Young people to older adults, "We know better, leave us alone!" Survey

reply to post by Heatburger


I don't agree with this. I am a 43 year old mother of one 6 year old. I have several friends with young children. All of these people are much more involved with their children than their own parents were with them. I know everything my daughter is doing. I go to all of her activities. I know all of her friends and her friend's parents. I have conversations with her all the time. And I am employeed full-time.

So personally I do not believe that today's parents are more detached from their children than the older generations were.

I do believe that folks from ALL generations have developed a sense of entitlement, they have become very lazy about taking responsibility for their own stuff (choices and actions and results). But they all like to think they are better than any other generation regardless of the lack of evidence.

Just my 2 cents.

Originally posted by Matteo
This is pure illusion....

??????

What is?

illusion?????

Need a lil' more details, k?

OT

Originally posted by AceOfAces
..........Kids today don't hold the same values as someone who was born in 1950 or 1960...DUH! They want to live their lives freely without people criticizing them or coming down on them..........

"DUH"


??????

Sorry, what's is your point here??? not criticizing.....

I know society has changed....but do you have more on this subject....???

Do you think my parents, born around 1900 didn't come down on OT when he was younger?

I could tell you stories of a 2 in" by 2 in" stick

Get back to me k?

OT

Originally posted by Hastobemoretolife
It really isn't a surprise that the education standards in America has steadily declined since the induction of a federally mandated curriculum.

Wow....


You have done your homework!!!!!!!!!


Federally-mandated-curriculum??????


Most would say "whiskey-tango-foxtrote, what's the poster talking about?"


I got ya, tho....

OT

[edit on 30-6-2009 by OldThinker]

Originally posted by siouxm
.................I know everything my daughter is doing. .............

Nuff said.........


She will be fine........


Nothing is as powerful as a parent's PRESENCE!!!!


OT

Originally posted by AceOfAces
Our generation knows about all the exploits and travesties of all generations...what your seeing today with the younger generation is a far more emotional but intellectual group of people who see how "elderly and middle aged" people believe they should be portrayed as opposed to who they are. The way I see it is- the world is the way it is because of prior generations...not the current one. So they can blame the disconnect on teens like they always do or the fact that people don't understand how kids today think. We've come upon an age where no matter how old or how much you think you know- younger generations refuse to believe or follow whats placed in front of them- they see everything themselves and make decisions based on their own intellect, not like their parents who probably had passed down values to them and so on previously. Kids today don't hold the same values as someone who was born in 1950 or 1960...DUH! They want to live their lives freely without people criticizing them or coming down on them.

Frankly I see elderly people reflecting on this frequently and all I can think about is how far back they are from the current generation. It's just sad that all they can do is look back and reflect, rather than move on. I think past generations hold their head too high. We owe them nothing. Kids today are smart...a lot smarter than other people think.

Although your post comes off as a bit narcissistic I generally agree.

I am 18 and thus fall into this young generation. The only part of your post I disagree with is where you say we owe older people nothing. I disagree, without our parents and their parents we would not even exist lol.

However I would have to say the biggest difference between older people and those under 30 is the internet.

Today's kids and young people spend much of their time online. Where once people sat in front of the TV doing nothing or even hanging around outside now there is an entirely new world, a new sphere of influence on society. No longer are children and young people shown images in books and TV in which they mimic (well nvm they still do have that) but in addition now there is an internet, a place where people can create their own reality, meet like minded people, share ideas and communicate. And that's what the big difference is, communication.

Kids today communicate with each other much much more than any previous generation. Before if you wanted to hang out with some friends, you might call them up a few days before and schedule a time to hang out. Rarely does this happen, in fact I hardly ever hear of anyone my age planning things out. Now that everyone has cell phones people just sort of live as they go, life is much more random now, hence the use of the word "random" by todays youth. Life is random, nothing is set in stone, there is no definitive structure. The younger generation realizes this.

