Millennials: Generation Anxiety

[Forty Two]

http://nypost.com/2016/03/20/they-cant- ... eneration/

We can only blame ourselves.

About 7 or 8 years ago, I helped a friend of mine move his adult son into a college apartment. I came out on a Saturday, and was assisting this old friend of mine with lifting heavy stuff. I noticed as we proceeded that the adult college age son seemed to never be involved in any of the heavy lifting. I was there to help, but my friend and I, two old guys, were lifting couches, dressers, and other heavy items, while his son kind of watched.

I didn't say anything, because, well, I was there as a favor to my friend, not so much his kid.

Then,when we had moved most of the stuff, the kid's mom arranged his clothes, and then left for the supermarket to stock the refrigerator.

I almost busted out laughing.

It seemed the epitome of what was in the news at the time about helicopter parenting and delayed maturity of the new generation -- the millennial generation. I mean, the kid wasn't even embarrassed that the old guys were doing the heavy lifting, and he didn't bat an eye at his mom basically treating him like a 10 year old. I guess he could have been laughing inside about how he has everyone doing his work for him, but I don't think so -- I think it did not even occurred to him that anything was amiss. He was just used to it.

You get a generation of kids who have never really been allowed to skin their knee or climb the monkey bars, and you get the anxiety ridden group we have in colleges today. It's great for the social justice movement, of course, because nobody can bitch, moan and claim entitlement to other people's concern better than a Millennial.

[pcCoder]

I've notice some similar stuff from a couple of my friends. They are about half a generation younger than me (I'm mid 30s, they are mid 20s). I personally would rather move my own stuff and arrange my own stuff. But I notice them not even really trying when it comes to moving, arranging, even cleaning. They put in maybe 1/10 the effort of others. I don't know if it is helicopter parenting, or just simply enabling by not requiring them during growing years to put forth effort but instead just allowing them to do what they want, from playing video games to the wee hours of the morning to not keeping a clean living space, etc.

[laklak]

My Dad drove me to boarding school when I was 15, dropped me off at the office, said "Have fun!" and drove home. I took myself off to university. I'd have been mortally embarrassed if my mom came with me.

[Forty Two]

I'm keeping this stuff in mind for my kids.

Unfortunately, the legal environment in the US is such that "go out and play" for a kid under 14 years old is almost considered parental negligence. But, whenever possible, I am trying to allow them to trip, and pick themselves up. Also, teaching independent skills. "Here's how you do this..." can never start too early.

If I encounter another college age male who has never changed a tire or oil, or even washed a car by hand, I'm going to puke. I had to help a friend's kid get a fucking lawnmower started a couple of years ago. He actually said, "oh, you have to clean these things..." LOL. I mean, come the fuck on. And, in the office setting -- fuck -- if another puss is hired who doesn't have the balls to try to unjam the fucking printer/copier/scanner without calling the maintenance company, I'll throw up...

[Animavore]

The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.

So everything you perceive wrong with this generation you believe can be tied to one piece of anecdotal evidence in which you detail a kid who was brought up in a different time to you?

[laklak]

To be fair, new cars aren't set up for shade tree mechanics. When I were lad we kept our junkers running with spit and baling wire, but you can't do that with newer cars. However, changing a tire should be a mandatory skill.

[Animavore]

Changing a tire isn't even a skill. The first time I was asked to do one in work (I've never owned a car myself) I didn't want to look stupid by saying I didn't know how so I just took the jack and the cross wrench and just did it.

[Forty Two]

The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.

So everything you perceive wrong with this generation you believe can be tied to one piece of anecdotal evidence in which you detail a kid who was brought up in a different time to you?

No, I said that the anecdote I described was the epitome of what the article I cited to is talking about. An epitiome is a really good example of a thing or concept. Do you need me to type slower, so you'll understand?

[Forty Two]

To be fair, new cars aren't set up for shade tree mechanics. When I were lad we kept our junkers running with spit and baling wire, but you can't do that with newer cars. However, changing a tire should be a mandatory skill.

That's what I'm talking about. I get that the new cars are more difficult to work on, but fuck, at some point, like, knowing how to put on a windshield wiper (or to be able to puzzle it out), or to handle basic or simple tasks is kind of valuable in terms of being an adult.

Such as, in the office setting, if I hear someone object to doing something because "I haven't been trained on that" I cringe. I mean, have some gumption. Have some daring. Give it a fucking shot. Read the manual. Use your fucking head.

[Animavore]

The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.

So everything you perceive wrong with this generation you believe can be tied to one piece of anecdotal evidence in which you detail a kid who was brought up in a different time to you?

No, I said that the anecdote I described was the epitome of what the article I cited to is talking about. An epitiome is a really good example of a thing or concept. Do you need me to type slower, so you'll understand?

Don't see how you typing slower is going to help anything. I only see what is there after Post Bollocks is hit.

You spelt "epitome" wrong by the way.

[Forty Two]

Yes, a typo I spelled it correctly in a previous post above, though.

The typing slower thing was a joke - poking fun at you for not understanding what an epitome was.

[Animavore]

Yes, a typo I spelled it correctly in a previous post above, though.

The typing slower thing was a joke - poking fun at you for not understanding what an epitome was.

Except I do.

[Forty Two]

Yes, a typo I spelled it correctly in a previous post above, though.

The typing slower thing was a joke - poking fun at you for not understanding what an epitome was.

Except I do.

Then you would need to rethink your accusation here: http://www.rationalia.com/forum/viewtop ... 6#p1647099 , since my use of an anecdote and calling it an epitome is not that.

[Animavore]

Yes, a typo I spelled it correctly in a previous post above, though.

The typing slower thing was a joke - poking fun at you for not understanding what an epitome was.

Except I do.

Then you would need to rethink your accusation here: http://www.rationalia.com/forum/viewtop ... 6#p1647099 , since my use of an anecdote and calling it an epitome is not that.

It wasn't an accusation. It's clearly a question.

[Rum]

I was stuck on a plane in Hong Kong, got a train from Heathrow to Leicester (the Art college I attended first), a taxi to my hall of residence and didn't speak to my parents for a year!

Mind you I landed in the shit. I had no life skills to speak of. I didn't really know how England 'worked' or how to do stuff. I was overdrawn by the end of the first term, discovered drugs and beer..and girls and generally messed my life up big time.

So I got a job. And swam instead of sinking.