Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or What Happened to the Boomer Generation?)

[dhdallas]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or What Happened to the Boomer Generation?)

Remember the 1956 American science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter? The black-and-white film was done in a film noir style and is really creepy but the idea underneath the material is a lot scarier than anything you see.

Alien plant spores had fallen from space and grown into large seed pods, each one capable of producing a visually identical replacement copy of a human. The new human copies moved and thought together as a group. Many viewed it as an allegory for the loss of personal autonomy.

This brings me to my point. Whatever happened to the Baby Boomer/Woodstock generation? Were they victims of alien spores? Are they now living among us as pod people? The Baby Boomers used to question everything and especially anything the government and media told them.

Do NOT tell me, “We grew up”. Of course we did; we matured, we became a little less confrontational and we learned to bend a little. Some degree of conformity is necessary to get along in society but have we thrown out our ability for independent thinking along with our bell bottoms and tie dyed shirts?

Now comes a brand new virus. Fear & rumor run amok. Instead of our leaders and the media calming the public and speaking as a voice of reason, we continue to be bombarded daily with stories of death and measures we all must adhere to lest we get sick and join the daily published death count.

Constitutional rights were the first casualty of the virus... or was it the truth? Individual freedom was quickly proven to be just an illusion as the government mandated lockdowns, forced businesses into bankruptcy, banned travel and public gatherings.

My recent article dealt with the reasons I was not getting vaccinated & that people should really investigate the pros and cons rather than to blindly trust the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Rather than delve behind the curtain to sort out the real truth, it seems everyone is fighting over who gets to drink the Kool-Aid first.

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles either online on social media, in the real world, or both. As an example, I posted the exact same article about vaccinations that appeared on this forum to “The Villages Friendly Folks” Facebook page only to have it removed by their administrators. The reason given was that I somehow violated their posting policies of no hate speech/bullying, no promotions or spam, and to respect others' privacy. Their feedback also included a quote from the WHO stating “Approved COVID-19 vaccines have been tested extensively for safety and effectiveness.”
Facebook and free speech are not compatible, I should know better.

I find there are three distinct psychological terms that apply to the general public and their behavior regarding COVID prevention and vaccination.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Compliance Theory is when you act the way you are “supposed” to act; either because you were directly asked, or pressured more indirectly

Complicity Theorist is a person who accepts the political narrative of the day unquestionably; consumes mainstream media; and is prone to submissiveness, outbursts of irrational fear, and public shaming of free-thinkers.

So either these terms apply to the masses (and not just to the Baby Boomers) or “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” has become a reality. I don’t know about you but I am checking the house for seed pods every night before bed!

David H. Dallas, RN-ASN, EMT-P, retired

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”
― Galileo Galilei

[Mortal1]

actually the baby boomers are just fine and while you group them with the hippies because of age they had nothing in common.

[Edjkoz]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or What Happened to the Boomer Generation?)

Remember the 1956 American science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter? The black-and-white film was done in a film noir style and is really creepy but the idea underneath the material is a lot scarier than anything you see.

Alien plant spores had fallen from space and grown into large seed pods, each one capable of producing a visually identical replacement copy of a human. The new human copies moved and thought together as a group. Many viewed it as an allegory for the loss of personal autonomy.

This brings me to my point. Whatever happened to the Baby Boomer/Woodstock generation? Were they victims of alien spores? Are they now living among us as pod people? The Baby Boomers used to question everything and especially anything the government and media told them.

Do NOT tell me, “We grew up”. Of course we did; we matured, we became a little less confrontational and we learned to bend a little. Some degree of conformity is necessary to get along in society but have we thrown out our ability for independent thinking along with our bell bottoms and tie dyed shirts?

Now comes a brand new virus. Fear & rumor run amok. Instead of our leaders and the media calming the public and speaking as a voice of reason, we continue to be bombarded daily with stories of death and measures we all must adhere to lest we get sick and join the daily published death count.

Constitutional rights were the first casualty of the virus... or was it the truth? Individual freedom was quickly proven to be just an illusion as the government mandated lockdowns, forced businesses into bankruptcy, banned travel and public gatherings.

My recent article dealt with the reasons I was not getting vaccinated & that people should really investigate the pros and cons rather than to blindly trust the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Rather than delve behind the curtain to sort out the real truth, it seems everyone is fighting over who gets to drink the Kool-Aid first.

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles either online on social media, in the real world, or both. As an example, I posted the exact same article about vaccinations that appeared on this forum to “The Villages Friendly Folks” Facebook page only to have it removed by their administrators. The reason given was that I somehow violated their posting policies of no hate speech/bullying, no promotions or spam, and to respect others' privacy. Their feedback also included a quote from the WHO stating “Approved COVID-19 vaccines have been tested extensively for safety and effectiveness.”
Facebook and free speech are not compatible, I should know better.

I find there are three distinct psychological terms that apply to the general public and their behavior regarding COVID prevention and vaccination.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Compliance Theory is when you act the way you are “supposed” to act; either because you were directly asked, or pressured more indirectly

Complicity Theorist is a person who accepts the political narrative of the day unquestionably; consumes mainstream media; and is prone to submissiveness, outbursts of irrational fear, and public shaming of free-thinkers.

So either these terms apply to the masses (and not just to the Baby Boomers) or “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” has become a reality. I don’t know about you but I am checking the house for seed pods every night before bed!

David H. Dallas, RN-ASN, EMT-P, retired

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”
― Galileo Galilei

You make some good points. I often wonder where the outrage is as we continue to lose our right to free speech. The cancel culture has taken hold and there the push back is minimal. Our right to free speech is being assaulted everyday and people don’t seem to mind. Our culture is moving more toward the way it is in China. People can go on with their lives on a day to day basis with no problem. Just don’t say the wrong thing.

[Bill14564]

You make some good points. I often wonder where the outrage is as we continue to lose our right to free speech. The cancel culture has taken hold and there the push back is minimal. Our right to free speech is being assaulted everyday and people don’t seem to mind. Our culture is moving more toward the way it is in China. People can go on with their lives on a day to day basis with no problem. Just don’t say the wrong thing.

But no one has taken away your right of free speech. You can say nearly anything you want without fear of being taken off the street and locked up. You can say nearly anything you want without finding yourself in court facing some penalty. You are free to say what you want.

What you aren't free from is others taking exception to what you said and and using their freedom of speech to object. You have the right to speak, you don't have the right to demand others agree with you.

That said, the cancel culture needs to stop. The lack of tolerance, the lack of even an attempt to understand one another is killing society and ruining our country. It needs to stop.

[Bjeanj]

I disagree with the OP, about everything they have posted.

[tophcfa]

Unfortunately, Father Time has snatched the best times of our bodies away from us : (

[LiverpoolWalrus]

actually the baby boomers are just fine and while you group them with the hippies because of age they had nothing in common.

Most hippies are/were baby boomers.

[Two Bills]

As a young man full of hormones during the 60's, I didn't question my government, protest, or think revolution.
I just thanked the inventor of the 'Pill' and looked on that period as a chance to get my leg over more frequently!:icon_wink:

[jswirs]

I disagree with the OP, about everything they have posted.

I AGREE with the OP, about everything he has posted. So many folks are so afraid of getting the virus, reminds me of what I learned way back in high school, a quote from Julius Caesar: "Cowards die many times before their death....it seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come".
The three best doctors in the world, "SUNSHINE, LAUGHTER AND EXERCISE".
.

[Neils]

History has no record of revolutions that are led by old people.

[mrrmauu]

But no one has taken away your right of free speech.

Corporations have. If you think we have free speech you’re not paying attention to what’s going on.

Many many people have been denied access to the following due to exercising their so-called “free speech” -

Flying
Banking
Social media platforms
Credit cards
Internet services (servers, access, etc.)
Jobs
I’m sure there are many many more

And this is just the beginning.

[La lamy]

I feel I very much still have my own rationale about everything. I read and listen to many opinions and scientific facts and make up my own mind as to how I will live my life. I have never been a sheep and can't imagine starting now.

