How did the tail-end of Baby-Boomers produce such dysfunction?

[daepp]

I don't entirely disagree with you JD. In no way is a YouTube video guaranteed to be representative of an entire generation; I hope and pray it's horribly distorted and that those interviewed are are exceptions to their peers.

Your point about videos not being representative loses no validity regardless, but I'm curious, did you watch the video?

[JD159]

Originally Posted by daepp

I don't entirely disagree with you JD. In now way is a YouTube video guaranteed to be representative of an entire generation; I hope and pray it's horribly distorted and that those interviewed are are exceptions to their peers.

Your point about videos not being representative loses no validity regardless, but I'm curious, did you watch the video?

I did. It's sad. They not only represent millennials poorly, but their country, and the entire species! I dislike stupidity whether it comes from the young, the old, the white, the black, the men, the women, the neutral?

What I also dislike is when people use "the stupid" to generalize about a generation. I've been guilty of it in the forum too, mostly because I was trying to fight some fire with fire, but was ironically immediately called out as ageist. This has been going on forever. With a lot of criticism being given to the millennials. Not sure if the overall criticism volume has varied throughout the years, but I feel like the millennials are certainly getting a lot of attention. But hey, it could be the same as it always has been, but social media now allows for the criticism to be even more public and widespread. An argument could be made that we are the first generation to be young adults during this technological transition period, and as such are seeing what normal levels of generational criticism will be like in the future. What used to be water-cooler talk, is now front-line media. "Millennials are lazy according to tail end baby boomers". "Millennials are weak, scared by Trump written on sidewalk".

For example. Check out these millennials. I'm worried about the future!



Or how about those Americans! I'm worried about the future!




Stupid will always exist. Unfortunately, they get a lot of attention....

Someone from across the ocean might see the above video, and really think Americans are stupid. Sure, quite a few might be, but as a whole, I think you guys are pretty smart! Not so much the government, but the people!

PS. Responded on my phone. May have grammatical inconsistencies.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

There are winners and losers in every generation. Based on my own experience, I think there is a greater proportion of losers in the millennial population. I've hired and fired 5 assistants in 3 months, 2 of whom cried a few times on the job, one of whom couldn't handle the stress of doing inventory. Had never seen anything like it. Ended up with a stoner Gen X who was worlds better.

As mentioned earlier, I also blame it on the every kid gets an award mentality combined with parent's need to be their kid's friend. But mostly on schools in which no one shines brightly because it would hurt the less intelligent and less motivated kids' feelings. One of my strongest memories in life was 3rd grade. Our teacher created a star system and awarded stars for how well you did in class and on homework. There was a huge poster on the wall, each kid's name and a successive row of stars added across the sheet as the year went by. In the last 2 months, 2 girls and I were neck and neck and all three of us were doing extra homework, skipping ahead in the lesson plan, raising our hands more, and more vigorously, etc. so we could win. My doubling of the number of homonyms required in a homework assignment and doing a few synonyms sealed the deal, though the other two girls were more intelligent. I just worked harder. And loved the competition.

That poster would never be allowed today.

[JD159]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

There are winners and losers in every generation.

Based on my own experience, I think there is a greater proportion of losers in the millennial population.

As mentioned earlier, I also blame it on the every kid gets an award mentality combined with parent's need to be their kid's friend. But mostly on schools in which no one shines brightly because it would hurt the less intelligent and less motivated kids' feelings.

If this is truly the case, it is not the kids fault, but the teachers and parents. The kids just went to school and participated. They never controlled the rules and policies.

Which means the generation of losers is the tail-end baby-boomers for being such $hitty role-models and educators for the youth. That would be how they produced such dysfunction, IF you believe there is more dysfunction now in millennials than anytime before. Which I believe is false.

PS. My dad has hired a ton of just awful tail-end baby boomers. He's a tail-end baby boomer. I'm sure when I'm doing the hiring, I'll go through a whole bunch of people my own age who I can't believe exist, as well as some young "slackers". It's the way of life.

[JD159]

Don't get me wrong, as a millennial, I rant all the time about how stupid the "everyone is a winner mentality" really is. Should be outlawed.

The best part is, at some point, anyone who as a child became skewed by this mentality, will get into the real world, and will learn that not everyone is a winner.

Adult sports, your neighbour, the workplace and most of the people you meet will teach you that not everyone can win. Ya sure some people might want things for free, and they might get a few things for free, but that will have limits. A lazy millennial won't get that nice house, or that nice car, or that great wife, or that great job, etc etc etc....

