A question for some of the older parents/grandparents?

Question

I know every generation has it's negative views on younger age groups, but I'm currently writing a paper where I compare the dislikes my own generation has towards itself and whether they match what older generations think of us.

Although past post-WWII generations were lied to alot and were somewhat innocent seeing as how today we have the internet and instant information that maybe only post-grads would've had 50 years ago, I think we are insanely more sedated and to an extent want to challenge EVERYTHING someone else says just for the sake of doing it, whether it's true or not.

Kids will be kids of course but do you think we are hurting ourselves by being so cynical and/or arrogant?

Answer 1

Post WWII, the cold war hid much from the public, and their sense of patriotism would not fathem the lies about nuclear information, foods and insecticides that caused cancer, etc.  It was a shame that they were patsies for this; however, I'm sure many of the young now are just and vulnerable despite unmentionable acts that go on today that are conveniently covered up, despite your "cynicism and arrogance." Technology is doing things that are unconscienable, and the social psychology has you hooked into a false arrogance.

The real arrogance began with the rock n roll era, and the new rebels James Dean, Elvis and others the times felt the need to depict as rebelious.  This went on until the Kennedy/King era, and civil rights were then the issue in the 60s.  These were live or die situations. In the 70's people changed  their scapegoats to individuals, instead of ethnic groups, and exhibited aggression,  openly ridiculing each other on television, while they disguised it as humor. These new shows, like Good Times and Sonny and Cher were anger based with their insults and slurs to designated straightmen, and canned laughter programmed people to laugh at the insults they were giving people (fat, skinny, etc, along with the origin of the headbob, associated with an arrogant insult). Respect and consideration were a thing of the past, all the anger anyone had was not left to fester.  

Strangely enough the college students of the 70s were much more cynical, with the Vietnam issues,  Watergate, etc. Through this arrogance brought change, but not civility toward those who deserved it.  I'd say that was the most cynical era so far.

The parents of this generation are the product of that cynicism.  I do not believe the today's generation is cynical because of the same reasons.  70s students were so afraid their kids would grow up being lied to, they gave children rights they probably didn't have the responsibility to handle at the ages they were given.  That creates brats.  Sorry, but brats begats brats, or, in some cases the complete opposite: anti-brats, according to the way the "pendulum swings."  Either way,  I don't believe the ferver of the 70s is  with this generation to create the changes that this generation hasn't even realized it needs.  If you are going to be a brat...be a good brat, and one that is dedicated enough to sacrifice for what you believe in, and just not complain. If you are going to be arrogant, at least make it count for something.

Answer 2

Arrogant? Yes. And while arrogance is not dominated by any one age group, it does seem to me that many of the pre-teen, teen and college age people in the USA today have a sense of entitlement that is unlike any other I have experienced in 56 years.

I credit this to the fact that the young adult generation of today grew  up in an age of easy access to material things and the lack of involvement  in activities that are not focused on oneself.

There are exceptions, of course. I live in a small community, where all amentiies, such as stores, drive-thru restaurants and such are 25 miles away. Not too many families here with children, but those who grow up here are more involved in community events and such. Organizations such as the Scouts, Family camps (this is a mountain resort area), local fire dept. volunteers, recreation and mentoring programs, local churches and such create an environment that shows kids that indeed, it does take a village... to raise a child. It is the interaction with all ages that kids benefit from in that they learn there are needs other than their own and that their input can be valuable in meeting needs of the neighbors and community. We use the Internet a lot.. we have to to get news and such. No library for 25 miles and the 'local news' on the TV is for areas over 100 miles from us. We have a balance, kids use technolgy but they also master important skills such as conversation, reading and old-fashioned games (monopoly) that never go out of style. It is a balance of core values from the past while utilizing technology for its good advantages.

I also think kids need a sense of whom they are, where did they come from? I teach a genealogy class that is open to teens to adults and the younger students are among my favorites... once they learn about their ancestors they develop a little different attitude about what value really is. And how the better things in life are earned... not given.

This class is wonderful for those who are cynics, because it teaches them that it is good to be doubtful and that they must rely on hard evidential proof (vital records, census, military) to actually prove beyond a doubt the family history in their lineage. Once they learn how to research for factual information and how to obtain evidence... the cynics learn that if a subject is worth being doubtful about, it is also worth investigating. Maybe the cynics of today will be our future scientists and crime investigators?

If there is a WRONG here, it is in the fact that kids today are not learning how to sift through the over abundance of free info, be it on the Net, radio, TV or whatever. There is so much out there that is not viable, credentialed information. I do not believe that the generation today is receiving more or less "lied-to" propaganda.... there is more opportunity for it, hence a geater need for them to learn to identify what is real and what is not. That education must first come from the home and then from the community by way of schools, churches and organizations that help to build morals and character.

I hope this helps... ;-)

Answer 3

As an older parent, I recognise the adolescent angst as they 'dip their toe in the water', so-to-speak; but this challenge is a very neccessary part of finding their place in the world. It's a dangerous world with lots of undefined or unclear parameters, so each young person is really on a voyage of personal discovery. Some of us older generation were also somewhat 'challenging' in our attitude when we were adolescent; it's a survival mechanism. Challenging their place or perception in their world can be quite a scary thing, which leads to some nervous aggression, showing off behaviours, and negativity, but generally the adolescent will proceed to the adulthood with a more realistic frame of mind. There is a lot of individual variation of course.