Spoiled generation?

[Shinrin]

Older generations seem to always call our generation the spoiled one, would you agree? and what do you think the future generations will be like?

I suppose i agree to some extend that we were spoiled atleast generally here by our parents gained lots of toys, wern't forced to eat, realitive free borders etc.
But if my generation was spoiled... What about the one growing up now born in 2000 or later.

It's not unusual for kids to have there own Mobiles by the age of 4-5 and once they're in school it's more uncommon not to have one then to have one even among the ones that do have, they look down upon those who have older models even if just 2 years older then theres.
Younger and younger kids start to drink and do drugs aswell as crimes last week 3 kids two of em 11 and one 13 were taken for steeling cars.
some 9 year olds were taken in taking estacy(sp?)
Not to forget the language they curse much more even in kindergarten and it's usually way more sex centered words then back when i used to go there:rolleyes:

Now kids are more oftend saying stuff like Fuck off(now) then go to hell(~what they might say in my childhood)

If this continiues... the future ain't looking so bright


So i wondered if you felt that in your area kids are becomming more spoiled or how they've changed since your childhood.

[emoloz]

I can see where you coming from but well we really can't help it. People and ideas move on and everything evolves. Its not like we can do anything about it. Thats life. The way it is and it will never change. They only say were spoilt because they never had it. I guess i see where they are coming from but life then and now was completely different so what was spoilt to them and what is spoilt to us are two different ideas and ways of thinking.

It isn't looking bright because people don't care about people anymore. Its all about the person you are and stuff. Which to me is arrogant, immature and darn right rude. People think they can rule the world by clicking there fingers but believe me they will all come to learn in time its not all about that.

As my brothers younger i see it like that. Hes so spoilt more than i ever was yet he still says i am the spoilt one. I mean yes i do have a lot more things that some kids in the world have but if you look at it most kids my age in the UK have exactually the same things because that is soicety and evolution.

I hate the way people arew rude about it though. I ma greatful for what i have and i really wouldn't change it for the world and i wish that everyone could share what i have and have what i have and no poveryty and such stuff but we try and its hard for it all to work out.

[♠ Saint ♠]

Am I the only one that thinks that older folks are spoiled by Social Security? I mean, there will be no Social Security for people my age when it comes time for us to retire. Baby boomers are living to be older and retiring earlier these days. They demand a buttload of benefits and... yeah. Who is really spoiled here? We are getting spoiled now to get ravaged later and they've already weathered the hard times and are living the good life.

[Agmaster]

We are spoiled by what we are able to attain, not what we have. There are a number of poor and destitute people our age who scrape and fight to get what have just as hard as any older generation. However, the potential to achieve is grotesquely high.

[Rain]

People from older generations will always say that people fom younger generations are spoiled, because we aren't as appreciative of certain things (food, housing) as they were. I woldn't call that spoiled at all, as long as people are still thankful for what they have and what they can attain. It's when one isn't thankful that one becomes spoiled:D

[Who]

Its hard to say. Our generation has so much new technology that they didn't have, and can't understand. I can see certain people being spoiled, but I also see a lot more people being raised proper. I mean every generation has their spoiled brats no?

[Frosted Heart]

I agree with Rain. People from previous generations will always say the future generation is spoiled. I think it's even more true now since new discoveries/technology will give future generations advantages and luxuries the previous one never had.

However that doesn't mean they're spoiled, just that they have a different life. I heard on the radio once that this current generation is the one that volunteers and donates the most, that tries to achieve more because standards are shifting and doors are opening for people who wouldn't have had the same chances even a few decades ago. That doesn't sound awfully spoiled to me (though of course, there will always be some people who are super spoiled and stuck up).

Sometimes though, I despair at the seeming lack of common sense in society, but for the most part I am optimistic of the future of humankind.

[♠ Saint ♠]

Common sense is not so common.

I liked the thought that Agmaster put forward, quite an interesting concept that really, we are not as socially restricted as we were 50 or 100 years ago. 50 years ago, whatever tier in society you were born into determined what you would achieve and usually what kind of life you would lead. These days, you see people from poor homes growing up to be wealthy and successful men and women. Agmaster is right. The ability to attain is a powerful thing in itself so yes, you could say that our generation is being spoiled in that we have the ability to make our own lots in life instead of the ones we are handed.