They'll figure it out. I did, many years ago. Some will figure it out earlier, some later.

[daepp]

Re the psychedelic bus of the Merry Pranksters, they were purposefully and demonstrably _counter_ cultural. Demographers (and idiots like me ) are interested in what _mainstream_ millennialism is about. The trends, what's embraced (social media, Uber, tech) and what's rejected (home buying? Car buying?).

As you state, every generation wonders if the next one is different in some unique and or significant way. As a 50 year old I watched and listened to the discussions about Gen X (mostly "pull up your pants" and Gen Y "I worried about all the video games Marge!"

From my vantage point, the discussion about Millenials is different. They are the first generation to come of age in the period following the economic collapse of 2008, and I think this profoundly affects their buying habits. And depending on how you define it, they/you are also the generation that doesn't remember a world before the Internet.

As someone who has reproduced thrice, and is himself from the tail end of the baby boom, the subject of Millenials is near and dear to me. My oldest is working in mid-town Manhattan making good living and good use of her classical liberal education. My next Millenial graduates from the Naval Academy next Friday with a degree in Chinese. And my youngest Millenial is a second year (dreaded?) STEM major. We are solidly middle class, and I'll be honest, I/we do not encounter the level of ignorance seen in that Watters video in my work life (I own a construction company so...) or in the friends of my Millenials. Those answers were appalling. But you're also right hat those Boomers in the video you posted are no better. Point well taken - there's plenty of stupid to go around.

I'll pray that (what I think is) your assertion is correct - that the Millenial generation is not as bad off as I and others have suggested. I really do hope you're right! For everyone's sake!

[JD159]

Originally Posted by daepp

Re the psychedelic bus of the Merry Pranksters, they were purposefully and demonstrably _counter_ cultural. Demographers (and idiots like me ) are interested in what _mainstream_ millennialism is about. The trends, what's embraced (social media, Uber, tech) and what's rejected (home buying? Car buying?).

As you state, every generation wonders if the next one is different in some unique and or significant way. As a 50 year old I watched and listened to the discussions about Gen X (mostly "pull up your pants" and Gen Y "I worried about all the video games Marge!"



I'll pray that (what I think is) your assertion is correct - that the Millenial generation is not as bad off as I and others have suggested. I really do hope you're right! For everyone's sake!

Good post! This is the stuff I like. The youtube video post activated my keyboard warrior self and I start hurling insults

One thing to note, "Millennials" are a broad demographic. It's a bit of a gray area. Gen Z is in my mind born 2002+, whereas a millennial is technically defined to be born as early as the early 80's to 2000's, which is a bit vague, because Gen Z according to the wiki can start as early as 1995.

There is some consensus that it is early 1980s to 1995 for Millennials. Since I was born in 1991, I consider myself a Millennial, which is a Gen Y.

The kids who are really immersed in the technology and social-networking are those of Gen Z. Some say they are also early, mid or late 1990's, although I believe it is those born 2002+, because the are considered the iGeneration, and mid 90's is too early for that.

I remember when we got dialup, my PC 133mhz computer that I hated, playing NHL 95 in MS-DOS, and The Simpsons! Whereas my youngest brother, born around 2005, only knows wifi, highspeed, and windows 7.

Originally Posted by daepp

I'll pray that (what I think is) your assertion is correct - that the Millenial generation is not as bad off as I and others have suggested. I really do hope you're right! For everyone's sake!

That would be my argument. I could very well be wrong, and all the children of the pelicans, their friends, the ignorance that you HAVEN'T encountered in your line of work, and my experiences, are all an anomaly while the vast majority of people my age are completely useless! But if your in a room with 20 kids, and 4 of them start throwing a tantrum, those are the only one going to be noticed. With social media as ripe as it is and the current media, I think that is where this stigma comes from and keeps gaining momentum. Sure, we will have our generational differences because of recessions and changes in technology, work ethic can also change, but I wouldn't write off a generation just yet.

Only time will tell, and like you, I hope I'm right.

Funny example of Millennial thinking I'll add. Dad asked me to unload about 15 bags of mulch. I agreed, but I'll do it my way. He said just take the bags and unload it (wheelbarrow broke). I said no. I put 2 maybe 4 foot 2x4's on the ground, put the bags horizontally on the wood, and my brother and I carried 5 bags a load! Worked amazing. I felt 1 bag at a time was too much effort so found a more efficient way of doing things. He scoffed at my idea, because it made "hard work" a little easier. I could see him smiling and he said "lazy bugger".

