Well we were using a classroom, but it was not a class. It was for a "Focus The Nation" event. But it was mostly a mixture of students and professors who knew each other - maybe a reluctance to express dissent in front of current Professor; their being there combined with it being a classroom might have made it feel like a class.

Today Annabel told us what she wants to be when she grows up--a doctor.

I thought, "That's nice, but conventional."

But she kept going: "And a space monster! And a robot! And...and a pirate!"

Reluctance to express dissent in front of current professor could be a huge part of it -- a combination of not wanting to be the one to say "I disagree" with someone who's determining your grade and a sort of "Well, I don't agree, but the professor seems to, and I'm sure the professor knows more about it than me, so I don't want to be the one asking a stupid question." (Not that I'm claiming to speak for all twenty-somethings, of course. Just myself.)

Still, make sense - not so much a generational thing as a social context thing.

But see, in college, I was not like this at all. It's possible it's a personality thing rather than a generational thing, but I was always willing to contradict a professor or another student being supported by a professor. I did well in school, so I doubt that I ever got knocked down for doing so. I was occasionally told, "it's well and fine to have your opinion, but when I give you your test you should know this is the answer I expect" but never without courtesy and in most cases, appreciation.

But it may have been just me.

There was one particular incident I'm thinking about where the professor was sort of playing devil's advocate, but the class didn't catch on and was all rah-rah about the position she was positing. And I was all, but you're all on crack and that is so wrongheaded and here is why and these are the supporting facts. And the teacher grinned at me and said she'd wondered when anyone would take an opposing position.

And I was never afraid to oppose after that.

So I dunno. Maybe it is generational.

Conformity vs non-conformity. I think that transcends generations.

FNL: OH MATT. OH SMASH. You are making me cry.

This animal won't be afraid to gnaw at the corpse of its former owner, come the revolution. Eager, even.

Well, plus often no one wants to be the FIRST to express a contrary opinion. Once the floodgates open...

Not even $60! It's for like $20. I'm willing to try it for $20! Or even $12. Cause the price is frame + lens!

Well, I have realllllly bad eyes, so I'd need the +$39 super thin lenses or whatever...but still like 1/8 the price glasses usually cost me. Very tempting.

Typo, I know when a speaker has given a very good presentation -- I can see that it's well-reasoned and supported by facts, and while I can say that there are concerns that they haven't addressed or considered properly that makes me have a different opinion -- I hesitate to assail the formidable edifice they've erected, since it's as much a matter of respect.

It's easy to heap immediate scorn on, say, a creationist or George W. Bush because the weakness of their arguments is immediately apparent, and it gives me a plethora of good hooks into expressing why I disagree with their stands.

Anyway, I'm hardly one of the 20-somethings whom you asked about. But given a good speaker with an authoritative presentation, I'm not surprised there was hesitation! But what is great is that you then engaged and drew out their concerns; that's more likely to convince your audience in the longer term.

One thing that I appreciate in an opposing argument is the willingness of the arguee to respect me and want to sway me instead of telling me how wrong I am.