Take me for example. I grew up in a middle class area and then my mother tossed me out onto the streets. I fought tooth and nail for everything I could, lived out my car for like... 2 or 3 weeks and took showers at friend's houses. I managed a steady waitressing job and my boss maintained an apartment where she housed the sushi chef and cook. I got to sleep on a stack of matresses in the living room but it was a roof over my head.

That was 2 years ago. I live with my father now, am second in command of security at a Toyota warehouse, I drive a 2006 Taurus, and I have a ton of opportunities before me that I could not have had access to unless I had worked hard for them. I should have my own apartment within a year and am aiming for a more professional career.

[avidlinuxuser]

The truth is no generation is really all that spoiled. Our grandparents would have had air-conditioning in their homes if a generation before them invented such a thing. What many people call spoiled is just a sign of technological progression. Now, is it always beneficial? Does it negatively impact us in any way?

For the first question, the answer is an almost emphatic yes when looking at the technology itself. We are not going to invent technology which makes it more difficult for our home life. We desire to have sort of luxury. Things which are common now were Luxury items as recent as 2 or 3 years ago. These things with which we live have given us more avenues for entertainment as well as for learning.

For the second question, you should look at the impact that technology has on a whole. These days, we actually work more hours in the average week then people were 100 or 200 years ago. Because we want these common luxuries as well as to provide necessities, we must put in those extra hours at work in order to live a fairly standard life cause no one really wants to be too far out of the norm. When looking at this, we come to see that in some ways our ancestors were more spoiled then we are. The agrarian and hunter culture of the past didn't need to rely too much on monetary exchange for necessities as most people hunt or grew their own food. These two things do not require 40+ hour weeks.

I don't feel like writing a conclusion, but I hope you enjoyed the read.

[Kuchappy]

It all depends in our surroundings. If the next gereration will adopt what we(don't hit me!) do & they see us doing something not good. Like the way of words today, some clothes that we wear now (miniskirts, weird hairdues,) Some shows that shows violent actions.

But still, I don't agree with spoiled generation. I still believe that they can change.

[Marionette]

Having better things having nothing to do with the behavior you mentioned (which I don't think is more common now, drug use/teenage pregnancy etc. actually gone down since earlier generations - if you are talking about the US). Human beings improve, life gets better, and hopefully people see that as a good thing.

But if I have a kindergartener who throw "fuck off" around or a 13 year old who gets high I'd ground him/her for life, and than reexamine my life as well as his - my point is that I'll take it seriously and find the root of it, which I'm sure isn't that their generation is just not as good as mine because they have cell phones (which I don't mind young children having because it actually makes it easier for you to keep track of them).

[stifflersthedog]

I'd agree with what everyone (i think) is saying: That we are comparitively spoiled i.e. compared to what each previous generation had the next generation is spoiled, and that is due to all the reasons mentioned, technology etc etc.

[NightMare]

Its hard to say. Our generation has so much new technology that they didn't have, and can't understand. I can see certain people being spoiled, but I also see a lot more people being raised proper. I mean every generation has their spoiled brats no?


You are right dude!!I agree

Care to add a little meat to your post? ^^

- FH

[Primera Espada]

here's a funny story that I think is related to the topic.

A couple of young, let's say mid-college age, 20, 21 year olds are at a table in a restaurant talking about how older people don't understand all this new technology they have, the internet, wireless everything etc. Sitting nearby is an older man, one of the babyboomers, aged nearly 60. He hears bits and pieces of the conversation until a specific line is mentioned.

"I wonder what they did back then, without the internet, or computers, or cell phones?"

The man stood up, walked over and answered the question for them. "What did we do? We INVENTED them. Now what are *you* going to do?"

A nice lesson that states how we often forget that all our slacking is only an option because those before us worked so hard. Due to certain social coddling, people are being encouraged to do whatever they feel like, instead of being productive members of society. What will be left? Probably an entire generation of stagnation, followed by our kids growing up hating all things slacking related, causing them to be quite productive, possibly revolutionary.