Texting is ubiquitous among young people. It is a new channel of communication that was not available even 10 years ago. Kids often text each other (especially girls) to stay in communication. I know some girls who send hundreds of text messages every single day. In fact one friend of mine told me she once sent over 1000 messages in a day. Im more around 500 a month haha. Anyways the point is that our generation is communicating and sharing information constantly.

If I read something on the internet or see something on television that I think my friends would like, you can bet I'll text them instantly, rather than just tell them about it later.

I think the humongous increase in communication is a large part of why those 18-29 are more accepting of gay marriage and interracial relations and just life in general. People communicate, kids realize that some of their friends or other people will have psychological problems or other issues. Rarely is there that asshole who makes fun of people. Most youth are very friendly.

To understand the culture of the current group of under-30s, let's look at the technological age they are living in. The world is connected in a profound way as technology supersedes geographical boundaries, most notably with internet accessibility. There are far fewer lines of separation between individuals. While older adults are experiencing this exceptional change during adulthood, those under 30 have been able to experience and capitalise on this advantage during that period of great growth and maturation. They have begun to establish the sort of worldviews that older adults often find difficulty relating to. As in the American cultural revolution of the 1960s, the youth have bucked the prejudices of past generations en masse. This is not endemic to America; it is occurring in all areas reached by modern technologies.

Individuality is once again receiving favor over adherence to traditional ideas. As people of all ages become more tolerant and aware of other cultures through exposure and study, worldviews tend to move toward flexible culminations of personal exploration rather than reliance on established views. There is an openness to the younger generations that past generations have not displayed. It is an inescapable result of so many cultures meeting one another for the first time.

As further evidence of the new globalisation of youth, has anyone done a bit of international travel in the past several years? The amount of teenagers and 20-somethings traveling independently to foreign countries is just astonishing. I am required to travel frequently, and I cannot count how many young international volunteers and travelers I've run into in the past year alone. When their parents (primarily those born in the 1930s, 40s and 50s) were this age, international travel and the independence it fosters were rarely available to youth outside of participation in foreign wars.

In my view, the discrepancies we see between those under 30 and older adults are principally due to technology and the resulting mass globalisation. In light of today, established worldviews often seem representative of xenophobia and intolerance to minds that have developed in the presence of so many varying ideas and cultures. It should then be anticipated that younger adults will search for more suitable conceptions.

As for why they might take the advice of their elders with a pinch of salt, have you looked at the world lately? The global economy is in a state of limbo, nations appear to be on the verge of collapse, the threat of another major war is looming overhead, the health of our environment is in constant question...do I need to go further? Those who were children or teens during the building of this mess see leaders and the status quo as responsible for our current disaster. Why should they not be trying to establish alternatives of their own? This is the result whenever those in control fail to support the populace; we've experienced it many times before. It is more significant and startling this time around due to the extent of the present fear and uncertainty, the current population level and the international sharing of worries through media (e.g. internet and television).

As a far aside, you have an excellent avatar OldThinker !

[edit on 30/6/09 by paperplanes]

reply to post by bommer09



bommer09....


Good, well-thought-through critique.


OT's gonna go to dinner now....


I will respond in detail ina bit....


Glad you have joined here....!!!!

OT

I'm old enough to remember when Timothy Leary was god! we use to chant in the streets "Never Trust Anyone Over Thirty"!... Now it's never hire anyone under thirty...

There are a lot of real changes between me my kids and now grand-kids... most of that revolving around computers...

There was a time when the have and have nots meant rich verses poor... now in the info age the disenfranchised are those without an Internet connection... it's no longer a matter of age but tech savvy...see how far you get trying for an office job without knowing the MS Excel program...