[Two Bills]

Corporations have. If you think we have free speech you’re not paying attention to what’s going on.

Many many people have been denied access to the following due to exercising their so-called “free speech” -

Flying
Banking
Social media platforms
Credit cards
Internet services (servers, access, etc.)
Jobs
I’m sure there are many many more

And this is just the beginning.

Those that have been refused access to the services you mention, in most cases, never reached the monetary requirements to join a financial service, didn't have the best qualifications to get the job offered, or were just a PITA!
JMO.

[MandoMan]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or What Happened to the Boomer Generation?)

Remember the 1956 American science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter? The black-and-white film was done in a film noir style and is really creepy but the idea underneath the material is a lot scarier than anything you see.

Alien plant spores had fallen from space and grown into large seed pods, each one capable of producing a visually identical replacement copy of a human. The new human copies moved and thought together as a group. Many viewed it as an allegory for the loss of personal autonomy.

This brings me to my point. Whatever happened to the Baby Boomer/Woodstock generation? Were they victims of alien spores? Are they now living among us as pod people? The Baby Boomers used to question everything and especially anything the government and media told them.

Do NOT tell me, “We grew up”. Of course we did; we matured, we became a little less confrontational and we learned to bend a little. Some degree of conformity is necessary to get along in society but have we thrown out our ability for independent thinking along with our bell bottoms and tie dyed shirts?

Now comes a brand new virus. Fear & rumor run amok. Instead of our leaders and the media calming the public and speaking as a voice of reason, we continue to be bombarded daily with stories of death and measures we all must adhere to lest we get sick and join the daily published death count.

Constitutional rights were the first casualty of the virus... or was it the truth? Individual freedom was quickly proven to be just an illusion as the government mandated lockdowns, forced businesses into bankruptcy, banned travel and public gatherings.

My recent article dealt with the reasons I was not getting vaccinated & that people should really investigate the pros and cons rather than to blindly trust the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Rather than delve behind the curtain to sort out the real truth, it seems everyone is fighting over who gets to drink the Kool-Aid first.

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles either online on social media, in the real world, or both. As an example, I posted the exact same article about vaccinations that appeared on this forum to “The Villages Friendly Folks” Facebook page only to have it removed by their administrators. The reason given was that I somehow violated their posting policies of no hate speech/bullying, no promotions or spam, and to respect others' privacy. Their feedback also included a quote from the WHO stating “Approved COVID-19 vaccines have been tested extensively for safety and effectiveness.”
Facebook and free speech are not compatible, I should know better.

I find there are three distinct psychological terms that apply to the general public and their behavior regarding COVID prevention and vaccination.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Compliance Theory is when you act the way you are “supposed” to act; either because you were directly asked, or pressured more indirectly

Complicity Theorist is a person who accepts the political narrative of the day unquestionably; consumes mainstream media; and is prone to submissiveness, outbursts of irrational fear, and public shaming of free-thinkers.

So either these terms apply to the masses (and not just to the Baby Boomers) or “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” has become a reality. I don’t know about you but I am checking the house for seed pods every night before bed!

David H. Dallas, RN-ASN, EMT-P, retired

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”
― Galileo Galilei

I’m a baby boomer who still questions everything. I still wear jeans. I still believe in personal freedom and the so-called sexual revolution. (Which failed, alas.) I still remember my relief when Roe v. Wade was decided. I longed to go to Woodstock, but I was only fifteen and 1500 miles away.

But I cut off my long hair when I was 19 and got a sensible haircut that looked good on me, and I’ve kept it that way ever since. I got rid of the tie-died shirts I used to make and bought Oxford cloth buttondowns and even a suit I wore on dates. When I looked carefully at what the radicals and revolutionaries of my time were saying, I repudiated them. I questioned them and then I realized they were wrong and shunned them. I stopped calling police officers pigs. Wanting a clear head, I said no to smoking things. I studied science and medicine and learned to tell the difference between sound research and junk science. I studied mind control and propaganda and how the media work so I wouldn’t get fooled by those who want to fool me in order to have power over me. I learned how legislators work and why I need to not trust them at face value, while recognizing that they have been elected by us. I learned to recognize conspiracy theories as almost certainly false. I learned to avoid quack medicine while allowing certain alternatives. I learned that vaccinations are important and that they work. I learned a lot more about history and the Constitution than I knew in my more radical youth. I studied philosophy. I learned what the Founders meant by freedom of speech and its limits. Thus, when people claimed that their constitutional freedoms meant they didn’t have to follow a rule and wear a mask for their own good and the good of others, I realized that wasn’t a sound position. I realized that freedom of speech should not mean the freedom to spout lies and hatred in order to harm others.

In short, I’ve kept aspects of my early ideas and idealism that I got from others but gained in wisdom and insight. I grew up. I matured. I cringe when I think of some of the wild-eyed things I believed at 16. I like to think there are millions who would agree with me.

[Petersweeney]

Someday there will be pushback but only when they start coming for people who have written on this thread!!!

[nick demis]

You make some good points. I often wonder where the outrage is as we continue to lose our right to free speech. The cancel culture has taken hold and there the push back is minimal. Our right to free speech is being assaulted everyday and people don’t seem to mind. Our culture is moving more toward the way it is in China. People can go on with their lives on a day to day basis with no problem. Just don’t say the wrong thing.

18 episodes of Muppets cancelled. What next, Mr. Rogers?

[GOLFER54]

No matter what opinions one may have, another person may disagree with them which has obviously been a part of our society for so long it’s now the norm.

[nick demis]

No matter what opinions one may have, another person may disagree with them which has obviously been a part of our society for so long it’s now the norm.

Unfortunately some chose to listen to opposing opinions and some don't. It's those that don't, from both sides of the political spectrum, that are the problem.

[matandch]

Yeah! Go Florida! Live Free and Die! I ain’t gonna let nobody pee in my cornflakes! ⚰️⚱️

[pattihopeBB]

Well said Choko& Swing

[Lonnieme2]

"But no one has taken away your right of free speech. You can say nearly anything you want without fear of being taken off the street and locked up. You can say nearly anything you want without finding yourself in court facing some penalty. You are free to say what you want."

What was said above may be true for a retired person who has no threat of losing his job but for the rest of us, to speak up results in possible job loss. So, people are stifled. We count on the people who I refer to as those "with nothing to lose" to be the voice for the rest of us. Unfortunately, these are the ones who should be ending the fight and passing the torch so that they can live the rest of their days wearing rose-colored glasses.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

But no one has taken away your right of free speech. You can say nearly anything you want without fear of being taken off the street and locked up. You can say nearly anything you want without finding yourself in court facing some penalty. You are free to say what you want.

What you aren't free from is others taking exception to what you said and and using their freedom of speech to object. You have the right to speak, you don't have the right to demand others agree with you.

That said, the cancel culture needs to stop. The lack of tolerance, the lack of even an attempt to understand one another is killing society and ruining our country. It needs to stop.

You said "ssy nearly anything" two times. That doesn't look like free speech to me. Just sayin'...

[whound68]

I am a boomer born in 1947. In 1969 when I got off the plane in Oakland after surviving the last year in the Infantry in Vietnam first thing I realized was that it wasn't worth it . Too many people like the original poster.

[allsport]

Please both your body and mind have been snatched.

[Windguy]

I often wonder where the outrage is as we continue to lose our right to free speech.
I’m curious. How has the government abridged your right to free speech? What will you be locked up for if you say it?

Are you referring to being locked out of social media for violating the terms of use? The Constitution’s First Amendment doesn’t apply to businesses or individuals. For instance, I don’t like it when people say racist things and I don’t have to associate with them. That’s not abridging someone’s right to free speech. BTW, I’m not saying you are a racist—this was just an example of my right to not have to associate with people I don’t like.

