I'm the one who is entitled?

darkbake

Am I entitled to doing all of the above and still earning less than $800 a month, while people in the Baby Boomer generation do none of the following and live in houses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars?

Let me try again...Answer YES.

Because the Boomers made the hard choices. They didn't get paid for being hippies, so they got real jobs. You can keep your dream pursuits...author, musician, writer etc. It's admirable, but boomers traded those pursuits for family and security. You can't have it both ways...unless you actually succeed commercially in those pursuits.

reply to post by darkbake

What I am I entitled to? Knowing how to budget? Knowing how to interact with people on a personal level and work through problems in a way that doesn't infringe on their rights as human beings? Am I entitled to working really hard on my hobbies, interests, pursuing social relationships and putting a basic effort into life?

Am I entitled to doing all of the above and still earning less than $800 a month, while people in the Baby Boomer generation do none of the following and live in houses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars?

You know what I think? I think the Baby Boomers came along, got really lazy because there were so many of them, and caused a general ruckus as kids, and when they got older, they used their strength in numbers to make it look like people who are enthused about more than watching television are the ones who are entitled.

What are you entitled to? You're entitled to what you make for yourself. Knowing how to budget is one hell of a tool. The most important basic effort is putting all your back into your living.

I'm labeled gen X. My parents are labeled as baby boomers.

In 1965, my father voluntarily enlisted with the USMC. I remember a rather poor early childhood, but as I got older my families financial situation improved a little with each year. My father was in the military for more than twenty years, and did not work really hard on his hobbies, interests, pursuing social relationships and putting a basic effort into life. Instead, for those military years, he worked long hours away from home, and my parents kept a tight budget. My mother also worked a full-time job. In retirement, my parents live in their mortgage free house, work really hard on their hobbies, interests, and pursue social relationships. My fathers hobby is woodworking, which turns him a profit on occasions.

Guess what? I followed in my fathers footsteps, retired, and I already live in my own mortgage free house, work really hard on my hobbies, interests, and pursue social relationships. I shouldn't really say that I retired completely. My hobbies are pure capitalistic ventures, and I have little interest in new social relationships, but find it wonderful when I am graced with a new business contact.

I don't know what the moral is. Take whatever meaning you see from it. If it's trash to you, and no wisdom gained. So be it.

Spookybelle
reply to post by darkbake

 

Fair enough but I'm a bit confused as to the point your trying to discuss here.

Could you sum it up in a sentence or two so the responses can be more accurate?

Are you trying to say that nobody actually feels like they are entitled today and that its a mistaken perception being attributed by the baby boom generation?

Yes, that is what I am saying. It has never been more obvious in my case, but I could be wrong, as I half suspect my parents are unique. When I went to college in 2005, my parents were known to the professors as "helicopter parents" meaning that they were always trying to solve their kids problems and not let them solve their own.

However, my parents are Baby Boomers and I am a Millennial - there is another possibility that this is something related to how millennials were brought up, not having anything to do with baby boomers.

----------

My friend, who is a teacher, has the same trouble with my parents' generation. When he comes into work and signs in at the office, the lady there glares at him and is quite bitter for reasons he doesn't understand; he is under the impression that it is because he is not following the unknown cultural norms of that generation.

It ends up looking really silly to me to see someone who should be old enough to know better burst out in angry agitation for no apparent reason because their cultural norms (which are invisible to me and make no realistic sense) are being violated.

It is funny, actually, but not when that person is in charge. But that statement, more than anything, is leading me to the main conclusion I discussed. The only reason someone would expect other people to conform to their less intelligent world-view or threaten acts of violence or retaliation is if they had been or were entitled.

However, I guess the technological revolution could also be playing a leading role. There might not be any entitlement at all, just a gigantic generational chasm.

reply to post by darkbake


It could be something specific to my parents. But the moment that I moved back into my house, my mom made multiple doctor appointments for me without discussing it with me first (I am 28 years old) and started making all of these appointments for me involving other things.

However, when I went upstairs to talk to her about it, she started screaming at me, and my dad barred my way up the stairs and told me "You're not welcome up here."

So I tried coming upstairs again to talk about when my appointments were, what they were for and everything, and my mom started screaming at me again and my dad gave me a 30-day eviction notice.

I'm still not sure what exactly my parents are doing involving running my life at the moment, because my mom is continuing to make choices at a very fast rate without discussing them, I would prefer it if I was in charge of things so that I knew what was going on.

tamusan

I don't know what the moral is. Take whatever meaning you see from it. If it's trash to you, and no wisdom gained. So be it.

edit on 29-10-2013 by tamusan because: (no reason given)

Lol, there is no trash here. That is a great model to follow. Thanks. It actually means a lot.

KellyPrettyBear
But unless I can't read...I don't see the OP acting entitled..just down on his or her luck and trying like hell to get working again.

KPB

I think that's accurate, thanks! Honestly, I had been putting effort into working as a musician and running my own business, but as Indigo noticed, I am making the adjustment at the moment to looking for a "boring," normal job for the schedule and security it offers.

I had been doing that in the past as well, however of course I was putting more effort into business and creative pursuits that offer much less return for the amount of effort put in, if any sometimes.

At least I realized that was a more realistic option, even though I still gave making it the other way around a second shot - I learned first-hand that I would rather have those creative things as hobbies.

