Originally Posted by Bronco80

Neil takes on the voice/text gap between Boomers and Millies:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilhowe...-talking-less/

As a heavily Millie-leaning Xer, I have to take my younger cohorts' side on this one. Physical talking has its time and place when there's a substantial conversation to be had, but when you're just conveying banal news like "Meet you here at 8:30", there's no need to make a whole lot of small talk over it.

Both sides are barking up the wrong tree. A use case:

1. I'm on a massive international con call. One you need to be on because they actually call people out, and when you are "on" you better not do a gaffe or not have the answer.
2. I'm really backed up with email (because I don't give The Man free hours - e.g. none of this logging in on my own time bullshit)
3. Someone texts me.
4. I sit in a dead zone.
5. Text might take over an hour to show up on my mobile phone.
6. Meanwhile, if the texter called me instead, they would reach my voicemail.
7. The little red light on my phone lights up if I get a new voicemail.
8. I can winnow through / find the new vmail easily in my email stack (note - your company has to have it set up that way - all email and vmail in an "inbox" cloud)
9. I take one of my sides of my headset's headphones off.
10. Double click on the vmail and listen to it from my laptop's speakers (oh, yeah, don't get rid of the lap tops either! Dumb move Mr. Employer!)
11. Now that is some right good multitasking all you whipper snappers (and for that matter, all you Boomers who are still trying to figure out how to make this use case work).
12. Oh and then there is IM (on the lap top). That pops up instantly. No muss no fuss. Again, don't do BYOD (aka more employees doing stuff for employers on their own dimes, sinful). Give 'em laptops! BTW - steps 6 - 10 could all be completely on the lap top, don't even really need a desk phone at all.

One final comment. Texting has always been better in Europe and Asia than in North America. Here, it has only been recently that the phone companies don't completely rip off the subscriber for texting. Meanwhile over yonder, it's been cheaper to text than use voice for the past 10 years (maybe more). North American phone companies completely suck in this regard and several others.

Neil just started a personal Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/HoweGeneration

Time will tell how insightful it will be--right now it just looks like a rehashing of LifeCourse's Twitter account.

A Rising Generation Of Eurosceptics

Polish youth made waves during last Sunday’s Parliamentary elections, when two-thirds of voters ages 18 to 26 cast their ballots for the three right-wing parties, leading the opposition to a landslide victory. This is no isolated incident: Over the past few years, radical political parties have been gaining traction with young voters across Europe. Disillusioned by the European Union, unemployed in their home countries, and tempted to emigrate elsewhere, European Millennials are losing faith in liberal mainstream leaders and gravitating toward the same nationalist sentiments that once tore Europe apart—putting them at odds with older generations who consider nationalism an unpleasant memory best left in the past.For the past two decades, European Millennials have been known for their globalist attitudes and open-mindedness on most political issues. Holding more liberal social views than previous generations, younger Europeans have traditionally steered clear of parties that tout nativist platforms and have been long associated with older voters... http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilhowe...-eurosceptics/

Originally Posted by Dan '82

A Rising Generation Of Eurosceptics

Queue John X, Generational Dynamics, when the Gen who fought the crisis war die off and when the emerging Gen not only can't remember the last 4T, can't remember the most recent 1 and 2Ts, the SHTF.

Originally Posted by Dan '82

A Rising Generation Of Eurosceptics

We need remember that people under 25 cannot remember the momentous change that toppled Communist rule in central and Balkan Europe.

I'm finding it terrifying that Europeans are showing that they really haven't learned a damn thing from the last 4T, Muslims are the new Jews.

Originally Posted by Odin

I'm finding it terrifying that Europeans are showing that they really haven't learned a damn thing from the last 4T, Muslims are the new Jews.

One would think that the Poles would know better than any other people how badly a 4T could go even if the people largely have no culpability.

Actually, having been to Europe relatively recently, I think a large part of it is the EU and the popular rejection of the EU by most of the European population--particularly those not in Germany or France (who seem to be using the EU to their ends as both are the most powerful countries in Europe not counting the UK--which might not be in the EU much longer as UKIP grows in popularity). As most of the mainline parties have taken to upholding the EU at all costs, that leaves the far left and far right parties to oppose the EU, as such, nationalism is returning to the fore.

The EU is a failure, it is only a matter of time before it breaks up. I think we'll see a Brexit (British Exit) first followed by the Eurozone countries, particularly the PIIGS leaving first. Indeed Greece itself is still teetering on the edge of scrapping the Euro and having a Grexit.