[BLUESMILE]

here's a funny story that I think is related to the topic.

A couple of young, let's say mid-college age, 20, 21 year olds are at a table in a restaurant talking about how older people don't understand all this new technology they have, the internet, wireless everything etc. Sitting nearby is an older man, one of the babyboomers, aged nearly 60. He hears bits and pieces of the conversation until a specific line is mentioned.

"I wonder what they did back then, without the internet, or computers, or cell phones?"

The man stood up, walked over and answered the question for them. "What did we do? We INVENTED them. Now what are *you* going to do?"

A nice lesson that states how we often forget that all our slacking is only an option because those before us worked so hard. Due to certain social coddling, people are being encouraged to do whatever they feel like, instead of being productive members of society. What will be left? Probably an entire generation of stagnation, followed by our kids growing up hating all things slacking related, causing them to be quite productive, possibly revolutionary.

Doing whatever they want to do , directly causes that many young couples be married today but say goodbye to each other tomorrow . Are they spoiled ? Your spouse is not your parent , he or she will not submit to your requires out of normal reason . But no need to worry about nowaday generation would develop stagnantly , still because of the way they have that is doing whatever they feel like . Society being developed forward all along , due to the generation's fresh drive and fearless courage .

[Tenonee]

I dont like to think of defining being "spoiled" by what you have as much as what you do with it and how you are as a person. Someone that has $1000 could act more spoiled than someone with $1000000. It depends on how you treat other people and how you treat what you have. If you're always nice, considerate and generous with everyone you come intact with and you use at least some of what you have to benefit others you arent spoiled. But if you dont have that much and expect everyone to do things for you, act completely selfish and take things other people dont have for granted then you are spoiled even though you may have less than the person who is it.

Think about food. Yes im comparing people to food, no im not a cannibal. If you leave out two fruits for a while they will eventually spoil but one will spoil before the other. When the first spoils does that automatically mean that the other is spoiled as well? Of course not, because the fruit being spoiled is defined by the condition its in, not how long it's been out. Tying everything back to the main point, think of time the fruit is left out as the amount of stuff a person has and whether the fruit is spoiled as.. well.. whether or not the person is spoiled.

This is not saying however that having alot of stuff doesnt contribute to a person being spoiled, all fruit will spoil eventually, but when looking at whether the new generation is spoiled or not look more at how they act rather than what they have because of course we have more than the previous generation, i mean, they made at least a little advancement right?

That being said, I think it's perfectly reasonable for the older generation to think of the newer as spoiled because they take more for granted because of general advancements in society. But, the new generation doesnt really act any more spoiled than the previous generation did, and hey, there was probably an older generation that thought they were spoiled too, no?

Please tell me if there's anything wrong with my argument.

[BLUESMILE]

... Someone that has $1000 could act more spoiled than someone with $1000000. ...

I like these words . Sometimes it happens .
In my opinion , circumstances altering cases , as well as people . Personally , I’ve got an experience from being spoiled to not being spoiled . Sometimes I will lose my temper still , but you can’t think of this as being spoiled to me , everyone is in need of emotional abreaction occasionally . The important thing is how you put an end to it , and how you feel the way you act . I was ever told by someone , that is , if he were me , he would not put it that way . Yes , maybe he is mature than me , but he is older than me as well . Now I am learning to more and more consider an end will be caused before I act or I say . I might being mature , but it doesn’t mean that I was spoiled all the time before I recognized these . I think most younger people will think like that . In some cases , being spoiled thought by us just implies being immature .

