Category: the Rant Board
Ok, guess there's one more thing to get off my chest, or at least write about: How can people diss this new generation as a bunch of slackers? Ok maybe that's the word they used for us when we of Generation X were young, but you know what I mean.
But let's get this straight: You, who were raised through two wars and a recession are said to be lazy? You, whose student loans have fewer forgiveness avenues and higher interest rates, are said to be unmotivated?
You, out there looking for jobs and applying using online application sofftware that kicks out prospective employees because they don't have experience with one minor subversion of a piece of software, are said to be unmotivated? How ignorant can people be?
From what I can see, you all work harder for less than we X-ers did, and we worked a lot harder than the Boomers ever did. Except for healthcare and eldercare, there is no real booming markets for you all to jump at. Sure, there are faked statistics about jobs in software, but that's largely a myth due to hiring managers and experience using minor subversions of software.
Anyway, I'm personally encouraged by what I see: the younger people are often more likely to own their own businesses, are more creative outside the box than we've been, and I think that's great. So far as I'm concerned, the box can go die and the new generation leave it in the dust. You all have got it going on: just it makes me a bit sad to see even younger people now saying that their generation is lazier or more apathetic or whatever. Again, raised through two wars and a recession? How does somebody with so much as a worm-brain see that as apathetic? Outside the box? Yes. Apathetic and lazy? No.
Leo. I think one point you miss is that our jobs here have been sent overseas too. Or, machines took over other jobs that were done by people. Call a help desk at night; see what you get.
I'm very glad to see this topic come up; being eighteen, I know all about the inaccurate perceptions that the older generation have of us. Are there some of us who are lazy? Absolutely. Are there some of us who are apathetic? Of course. But haven't there always been lazy and apathetic people? Laziness and apathy are facts of life and of human nature. They've never gone away and they never will. Some things don't change.
Of course, there are a few things this generation is losing, such as the art of small talk (facebook twitter and the like make it harder to hahve conversations face-to-face, and make it much easier to avoid people who annoy you), and we're certainly more dependent on technology than the previous generation could have been. But along with all that the "information age" has made available to us are the added expectations that are placed on us. Sure, we have a whole virtual library to do research with...access to thousands of resources is great. But now that you have access to thousands of resources, you're expected to do much broader research. So there are new challenges we face that the previous generation never dealt with, just as they faced things we no longer worry about. So really, it's all the same.
I'm very glad to see this topic come up; being eighteen, I know all about the inaccurate perceptions that the older generation have of us. Are there some of us who are lazy? Absolutely. Are there some of us who are apathetic? Of course. But haven't there always been lazy and apathetic people? Laziness and apathy are facts of life and of human nature. They've never gone away and they never will. Some things don't change.
Of course, there are a few things this generation is losing, such as the art of small talk (facebook twitter and the like make it harder to hahve conversations face-to-face, and make it much easier to avoid people who annoy you), and we're certainly more dependent on technology than the previous generation could have been. But along with all that the "information age" has made available to us are the added expectations that are placed on us. Sure, we have a whole virtual library to do research with...access to thousands of resources is great. But now that you have access to thousands of resources, you're expected to do much broader research. So there are new challenges we face that the previous generation never dealt with, just as they faced things we no longer worry about. So really, it's all the same.
I'm very glad to see this topic come up; being eighteen, I know all about the inaccurate perceptions that the older generation have of us. Are there some of us who are lazy? Absolutely. Are there some of us who are apathetic? Of course. But haven't there always been lazy and apathetic people? Laziness and apathy are facts of life and of human nature. They've never gone away and they never will. Some things don't change.
Of course, there are a few things this generation is losing, such as the art of small talk (facebook twitter and the like make it harder to hahve conversations face-to-face, and make it much easier to avoid people who annoy you), and we're certainly more dependent on technology than the previous generation could have been. But along with all that the "information age" has made available to us are the added expectations that are placed on us. Sure, we have a whole virtual library to do research with...access to thousands of resources is great. But now that you have access to thousands of resources, you're expected to do much broader research. So there are new challenges we face that the previous generation never dealt with, just as they faced things we no longer worry about. So really, it's all the same.
I'm so sorry about the multiple posts, guys. No idea how that happened.
Somehow I think this is something that repeats with each new generation of young folks. There comes that generation gap and the older folks spend their time blowing hot air about how the youth didn't turn out as expected and they're all lazy and rebellious and the music is too loud and the clothes too revealing and etc. I thought I even saw some quotes attributed to people like Socrates, although not sure about that, but I guess even in ancient times the old folks saw nothing but wrong and ruin in the youth.
I think you're right. However, being a parent of a teen (well she's moved out now, but still), I have made a few observations over the years.
You used the word 'generation gap', something that was used about us and our parents when we were young. However, I never once saw that word written about this generation. In fact, while I could not relate to the 50s music and my parents could not relate to Metallica, I and the daughter have been able to watch the same music and movies both on her end and mine. Sure, hers is a lot more 'indie', folksie, independent, less, I don't know, hardcore? But it's not all music and movies: things I would have dared not speak to my parents about she speaks to me about openly. I think for all the lost art of communications that has been alleged, I believe it's actually gotten better between the young and our generation than it was between us and our parents. At least this is true as a father, though I don't know how much of this is the naturalization of fathers' involvement with their kids for a couple generations now.
And with a lot of the developments they've found about the teenage brain not being developed, the frontal lobe being totally restructured during the teenage years and other stuff they now explain to us, it seems we are a lot more equipped than people before us. I know, each generation tries to do better than the previous, and probably exaggerates the problems of the past one. If you read posts like SensuallyNaturallyLiving4Today writes about babies, you'd imagine the parents of 20 years ago were some sort of a Victorian marble statue who let the poor things just lie and cry there.
