Interesting topic. It seems that every generation has something to criticize about the next. I'm sure that the Greatest Generation who witnessed both World War I, World War II and the Great Depression had a few words (critiques) about the Baby Boomers...just as the Baby Boomers have a few words about Generation Z (the Internet Generation)...
Growing-ups
51–60 of 80 posts
Re: Growing-ups
#52Let me know when they have a spouse, child, and mortgage. That's the dividing line, as far as I can tell.
Getting in debt for the next 30 years of life as a proof of adulthood. This checks out as a modern initiation ceremornial, a good alternative to getting tatooed religious symbols on your body.
I think trying to avoid that (like paying a rent for the rest of your days, or buying very cheap and sacrificing social sttatus) is actually seen as against the social norms, and a definitive "not one of us" move from the older generation's perspective.
Re: Growing-ups
#53"Adulthood is full of onerous responsibilities, as all of us who have been there for a while know well: going to work every day, making the meals, keeping the household reasonably clean and orderly, paying the bills." That's the bar for onerous, now? And this is an attitude we, as parents and as society, are obligated to encourage, support, and indulge?
But if there's no point to all of it, then there's no point
That's not attitude that's science
Space exploration is the point
Re: Growing-ups
#54Much of the author's analysis is lacking economic perspective. In particular, I'd argue that a large contributor to 20 somethings with 'dead end' jobs is the obvious lack of 'real' jobs. Additionally, giving everyone a college degree is not going to magically place everyone on career paths - it will probably just debunk the assumed correlation between college degrees and careers by sinking all of the "x percent of college grads" stats.
Re: Growing-ups
#55You now what this article needs? More cowbell! I mean graphs! This is a social phenomenon being critiqued using self-reported social scoring without tying it back to either theoretical or applied economic models. If large swaths are asked fairly banal "Will you get what you want out of life?" questions with waaaaaay more rigorous subjective and practical analysis a bigger picture can't be assessed. Elders "ridiculing…
> The ascendant efforts of the young from about 18-30 is vital, innovative, and disruptive. It's important, but if you look out your window, the world that exists out there was designed and built mostly by people over 30. There are some geniuses that were most prolific in their 20's (Einstein's miracle year was at 26), but most people who are awarded the nobel prize do their most important work from 30-50 ( http://ww…
Those people doing that at 30+ are the ones who are knee deep in culling lots of important industry, business, etc. experience. Delaying targeted launch is riskier. Paying your dues is a safe pattern. You don't suddenly become relevant in your 30's per the Nobel. You don't win $500M contracts before you win $10M. There are very few overnight sensations starting into their field in 30+.
Re: Growing-ups
#56I really hate this term "emerging adults." Suddenly we're not full adults anymore, just because many people of my generation have failed to live up to the standard of adulthood? I really hope this isn't a trend/term which catches on and justifies continued ageism or the denial of rights. In general, I've always hated these "generational" descriptions. They're guaranteed to be woefully inaccurate for many people in th…
> The people who fail to do this are simply that: failures. Yup, sounds 21 to me. Quick to anger and lash out, quick to judge, moral certitude, and lack of empathy. For one, there's significant variance to how family units function across the human population. In many parts of the world, living together for far longer than 17 is the norm, and the model of how one generation financially supports the next, or families…
> For one, there's significant variance to how family units function across the human population.
This article and discussion seem to be pretty squarely focused on the west (and particularly the US). I've lived around the world and realize that the norms are very different elsewhere, but here at least the expectation is for adults to leave their childhood home in their 20s and we have policies in place to encourage that (ex. mortgage tax incentives).
> Yup, sounds 21 to me. Quick to anger and lash out, quick to judge, moral certitude, and lack of empathy.
I might be quick to judge (often a useful trait), but nothing about this made me angry. And, in case you missed it, my second point (that it's not necessarily their fault) was specifically because I emphasize with the situation of people who are adrift in their 20s. As a country, I think we've in many ways failed them by providing insufficient educational and employment opportunities. That it's not their fault doesn't change the fact that living at home at 28 is a failure of the normal American life.
> So blanket statements like this reek of cultural superiority and lack of education, frankly.
Interesting that you dislike blanket statements, yet that's exactly what I was objecting to in the article (the blanket characterization of people in their 20s as "emerging adults").
Re: Growing-ups
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
* why won't they hire me for it Because "you" got a humanities degree and "it" is a tradesperson job which does not "make the world better". "You" chose to pursue "fun and interesting", and didn't run the numbers on "ROI", which only geeks, low-class people, and in-it-for-the-money people did. * why doesn't it pay more? Because experience counts a tremendous amount, far more than willingness to show up. /me shrug A l…
Fine---but if the jobs are being done, why all the whining about "kids these days?"
Because "kids these days" are refusing to do them, yet demanding they have better lifestyle then the people who are doing them.
Re: Growing-ups
#58When I was a child, I asked my dad if his work was fun. He said, "If it was fun, they wouldn't pay you." I remember that from time to time, because it's true. Something that is fun (relative though "fun" is) doesn't warrant payment.
When my mom asks about my current job, I sometimes repeat that phrase, and she gets all huffy and annoyed that I don't view my current job as enjoyable. Sure, my job is satisfying in small ways, but ultimately I'd rather be doing something else.
I just mention it because my mom and dad show two sides of the generation mentality discussed in the article: the "buckle down and get a job" type, and the "you should do what you love" type.
Re: Growing-ups
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The people who fail to do this are simply that: failures. Yup, sounds 21 to me. Quick to anger and lash out, quick to judge, moral certitude, and lack of empathy. For one, there's significant variance to how family units function across the human population. In many parts of the world, living together for far longer than 17 is the norm, and the model of how one generation financially supports the next, or families…
> For one, there's significant variance to how family units function across the human population. This article and discussion seem to be pretty squarely focused on the west (and particularly the US). I've lived around the world and realize that the norms are very different elsewhere, but here at least the expectation is for adults to leave their childhood home in their 20s and we have policies in place to encourage t…
FWIW, I don't actually have any beef with your distaste over the "emerging adults" label - I agree it's not a useful category, in so much that it seems equally loaded with notions about what adult looks like. Both positions seemed like extreme forms of ageism that aren't anywhere near universally applicable, essentially.
Re: Growing-ups
#60"I made enough to live on, but only because I had moved back home with my parents and didn’t have to pay for rent or groceries." No, no you didn't.
had the same thought at this line. The use of 'to live on' while not paying rent or groceries is very strange. These are the EXACT two bills I think of when I think of the base costs 'to live'.