I know it sounds cliche but when I was younger the old folks couldn't tell me anything...now that I'm older I find myself wishing I shut up and listened to what they had to say... I worry about what will happen to my kids... they really do live in a much different world than I grew up in and I'm not that sure any advice I have to offer is still relevant in this day and age

[edit on 30-6-2009 by DaddyBare]

I listen to my parents talk about their youth, and they grew up in a middle class neighborhood in Detroit (they're in their 50s now) and it seems so vastly different from the world I am growing up in.

I hear stories about fights, ass kickings, violence in general just between kids. And sometimes I just can't believe it. It just seems that today the only places where you see a lot of violence are the poorest areas in our cities.

For example, at my high school there were only 2 or 3 fights I can remember, and that's in all four years. Now granted I went to a private school but even among the public school kids I know fights are uncommon (though more frequent than at my school).

Kids my age are NOT perfect, I'm not trying to say that. There are lots of dumbasses I know, and even a few assholes here and there. But those guys are the exceptions to the rule. I would say the biggest problem with my generation is a lack of knowledge about world affairs and such. And that isn't everyone, and maybe I just perceive things that way because I'm involved in that sort of thing. But for example because of the super increase in communication many kids can sort of become trapped in the bubble of their own lives, oblivious to anything that happens that does not personally affect them.

This is a problem, and it needs to be addressed but by and large, the young people of today are good people.

One thing about my generation that is apparent, is that the way the world is run appears horribly off kilter. The fact that there are wars and violence, famine poverty et cetera. These are all things many people my age don't understand. There is enough food for everyone, we do have the resources to create a good quality of life for every single person, but as a species we don't. The only people I know who attempt to justify those ills of society are those I would describe as "conservative" or old-fashioned, but even they have hearts for people too.

I think those are the big issues that the current generation of young people will change. And I would not be the least bit surprised if we had world peace in 20 or 30 years because of it. Or maybe I'm just rambling too much lol.

Peace

Originally posted by paperplanes
To understand the culture of the current group of under-30s, let's look at the technological age they are living in. The world is connected in a profound way as technology supersedes geographical boundaries, most notably with internet accessibility. There are far fewer lines of separation between individuals. While older adults are experiencing this exceptional change during adulthood, those under 30 have been able to experience and capitalise on this advantage during that period of great growth and maturation. They have begun to establish the sort of worldviews that older adults often find difficulty relating to. As in the American cultural revolution of the 1960s, the youth have bucked the prejudices of past generations en masse. This is not endemic to America; it is occurring in all areas reached by modern technologies.

Individuality is once again receiving favor over adherence to traditional ideas. As people of all ages become more tolerant and aware of other cultures through exposure and study, worldviews tend to move toward flexible culminations of personal exploration rather than reliance on established views. There is an openness to the younger generations that past generations have not displayed. It is an inescapable result of so many cultures meeting one another for the first time.

As further evidence of the new globalisation of youth, has anyone done a bit of international travel in the past several years? The amount of teenagers and 20-somethings traveling independently to foreign countries is just astonishing. I am required to travel frequently, and I cannot count how many young international volunteers and travelers I've run into in the past year alone. When their parents (primarily those born in the 1930s, 40s and 50s) were this age, international travel and the independence it fosters were rarely available to youth outside of participation in foreign wars.

In my view, the discrepancies we see between those under 30 and older adults are principally due to technology and the resulting mass globalisation. In light of today, established worldviews often seem representative of xenophobia and intolerance to minds that have developed in the presence of so many varying ideas and cultures. It should then be anticipated that younger adults will search for more suitable conceptions.

As for why they might take the advice of their elders with a pinch of salt, have you looked at the world lately? The global economy is in a state of limbo, nations appear to be on the verge of collapse, the threat of another major war is looming overhead, the health of our environment is in constant question...do I need to go further? Those who were children or teens during the building of this mess see leaders and the status quo as responsible for our current disaster. Why should they not be trying to establish alternatives of their own? This is the result whenever those in control fail to support the populace; we've experienced it many times before. It is more significant and startling this time around due to the extent of the present fear and uncertainty, the current population level and the international sharing of worries through media (e.g. internet and television).

