[quote]Bambi wrote:
OK this has arisen out of a discussion me and Tiribulus were having in the gay marriage thread; let’s helicopter this idea out of that ugly cesspit.
The elder generation have complained about the younger generation probably since the dawn of time. reference can be found to it in early Greek literature, and it is repeated throughout history. The young are rude, insolent, they do not listen to their parents, they engage in corruption.
However, rising rates of child obesity, declining exercise, a ‘nanny-state- culture’, all this could be argued to adversely affecting youth. Some have pinpointed the rise of the counter culture in the 60s as when the rot set in. I am interested in people’s opinions on this. Are we undergoing a cultural crisis? Or is it a load of hot air? i personally disagree with the fact my generation is degenerate, but I would like to hear other people’s opinions before I explain them.
(I am aware ‘a college kid sitting on his pol sci proffesor’s lap’ is a favourite insult round here, but now we can express our views :D[/quote]
I don’t see it as a crisis. Humans are adaptable and if we have to work harder to get what we want we will. If this generation doesn’t have to work as hard or doesn’t have a goal to work hard for is it their fault?
Look how easy it is to get famous these days, hell all I’d have to do is use my womb as a clown car and I’d be on tv too. Or get really fat and go on that show to lose it all, and don’t forget to be a drama queen. Who needs to learn how to act or spend hours learning the guitar? lol
Since the recession I have noticed an improvement in the quality of service at restaurants and stores. I see this as people working harder because they have too as there are less jobs around.
IMO we (the West) are a civilization in decline. I wish with everything in me that it weren’t so, because I love our way of life and I will do whatever I can to keep it alive. However I do not see how a rational person can look at our situation and think otherwise. The behaviors/values of “kids these days” are not the cause of this decline but merely symptoms of being raised in such a vacuous, self indulgent and morally bankrupt society. However the kids did not create this society. We (and our parents before us) created this society and we have failed our kids.
As far as being old and fearing change; I’m not SO old (32) and yes I fear change if it means that my culture will descend into banality and irrelevance while the Emerging World outstrips us in every way that matters on the world stage. We are not winning the race anymore, in case you haven’t noticed. We will no doubt adapt and continue but if you imagine that the standard of living we have enjoyed and which I hope my children will enjoy will always exist just by default because we’re so special, I believe you are mistaken.
Since the recession I have noticed an improvement in the quality of service at restaurants and stores. I see this as people working harder because they have too as there are less jobs around.[/quote]
I don’t doubt it. I’m working in a restaurant now while I apply for big boy jobs. Seems like reality has begun to set in for the people around my age who work there.
[quote]batman730 wrote:
IMO we (the West) are a civilization in decline. I wish with everything in me that it weren’t so, because I love our way of life and I will do whatever I can to keep it alive. However I do not see how a rational person can look at our situation and think otherwise. The behaviors/values of “kids these days” are not the cause of this decline but merely symptoms of being raised in such a vacuous, self indulgent and morally bankrupt society. However the kids did not create this society. We (and our parents before us) created this society and we have failed our kids.
As far as being old and fearing change; I’m not SO old (32) and yes I fear change if it means that my culture will descend into banality and irrelevance while the Emerging World outstrips us in every way that matters on the world stage. We are not winning the race anymore, in case you haven’t noticed. We will no doubt adapt and continue but if you imagine that the standard of living we have enjoyed and which I hope my children will enjoy will always exist just by default because we’re so special, I believe you are mistaken.[/quote]
This is gloomy. I’m not sure where your gloomy outlook is coming from. I take some university classes and I don’t see anything gloom and doom or exceptionally different about this generation they are just as smart, naive, and know-it-all as any of us were (as any young people are).
I read an article a while back in Macleans Magazine (It’s a news mag in Canada) about how the kids are drinking less, doing less drugs, and having less sex. The article was called Generation Tame here’s a link http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/10/generation-tame/#more-47546
It was an interesting read, a not so gloomy look at kids these day.
I was a public school teacher for 12 years. I am 40 now. I personally think that MY generation, which would be Gen X was a generation of kids who were not self reliant. They went to college but had no idea why (in general). We were born during the cold war, and just told the way the world was, and that it cold end, and to follow instructions.
I think that the kids I have taught, who would be between the ages of 18 and 30 now are on balance MORE self reliant, have a better vision of where they are headed, at least personally.
About 10 years a , I went to a meeting that wanted to organize a block watch, It turned out to be a bunch of old fucks that wanted to crucify the teen agers that were riding their go peds around . Me and the Mrs got up and walked out . My Daughter is 32 and my son is 27, I did not do so to appease my family , I did so because they were a bunch of old fucks that forgot what it was like to be young