On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings • Hacker News Board

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#71

Post by bartw » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 2:42 PM UTC

nostrademons wrote: post #43

cakesy wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, I was told if I worked hard I would get a job. I did, and I did. Many people I know did the same, were always working during Uni, and had little problem getting a job. Many people I know don't work hard, slacked around at uni, and can't find a job. I found this advice to be quite good, although I am sure it doesn't work for everyone. Then again, I never felt I was entitled to a job.

I was told if I worked hard I would get a job. I figured this was bullshit, so I slacked off. I never had problems finding a job. :-P The plural of anecdote is not data. ;-)

Mind if i put that piece of gold into my '.fortunes' ?

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#72

Post by chairface » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 3:11 PM UTC

calcnerd256 wrote: post #37

He mentions generational justice. Does that even make sense? The older generation is going to die first, and then the one that was younger gets to take their turn. A revolving system like that doesn't have to have each pair of adjacent agents breaking even with respect to one another if the inequities are passed on. Well, I'm not saying I like the idea that we should be oppressed and then take our turn to oppress the…

I think it makes sense. Some generations are bigger than others, and the bigger ones (like the one this guy is complaining about) can throw their weight around at the expense of the others. They carry more political weight.

I, for instance, was born in a smaller generation. The baby boomers will control things for a decade or two more, and after they start dying, those younger than me will become dominant.

I'm not really that concerned about this - I came to terms with it long ago. But it's still there, and I can understand if some people get bitter about things like this.

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#73

Post by adrianwaj » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 3:12 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #11

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Like OP, I busted my butt in pursuit of a better future, graduated with an BS in Math and an MBA just to work at Denny's for 18 months before finding my first programming job. But I can't imagine ever writing a piece like this. I have only one "understanding". No one is ever going to give me anything, so I just have to suck it up and get it for myself. If OP persev…

No one is ever going to give me anything, so I just have to suck it up and get it for myself.

Taking it one step further, the ruthless and ambitious (becoming a norm just to survive) will aim to take as much as possible and give back little or nothing at all, maybe a bit of lip service with some condescension.

Then there's bosses making staff feel they owe them something just for providing a work opportunity in a particular field, or even just providing an income. Bosses wanting their pound of flesh and then some: $1 more for you is $1 less for me.

Being paid regularly an honest wage for an honest days' work is a great thing, anything else and someone's being screwed over.

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#74

Post by maximumwage » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 3:20 PM UTC

What is the correct attitude that twenty-somethings should have? So far I have a few guesses: work on creating value for the world, be relentlessly resourceful, focus on cause and effect instead of whether something is "right" or "wrong", etc. Am I on the right track?

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#75

Post by adrianwaj » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 3:40 PM UTC

maximumwage wrote: post #74

What is the correct attitude that twenty-somethings should have? So far I have a few guesses: work on creating value for the world, be relentlessly resourceful, focus on cause and effect instead of whether something is "right" or "wrong", etc. Am I on the right track?

Learn how to look at yourself from the other side of the table and build bridges, take, but also give equally.

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#76

Post by wizard_2 » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 3:44 PM UTC

presidentender wrote: post #70

rsheridan6 wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that happened to you now, you would be crushed by student loans that would be unpayable on Denny's wages, possibly going into default before you got your first real paycheck.

Or you could work while going to school, skip the partying, ride a bicycle, and keep your debt to a repayable level. I am 22 and I have a real job. During school, I washed a lot of dishes, picked up a lot of construction site refuse, drove a lot of nails, cut a lot of boards, and cleaned up a lot of spyware. Now I write software, for more than the spyware and dishwashing, but less than the construction. I'll still be…

You don't have to live like a monk. Save 20% of your income always (don't make much? don't worry you won't be saving much. That 20% is your money don't give it away.) and start practicing at networking early. You probably wont do it washing dishes, but maybe hammering nails. Construction is for a client who you can meet, washing dishes you're in the kitchen.

Talk to the people who need your services, talk to people because they might know someone who needs your services. Work out a way you can bring your talents to help others for money. I've never been without work and it's not because I'm particularly bright. I'm good at what I do, I love what I do (most of the time), and I talk about my work because of that.

I hear my friends talk about not finding any work because of "the economy". I yell at them, I've never been busier. Most of it is routine work, but for the hard sells it comes down to a simple fact. My clients hire me so I can save them money long term. So I stay busy.

I don't see how that can translate over to retail. But I can for many other professions. The writers, the sectaries, the office managers, for big companies for small for, for non profits. Chances are you can do the job for less money and with an added technical twist. They can pay you 3/4th as much, and you can make some pretty excel reports that will blow them away.

It's never that simple, but that's the jist I've seen working. But what do I know? I'm a whiney 25 year old.

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#77

Post by TFrancis » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 3:46 PM UTC

nostrademons wrote: post #42

TomOfTTB wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Social Security is (or is at least supposed to be) reimbursement of money you paid into the system. Welfare is a system in which society has chosen to give people money to live to prevent them from having no money at all so it's a gift not payment for any service.

Social security was never supposed to be reimbursement of money you paid into the system. It's always been a system of transfer payments - reimbursement of money other people paid into the system. That's why it worked: when it was instated, there were many more people paying into the system than receiving benefits. The sooner people realize that, the sooner they can come to terms with its eventual bankruptcy. That's…

Whoa whoa... The solvency issues of Social Security are primarily due to the Government of my parents "borrowing" money from the system that they paid into it. There are of course the exacerbating burden of of longer life expectancy that they have failed to address as well. I believe it was Al Gore who spoke about the idea of a "lock-box."

All this and generations want to call me entitled? Look you spent the money you were supposed to save. I can appreciate the social programs that result (I'm a bleeding heart) but, don't shit every where and then blame my generation for stepping in it.

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#78

Post by pj » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 4:00 PM UTC

The problem is that twenty somethings don't vote and silver hairs do.

I was watching footage from the town hall meetings around the country for the health care reform and noticed only one person without gray hair there and she was still old.

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#79

Post by steveplace » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 4:07 PM UTC

rsheridan6 wrote: post #69

edw519 wrote: post #11

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Like OP, I busted my butt in pursuit of a better future, graduated with an BS in Math and an MBA just to work at Denny's for 18 months before finding my first programming job. But I can't imagine ever writing a piece like this. I have only one "understanding". No one is ever going to give me anything, so I just have to suck it up and get it for myself. If OP persev…

If that happened to you now, you would be crushed by student loans that would be unpayable on Denny's wages, possibly going into default before you got your first real paycheck.

Can't default on student loans. It'll get pulled out of any paychecks.

Re: On those "Entitled" Twenty-Somethings

#80

Post by chubbard » Wed, Aug 19, 2009, 4:09 PM UTC

Knowing everything you know now. Would you not do your homework, participate in extracurricular activities, play sports, learn to play the piano, apply and attend a good college? If not then what? Do you feel you wasted your time doing those things?