Originally Posted by Kinser79

Actually, having been to Europe relatively recently, I think a large part of it is the EU and the popular rejection of the EU by most of the European population--particularly those not in Germany or France (who seem to be using the EU to their ends as both are the most powerful countries in Europe not counting the UK--which might not be in the EU much longer as UKIP grows in popularity). As most of the mainline parties have taken to upholding the EU at all costs, that leaves the far left and far right parties to oppose the EU, as such, nationalism is returning to the fore.

The EU is a failure, it is only a matter of time before it breaks up. I think we'll see a Brexit (British Exit) first followed by the Eurozone countries, particularly the PIIGS leaving first. Indeed Greece itself is still teetering on the edge of scrapping the Euro and having a Grexit.

I think you added one country too many. The only country adamant about the Euro is Germany. They have the Protestant ethic of thrift and hard work, coupled with excellent timing on the intro to the currency. Until they recognize the obvious, that they benefit at everyone else's expense, they won't do anything positive. Their solution is as simple as it is impossible. Every Euro country should be a net exporter. Good luck with that.

Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon

I think you added one country too many. The only country adamant about the Euro is Germany. They have the Protestant ethic of thrift and hard work, coupled with excellent timing on the intro to the currency. Until they recognize the obvious, that they benefit at everyone else's expense, they won't do anything positive. Their solution is as simple as it is impossible. Every Euro country should be a net exporter. Good luck with that.

If one follows the politics of the EU, one will find that both France and Germany have not had any substantial disagreements as far as EU policy is concerned. Given the history of the two countries, this is nearly unprecedented and there is much speculation as to the existence of a Franco-German alliance.

Furthermore, the introduction of the Euro itself was not very popular in Germany at the time of its introduction, rather it was a consequence of reunification. That the weakness of the Euro (in comparison to if they still used the DM) has a positive impact on their economy is a happy accident.

Further, having been to Germany, the entire country is not majority protestant. That is only true for the northern states and Prussia in particular. (Even though there is no state for Prussia anymore the people that populate the states that comprise the broken up territory of Prussia are essentially Prussian in culture and ethnic stock.)

Originally Posted by Kinser79

If one follows the politics of the EU, one will find that both France and Germany have not had any substantial disagreements as far as EU policy is concerned. Given the history of the two countries, this is nearly unprecedented and there is much speculation as to the existence of a Franco-German alliance.

Furthermore, the introduction of the Euro itself was not very popular in Germany at the time of its introduction, rather it was a consequence of reunification. That the weakness of the Euro (in comparison to if they still used the DM) has a positive impact on their economy is a happy accident.

Further, having been to Germany, the entire country is not majority protestant. That is only true for the northern states and Prussia in particular. (Even though there is no state for Prussia anymore the people that populate the states that comprise the broken up territory of Prussia are essentially Prussian in culture and ethnic stock.)

I agree that they seem to present a common front in public, but it's well known that the French are opposed to the extremely low inflation goal the Germans assume is mandatory. As long as Merkel is in charge, that won't change.

Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon

The only country adamant about the Euro is Germany.

The common joke is that the EU is the German Empire without the Kaiser.

Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon

I agree that they seem to present a common front in public, but it's well known that the French are opposed to the extremely low inflation goal the Germans assume is mandatory. As long as Merkel is in charge, that won't change.

The Germans are extremely fussy about inflation, having known it at its most ruinous in the 1920s and the inflation of the early 1920s having contributed to the poisoned political culture that made the rise of Satan Incarnate possible in 1933. Germany has a Constitutional ban on expansion of the money supply beyond a certain limit.

Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon

I agree that they seem to present a common front in public, but it's well known that the French are opposed to the extremely low inflation goal the Germans assume is mandatory. As long as Merkel is in charge, that won't change.

Angela Merkel is not the issue with inflation for the Germans. The hyperinflation of the 1920s was a massive shock to the German psyche that resonates to this day--which is understandable because the German Ideal is that one is a hard working petty-bourgeois German.

That tension on the expansion of the money supply between the French and the Germans is not enough to pull the EU apart when France and Germany are united on most if not all substantial issues. The costs to France are low, the benefit is of course that France has a veto power on Germany's economic policies.

Where the EU is failing is for those countries in it that are not France or Germany. Should there be a Brexit, I wouldn't be surprised if one doesn't see Ireland leave shortly after (the first of the PIIGS to break away in my view unless Greece gets worse). The reasons why should be obvious, Ireland's top trade partner is not the Continental EU states but rather the UK. Irish exports are already getting pounded because the Sterling can be devalued and the Euro can't (at least not without Germany agreeing to--which they aren't...ever).