[Windguy]

You said "ssy nearly anything" two times. That doesn't look like free speech to me. Just sayin'...
I think GRITS was referring to rare exemptions like yelling “fire” in a crowded theater or saying you want to kill the president. But, saying you think the president is an idiot is fair game.

[mpefloral]

Fun intro! Sadly though you are correct but the truth is even darker & uglier. People desperately cling to ignorance to keep life easy (only for the moment) but really giving allowing themselves & future generations to be slaves. READ HISTORY! Tear off the ineffective masks and refuse the experimental gene therapy masking as a vaccine. BE an AMERICAN not a sheepeople!

[Kgcetm]

We grew old but we'll never grow up!

[FredJacobs]

But no one has taken away your right of free speech. You can say nearly anything you want without fear of being taken off the street and locked up. You can say nearly anything you want without finding yourself in court facing some penalty. You are free to say what you want.

What you aren't free from is others taking exception to what you said and and using their freedom of speech to object. You have the right to speak, you don't have the right to demand others agree with you.

That said, the cancel culture needs to stop. The lack of tolerance, the lack of even an attempt to understand one another is killing society and ruining our country. It needs to stop.

The problem is when you don't agree. You face the danger of being labelled a racist, an anarchist, a domestic terrorist.

[olegirl]

For a look back at boomer mentality get Paul Bourassa’s book “Boomerang”
He captures all those thoughts and feelings us boomers had. Paul live in The Villages before Che passed away last year.

[Bill14564]

The problem is when you don't agree. You face the danger of being labelled a racist, an anarchist, a domestic terrorist.

Exactly. You face being labeled but you will not be arrested.

But to your point and, I think, the point of the OP, we are currently living in a culture where guilt by accusation is too common. You may not be a racist, anarchist, or a domestic terrorist but if you are accused of it then you face being "canceled." I don't know how to fix that other than refusing to participate in the "canceling" and speaking against it when the opportunity presents itself.

[dtennent]

Bravo to Choro&Swing! To the OP - that you can continue to post your rantings is proof positive that freedom of speech is alive and well. As far as businesses go, they have a right to establish the rules for their patrons as long as it doesn't cross racial and gender lines. If you go into a restaurant that requires a jacket and tie for men, they have a right not to seat you if you come in wearing a polo shirt. Facebook, Twitter, etc. have a right to limit what you say. Don't like that? Start your own version of social media. Just like starting a newspaper a 50 years ago.

If people don't agree with your opinions, it doesn't make them sheep or ignorant.

[Sunflower1]

Thanks for the interesting post. I wonder if you would have felt the same way if other vaccines had come out in your childhood? Actually I was blessed to be able to retire early. Under 65, as with others in The Villages, we ( under65 people) don’t qualify for the vaccine yet. Who knows when we will, maybe after everyone else and all the illegal immigrants get it. Hopefully by that time, the vaccine will be better and down to one shot. In the meantime, hopefully many of you will already be vaccinated, resulting in everyone having a safer place to live.

[Two Bills]

18 episodes of Muppets cancelled. What next, Mr. Rogers?

Article about Muppet Show.

The Muppet Show: Disney adds content warning over '''negative stereotypes''' - BBC News (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-56153016)

[GPGuar]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or What Happened to the Boomer Generation?)

Remember the 1956 American science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter? The black-and-white film was done in a film noir style and is really creepy but the idea underneath the material is a lot scarier than anything you see.

Alien plant spores had fallen from space and grown into large seed pods, each one capable of producing a visually identical replacement copy of a human. The new human copies moved and thought together as a group. Many viewed it as an allegory for the loss of personal autonomy.

This brings me to my point. Whatever happened to the Baby Boomer/Woodstock generation? Were they victims of alien spores? Are they now living among us as pod people? The Baby Boomers used to question everything and especially anything the government and media told them.

Do NOT tell me, “We grew up”. Of course we did; we matured, we became a little less confrontational and we learned to bend a little. Some degree of conformity is necessary to get along in society but have we thrown out our ability for independent thinking along with our bell bottoms and tie dyed shirts?

Now comes a brand new virus. Fear & rumor run amok. Instead of our leaders and the media calming the public and speaking as a voice of reason, we continue to be bombarded daily with stories of death and measures we all must adhere to lest we get sick and join the daily published death count.

Constitutional rights were the first casualty of the virus... or was it the truth? Individual freedom was quickly proven to be just an illusion as the government mandated lockdowns, forced businesses into bankruptcy, banned travel and public gatherings.

My recent article dealt with the reasons I was not getting vaccinated & that people should really investigate the pros and cons rather than to blindly trust the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Rather than delve behind the curtain to sort out the real truth, it seems everyone is fighting over who gets to drink the Kool-Aid first.

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles either online on social media, in the real world, or both. As an example, I posted the exact same article about vaccinations that appeared on this forum to “The Villages Friendly Folks” Facebook page only to have it removed by their administrators. The reason given was that I somehow violated their posting policies of no hate speech/bullying, no promotions or spam, and to respect others' privacy. Their feedback also included a quote from the WHO stating “Approved COVID-19 vaccines have been tested extensively for safety and effectiveness.”
Facebook and free speech are not compatible, I should know better.

I find there are three distinct psychological terms that apply to the general public and their behavior regarding COVID prevention and vaccination.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Compliance Theory is when you act the way you are “supposed” to act; either because you were directly asked, or pressured more indirectly

Complicity Theorist is a person who accepts the political narrative of the day unquestionably; consumes mainstream media; and is prone to submissiveness, outbursts of irrational fear, and public shaming of free-thinkers.

So either these terms apply to the masses (and not just to the Baby Boomers) or “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” has become a reality. I don’t know about you but I am checking the house for seed pods every night before bed!

David H. Dallas, RN-ASN, EMT-P, retired

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”
― Galileo Galilei
Funny that you have posted this, but I have often joked to friends and family many times that there must be something in the water that's making people nuts..... maybe it is pods.:1rotfl:

[Scorpyo]

No matter what opinions one may have, another person may disagree with them which has obviously been a part of our society for so long it’s now the norm.

I believe your timing is a little short. “part of our society”. I believe it’s more realistically part of our species.

[PugMom]

Most hippies are/were baby boomers.

& we are here living the current dream

[Tnbrewer]

Yes and no!
We have to have and open mind to some of the wild things said or outrages information.
Many times they are true but don’t fit into how we were programmed in our youth.
Key people in power Do Lie sometimes. Science is not correct all the time or just plain corruption of the real facts.
Smoking is ok said by doctors and proven by scientists paid for by the tobacco companies.
We are not expanding the war into Cambodia.
I was told as my follow military brothers laughing out on the flight line with our b-52s.
Marriage is forever. Tell that to my ex.
I cold go on and on but sorry to say .
Life is full of lies and manipulative people who want something from you.

The best crime is the one u can get the masses to believe never happened or was not a crime at all.
The OP was right on.
No we did not all go to Woodstock or have long hair but we all witnessed the results of outrage and lies.
Censorship is dangerous! It stops the truth for coming out.
For good or bad I support the Constitution of the USA and will continue to question the so called experts.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or What Happened to the Boomer Generation?)

Remember the 1956 American science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter? The black-and-white film was done in a film noir style and is really creepy but the idea underneath the material is a lot scarier than anything you see.

Alien plant spores had fallen from space and grown into large seed pods, each one capable of producing a visually identical replacement copy of a human. The new human copies moved and thought together as a group. Many viewed it as an allegory for the loss of personal autonomy.

This brings me to my point. Whatever happened to the Baby Boomer/Woodstock generation? Were they victims of alien spores? Are they now living among us as pod people? The Baby Boomers used to question everything and especially anything the government and media told them.

Do NOT tell me, “We grew up”. Of course we did; we matured, we became a little less confrontational and we learned to bend a little. Some degree of conformity is necessary to get along in society but have we thrown out our ability for independent thinking along with our bell bottoms and tie dyed shirts?