Now put someone who is perhaps older, grumpier and more stubborn (sammyg2 is a perfect example) in that position, and they would of called us young slackers! And voila, a stigma is born.

[daepp]

Clarity! And even some agreement - I like that.

Good luck in your future - it needs to remain bright much longer for you (and my own Millennials) than for me!

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by Tilikum Turbo

I look at my own older sister who's kids were raised with no real consequences to screw-ups, have a gross sense of entitlement, NEED to be praised everyday for mediocrity, and have all the confidence in the world(no doubt psycho-tropically drug induced), yet have the actual ability to do very little.

Then I realize that this is not unlike mainstream America...how did we raise such dysfunctional person(s)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4IjTUxZORE

if only we had another generation as terrible as the boomers were. they were given everything, they destroyed it, and they blame us for being entitled. lol.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by JD159

If this is truly the case, it is not the kids fault, but the teachers and parents. The kids just went to school and participated. They never controlled the rules and policies.

Which means the generation of losers is the tail-end baby-boomers for being such $hitty role-models and educators for the youth. That would be how they produced such dysfunction, IF you believe there is more dysfunction now in millennials than anytime before. Which I believe is false.

PS. My dad has hired a ton of just awful tail-end baby boomers. He's a tail-end baby boomer. I'm sure when I'm doing the hiring, I'll go through a whole bunch of people my own age who I can't believe exist, as well as some young "slackers". It's the way of life.

this is why i've never understood the bashing of the younger generation.

you guys raised us, your just saying you guys were ****ty as parents, politicians, economists, and teachers. congrats boomers, you were terrible!

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by JD159

Typed in haste on my phone. Your pathetic.

I mis-speel stuff all the time on porpoise, but not when I'm calling someone else dumb or stupid.
Kinda takes something off the punch if you know what I mean.





I think we need to go back and start blaming the hippies again.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Three times in a row is not a typo.

I mis-speel stuff all the time on porpoise, but not when I'm calling someone else dumb or stupid.
Kinda takes something off the punch if you know what I mean.





I think we need to go back and start blaming the hippies again.

no one cares. get a real counterpoint.

[JD159]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I mis-speel stuff all the time on porpoise, but not when I'm calling someone else dumb or stupid.
Kinda takes something off the punch if you know what I mean.





I think we need to go back and start blaming the hippies again.

Oh boy. You're pathetic.

That is much longer to type on mobile. Get over it.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

(a picture with lots of big words that CP does't understand)

no one cares. get a real counterpoint.

Wasn't talking to you douche bag, ya sniveling cowardly POS.
And I mean that in the nicest way.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Wasn't talking to you douche bag, ya sniveling cowardly POS.
And I mean that in the nicest way.

lel



come back when you have more than insults and grammar corrections.

[JD159]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Kinda takes something off the punch if you know what I mean.
.

Since we are doing a spelling and grammar check, "kinda" is not a word in the English language.

Kind of takes something off the punch if you know what I mean.

[JD159]

But you probably used "kinda" because you don't need to include the space or the "of" so it's easier to type in an informal setting. Right?

Perhaps if you can wrap your brain around the concept, my incorrect usage of your, was for the same reason, as your use of "kinda". It's shorter, easier to type, and everyone knows exactly what your saying in an informal setting.

[daepp]

That Punk is in, I'm out. There's no being civil with him.

[JD159]

Originally Posted by daepp

That Punk is in, I'm out. There's no being civil with him.

All was good until Sammy chimed and and busted my balls about my your usage after we had a good discussion.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by daepp

That Punk is in, I'm out. There's no being civil with him.

can't hack it?

figures.

the boomers were given cheap college, a US manufacturing industry second to none, a world where a single blue collar income could raise a middle class family, and they protested our involvement in foreign wars.

they hiked up the price of college astronomically, killed the US manufacturing industry, destroyed the unions and cut middle class wages, and got us involved in nearly constant wars.

and don't try to blame us, we were not even adults, much less of voting age. you were. you did this.

and now we get called entitled, because we are working harder than the boomers, for less money than the boomers, and we are on average 10-50 grand in debt because of the boomers, and we still can't get jobs because you crashed the economy for us.

and we are entitled? WE ARE ENTITLED?

there is nothing in the world more entitled than the boomers. you were given it all, and you wrecked it. the greatest generation fraught and died for your lifestyle, and you sold them out, and gave us ****. and now you try to accuse us of being the problem?

take your own advice sometime, take some responsibility for your actions boomers. you did this.