Originally Posted by Odin

The common joke is that the EU is the German Empire without the Kaiser.

In the UK (admittedly where I spend most of my time when I do go Europe--mostly because I like the UK better than the rest of Europe) the joke is that it is worse than merely the German Empire without the Kaiser, it is the German Empire without the Kaiser and France is in the passenger seat. The growth of UKIP is oddly seeming to come from all the Parties, I've met Ukippers that were Tories, were Labour, were Greens, and I imagine that since Nick Clegg broke the party in the last GE (back in May) large numbers of Lib-Dems are joining.

Not really surprising because Nigel Farage seems to be using a two fold policy of Euroskepticism and Populism. Indeed the only reason that UKIP only has one MP in Westminster seems to be that their voting base is spread out and the Commons uses FPP voting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8Im6CgZnRI

Originally Posted by Odin

I'm finding it terrifying that Europeans are showing that they really haven't learned a damn thing from the last 4T, Muslims are the new Jews.

Muslims are not the new Jews. They have not been there for 1000 years like the Jews. At least not in most of Europe. The exceptions would be things like SE Europe (ex Ottoman) and enclaves of Muslims in NE Europe who descended from mercenaries of Golden Horde background. None of the long standing groups I mentioned here are really causing serious problems.

Meanwhile, there are neighborhoods around Paris and other European cities where there has been zero assimilation and Mullahs preach violent overthrow and attacking police.

Originally Posted by XYMOX_4AD_84

Muslims are not the new Jews. They have not been there for 1000 years like the Jews. At least not in most of Europe. The exceptions would be things like SE Europe (ex Ottoman) and enclaves of Muslims in NE Europe who descended from mercenaries of Golden Horde background. None of the long standing groups I mentioned here are really causing serious problems.

Meanwhile, there are neighborhoods around Paris and other European cities where there has been zero assimilation and Mullahs preach violent overthrow and attacking police.

As a person of color in the United States, I find many parallels between the treatment of Muslims in Europe today and ethnic minorities in the U.S., as well as the treatment of Jews in Europe prior to World War II.

A wave of nationalism is sweeping across Europe just like it did in the 1930s. Many if not most European countries are struggling economically, some very much so (particularly in Southern Europe). Just like in the 1930s.

The nasty combination of economic hardship and hatred towards a religious minority looks and feels eerily like the 1930s. I'm surprised more people do not draw these parallels. Then again, I suppose that's because many Westerners (including non-Muslim Europeans) think of Europe as being too enlightened, advanced, and intelligent to go down that road again. Oh but history repeats itself, does it not? Or at least it rhymes.

German Jews were the definitive model minority. They were fully assimilated into German economic and cultural life. The only consistent difference between German Jews and German gentiles was a religion with some strange, if completely benign ways. One could never distinguish Jews from gentiles in morals. The only places in which they were under-represented were in ultra-nationalist circles and in rural life. Obviously, only a fool could want them out of the way.

Model minorities are always in danger in the worst times. Minorities identified as poor and helpless? Elites always protect their cheap labor.

Originally Posted by pbrower2a

German Jews were the definitive model minority. They were fully assimilated into German economic and cultural life. The only consistent difference between German Jews and German gentiles was a religion with some strange, if completely benign ways. One could never distinguish Jews from gentiles in morals. The only places in which they were under-represented were in ultra-nationalist circles and in rural life. Obviously, only a fool could want them out of the way.

Model minorities are always in danger in the worst times. Minorities identified as poor and helpless? Elites always protect their cheap labor.

The un-assimilated Muslims in Europe are hardly a model minority. They are clearly distinct, indeed go out of their way to remain so. This was not the case with Jews prior to WW2. You are comparing apples to bananas here.

Add to that the insane identity politics of so-called leftists and that only makes the issue worse.

You guys are so busy nit-picking that you missed the point that Muslims are being turned into convenient scapegoats of populist rage, just like with Jews in the 30s.

Originally Posted by Odin

You guys are so busy nit-picking that you missed the point that Muslims are being turned into convenient scapegoats of populist rage, just like with Jews in the 30s.

Except that they aren't. The vast majority of Europeans do not mind the Muslims provided that they make efforts to assimilate to their society, and abide by their laws--which is only natural. I've seen very little evidence of anyone scapegoating Muslims in Europe. I've seen much evidence of not wanting to take in waves of economic migrants (which is understandable considering much of Europe is in economic difficulty).

You might want to try paying attention to European media sometime Odin. Or perhaps you might want to go there. I've been there, and I make it a point to access European media on a regular basis.