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Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

economist.com

81–90 of 125 posts

Re: Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

#81
For once, an article that doesn't stigmatize teenagers too much, but rather speak about society changes. Usually it's all about criticizing teenagers because they do this or that badly, but when they're better behaved, adults necessarily try to explain how that's wrong...

Just give the teens a break! Let them live, learn and play the way they want.

Re: Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

#82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People also have been rejecting that since time immemorial, so the strength of your argument just barely suffices to eat itself.

That some people have been rejecting it since time immemorial doesn't mean those behaviours don't exist. What I'm disagreeing with is this: new doctrines of consumerism that is making us all willing to use each other (apparently) for our short-term jollies. It isn't the new doctrines of consumerism that are making us do this, it's human nature; we like to fuck. So your argument ... isn't one.

There's still worlds between liking to fuck and using each other like toys. Though consumerist attitudes may not be new, see e.g. that Latin dude talking about how the mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled.

Re: Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

#84
post #15

Can someone explain why less hedonistic is seen as better?

That's the debate in the article body. Less hedonistic meaning they are having less sex and so fewer unintended and teenage pregnancies, less drinking and drugs and so less violence and anti-social behavior, better relations with the parents and in particular their fathers, and more pursuing further education. Basically every metric of bad behavior that used to be a cause of concern for 80s and 90s teenagers is acros…

I don't think drinking less and doing less drugs makes you more depressed, stressed, sexless and lonely. I think the reverse is true with possible exception of loneliness, but you are better off without the type of company booze and drugs provide.

Re: Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

#85

Could be because of many reasons. e.g: prior generations were exposed to tetraethyllead, which is known to make people aggressive.

Further reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraethyllead#Effect_on_crime...

Re: Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

#86

Indolent and conformist perhaps is another way to describe this. I fail to see how this a good thing. A young generation perpetuating pointless taboos imposed on them rather than making their own experiences frankly is a sad development.

Conformist in what way? Are you living in the 1950s? Our media and culture certainly does not preach this kind of behavior, but rather the opposite: if you are virgin by 20, don't drink and don't do drugs, you are a loser.

Re: Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

#87
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there anything wrong with waiting to have sex with someone you're invested in? I've found those types of experiences to be worth it, long-term. It's interesting that some see that as naive--it's the opposite if anything. Easy sex is fun but it would seem hard to invest in anyone but myself.

Why would investing in someone but yourself require giving up sex with others? That dichotomy between the unattached bachelor and the loving monogamous spouse seems to be just another of those taboos.

Wat?

Re: Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

#88
post #75
post #15

Can someone explain why less hedonistic is seen as better?

Suppose you have problems in your life, and you're suffering. You could drink alcohol or take opiates, and they might make you feel better for a while. But the effect wears off, and you're back in the same situation, except now maybe your problems are a bit worse, because the drugs made you sick, or made you do something you regret, or you become addicted, or you miss the feeling of them, or your tolerance has increa…

I love your analogy of two drowning people. It really helps put into perspective so many of the relationships I have witnessed.

Re: Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

#89
"Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers."

This quote is hundreds of years old, often misattributed to Socrates, but applies perennially. It describes not values degrading, but changing. To people who value one thing, a younger generation valuing other things feels like degradation since other values seem worse, but there aren't that many human values. Eventually generations cycle through them all and repeat.

Re: Teenagers now better behaved and less hedonistic but lonelier and more isolated

#90
Something I think that needs to be discussed more is the fact that loneliness in society is actually starting to become a real social issue. People who are lonely are seemingly told by society that their loneliness is internal and must ultimately be their fault...but given the fact that studies like the above show that it is becoming much more prevalent in society seems to suggest there might be societal/structural causes that are effecting the trend, or at least positively affecting its growth in society.

I don't see many articles pointing it out so I think it's good seeing one that does.

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