I wanted to add to this thread that the more I live with my parents, the more I realize what I am saying is true. The things I'm getting in trouble for - wanting to be involved in the community, wanting to be a writer, wanting to be a musician, wanting to be social, wanting to get an education, wanting to get a job that is challenging - these are the things my parents punish me for now that I am living with them again.

This is what our generation is being punished for, wanting to reach our maximum potential. And this makes no sense. Why would anyone ever be punished for wanting to do something positive?

And the only conclusion I can come to is that my parents, the Baby Boomers, got lazy. I think that their parents were very similar to the current millennial - that means driven, that means "entitled" (to working hard on things they care about) and they ended up with children who got really lazy and partied a lot.

Now, when those kids are adults, many of them are being terrible assholes and hindering their kids from getting anywhere because they still don't want to do any work - when their kid comes to them wanting help improving their life, they are called "entitled."

Really? Who's entitled here? I bet you that the Baby Boomer's parents would be ripping them apart for not taking the time to help their children. If there is someone who is working hard and wants to make a difference, and there is someone who is doing nothing and getting in the way, who should be punished, if anyone?

And who is being punished? It's that simple. The entitlement thing is a bunch of bull# meant to get the Baby Boomers off easy from taking responsibility as leaders and elders in our society.

Not all of them. But the ones that are punishing the youth for demanding things like a good education and opportunity? Those are the same people who were given everything on a silver platter and spent their lives watching television, in a lot of cases.

The point I am trying to make is there is nothing wrong with achievement and hard work, that does not deserve punishment, there is nothing wrong with being a visionary and wanting to make the world a better place, that does not deserve punishment, that is the main point.

But look at our system, what is our legal system in the U.S. doing right now? It is keeping progress from being made, because now that Baby Boomers are in charge, it's easier for them to not do their jobs, and they don't want to bother having to deal with other people who happen to want to make the world a better place.

If anyone gets anything from this thread, I want it to be that being a visionary, doing positive things, hard work, asking hard questions, making a difference in the community - none of this should ever be punished. Ever. If it is, that is the mark of a corrupt system.

I speak this not so much to insult, but to inspire those who do take the time to work hard, to do things, to help the community and are experiencing punishment for it. Just think about it for a minute - how is a society supposed to function if the people who are making a positive difference for themselves and others are punished?

-----

I realize that some people want to have the right to relax and the right to an easy life, and I've liked hippies in the past, I liked Baby Boomers. I want to make that clear. But not when they become leaders and the future of the country is in their hands and they are squandering it and blaming those who are working hard to make a difference.

That becomes something that I have a problem with, that becomes an issue. And I'm even willing to give the baby boomers a pass.

But the self-esteem of a lot of people is at stake here, people who are working harder than their parents did and earning 50% - 10% as much, and are getting punished for it by their parents, this has to stop. That is the main issue. There is no excuse for this behavior.

Indigo5

darkbake

Am I entitled to doing all of the above and still earning less than $800 a month, while people in the Baby Boomer generation do none of the following and live in houses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars?

Let me try again...Answer YES.

Because the Boomers made the hard choices. They didn't get paid for being hippies, so they got real jobs. You can keep your dream pursuits...author, musician, writer etc. It's admirable, but boomers traded those pursuits for family and security. You can't have it both ways...unless you actually succeed commercially in those pursuits.

Some got real jobs as things like bankers and started problems like the housing bubble that led to the economic crash. This thread is just an alternative perspective.

It's mostly to help me deal with being punished for wanting to make a positive difference with myself and the community, and being considered entitled for it, that is something that heavily affects my self-esteem and causes me issues.

On the conservative side, you have problems like religious people refusing to actually understand the meaning of the words they speak, refusing to take the time to help the poor, refusing to help those facing diversity like gays, blacks, Hispanics...

On the liberal side, you have people who are refusing to listen to others, who think they are better than others, you have people who think that girls deserve to have sex with multiple partners without being considerate enough to take their mates' opinions into consideration -

On the totalitarian side, you have police officers that are not following any kinds of protocols, a corrupt system that takes no one's rights into account because it is easier not to -

On the corporate side, you have corporations that are more interested in making money than making the world a better place -

I don't know if these are all Baby Boomer issues, but they are certainly not being caused by the millennial, who are almost all under 30, barely able to afford housing and certainly don't have leadership positions.

reply to post by darkbake


Maybe you should stop wanting and start needing.
Just something to think about.

reply to post by thesaneone


I have thought about it before, that is good advice. And I don't think I end up looking very good in this thread, I'll say that - but yeah thanks. Good advice. I have noticed that attitude in the generation below mine. Although I find it odd as well.

darkbake

It's mostly to help me deal with being punished for wanting to make a positive difference with myself and the community, and being considered entitled for it, that is something that heavily affects my self-esteem and causes me issues.

Take it from a "Liberal" and someone that deeply appreciates the arts, community work etc.

YOU are responsible for any issues and self-esteem challenges you have. You can not lay that at the feet of those around you, your parents or the media. That is just the hard truth of it. You can not pursue your values and vision while at the same time demanding accolades, affirmation, economic rewards or appreciation from others. The challenge of pursuing your life as you see fit is a critical component of the virtue/value of that pursuit. Either abandon components of your aspirations in trade for economic award or social and family approval...or don't. Either is acceptable, but you cannot operate on the expectation of being rewarded by others. I applaud you pursuing your dreams, but you need to toughen up if that is the course you have chosen. Just my opinion. Don't look for affirmation from others.