Now comes a brand new virus. Fear & rumor run amok. Instead of our leaders and the media calming the public and speaking as a voice of reason, we continue to be bombarded daily with stories of death and measures we all must adhere to lest we get sick and join the daily published death count.

Constitutional rights were the first casualty of the virus... or was it the truth? Individual freedom was quickly proven to be just an illusion as the government mandated lockdowns, forced businesses into bankruptcy, banned travel and public gatherings.

My recent article dealt with the reasons I was not getting vaccinated & that people should really investigate the pros and cons rather than to blindly trust the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Rather than delve behind the curtain to sort out the real truth, it seems everyone is fighting over who gets to drink the Kool-Aid first.

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles either online on social media, in the real world, or both. As an example, I posted the exact same article about vaccinations that appeared on this forum to “The Villages Friendly Folks” Facebook page only to have it removed by their administrators. The reason given was that I somehow violated their posting policies of no hate speech/bullying, no promotions or spam, and to respect others' privacy. Their feedback also included a quote from the WHO stating “Approved COVID-19 vaccines have been tested extensively for safety and effectiveness.”
Facebook and free speech are not compatible, I should know better.

I find there are three distinct psychological terms that apply to the general public and their behavior regarding COVID prevention and vaccination.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Compliance Theory is when you act the way you are “supposed” to act; either because you were directly asked, or pressured more indirectly

Complicity Theorist is a person who accepts the political narrative of the day unquestionably; consumes mainstream media; and is prone to submissiveness, outbursts of irrational fear, and public shaming of free-thinkers.

So either these terms apply to the masses (and not just to the Baby Boomers) or “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” has become a reality. I don’t know about you but I am checking the house for seed pods every night before bed!

David H. Dallas, RN-ASN, EMT-P, retired

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”
― Galileo Galilei

We've learned that being paranoid does not equate with being rational.

[PugMom]

Thanks for the interesting post. I wonder if you would have felt the same way if other vaccines had come out in your childhood? Actually I was blessed to be able to retire early. Under 65, as with others in The Villages, we ( under65 people) don’t qualify for the vaccine yet. Who knows when we will, maybe after everyone else and all the illegal immigrants get it. Hopefully by that time, the vaccine will be better and down to one shot. In the meantime, hopefully many of you will already be vaccinated, resulting in everyone having a safer place to live.

i think the problem lies with the government requiring certain forms of behavior. years ago we had every flu known to man, & we relied on our doctors to advise us. with the hong kong flu, bird flu, asian flu, life continued. yes, there were certain restrictions, but i never once remembering the entire US Gov. involved. then there comes the trust factor: when someone has been lied to non-stop for decades, it DOES affect the way we look @ them. some of us have lived long enough to recognize the bs when it hits, & because of that we will not stand in line to accept whatever is said. remember: Question Authority & judge the replies yourself. Excellent thread

[Mountains48]

Thank you, David! Couldn’t have said it better!

[merrymini]

We are certainly being censored by the media. They promote a biased view and companies are following their lead. How about facebook and Australia? I always wondered how crazy maniacs got to lead countries. They count on a weak and frightened populace, unwilling to question or push back. Vaccine passports? All control! This virus is not as dangerous as fauci (mr change your mind more frequently than I change my socks) would lead you to believe. He gets his paycheck though, no matter what he says or does.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I’m a baby boomer who still questions everything. I still wear jeans. I still believe in personal freedom and the so-called sexual revolution. (Which failed, alas.) I still remember my relief when Roe v. Wade was decided. I longed to go to Woodstock, but I was only fifteen and 1500 miles away.

But I cut off my long hair when I was 19 and got a sensible haircut that looked good on me, and I’ve kept it that way ever since. I got rid of the tie-died shirts I used to make and bought Oxford cloth buttondowns and even a suit I wore on dates. When I looked carefully at what the radicals and revolutionaries of my time were saying, I repudiated them. I questioned them and then I realized they were wrong and shunned them. I stopped calling police officers pigs. Wanting a clear head, I said no to smoking things. I studied science and medicine and learned to tell the difference between sound research and junk science. I studied mind control and propaganda and how the media work so I wouldn’t get fooled by those who want to fool me in order to have power over me. I learned how legislators work and why I need to not trust them at face value, while recognizing that they have been elected by us. I learned to recognize conspiracy theories as almost certainly false. I learned to avoid quack medicine while allowing certain alternatives. I learned that vaccinations are important and that they work. I learned a lot more about history and the Constitution than I knew in my more radical youth. I studied philosophy. I learned what the Founders meant by freedom of speech and its limits. Thus, when people claimed that their constitutional freedoms meant they didn’t have to follow a rule and wear a mask for their own good and the good of others, I realized that wasn’t a sound position. I realized that freedom of speech should not mean the freedom to spout lies and hatred in order to harm others.

In short, I’ve kept aspects of my early ideas and idealism that I got from others but gained in wisdom and insight. I grew up. I matured. I cringe when I think of some of the wild-eyed things I believed at 16. I like to think there are millions who would agree with me.

I'm an end-boomer, born in 1961. I totally missed the Hippies, though my babysitter was one, when I was 6. I grew up with tye die shirts, embroidered bellbottom bluejeans, wedge sandals, and cross-shoulder fringed pocketbooks. We didn't discuss politics in the house, so I grew up ignorant of politics. I didn't even know what party my parents claimed for themselves until a couple of years ago.

Our neighborhood was predominately white (we had, I believe, one black family), middle-class, suburban with sidewalks and unlocked back doors. We had summer sleepover camp. Life was fairly idyllic. When the race riot happened at our high school while I was still a Junior High student, I didn't understand it at all. I had zero understanding of why people WOULD have a race riot. I mean - they're just dark-skinned, what difference could that possibly make in the scheme of things?

We had a gay elementary school teacher. We laughed *about* him because he was a raging full-on effeminate rainbow-suspender-wearing "queen" but we never laughed AT him, because he was an amazing teacher and everyone absolutely adored him.

I grew up in, what was at the time, conservative-leaning moderate white american suburbia.

Presently, that is now known as "leftist." It's known as that, because what used to be right-leaning conservative, is now alt-right. And they have moved the entire spectrum. If anyone claiming I'm a "leftist" were to see an ACTUAL leftist, they'd realize how ridiculous their label is on me.

The "cancel culture" is nothing new. People like me have been victimized by it most of our lives. The only reason it's a meme, a trope - is because it's affecting "you" (the OP, not the person I'm responding to) now. It's "your" turn now. Doesn't feel very good, does it?

How about stop spewing hate and division and "us vs. them" all the time, making "my side" feel like we're somehow to blame for "your side's'" failures, and stop making "my side" feel like it's somehow inferior.

Then maybe you'll discover no one is trying to cancel you. They just want you to behave like a civilized adult. If you aren't capable of doing that, then you're going to get a time-out.

[LG999]

I agree w Choro&Swing but from a female orientation. Many Boomers lived a life of “sex, drugs, rock & roll”, we wore beautiful cloths, flowers, went to Woodstock — but we grew up and got jobs, got married, accepted responsibilities, love our parents & families, etc.
We do still question what other say, what we read, what we see. We are still watching & aware.

[Carla B]

I’m a baby boomer who still questions everything. I still wear jeans. I still believe in personal freedom and the so-called sexual revolution. (Which failed, alas.) I still remember my relief when Roe v. Wade was decided. I longed to go to Woodstock, but I was only fifteen and 1500 miles away.

