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Interesting how the ringleader appears to be significantly older than the other participants. This is a common pattern. As I recall, the poet Ginsberg was older
by sandspar 1y ago
Interesting how the ringleader appears to be significantly older than the other participants. This is a common pattern. As I recall, the poet Ginsberg was older than his hippy hangers-on. And I've read of that "older leader" pattern in groups as wide apart as graffiti crews or revolutionary movements. I guess that forming these kinds of small scenes relies a lot of charisma and vision, people tend to accumulate those with age, and older people tend to have a magnetic effect on younger followers.
- ccppurcell 1y agoAnother explanation is that only a small fraction of the counter culture at any given time are in it for the long haul. It's tiring and expensive and complicated and more or less incompatible with having children. So the ones who stick it out inevitably have to collaborate with younger people.
- dmurray 1y agoThis, plus the part where the person who's been doing something the longest and has the most experience is likely to become the de facto leader.