[mechaqua]

My generation is the 1990's till now and i will admit we are a instant gratification generation, with the advent of the internet, and other high technology advances,plus inflation costs. I mean at school i can't walk three steps around campus, without seeing a person with an I pod Zune or Mp3 player. (I have a Zune my self thank you ebay) I keep seeing kids as young as seven with cell phones, not just crappy pay as you go phones, but these are I Phones, and touch phones, new generation Razors and Choclates, my crappy Syono, (its sort of broken, i get bad feedback, and the signal is crappy in a lot places it shouldn't)was a default plan phone, even then i was happy to have it i paid for it on my own i sill pay for it! and i just got about two years ago, before i shared a pay as you go phone with my mother and sister. i am getting a new phone i can finally upgrade after two years. but i am off subject the fact is instant gratification is more common these days we have become more spoiled I sound like an Old man (laugh out loud)

[ookami]

I'd don't think our generation is spoiled I mean things like Teenage pregnancy and drugs were alot worse in the victorian times infact I'd say the previous generations were the spoiled generations. Our education has vastly increased the world and generations are never going to be perfect they're always going to have let downs.

[Spartan27]

As others said before, I wouldn't call our generation spoiled, we are just the product of the times. You can't tell me that someone who had grown up in a earlier time wouldn't do the same things that we do, if they had had the opportunity. What I get upset about is that sometimes there is a prejudice against our generation when comes to our work ethic, or our interest in politics, there are other things as well, but I can't really explain them. My point is that it seems like we get ragged on, when really there should be a ton of things that we as a generation should be furious with the generations before us.

For instance global warming, health care (for the United States that is), many of the international situations that were caused by U.S interference in other nations. Perhaps the biggest of all is Social Security, personally I am outraged with the baby boomers and the other past generations, that this problem will not be fixed, and while they enjoy the benefits of it, we will have to fight and scrap by for our entire lives, because they didn't have the foresight to see that we would be in trouble. The world has a huge amount of problems that we're going to have to fix, that makes me angry, especially when older generations complain about us.

[earthforge]

Etto...

I think many of you are being rather confusing, because on BA we have a mix of Gen-X and Gen-Y (yes, it's gen-y and the person who decided that it should be named after a Buzz Lightyear episode should be slapped.)

Could you guys be more specific?

I'm guessing the thread is on gen-y's, and I'd say it depends. I think it will reflect on the division between rich and middle classes. Those in middle classes probably experienced crazy gen-x parents. I think the Twilight Zone episode "Children's Zoo" represents the gen-y mindset well. But I think that gen-y's really dislike the prior generation.

[Fortunate]

One thing to put into consideration is that our past generations were most likely not as well off as most of us today.

My mother would talk to me about how she had nothing, would go days without eating, never got a birthday or Christmas gift, was always given hand-me-downs, etc. She would tell me that she never wanted me to live like that.

I for one, have never taken anything given to me for granted. Even when she had me, we still weren't too well off. We went through a lot of shit, and my mother worked hard to get where she is now.

So I guess you could say those who take what is given to them for granted are in fact spoiled.

[Ninira]

I've heard many people complain about how lazy this generation is supposed to be, but I feel like we have the highest standards to live up to. Not only do we have to get good grades in school, we're expected to get a full ride through college by getting lots of scholarships, and we're expected to have a part-time job from at least 16 onwards. Smart kids are expected to get at least a year of college done before they even leave high school. (Talking equivalents through AP classes and such.)

My parents weren't even expected to finish college. It could just be me, but I feel like this generation is more stressed than others.

[mechaqua]

I have to agree with the college course requirements, i didn't see most of class going into the full time work force after college, but yet my generations is expected to not only go to college, but grad school, i don't actually plan to get a real salary job until after i get out of law school, when i graduated from high school i had a 3.5 i will still not able to make the top 100 out of the 380 in my class (i was around 108) i took my damn AP courses, got a least a years worth of college done, i got piss poor scholarship offers. I think the highest was 10000 over 8 semesters, but the rest were just worthless, usually capping out at 1000( even with these i am in debt up to my eyes from student loans!) i did not have a great SAT score : 1150 (math/verbal) but an ACT of 29. I am off topic, yes education wise are generations is expected to preform better, although, the United Sates Public school system, is complete crap in alot of areas i was lucky my school, was in a relatively wealthy area, I have a sister who teaches 9th grade in West Virgina, and a lot of the kids cannot read (scares the s**t out me, that a kid at the age of 13 cannot read :( ) i keep getting off topic, I still say our generation is more of an instant gratification, generation, and we are spoiled, but we are not without our own hardships