But I cut off my long hair when I was 19 and got a sensible haircut that looked good on me, and I’ve kept it that way ever since. I got rid of the tie-died shirts I used to make and bought Oxford cloth buttondowns and even a suit I wore on dates. When I looked carefully at what the radicals and revolutionaries of my time were saying, I repudiated them. I questioned them and then I realized they were wrong and shunned them. I stopped calling police officers pigs. Wanting a clear head, I said no to smoking things. I studied science and medicine and learned to tell the difference between sound research and junk science. I studied mind control and propaganda and how the media work so I wouldn’t get fooled by those who want to fool me in order to have power over me. I learned how legislators work and why I need to not trust them at face value, while recognizing that they have been elected by us. I learned to recognize conspiracy theories as almost certainly false. I learned to avoid quack medicine while allowing certain alternatives. I learned that vaccinations are important and that they work. I learned a lot more about history and the Constitution than I knew in my more radical youth. I studied philosophy. I learned what the Founders meant by freedom of speech and its limits. Thus, when people claimed that their constitutional freedoms meant they didn’t have to follow a rule and wear a mask for their own good and the good of others, I realized that wasn’t a sound position. I realized that freedom of speech should not mean the freedom to spout lies and hatred in order to harm others.

In short, I’ve kept aspects of my early ideas and idealism that I got from others but gained in wisdom and insight. I grew up. I matured. I cringe when I think of some of the wild-eyed things I believed at 16. I like to think there are millions who would agree with me.

Wonderfully said. I am a member of the generation that just preceded the Baby Boomers. We were spared from questioning and experimenting, doubting, and challenging. We didn't have to arrive at sound conclusions. We were already living them.

[graciegirl]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or What Happened to the Boomer Generation?)

Remember the 1956 American science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter? The black-and-white film was done in a film noir style and is really creepy but the idea underneath the material is a lot scarier than anything you see.

Alien plant spores had fallen from space and grown into large seed pods, each one capable of producing a visually identical replacement copy of a human. The new human copies moved and thought together as a group. Many viewed it as an allegory for the loss of personal autonomy.

This brings me to my point. Whatever happened to the Baby Boomer/Woodstock generation? Were they victims of alien spores? Are they now living among us as pod people? The Baby Boomers used to question everything and especially anything the government and media told them.

Do NOT tell me, “We grew up”. Of course we did; we matured, we became a little less confrontational and we learned to bend a little. Some degree of conformity is necessary to get along in society but have we thrown out our ability for independent thinking along with our bell bottoms and tie dyed shirts?

Now comes a brand new virus. Fear & rumor run amok. Instead of our leaders and the media calming the public and speaking as a voice of reason, we continue to be bombarded daily with stories of death and measures we all must adhere to lest we get sick and join the daily published death count.

Constitutional rights were the first casualty of the virus... or was it the truth? Individual freedom was quickly proven to be just an illusion as the government mandated lockdowns, forced businesses into bankruptcy, banned travel and public gatherings.

My recent article dealt with the reasons I was not getting vaccinated & that people should really investigate the pros and cons rather than to blindly trust the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Rather than delve behind the curtain to sort out the real truth, it seems everyone is fighting over who gets to drink the Kool-Aid first.

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles either online on social media, in the real world, or both. As an example, I posted the exact same article about vaccinations that appeared on this forum to “The Villages Friendly Folks” Facebook page only to have it removed by their administrators. The reason given was that I somehow violated their posting policies of no hate speech/bullying, no promotions or spam, and to respect others' privacy. Their feedback also included a quote from the WHO stating “Approved COVID-19 vaccines have been tested extensively for safety and effectiveness.”
Facebook and free speech are not compatible, I should know better.

I find there are three distinct psychological terms that apply to the general public and their behavior regarding COVID prevention and vaccination.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Compliance Theory is when you act the way you are “supposed” to act; either because you were directly asked, or pressured more indirectly

Complicity Theorist is a person who accepts the political narrative of the day unquestionably; consumes mainstream media; and is prone to submissiveness, outbursts of irrational fear, and public shaming of free-thinkers.

So either these terms apply to the masses (and not just to the Baby Boomers) or “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” has become a reality. I don’t know about you but I am checking the house for seed pods every night before bed!

David H. Dallas, RN-ASN, EMT-P, retired

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”
― Galileo Galilei

The administrators on a Facebook page or group has nothing to do with Facebook itself. Each group has their own rules. I was thrown off of a Facebook group by the wife of one of the county commissioners when I said something about sometimes Euthanasia for dogs is a kindness.


There are other points on your post that I think you have incorrectly stated or generalized incorrectly as well.

[LoriL]

I remember this movie vividly! I was terrified to go to bed for weeks without my parents checking under my bed for pods!! With that said, I very much agree with your post. Boomers, who were not all hippies, would always question what was happening and/or being said. I think part of it is, Villagers are living the lifestyle and enjoying it! Who wouldn't? It's wonderful here. Who wants to rock the boat with questions. At least, that's my perception. Thanks for a good post!

[LoriL]

That's funny!

[LiverpoolWalrus]

"Most hippies are/were baby boomers."& we are here living the current dream

"A dream we dream alone is just a dream but a dream we dream together is reality." -Yoko Ono

Even though a lot of us here are more like Ozzie and Harriet, it's good to know many in the Villages are still flying the freak flag.

"Fall mountains, just don't fall on me
Go on mister businessman,
You can't dress like me.
I've got my own life to live
I'm the one that's gotta die
When it's time for me to die
So let me live my life the way I want to
I'm gonna wave my freak flag high"

Jimi Hendrix, 1967

[macawlaw]

Here is the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

This is a guarantee that the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT will not restrict your speech. Certain exemptions do apply, such as yelling "fire," but there are not many.

So, when people voice an opinion and others disagree, this has NOTHING to do with First Amendment rights. (If you want my credentials, I am an attorney, my parents owned a newspaper - I grew up surrounded by this issue, and I taught a First Amendment class at a university.)

The problem now, though, is that everyone wants to say what they want without consequences. People are intent on engaging in bad behavior and call it "cancel culture" when they incur a consequence.

[jimjamuser]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or What Happened to the Boomer Generation?)

Remember the 1956 American science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter? The black-and-white film was done in a film noir style and is really creepy but the idea underneath the material is a lot scarier than anything you see.

Alien plant spores had fallen from space and grown into large seed pods, each one capable of producing a visually identical replacement copy of a human. The new human copies moved and thought together as a group. Many viewed it as an allegory for the loss of personal autonomy.

This brings me to my point. Whatever happened to the Baby Boomer/Woodstock generation? Were they victims of alien spores? Are they now living among us as pod people? The Baby Boomers used to question everything and especially anything the government and media told them.

Do NOT tell me, “We grew up”. Of course we did; we matured, we became a little less confrontational and we learned to bend a little. Some degree of conformity is necessary to get along in society but have we thrown out our ability for independent thinking along with our bell bottoms and tie dyed shirts?

Now comes a brand new virus. Fear & rumor run amok. Instead of our leaders and the media calming the public and speaking as a voice of reason, we continue to be bombarded daily with stories of death and measures we all must adhere to lest we get sick and join the daily published death count.

Constitutional rights were the first casualty of the virus... or was it the truth? Individual freedom was quickly proven to be just an illusion as the government mandated lockdowns, forced businesses into bankruptcy, banned travel and public gatherings.

My recent article dealt with the reasons I was not getting vaccinated & that people should really investigate the pros and cons rather than to blindly trust the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Rather than delve behind the curtain to sort out the real truth, it seems everyone is fighting over who gets to drink the Kool-Aid first.

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles either online on social media, in the real world, or both. As an example, I posted the exact same article about vaccinations that appeared on this forum to “The Villages Friendly Folks” Facebook page only to have it removed by their administrators. The reason given was that I somehow violated their posting policies of no hate speech/bullying, no promotions or spam, and to respect others' privacy. Their feedback also included a quote from the WHO stating “Approved COVID-19 vaccines have been tested extensively for safety and effectiveness.”
Facebook and free speech are not compatible, I should know better.

I find there are three distinct psychological terms that apply to the general public and their behavior regarding COVID prevention and vaccination.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Compliance Theory is when you act the way you are “supposed” to act; either because you were directly asked, or pressured more indirectly

Complicity Theorist is a person who accepts the political narrative of the day unquestionably; consumes mainstream media; and is prone to submissiveness, outbursts of irrational fear, and public shaming of free-thinkers.

