The Millennial Question

[ikalugin]

I do get a problem with my eyes being strained by the constant use of my laptop though.

[vienna]

I'm sorry, did somebody say something? I was busy checking my phone messages...



<O>

[AVGWarhawk]

[Gargamel]

Platapus has it right, this generation gap thing happens every generation. Multiple studies have shown this, and it's all based upon observer's bias. Basically, people will remember the negative things you see, rather than the good. You see younger people acting differently then you remember doing so, and opposed to how you think they should act, and you remember that. You see just as many younger people acting they way they are expected to act, and you don't remember them as well because they don't stand out to you. Younger people are faster to adopt new technologies and cultural shifts, so they appear different, mysterious almost.

No generation is any worse off than the previous, relatively speaking. There will always be those who bring down each generation, there will always be those who lift it up. In today's world though, it's much easier to see, and remember, the former, while taking the latter for granted.

I see it too, I have caught my self saying "Those damn kids". While it may be a recurring thing, it still occurs to every generation, and still affects us.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

I see it too, I have caught my self saying "Those damn kids". While it may be a recurring thing, it still occurs to every generation, and still affects us.

My wife used to ask me what my expectations are.

simple. when i say to a 20 year old feed the dog, take out the trash and hold my flashlight or help me work on something on the car for about 10 minutes. i don't mean say "ok just a minute" and then spend the next 45 minutes on some imaginary skyrim quest while i stand there waiting.

It doesnt happen as much as it used to. but i used to have to remind her, that, as a flight instructor, im used to working with a whole other type of 16-20 year old.

the kind who are motivated to do well, who borrow mom's car to come to the airport after school, leave the airport after the lesson and go feed the neighbor's livestock, and then drive to their evening job where they will work until 9pm on a weeknight just to make a few coins. the kind who, knocks on the door of my house unexpectedly and asks for help with a writing assignment or history assignment which is something i am glad to do. the kid who after 2-3 months of that sweat and toil shows up in their own car.

sure its a piece of crap

sure its got 97,000 miles and the A/C needs work, but they pinched their hard earned pennies to pay for it themselves. they didn't rely on mommy or daddy or gampa. and they are proud of it.

so sure, when i've worked with those types of kids, i guess it does make the bitter disappointment even worse when i see one in the same age group with their pants around their ankles just sitting around burning cigarettes and precious time

if that makes me a curmudgeon old ass, well, so be it

id rather be a curmudgeon old ass than a spoiled little...

the hope is, that most of them will come around and make something worthwhile of the world, and themselves.