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The Problem with Delhi's Rich Kids

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21–22 of 22 posts

Re: The Problem with Delhi's Rich Kids

#21

My college (im sure like many others) had a bunch of rich international students from India. I found them to be hard working, ambitious, and generally down to earth. Perhaps it was because they were well traveled and had a will to surpass their family's wealth with their own stamp on the world. Many had also done a lot more community service than American peers in much more squalid conditions...they also seemed to be…

International students or business folks usually are fascinated to talk with. But I think the article isn't about these people, but the children that have been brought up in a "bubble" where they had no real responsibilities.

Re: The Problem with Delhi's Rich Kids

#22

Not surprised. Humans have evolved during times of scarcity and are most productive and happy in that situation. When one has zero needs, wants, goals, life loses its purpose. It takes focus and delayed gratification to create such purpose, however. These values are not immediately apparent to young people. The article is correct that they must be taught by parents or perhaps even society. That is, if we want well-of…

It's as if we require an optimal amount of adversity (which is not zero), on every level, in order to be at our best. Too much and we snap like twigs. Too little, and we get these depressed rich kids - the yearning to achieve, to overcome, is frustrated for not finding anything to get traction against, and the motivational mechanisms withdraw their participation.

If true, this has enormous implications for education in general. I'm thinking of all the trophies my kids got in school just for showing up.

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