“There’s no point in advising them (young people), they wouldn’t listen to it anyway. They really don’t listen.” Ann Steane (70)
The older generation has been continually pushed to the sides of society by the youth and vice versa.
Today, the stereotypes that surround both sides of the generation gap have created a divide that prevents either from understanding the other.
“It’s a minority of young people who are harsh so please view us differently.” Grainne (17)
To try and close this gap we’ve taken it upon ourselves to see how both sides view the other, look at what problems there are between them and make a start in solving these and improving relations. As we go to press a charity poll of 500 young people in the UK(by 4Children and Counsel in Care) revealed that 30 per cent of 11-16 year olds rarely spend any time with older people and the same proportion of senior citizens fear young people because they associate them with antisocial behavior and crime.
Out of the 500 polled 90 per cent who do spend time with elderly relatives said they enjoyed it. (‘The Observer’ Page 15 September 21, 2008) Interviews by Headliners reporters as part of an intergenerational project with various young and old people in Derry revealed similar findings. We discovered that conflict, ignorance and many misconceptions are creating the gap between them and all too often the media are feeding this gap.
We decided to use the media to do the opposite and bridge the gap. We realised that, while very different, the older and younger generations have a lot more in common than they think. Both are stereotyped, both feel ignored and undervalued, often both feel bored and lonely. And neither are getting any younger! Older people were young once and young people will grow old.
While we found that some youth in Derry resent the older generation for trying to destroy their so called “fun” and some older members of Derry see the youth as being binge-drinkers and troublemakers many we spoke to from both sides of the divide loved spending time with and valued the other generation. From volunteering in residential homes to having close relationships with elderly grandparents many young people’s lives have been blessed by time spent with the elderly and vice versa.
The responsible mature young people we spoke to were only too grateful to express through the media they are not irresponsible, self-destructive naïve little children. They actually believe they can learn from the elder’s life experiences to help themselves become better, more productive members of society. “Definitely older people could teach young people a lesson” and “Older people could probably teach young people about morals and values because they grew up with less than us so they could teach you how to appreciate what you have.” Grainne (17)
In the same way the older generation feel that young people could learn from them and through shared experiences help the youth to stop activities which are causing their bodies’ serious harm. “Don’t think just because he or she had done something that you go and do it too” Chrissy (did not wish to reveal her age)
To reduce crime and scaremongering young and old need to get together as much as possible socially to speak out, set an example to and challenge the minority who do fuel the stereotype of’ ‘yobs’ and ‘old fogies’.
Our hope at Headliners is that this article and others will challenge the bad press surrounding young people and challenge the media as a whole to look at the good news stories coming out of generations coming together. If we were all to help out and get to know someone from either generation it would not be long until the gap was filled?
And Headliners is on a mission to do just that. Never mind ‘the gap’! Watch this space!
Here are highlights of our interviews with young and old:
Margaret Porter (65) “Not all kids are in gangs. You can’t blame everything onyoung people. I couldn’t really label them. I think the council should open more venues for children. Young people need goals. They have no goals. I think the majority of young folk today can’t see a future for themselves. We don’t need anymore buildings. We don’t need any more shops. Do something for the weans.”
Ann Steane (70) “Most young people in Derry respect me but some don’t. It’s not the same as when I was young. Young people want to be like the stars, singers and celebrities.
James Sharkey (94) “Young people are better today than in my day. I think there is a small minority that are badly behaved but I think the majority are good children. I think most people my age would view them the same. I don’t think I have ever been in conflict with any young people. My advice to them would be: “Leave drugs alone! The usual attitude is, ‘try it just to see what it is’ but that leads on.”
Eileen (82) “You watch the news and there’s nothing to lift your heart. I’ve never had any run-ins with youngsters at all. I think a lot of young people are very kind nowadays. The only advice I would give young people is ‘get your head down and work at examination time.’ I was young myself and I was light on the palm too! I was a bit of a butterfly. I don’t know anything about drugs but I imagine they are deadly. Steer clear! And here I am with hardened arteries, asthmatic and I’m smoking away at one of the worst addiction there is - cigarettes!”
Chrissy (?) “I think a pity of young people I really do. Anything I read about young people or see on the TV I think, God help them.
Dave Doherty (55) “I think the younger generation don’t realise the dangers they put themselves in through drinking drugs smoking. I myself through drink have had severe liver disease, blood clots on both lungs, pulmonary thrombosis, a stroke, three cardiac arrests and a triple heart bypass. And most of that I would put down to my lifestyle and I’m only 55. They separate themselves through style into cliques. You have the Goths, the punks. You would think that over the years they would have accepted that they are still part of each other. You can’t let a couple of peopled scare you and then blame all youngsters. Even once a week a young person going and asking is there anything I can do for you would be a great way of bridging the gap.”
Patricia Duffy (63) "They (young people) are not being taught manners respect or anything like that. I think parents are afraid of them.”
James Madden (72) “I blame the government. Parents both work and they don’t have time for their children or even time to have a meal together. They are not as a family. So they look to someone else who will stand up and tell them what to do. Young people are like plants, if you don’t look after them they won’t develop. They can change if they get someone to direct them what way to go. My advice to young people is, ‘stand back and think before you do anything.’
Matthew Daid (15) “Old people in general are far wiser like about where you should lead your life and where to go in life. Young people should help out with old people so that they change their views of young people.”
Grainne (17) “I would view the older generation as an inspiration to people but I think a lot of older people would view young people as a danger to them.”
James Arbuckle (19) "Definitely older people could teach young people a lesson. Everyone has a life story and everyone can benefit from other people’s lives and the lessons they’ve learnt. Not everyone is into drugs and alcohol. There are still good young people out there.”
Philim Daily (16) “Old people see youngsters as troublemakers in Derry. I definitely think old people are stereotyped as complainers but they are really not, some of them are very nice.”
About this article
This article was written by Headliners Foyle reporters, Paul Gillen and Kane Caesar.