So either these terms apply to the masses (and not just to the Baby Boomers) or “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” has become a reality. I don’t know about you but I am checking the house for seed pods every night before bed!

David H. Dallas, RN-ASN, EMT-P, retired

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”
― Galileo Galilei
This is a well-written, impressive, and thought-provoking. thread started. Kudos and thank you. I happen to disagree with most of the ideas stated after the "and then came the Virus" part. But, I am sure that it will prompt a lively discussion. It beats many, many of the irrelevant, "light-weight" threads of today and many in the past. I may possibly comment about why I disagree, but I will read the other comments 1st. Again, thank you!

[jimjamuser]

actually the baby boomers are just fine and while you group them with the hippies because of age they had nothing in common.
Well, that's may be true for you, but I was part of BOTH groups.

[jimjamuser]

You make some good points. I often wonder where the outrage is as we continue to lose our right to free speech. The cancel culture has taken hold and there the push back is minimal. Our right to free speech is being assaulted everyday and people don’t seem to mind. Our culture is moving more toward the way it is in China. People can go on with their lives on a day to day basis with no problem. Just don’t say the wrong thing.
We have PLENTY of free speech - maybe too much when you consider the trash on the "dark web"? Our problem is polarization of social ideas. We are divided into 2 thought camps and even within families. To love or show respect for someone with differing views, sometimes you must "bite your tongue" and stay silent. Facebook has programming designed to keep you on THEIR platform (for advertisement purposes) and the programming guides you toward other like-thinking individuals. This is HOW FB decreases everyone's free speech. Ironically, if there were MORE GOVERNMENT controls on FB and other platforms, we would have more free speech by avoiding polarization and having more thought diversity. I know that SOME anti-government-types will disagree with that statement. In simple form do you like government rules for seat belt laws or do you consider that "government-overreach? The recent Texas disaster and DEATHS were PERFECT EXAMPLES of why we all NEED government (even MORE government in Texas). And since the government and medical Science vigorously tested our Vaccines and the risk of the CV Plague is great. I will go along with a government (that I trust) and I will take mine. Even when knowing that there is perhaps (?) a 1/100 th of a % possibility that it might(?) be a mistake. I will take those odds!

[jimjamuser]

I AGREE with the OP, about everything he has posted. So many folks are so afraid of getting the virus, reminds me of what I learned way back in high school, a quote from Julius Caesar: "Cowards die many times before their death....it seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come".
The three best doctors in the world, "SUNSHINE, LAUGHTER AND EXERCISE".
.
Stupid people often flirt with death and then die a stupid unnecessary death, like about 150,000 of the current CV deaths. But, I will concede that the Julius Ceasar quote made sense! But, NOT the interpretation.

[jimjamuser]

History has no record of revolutions that are led by old people.
Nelson Mandela!

[LiverpoolWalrus]

Well, that's may be true for you, but I was part of BOTH groups.

That was my point. One’s a subset of the other. The post is like saying the Villages and Florida are separate and have nothing in common.

[dadoiron]

Yeah! Go Florida! Live Free and Die! I ain’t gonna let nobody pee in my cornflakes! ⚰️⚱️

Do you mean "live free or die" which is the New Hampshire motto?

Don't know why Florida's motto is in God we trust.

But definitely God helps those that help themselves so away we go helping ourselves.

[jimjamuser]

Corporations have. If you think we have free speech you’re not paying attention to what’s going on.

Many many people have been denied access to the following due to exercising their so-called “free speech” -

Flying
Banking
Social media platforms
Credit cards
Internet services (servers, access, etc.)
Jobs
I’m sure there are many many more

And this is just the beginning.
Sort of great, "crazy talk".

[jimjamuser]

Someday there will be pushback but only when they start coming for people who have written on this thread!!!
Not detailed enough to be meaningful. And super strange.

[jimjamuser]

You said "ssy nearly anything" two times. That doesn't look like free speech to me. Just sayin'...
I imagine that what was meant was the "can't yell fire in a movie and call it free speech" concept. There are MINOR exceptions to everything.

[bobdeb]

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

President John F Kennedy at his inaugural speech.

[Astron]

Corporations have. If you think we have free speech you’re not paying attention to what’s going on.

Many many people have been denied access to the following due to exercising their so-called “free speech” -

Flying
Banking
Social media platforms
Credit cards
Internet services (servers, access, etc.)
Jobs
I’m sure there are many many more

And this is just the beginning.
Free speech is a guarantee that Government cannot limit your freedom to communicate except under very limited circumstances, not yelling fire in a crowd, not disclosing National defense plans, slander, libel and so on.
There never has been a guarantee that companies, non-governmental groups or other people have to let you have your say. Facebook, as an example, is a private company that you contract with to use. You follow their rules or you break your contract with them and get booted. An other example, if you say something to me on my property, residential or commercial, that I object to, I can force you to leave, even by having you arrested for trespassing if you refuse. Airlines, Banking, Social media platforms, Credit cards companies, and Internet service providers have no requirements to tolerate anything you say and never have. Employers have always had the power to limit what you say or to fire you if they feel your comments are unacceptable to them.
I suggest many people would benefit from carefully re-reading the Bill of Rights. From comments I read, I think people do not truly understand the difference between guaranteed rights and private acceptance of your action.

[MaxCat]

I feel like you are trying to stir up trouble. Disagree with much of what you say, but only a few comments in return to post here.
I understand that my rights only go so far as they don't trample the rights of others -- thankfully there are others that do too.
I am completely capable of research and critical thinking and understand that vaccines are better than ever and extremely effective -- thankfully there are others that are/do too.
Yes, I've grown up and matured and understand that multiple and varied views on a variety of topics exist in the world and -- gasp -- even in younger generations than my own, may differ from my own, and am choosing to co-exist peacefully and respectfully - thankfully there are others share that view too.
I'm dismayed at how posts like these serve more to unnecessarily whip people into an unproductive frenzy than solve real issues -- and hope others see that too.

[jimjamuser]

I'm an end-boomer, born in 1961. I totally missed the Hippies, though my babysitter was one, when I was 6. I grew up with tye die shirts, embroidered bellbottom bluejeans, wedge sandals, and cross-shoulder fringed pocketbooks. We didn't discuss politics in the house, so I grew up ignorant of politics. I didn't even know what party my parents claimed for themselves until a couple of years ago.

Our neighborhood was predominately white (we had, I believe, one black family), middle-class, suburban with sidewalks and unlocked back doors. We had summer sleepover camp. Life was fairly idyllic. When the race riot happened at our high school while I was still a Junior High student, I didn't understand it at all. I had zero understanding of why people WOULD have a race riot. I mean - they're just dark-skinned, what difference could that possibly make in the scheme of things?

We had a gay elementary school teacher. We laughed *about* him because he was a raging full-on effeminate rainbow-suspender-wearing "queen" but we never laughed AT him, because he was an amazing teacher and everyone absolutely adored him.

I grew up in, what was at the time, conservative-leaning moderate white american suburbia.

Presently, that is now known as "leftist." It's known as that, because what used to be right-leaning conservative, is now alt-right. And they have moved the entire spectrum. If anyone claiming I'm a "leftist" were to see an ACTUAL leftist, they'd realize how ridiculous their label is on me.

The "cancel culture" is nothing new. People like me have been victimized by it most of our lives. The only reason it's a meme, a trope - is because it's affecting "you" (the OP, not the person I'm responding to) now. It's "your" turn now. Doesn't feel very good, does it?

How about stop spewing hate and division and "us vs. them" all the time, making "my side" feel like we're somehow to blame for "your side's'" failures, and stop making "my side" feel like it's somehow inferior.

