Is the "my way or the highway" philosophy hurting our Western countries ?

Question

For instance let us consider the recent Virginia Tech massacre or the recent massacre in a Quebec university in Canada. Many would say that the root of the problem is lax gun laws or not enough campus security. But one very intelligent female writer pointed out in a reputed news magazine that the culprit is not gun laws, but NARCISSISM.

The way we are always praising our children (especially in America), and telling them that they are special, and that, in essence, the world should, or MUST conform to their principles / way of thinking, is creating intolerant kids who, when faced with real - world situations, cannot bear the differences and turn anti - social.

You see, everybody has problems in life. Most people analyze the situation and when confronted with the fact that they are in the wrong, make changes in themselves. But these kids, having never been taught by their parents that at times they can be wrong, assure themselves that the world sucks and is responsible for their failures.

What do you have to say about this ?

Mature insights only please.

Thank you very much for your time and effort.

God Bless.

Answer 1

I am only 17 1/2, and I agree. From what I've seen, heard, and my own experience, kids in America cannot handle a lot of things as their parents had been able to. When a kid is praised too much, they are blinded from reality and when someone finally gets them to see the truth, they are wounded. They can't accept failure, or afraid of it.

This generation is considered extremely weak by my parents, especially because kids rely on everything, from their parents, to entertainment like TV, internet.  

Answer 2

Western countries appear to be the better places to live. The United States on top.  How many suicide bombs have gone off in other countries?  Compare that to how many shootings you describe here in the States.  We don't need new gun laws, we need to enforce the ones that are there.  We need to have parents that are mature enough to teach the children.  The intolerant kids you are talking about have grown up being raised by parents who tried to mature in the 80's after being raised by the late 60's and early 70's parents.  Drug culture ideas in charge today?  Perhaps.  You must look at polls that will tell you how many single parents there are out there. How many two job families there are with child care trying to fill in.  The kids you are talking about have never had to suffer like our grandparents did back in the 20' 30's,40['s and 50's to scratch a living out of what was available.  Give me Give me Give me is the vast majority of the children who are trying to mature today.  The want they have are for pleasurable things and not things needed to survive.. Socialism is raising its ugly head and will kill the ones that still remember what it was like to suffer in growing up.  

Sorry for the long answer but this is multifacited question.

Answer 3

Yes, I think so.  Reason being--with the rising energy prices, fewer and fewer highways are being built.  Consequently, having to take "your" highway vs. a toll road limits the global awareness of a dynamic economy.  Make sense?

Answer 4

Oh my God, that is awesome. Everything I think about modern child rearing was just summed up by you. Young people today seem to have this sense of entitlement, like the world owes them. Their parents teach them how wonderful and unique and smart and special they are, and then when they get out in the real world they're hit with the harsh reality that nobody cares about how wonderful and unique and smart and special they are. They are one fish in a sea of special fish, and they can't understand why no one is conforming to their needs like their parents did. Biggest mistake ever: believing that children should be the center of the family unit. This belief is where narcissism begins.

Wonderful post.