My generation makes me sick. How's that for a strong statement?

I've worked my tail off for everything. For the first time since I was 18 I have only one job. I used to love it in college when I heard how many people never worked a day in their life or "worked for their dad during summer vacation." Many had jobs waiting for them before they graduated. A former roomate had his father get him a job in a bank. Dad was the president of another bank and he never could tell me exactly what he did because he didn't know.

Oh yeah, those fast trackers didn't impress too much in ground school. We had 3 of 5 ATPers wash out, one from CAPT and one from DCA. Only one from a traditional training background. A couple of these guys fit right into the siver spoon mentality.

 

There is a great hunger in India, period.

 

During my senior year of undergraduate school, I remember one girl complaining because she would be a few credits short of graduation and that her father wouldn't continue to pay for the next semester. She didn't graduate on time because she screwed around. My parent's didn't pay JACK! And I was about to start veterinary school...which required all four years paid for up front. NOT cheap. Did I *****? No I did something about it. And unlike her, at least I know I've earned both of my degrees.

A lot, not all, kids are expecting everything to be handed to them. And I don't just blame the kids, I do partially blame the parents. They spoil their kids too much from the very beginning...we expose them to the media, which is usually pretty negative. Look at the "celebrities"...their drug use, alcohol abuse, etc. These are who our kids look up to. I was brought up in a catholic school, and I kept my own daughter in catholic school before she killed by a drunk drive. She was an angel to have around...and unlike other kids, was not a complete wild one. I exposed her at an early age to my work in the missionary field. I never forced her to do it, but she would always volunteer to help out. She became grateful for the things we had, knowing that other children were not as lucky. A true blessing in my life. Oh and might I add that the drive of the other car was an underage drunk kid who wasn't injured, and to this day shows no remorse of the fact he killed my daughter.

It's just really sad in general. It saddens me to turn on the news and listen...and how greedy people can be. They think nothing can happen to them, and everything should be handed over with no work.

Like pilotpip said, I'm ashamed of my own generation.

 

Wow... I am really sorry for your loss. There is probably no experience worse in the world than losing your own child. I as well am ashamed of our generation.

 

I was born in the last year of generation X.
One very telling name that I heard recently was that the newer generation of young adults are being not so affectionately referred to as the
"Less than best generation".

 

No doubt about it, the younger generation is coming out with unrealistic expectations and is, imo, just generally messed up overall. But - I don't lay the blame entirely on them. WTF were their parents thinking?! They bred and raised these kids this way. You reap what you sow, and this is the result.

 

Not sure how to respond, other than thank you. It's been a rough year.


Back on topic, I was watching a show on the national geographic channel earlier about childhood development. One of the topics discussed was whether child prodigies are a result of genetics or parental intervention. For child prodigies, they have to have a will to WANT to learn. Parent's can't force a kid to do this. As I was watching this program, I couldn't help but to think about the parents who force their kids to play baseball, football, sing, act, model...or convince them that being a doctor, lawyer, politican is the only way to be well respected and that money is everything in life. Forcing someone, of any age, to do something they have little to no interest in will do nothing other than make them unhappy in life - if they don't choose to turn against you and do what they please.

It is human nature to want to be happy, and financially secure. Sure the American Dream is what...the nice little house, 2.4 kids, white picket fence and a cute puppy dog. But with the media being the way it is, most dream of things much greater. There are TV shows like cribs, and such. Who watches this kinda stuff? The generation we speak of in this thread. They see this, and what happens? They assume that because others get to live like this, that this is the one and only lifestyle...they then start dreaming of fancy cars, huge houses, etc. They see these rich spoiled kids in NY, LA and all that get what they want...and they want to be the same. It's all a huge game, and the media has a lot to do with it.

I'm hesitant to bring up another topic that's big in society right now, but that's the topic of sex. It's alllll over tv, it's alllll over songs...it's accepted, even though it's not. Kids see their favorite celebrities talking about it. Peer pressure is everything. When their friends are doing it, be it drugs, sex, alcohol...they want to do it to be 'accepted' and 'cool.'

Oh and don't get me started on smoking and drinking. People working in these stores are NOT doing their job and carding everyone. I have friends who talk about having never been carded, yet I get carded every time...as does my husband and he hasn't been 21 in over 20 years. lol. So why are we allowing 15 year olds to get a hold of alcohol? There is absolutely zero excuse for it. And if you try pulling that, well they get it at home thing...then bring me their parents so I can smack the s*it out of them for not keeping it out of reach. There is no good reason for this. Why aren't schools enforcing this in school? I remember back in H.S. kids would smoke/do drugs in the bathroom in between and during classes. Where are the staff during this? It really only takes one walk around the school to realize what the heck is going on...and you can't tell me the smell of drugs is normal.

So to sum up my rant, yes the kids are ultimately responsible for their behavior...but don't you think the adult population has a little bit to do with this as well?

PCJ

 

From Wikipedia -

Sound familiar?

Every generation seems to get labeled as lazy, dumb, etc. by the previous. I don't understand those who say they are ashamed of their generation; don't let a few unsavory characters ruin your perspective of the group as a whole. For better or worse, things are changing and people hate change.

 

I think the reality check for the current generation is especially difficult, as well, due to the changes in the American business climate over the years.

I'm a child of 1980. When I went to college--with a scholarship, mind you--I was still paying 10k out-of-pocket for tuition. When my mother went to college, she spent ~$120 on books and fees per semester. My father was able to finance not only his college, but also his living expenses for the year by working at the dairy or on road crews during the three months of summer.

When my parents got out of college, they were able to immediately step into good jobs. When I got out of college, after months of searching I had to take a job at a call center. A disturbing number of the people there had degrees. A half-dozen of my college friends ended up there, too, because nothing else was available.

I have friends who graduated with honors working at minimum +$.50. Even with the recent hike, minimum wage is not what it used to be in terms of spending power. Not to mention, of course, that many entry-level jobs these days offer limited (and expensive) benefits, if any.

For every entitled jerk out there driving the BMW their daddy bought for them, there are dozens of good, hardworking kids who have and are paying their dues and still can't get ahead.

But there's another level here: some people have earned the right to feel a little entitled.

Shouldn't someone who's worked their way through college at least be able to get a job with benefits and enough pay to see a movie once in a while? Some may expect the corner office, but most of the people I know are just looking for something that covers their college loan payments.

A little entitlement is good. It is, after all, the voice that tells you the QOL and responsibilities that come along with being a pilot entitles you to more than, say, Skybus wages. A healthy amount of entitlement--or self-worth, if you prefer--is what staves off a race to the bottom.

While I don't doubt the veracity of the anecdotes in the article, they're certainly not representative of my experience. Hard work should pay off. That's the American Dream, right? Work hard and make a better life for yourself. For a many, hard work is not getting the things to which it should entitle.

Don't let bad apples obscure the real issue.

 

First off, I am truly sorry for your loss....I can only imagine how it's been for you.

I agree with pretty much everything you say on this thread.

What always kills me is how some parents CONSTANTLY defend their kids like they can do no wrong. My friend is a teacher and says it's so hard because parents get mad at you for saying anything remotely bad about their kids. It's like parents are in la la land. What does this show kids?

The other thing that I don't get is giving your kids EVERYTHING! Then they become spoiled little brats. I always shake my head around Christmas when you hear a news story about two moms fighting over a Tickle Me Elmo doll or something. It's nuts!