Ironically her very claims were made to us in parenting magazines when my daughter was still unborn yet. It's hard to know. I will say, though, that Generation X was said to be a whole load of slackers, so don't let that one get you kids down.
Now, the statement really fits though, "Generation X: Quietly working to make sure that things do not suck." That's us. Perhaps not very idealistic, but there you have it.
And as to the Facebook and Twitter problems? We're all using that, to one degree or another, whatever the age range. If we lose something in conversation, we gain something where grandparents in one state can see video of grandkids at recitals or plays or just at the park, in another state.
And, when the telephone was invented, many thought that would do away with face-to-face conversation. Happens all the time when we develop something new. If only we could hear from people around the time the wheel was invented. What was that supposed to do away with? How was the world supposed to end because of that? Would be an interesting read, if only it existed.
Thanks for creating this topic, Leo! I worked so hard to get through college with the hope that one day I would have a successful career... But it's almost been a year since I've graduated, and I still have nothing to show for it yet. I've applied to so many jobs and have gone to several interviews with no success. Been depressed and discouraged about it over the past 3 months or so but I won't give up. There's something out there, Just have to keep trying and I'll find it.
I wish they'd not start collecting on your student loans till you found work, though. I've known of far too many cases of young people getting stranded this way now. And we used to take six months out of college to get a job also, though some said up to 2 years for the disabled people. But anyway, six months was still enough time to deal with the loans issue.
You all have really gotten the shaft, and honestly it's several generations' fault, mine included.
There are several ways to get your loans deferred. I think colleges should have work shops on this subject, or at least, make this information available to grads.
I am not suggesting on should get out of paying, but it should be available.
Next, when you apply for a loan, some credit and financial information should also be provided.
I see many students in doubt they relisticly can't afford even if they do gtet a good paying job.
Maybe this is a parents job, put often times a parent doesn't get through due to the colleges making it look easy, and the student wanting to be on his or her own
I do agree that lazy or non lazy people will always be with us.
Every generation seems to be subjected to name calling/badgering from the previous generation. Sad ay?
I can't understand how the previous generation--having been bashed themselves--can justify turning round and subjecting us to it, and I can guarantee that we'll be doing the exact same thing. It's a matter of time before we're grumbling about those damn kids and their too-easy lives.
Some of you will turn out like some of us, though, and refuse to bash the new kids. Especially if you see them doing things you wish maybe you had done, or thinking of things you hadn't thought of.
I really hope so.
Heh, that's the problem though. Half the time, by the point at which we realize we're guilty of hypocrisy, it's too entrenched to squash.
You kids, get off my lawn--oh crap, it's happening already, isn't it?
Yup, it be happening already, to be sure.
I'll go get the hose. They'll never come on the lawn again, I promise.
I am one who never bashes or demmands respect. I am not all powerful and nether were you older older ones.
When I was in my teens and twenties, I swore I wouldn't bash the younger generation when I got older. I think now that I'm in my late forties, I still find myself influenced by the peer pressure of my age-mates. They'll start talking about something like pants showing ass-crack, and I'll chime in, and then I catch myself. The one thing I know for sure is that everyone my age has been in their teens and twenties once, and if we think about it, we can empathize. Another thing I try to do, (and the Zone is helping me with this a lot) is make friends with folks of all ages, so that I'm less likely to make sweeping generalizations.
Good for you, seriously. So many people of your age group don't even try to identify with younger people, deeming it a waste of time.
It's such a shame how self-importance takes over. One thing I don't understand is why people look down on others just because they are yung.
You know what? I suspect that older folks don't want to be reminded of our mistakes when we wre younger. But I really try to remember the great things that happened when I was in my twenties and younger. for whatever reason, the bad memories are more obvious. It is a shame.
I think Teresa's right on this one. And yes, I've used this Zone for precisely as she described. I don't care who you are, if you're not careful, you will give place to such generalizations. I've taken the attitude that none of us are exempt and so I try and see others' points of view on this stuff.
And again, you young people are different: having had to be raised through two wars and a recession, cannot have been easy.
I think what it comes down to is remembering to be humble. If you think, "I am old and wise" try standing by a tree. Who are you compared to that tree? It has been around for longer than you and takes what it needs from the earth. My generation can do the same. The lesson is that we think we are so great. We bad mouth...oh yes...but nobody is really any better than anyone else.
Also, I believe that older people learn fhom young people too, I don't see how there should be a misperseption. Because, weather they like it or not, generations change, fassion, technological advances, amongst other things. So really, I think we all lear from each other, you were young at one point, and, older people than you somehow thought you were young and immature, but I don't think that should be defined with age, period. (note, general statement, leo.)
The misperceptions, if you read my original posts, are held by people my own age and up. Perhaps there was a better way to do the topic title and a real writer could have gotten it, so I'll spell it out:
I'd meant to say it wasn't the young people doing the misperceiving, it is middle age and up doing it, and I submit those misperceptions are entirely without merit.
Maybe I should have said The way young people get incorrectly judged.
And I didn't say young people have misperseptions of people your age... In fact, I reinforced it, by saying that somee people your age have trouble understanding the certain things that occur as time changes within the younger generation. Because yes, there are lazy people out there... but I refered the technology, for there are things that didn't exist 20 years ago, and there's more imformation out there too. Sorry for not being clear, sir.
No matter what age people are lazy. It is just a fact.
I know 20 somethings that are wiser then 40 somethings.
This is one reason after a person is adult age to me is a number not a set standards of how a person will be.
True. But I am left to wonder, if I'm still alive by then, at the stories this particular generation will tell their own offspring: two wars and a recession through one single adolescence. There are generations of people who live through historically significant times, and I'm of the opinion this group of young people is one such generation.