Then maybe you'll discover no one is trying to cancel you. They just want you to behave like a civilized adult. If you aren't capable of doing that, then you're going to get a time-out.
That seems like a pretty ideal childhood. Your parents probably felt that their job was to "protect" you. You seem to have ended up understanding the world pretty well. And on another subject, it would be nice if we could put 1/2 of the people in "time out" and re-educate them. We have a TV channel, FB, and other media that are making BIG $$$$$ by dividing US people. That did NOT exist in the 50s and early 60s when we were ALL Americans with just minor divergent views on Unions, cultural issues, and baseball. Then Vietnam and the JFK assassination exploded that bubble. And pent-up racism boiled to the surface. At least the major TV and radio media were NOT actively trying to stir up division and trouble until years later. It seems that internally we caused our own animosity and problems.

[jimjamuser]

The administrators on a Facebook page or group has nothing to do with Facebook itself. Each group has their own rules. I was thrown off of a Facebook group by the wife of one of the county commissioners when I said something about sometimes Euthanasia for dogs is a kindness.


There are other points on your post that I think you have incorrectly stated or generalized incorrectly as well.
Agreed. Sometimes euthanasia for pets is a kindness.

[sail33or]

I know what the OP is trying to say. Here are my comments:

1. Baby Boomers have/had it easy except for the Vietnam guys. They will watch everything go bye. Baby Boomers are trained to watch things.

2. The "Greatest Generation" (my dad) knew you had to fight (yes, there is that word) for Freedom. They DIED for it. They would not tolerate anything that is going on now. They would handle it in person.

3. The generations after Baby Boobers are social media zombies that react emotionally based on what they are told over and over.

4. Sure, people that have no power can say anything. Because they affect nothing. Some people, like President in Exile have been silenced. I have friends in Corporate Management that they censor all employees through email police that look for key words. That is NOT free speech because they will be fired by saying the wrong things.

5. Last but not least. I have been "SHOCKED" at Major Religions reaction/fear of the Covid. I mean early Christians faced hungry Lions if they gathered. The Church leadership basically said we can't follow the Lord's COMMAND because of flu. Priorities are somehow not right here.

[manaboutown]

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

President John F Kennedy at his inaugural speech.

Jack stole that line from the headmaster at Choate, the private school he attended. Originally it was "Ask not what your school can do for you; ask what you can do for your school." JFK stole his 'ask not what your country can do' speech from his old headmaster | Daily Mail Online (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2056020/JFK-stole-ask-country-speech-old-headmaster.html)

[jimjamuser]

Fun intro! Sadly though you are correct but the truth is even darker & uglier. People desperately cling to ignorance to keep life easy (only for the moment) but really giving allowing themselves & future generations to be slaves. READ HISTORY! Tear off the ineffective masks and refuse the experimental gene therapy masking as a vaccine. BE an AMERICAN not a sheepeople!
This is an aesthetic beauty - like poetry - it breathes pure scintillation into our minds.

[Carla B]

I know what the OP is trying to say. Here are my comments:

1. Baby Boomers have/had it easy except for the Vietnam guys. They will watch everything go bye. Baby Boomers are trained to watch things.

2. The "Greatest Generation" (my dad) knew you had to fight (yes, there is that word) for Freedom. They DIED for it. They would not tolerate anything that is going on now. They would handle it in person.

3. The generations prior to Baby Boobers are social media zombies that react emotionally based on what they are told over and over.

4. Sure, people that have no power can say anything. Because they affect nothing. Some people, like President in Exile have been silenced. I have friends in Corporate Management that they censor all employees through email police that look for key words. That is NOT free speech because they will be fired by saying the wrong things.

5. Last but not least. I have been "SHOCKED" at Major Religions reaction/fear of the Covid. I mean early Christians faced hungry Lions if they gathered. The Church leadership basically said we can't follow the Lord's COMMAND because of flu. Priorities are somehow not right here.

Regarding Point No. 3: Did you mean to say "Generations after Baby Boomers are Social Media Zombies...." because there was no social media prior to Baby Boomers except the telephone and U.S. mail.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Jack stole that line from the headmaster at Choate, the private school he attended. Originally it was "Ask not what your school can do for you; ask what you can do for your school." JFK stole his 'ask not what your country can do' speech from his old headmaster | Daily Mail Online (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2056020/JFK-stole-ask-country-speech-old-headmaster.html)

I don't know if he got it from his headmaster or not, but one of them got it from Khalil Gibran, who lived from 1883 to 1931.

Here's the exact quote:
Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite; if the second, then you are an oasis in the desert.

[manaboutown]

I don't know if he got it from his headmaster or not, but one of them got it from Khalil Gibran, who lived from 1883 to 1931.

Here's the exact quote:

Jack's classmates confirm he got it from his headmaster who used it profusely.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Jack's classmates confirm he got it from his headmaster who used it profusely.

Then his headmaster stole it from Khalil Gibran :)

[manaboutown]

Then his headmaster stole it from Khalil Gibran :)

Whatever. The headmaster was very fond of reiterating that statement. In his famous speech Jack merely changed "school" to "country".

[Joanne19335]

Most hippies are/were baby boomers.

I enjoyed a wonderful weekend at Woodstock. Was never a hippie in the true sense of the word but we are still alive and golfing! ⛳️⛳️

[jswirs]

[QUOTE=jimjamuser;1906299]Stupid people often flirt with death and then die a stupid unnecessary death, like about 150,000 of the current CV deaths. But, I will concede that the Julius Ceasar quote made sense! But NOT the interpretation.

What you fail to realize is that, in this life, you attract what you fear. I'll continue seeing my 3 best doctors (Sunshine, exercise and laughter), and continue to enjoy life. You, or anyone else, can continue to live a "stupid" (your choice of words), life in fear. I would rather "flirt with death", and enjoy a "normal" life, than live in fear of death, doing exactly what someone else tells me I have to do. And never question authority.
How about "stupid" people that go to their death, or worse, because they allowed themselves to be brainwashed, never questioning anything, never thinking for themselves. For example, Jim Jones, Charles Manson, not to mention Hitler, etc, etc.

[J1ceasar]

What I find really funny is that the cancel culture is oxymoronic. It is a stain on our civilization that we have the freest country in the world and yet we still have 50% of the population hating the other 50%. If you really examine what a certain person has just said, you would find her statement to be truthful but whether or not it is I would defend her right to say it and not be punished because of those who do not agree with her. Her employers were at right stupid to fire her because I did not realize again that 50% of the population does agree with her. I guess from now on I have to turn off all Disney movies as maybe I have the boycott and cancel them also. And by the way you still plenty of hippies now in their 60s and seventies smoking pot and still protesting

[DOGSAREKEEPERS]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or What Happened to the Boomer Generation?)

Remember the 1956 American science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter? The black-and-white film was done in a film noir style and is really creepy but the idea underneath the material is a lot scarier than anything you see.

Alien plant spores had fallen from space and grown into large seed pods, each one capable of producing a visually identical replacement copy of a human. The new human copies moved and thought together as a group. Many viewed it as an allegory for the loss of personal autonomy.

This brings me to my point. Whatever happened to the Baby Boomer/Woodstock generation? Were they victims of alien spores? Are they now living among us as pod people? The Baby Boomers used to question everything and especially anything the government and media told them.

Do NOT tell me, “We grew up”. Of course we did; we matured, we became a little less confrontational and we learned to bend a little. Some degree of conformity is necessary to get along in society but have we thrown out our ability for independent thinking along with our bell bottoms and tie dyed shirts?

Now comes a brand new virus. Fear & rumor run amok. Instead of our leaders and the media calming the public and speaking as a voice of reason, we continue to be bombarded daily with stories of death and measures we all must adhere to lest we get sick and join the daily published death count.

Constitutional rights were the first casualty of the virus... or was it the truth? Individual freedom was quickly proven to be just an illusion as the government mandated lockdowns, forced businesses into bankruptcy, banned travel and public gatherings.

My recent article dealt with the reasons I was not getting vaccinated & that people should really investigate the pros and cons rather than to blindly trust the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Rather than delve behind the curtain to sort out the real truth, it seems everyone is fighting over who gets to drink the Kool-Aid first.