As a far aside, you have an excellent avatar OldThinker

!

[edit on 30/6/09 by paperplanes]

Excellent post paperplanes, you said what I was trying to say with much much more clarity.

And what you say is exactly right. People my age see how messed up or world is and think "What the hell are all you guys thinking!!!!"


I have to go but I'll be back later. This is a great thread.

OldThinker

With the word illusion I wanted to say that...Yeah the internet and all that, but do adults realize that younger people DO NOT use the internet in the right way?
I use the internet to know much more of the world and to be in contact with pen-friends and parents

Younger people 11y old-16 y old use the internet to play games who show them alternative realities and to talk about themselves

Illusion, they live in a time-warp zone locked in the 13 years old age until they are 18

If they think that without adults help they can rule the world, they are very wrong
I imagine the youngs of my town will learn how life really is only when they will go out of high school

reply to post by Heatburger


I agree. That was me. I didn't wake up till the age 24. I realized that I had to do something with my life and that partying wasn't going to pay my bills. Also, when I was in college, I was constantly fed liberal only point of views, and I had a " We can save the world" " All we need is love" mentality. Things really come into perspective as you age. When I was as young as 14yrs old, I thought "I don't need my lame parents, I can take care of myself" and I could when I moved out at 17, on hotdogs and Ramen noodles. Thank God I woke up!!! I can't even smell those noodles anymore without feeling sick.

reply to post by bommer09


You know what we had all the same stuff back then rapes murders gangs... the only difference between then and now is the talking heads on the boob tube telling you all about it in HDTV ... sometimes it seems like nothing ever changes

reply to post by OldThinker


I'm in computer science.
But I've worked in a number of departments.

There is a huge change in people between the ages of 18-25. At 18 they've been impressed by their parents and/or the schools that they've attended. They haven't actually had to make too many decisions on their own and then lived through the consequences of those decisions.

Usually, by the time they are graduating, they've had some time to grow up and started the process of individuation from their parents. I think that continues until they are in their mid 20s or so. They have had to make and take responsibility for a number of decisions. I find them far more interesting people by the time they graduate. They spout far less rhetoric and tend to think far more than they did when they were 18.

Originally posted by sickofitall2012
reply to post by Heatburger

 

I agree. That was me. I didn't wake up till the age 24.

24, that's the age.......


I've seen, that finally....GET'S IT....


OT

PS: I was (wise) a bit earlier....


but my GREAT dad died when I was 14.....

Think it had an effect???

OT

Originally posted by DaddyBare
I'm old enough to remember when Timothy Leary was god! we use to chant in the streets "Never Trust Anyone Over Thirty"!... Now it's never hire anyone under thirty...

DB, me2.....


Thank you for posting here, ok?


OT

PS: In what ways, have you grown past the naivite' of the past...???

Your G-kids are-blessed to have such a SMART G-dad, huh? Do they c-it?

Originally posted by paperplanes



Avatar?


Yes, loved 'The MISSION'...

DeNiro...?


My inspiration! fo-sho!

Have u seen?

OT

Originally posted by paperplanes


As a far aside, you have an excellent avatar OldThinker

!

Avatar?


Yes, loved 'The MISSION'...

DeNiro...?


My inspiration! fo-sho!

Have u seen?

OT

reply to post by OldThinker



Speaking as an older adult, I say give the younger generation a shot at it.
Leave them alone.

I don't see how they can do a much worse job at leadership than the older generation. What do we have now? Constant war, a failing economy, lying leaders, etc.

Of course there have been accomplishments but the question remains...
"How do you feel about the current state of affairs?" I think most would answer "not so hot" Thats not the fault of the younger generation.

Go for it Young folks! Perhaps you can bring about some grace and Peace that we so miserably failed at.

But knowing the human species as well as I do....

I'm not holding my breath waiting for improvement from anyone.