F4lconF16

(3,747 posts)
31. I've been trying to get more people on here.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 09:22 PM
Nov 2014

I've yet to be particularly successful at getting participation, but a lot of the articles I've been showing people are at least opening their eyes.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
32. I'm really glad you're doing that - showing people the articles.
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 09:32 PM
Nov 2014

Honestly, it's probably the best thing about DU, being a depository for so much good information.

Whatever it takes to open eyes and deepen understanding, I think that's the most important thing. Hanging around General Discussion and arguing, not so much.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
28. You've lived through a lot of changes in our country!
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 08:31 PM
Nov 2014

Thank you for being here! I hope we'll hear more from you.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
35. Yes! So glad you're here!
Sun Nov 23, 2014, 09:47 PM
Nov 2014

Man, we are WAY overbalanced in the old fart contingent. I'm really happy to see some young blood!

 

vi5

(13,305 posts)
39. Interesting that it skews so much older.
Mon Nov 24, 2014, 09:03 AM
Nov 2014

I'm 44 and thinking it's odd that I'm being considered a whiny pony-wanter who just doesn't get how politics works.

But it's very nice to see that I'm not the only older person disillusioned with what has become of my political party and that many of us have been through the cyle and ringer many, many times now.

TBF

(34,179 posts)
44. I'm just a little
Mon Nov 24, 2014, 04:36 PM
Nov 2014

older than you. Grew up in the 70s with my dad belonging to a union. The under 40s - they are much less likely to have had that experience.

UrbScotty

(23,987 posts)
51. A bit surprising. I'm 27, and much of the resistance I've run into has been from
Fri Nov 28, 2014, 12:46 PM
Nov 2014

folks who are my senior.

I've been involved in political communications for many years, so since the election I've been suggesting changes to the way Democrats communicate here in Michigan. Let's just say people don't want to admit to problems.

scarletwoman

(31,893 posts)
52. Not surprising, imo. People tend to be resistant to change in general,
Fri Nov 28, 2014, 06:49 PM
Nov 2014

and older people in particular. Not all of us oldsters, of course, look at the names of all the 50+ people in the poll here - I would say that us older folks hanging out in this group ARE open to change.

Another factor may be arrogance - like, what would a youngster like you know? We've been doing this stuff since you were in diapers, we know better than you. Again, I am hopeful that we oldsters here in this group are not going to have that mindset, but it certainly exists IRL. (And I know that 27 isn't really a "youngster", but as a person gets older, people in their 20s can seem like they're still kids, relatively speaking.)

So, throw some denial into the mix - "Let's just say people don't want to admit to problems." - and you've got some heavy resistance.

I'm very glad you're here in the PRG - we are seriously short of young people, obviously! Hopefully, this can be a place for mutual learning. I very much want to get younger peoples' perspectives, and maybe as we all engage with each other, you'll hone your own skills for breaking through the resistance of your fellow Dems in Michigan.

Thanks for being here!

merrily

(45,251 posts)
56. Your profile says you've been a member since 2001. If you are 27 now, you joined DU at 12 o 13 and
Sun Nov 30, 2014, 12:24 PM
Nov 2014

lied about being at least 16?

UrbScotty

(23,987 posts)
57. Nope. Joined later than that.
Sun Nov 30, 2014, 01:48 PM
Nov 2014

I've mentioned a couple times to the admins that the date was wrong. It's one of those things that can't be fixed easily. They have better things to do anyway.

When I did join, we were getting close to war in Iraq (that's part of why I joined, BTW - I knew there had to be others who thought it was ridiculous).

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