Young people today tend not to serve their community.?

Question

Do you agree or disagree?If so,give me two specific reason why?

Answer 1

I agree. Community service is more a forced thing that only young people that break the law have to do. I think very few young people have the time or energy to deal with helping their community unless it is forced on them for a grade or to win merit points. Even then, a lot will not participate in it.

Answer 2

I agree.

For one thing, with the whole "instant gratification" culture, we want what we want, and we want it now!  If somebody around us like a teacher or parent isn't interesting, we tune them out with iPods, change the channel, go to a different website, or we start texting to drown out the "boringness" of life.  We would rather be with friends and do fun stuff than have to do any kind of work because its much more fun to take MySpace pictures than to sweep a floor or do dishes or homework.  We're not satisfied with what all we have, as something newer and better is always coming out and we've gotta have it.  Why should we bother with these "other" people that are poor, homeless, pregnant, or old?  (This is the general idea of a response I get from teens)  Young people now are given everything they ask or whine for and then some.  They don't appreciate the value of work and serving others as they'd much rather serve themselves as it benefits them right here, right now.  I've seen this in all age groups, my own included (I'm almost 26) of today's young people.

Another reason that they generally seem to not want to help out around the community is that they weren't taught to do so.  As another generalization, it seems that the mass media, especially the TV and internet have raised so many young people and goodness knows you won't find many wholesome values such as community service in the media, at least not unless you look really hard.

From the way that things seem, young people wouldn't want to serve in a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or anything like that because the people might smell funny and these people would be "different" and they would be forced to step outside of their comfort zones and face the reality that not everyone has it as good as they do, and they could potentially be the ones that are homeless and that's not something that young people want to think about.  It can be somewhat of a scary experience to step outside of one's comfort zone, yet it can be so rewarding to gain a new perspective on life and other people.  I wish community service wasn't seen as a chore or a bad thing.

Answer 3

I do agree.  People are so tied up with other things to do.  People have to work, and earn money.  Outside of work; most people want to spend the rest of their time with friends.  That's why people don't serve the community.

Answer 4

What community?

We have retreated into TV's and computers. Do you know your neighbors? Where do you live? Is there a downtown or a square where you gather with your community? Or is it here on Y!A?

Answer 5

I think that voluntarism has actually become a trendy thing to do. On the other hand, I think people in general, not just young people, are less involved with their community (street, neighborhood, town.. whatever). Check out Robert Bellah.

Answer 6

Youngster today tend to immerse themselves in virtual reality world by indulge themselve in watching movies, surfing Internets and fantasizing themselves in the t.v games.  All this had taken too much of the valuable time of youngster today.   Hence, they will not have much time to serve community.

Overemphasis of materialism  which is the heritage from their parents also influence the thinking of young generation.  Youngster nowadays more selfish and think for their own needs due to role model from their parents.  Industrialized and materialized society had forced parents to work extra hard for surviving and catch up in the competition. The wave of globalisation through high speed  fiber optic communication via internet pushed society to compete to the tip of their foot.  In such situation, who will have time to concern more about others?  Who will teach our next generation to knock the door of their neighbours to say 'hi'?

Answer 7

young people of any time are seen to "not serve their community" by their elders , the grown ups, the adults etc

i disagree

1

cos its a sociological expectation that children should act like grown ups

but they are NOT grown ups

2  its not the children who have changed, but the adults who grow up and expect kids to be grown up NOW, they dont appreciate or leave room for kids to be young,

Answer 8

your right.. people don't serve thee community anymore.. did they ever though??   I've been working in th Human services field for many years and I have always relied heavily on volunteerism in the workplace, yet, I've always had to allocate substantial time to the recruitment of volunteers.  

On another note, I really do believe that kids are very selfish and self centred these days and I notice that they have became very desensitised to the needs of people.. i wonder if it's to do with the new technology of today??  hehe i sound like an old bag, i know.

Answer 9

Yes I agree I think my generation and the one right before me have not raised their children the way we all were raised. most of Our kids are self serving, only concerned about what they are going to get to do or what they think they need to get for their selves