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles either online on social media, in the real world, or both. As an example, I posted the exact same article about vaccinations that appeared on this forum to “The Villages Friendly Folks” Facebook page only to have it removed by their administrators. The reason given was that I somehow violated their posting policies of no hate speech/bullying, no promotions or spam, and to respect others' privacy. Their feedback also included a quote from the WHO stating “Approved COVID-19 vaccines have been tested extensively for safety and effectiveness.”
Facebook and free speech are not compatible, I should know better.

I find there are three distinct psychological terms that apply to the general public and their behavior regarding COVID prevention and vaccination.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Compliance Theory is when you act the way you are “supposed” to act; either because you were directly asked, or pressured more indirectly

Complicity Theorist is a person who accepts the political narrative of the day unquestionably; consumes mainstream media; and is prone to submissiveness, outbursts of irrational fear, and public shaming of free-thinkers.

So either these terms apply to the masses (and not just to the Baby Boomers) or “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” has become a reality. I don’t know about you but I am checking the house for seed pods every night before bed!

David H. Dallas, RN-ASN, EMT-P, retired

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”
― Galileo Galilei

Body Snatchers! Why didn't I think of that? It actually explains everything. I just can't imagine any other reason why so many people have lost their ability to think. I like to say I am not skeptical, I'm just experienced. Somewhere in school they taught us how to evaluate the marketing verbiage and colors and positions used to get us to purchase things. I turn most things over in my mind using the same type of thoughts. The Body Snatchers theory saves me a lot of strain trying to figure out what the heck happened. Thank YOU

[PJackpot]

The "cancel culture" is just a reintroduction of McCarthyism from the 50's. Apparently we've learned nothing.

[jimjamuser]

I don't know if he got it from his headmaster or not, but one of them got it from Khalil Gibran, who lived from 1883 to 1931.

Here's the exact quote:
That sort of proves that History tends to repeat. And failure to understand History dooms future generations to making those same mistakes over and over. Take a look at Texas DEREGULATING all its energy grid. The state disregarded the fact that over-de-regulation has led to problems in the past, like the subprime problem. And Texas disregarded the 30-year-old warning from climate scientists that BOTH warming and UNUSUAL weather phenomenons would occur. And, basically, global warming increases the chances of Pandemics.

[jimjamuser]

What I find really funny is that the cancel culture is oxymoronic. It is a stain on our civilization that we have the freest country in the world and yet we still have 50% of the population hating the other 50%. If you really examine what a certain person has just said, you would find her statement to be truthful but whether or not it is I would defend her right to say it and not be punished because of those who do not agree with her. Her employers were at right stupid to fire her because I did not realize again that 50% of the population does agree with her. I guess from now on I have to turn off all Disney movies as maybe I have the boycott and cancel them also. And by the way you still plenty of hippies now in their 60s and seventies smoking pot and still protesting
Can you be TRULY certain that the US is the "freest country in the whole world" ? The thing to do is look at the world list of various countries rank on various issues such as "quality of life" and "upward mobility. You will be surprised - for example, on upward mobility the UK at # 10 is way above the US. the US has been slipping since the 1950s. We are NOT in the top 10 on any quality, like freedom. The Scandinavian countries dominate the top 5!

[jimjamuser]

The "cancel culture" is just a reintroduction of McCarthyism from the 50's. Apparently we've learned nothing.
Again - History repeats itself!

[sail33or]

Regarding Point No. 3: Did you mean to say "Generations after Baby Boomers are Social Media Zombies...." because there was no social media prior to Baby Boomers except the telephone and U.S. mail.

Yes, thanks. I have corrected this.

[terrild53]

I’m a baby boomer who still questions everything. I still wear jeans. I still believe in personal freedom and the so-called sexual revolution. (Which failed, alas.) I still remember my relief when Roe v. Wade was decided. I longed to go to Woodstock, but I was only fifteen and 1500 miles away.

But I cut off my long hair when I was 19 and got a sensible haircut that looked good on me, and I’ve kept it that way ever since. I got rid of the tie-died shirts I used to make and bought Oxford cloth buttondowns and even a suit I wore on dates. When I looked carefully at what the radicals and revolutionaries of my time were saying, I repudiated them. I questioned them and then I realized they were wrong and shunned them. I stopped calling police officers pigs. Wanting a clear head, I said no to smoking things. I studied science and medicine and learned to tell the difference between sound research and junk science. I studied mind control and propaganda and how the media work so I wouldn’t get fooled by those who want to fool me in order to have power over me. I learned how legislators work and why I need to not trust them at face value, while recognizing that they have been elected by us. I learned to recognize conspiracy theories as almost certainly false. I learned to avoid quack medicine while allowing certain alternatives. I learned that vaccinations are important and that they work. I learned a lot more about history and the Constitution than I knew in my more radical youth. I studied philosophy. I learned what the Founders meant by freedom of speech and its limits. Thus, when people claimed that their constitutional freedoms meant they didn’t have to follow a rule and wear a mask for their own good and the good of others, I realized that wasn’t a sound position. I realized that freedom of speech should not mean the freedom to spout lies and hatred in order to harm others.

In short, I’ve kept aspects of my early ideas and idealism that I got from others but gained in wisdom and insight. I grew up. I matured. I cringe when I think of some of the wild-eyed things I believed at 16. I like to think there are millions who would agree with me.

I agree that keeping aspects of earlier ideas & idealism yet gaining wisdom & insight is a sign of maturing. I also agree that people still have freedom of speech, just not so much on social media. We all seem to be our own TV/Social Media Network and we all have our favorite news shows, don’t we? If commenting on Facebook or Twitter or any number of community social media sites becomes downright nasty/abusive /hateful then the person should be censored from further comments on that thread. Many FB sites have administrators who manage the sites to prevent literal free-for-alls online. People react without thinking many times & it can really get ugly. Hard to get people to control that when its the norm to post online.
My thoughts when I was 18 were mostly peaceful, hoping for love & family, and trying to figure out what to do for a job career, and learning what growing older was going to be like, all the while seeking answers from my parents & grandparents.
Oh yeah, I didn’t get to Woodstock either-it was only 4 hours away, but I was a week away from turning 16, and my dad was a New York State Trooper and he said to me “ there’s no food or water there, the Thruway is closed and you’re not going...period.” ☮️

[carhirsch]

Most hippies are/were baby boomers.

Not so. Boomers are older than hippies.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Not so. Boomers are older than hippies.

Baby Boomers: People born between 1946 and 1964

The Hippie Generation: teenagers during the period between 1962 and the mid-1970's.

Most Hippies were Baby Boomers.
Many Baby Boomers were Hippies.

[LiverpoolWalrus]

Baby Boomers: People born between 1946 and 1964

The Hippie Generation: teenagers during the period between 1962 and the mid-1970's.

Most Hippies were Baby Boomers.
Many Baby Boomers were Hippies.

Thanks OBB, you took the words right out of my mouth. Small tweak. I would say the hippie era was 1967 (1966 at the earliest) to the mid-1970s.

As for birth year for most hippies, I'm going to posit 1940, perhaps a bit earlier for when the leading edge of hippies were born. John Lennon and Ringo Starr were both born in 1940 and they were undoubtedly hippies.

Other stand outs representing hippiedom and their birth year include Jimi Hendrix (1942), Janis Joplin (1943) and Neil Young (1945). That places all of the above squarely outside the birth years of the baby boomer era. And it means that many hippies were older than boomers, not the other way around as one poster said.

That said, we agree that the vast majority of hippies doing their thing from 1967 to the mid-1970s were in their late teens and 20s, putting them comfortably in the baby boomer range.

So yes, most hippies are/were baby boomers.

Empirically, I see it all the time in the Villages and elsewhere. Many boomers still seem to be carrying hippie ideals, in their appearance and their values. And I thank God for that.

It's encouraging to see a new generation of hippies, and you'll see tons of them at jam band and Dead offshoot concerts. They're typically in their 20s and 30s. And I tip my hat to them for keeping the flame alive.