Does our generation lack conviction?

[Marco Polo]

I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately. It seems like the worst thing you can be called nowadays is "preachy" or "pretencious". You can't act like you know what you're talking about.

This guy explains it perfectly - watch youtube video.


P.S. By "our generation" I mean ages 18-25, although quite frankly I think we're all in the same boat here no matter what age.
_____________

[PianoManGidley]

I think the "politically correct" movement is partially to blame. So many of us have become afraid of stepping on someone else's toes--we've essentially started believing that there's some legal right others have to not be offended.

[VacMan]

Like... You know... that's a good point?

I kind of think that you're really right about "this" so-called generation kind of not expressing a strong opinion?

It's like a real problem! Maybe...?

You know... if you think about it hard enough 'n stuff.

Lol??!

[Stu]

First of all I love Def Poetry Jam, so much great stuff on that show.

I think PianoMan is right, political correctness is partially to blame, but I think a lot of it is just the evolution of culture. Culture isn't static, these things change and evolve over time. I dont think it's really indicative of some short-coming in our culture but mostly just the way we happen to talk some of the time.

[Christian223]

I heard somewhere that this mindset is part of "Post-Modernims", any "truth" is doubtfull, so dont try to impose your truth on others by speaking your truth, unless that truth is that "there is no truth", or something like that.

[Dan.Linehan]

Our generation is fine. Or we will be anyway. The older generations have tried for years to "protect people from themselves" far too much, in the US at least, and it has led to a lot of unintended negative consequences.

Also, some corporations have made very successful power grabs over the last decade and ended up with far too much influence. This results in constant pushes and initiatives towards consumerism.

It's a bizarre cycle of mixed messages. You're free, unless you want to try drugs, then you're a criminal. Unless they are prescription drugs, then that's fine again. You're smart, as long as you don't think for yourself too much. And especially if you get a degree and work for a corporation. You're rich, just as long as you spend the majority of the money you earn at the corporation over here at corporations B C and D.

The younger generation gets myriad mixed messages pushed on them. But they also have access to the internet and a much greater wealth of information than people have really accepted.

When you hear stories about kids getting in fights to put them on YouTube, that's one end of the spectrum. There is another end of the spectrum that goes unreported, the kids who play by some of the old rules, but not many, and who use the internet to help them learn and achieve. We're the first generation who is growing up completely able to see and filter all the misinformation being fed to us. That's a pretty big deal.

This is the age of transparency. The older generation hasn't quite caught on to that yet, but the younger generation understands it quite well.

[martin]

Originally Posted by VacMan

Like... You know... that's a good point?

I kind of think that you're really right about "this" so-called generation kind of not expressing a strong opinion?

It's like a real problem! Maybe...?

You know... if you think about it hard enough 'n stuff.

Lol??!

Haha loved this.

[Taikin]

From what I understand we're a generation which is just much much more inclined to raise one eyebrow.

I think of World War II and all the patriotism and communal spirit that apparently went on then, and I think of the 60s with the Hippie movement...and today for that kind of unity to take place to me just seems odd.

We're not a generation that just questions authority - we're a generation that also questions the authority of the people who are questioning authority.

And, unmoved by any great argument, in a time when politics especially seems more of a joke than ever, we settle down to play on the Xbox, meet friends at the cinema and not take anything that seriously - including ourselves.
It's a massive generalisation, of course, but that's what I tend to observe. And though this may not be ideal, I don't see it as a terrible thing.

This is why I prefer the idea of personal development to some great supposedly humanistic movement such as communism or hippies or religion or, let's face it, all sorts of fascism - those movements, too, are supposedly for the good of mankind.

Dan is right in that we're fed more information than any generation ever has been. It's also partly that abundance which reduces the perceived importance of all of it.
I like the idea of my generation finding peace of mind, resolution, effectiveness and happiness as individuals - because with all this authority crumbling down each of us is gradually being left to find our own lives to lead.

And until we learn to function more as individuals we're going to speak with very little conviction - because we've become too savvy to speak others' views with passion.

[yossarian]

It goes too far when you can't make a statement without people saying stuff like, "That's just your opinion!"

Obviously it's my opinion, I said it!

This happens on these forums a lot. While I think it's stupid that we have to say "IMHO" constantly, I've found that when I say it, people respond far better. When I read what other people say I basically filter out all the "IMHO" "I think" "I believe" boilerplate but when I leave it out of my own posts there will always be some person that says, "That is just your belief, don't try to push your belief on me!"

In real life it's even worse. My whole life I've offended people just by stating my own thoughts or opinions or observations. There is so much hostility to ideas, people will go from cuddly puppydogs to raging bulls when you make some statement that triggers some sacred cow of theirs.

They're just words, don't take life so seriously! I always feel bad when it happens too, even though it seems I shouldn't.

[Lazarus]

IMHO, i don't feel so, i criticized my entire home-reservation (Timiskaming First Nation) at a general meeting by stepping up to the mic where the average age standing there is 40-60 lol (i'm 19 but i was 18 at the time) sure, i turned red but i made my point. both sides were pointing fingers at each other(conflict between the chief and council and a few people thinking politics don't belong in administratives =/) i'm the only one who even said that we are dividing each other, pointing fingers of blame rather than being adults and see the problem from within ourselves.

the whole meeting was quiet for three minutes and my grandfather (ex-chief that was in that position for 17 years RIP dec. 07) went to the mic and supported what i said.

however, i did find it odd how it was me being the first one to take the stand and said what we should have saw. I really thought they sounded like 5 year olds for hitting one another for candy (what is right), and i felt that i pointed out that violence isn't the key to either sides =/

is that considered strong conviction? or is that called speaking my mind of what i saw was wrong for everyone involved? lol

[Remiel]

We (The USA in general, not everyone) are the quick fix generation. We want it and we want it now and we want it easy. Its no wonder we are having all the problems that we do. We are so shallow and lack any depth of character. I think we need to return to having depth of character before we can really make any progress elsewhere.

Symptoms of this quick fix nation are
1. Apathy. We don't care about anything and are easily lead by campaign promises and other such ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.
2. Arrogance. We know best and can't admit when we are wrong.
3. Ignorance. We don't care to learn about ourselves and improve ourselves. We perfect mirrors, smoke screens and masks to present a false image of ourselves to others.

Those are just 3 I thought of off the top of my head but the list is far from complete. We will remain the quick fix generation until we can all return to having depth of character rather than masks.

Mind you my words are directed at the general populace. The people here are very likely not in that group.

[Dan.Linehan]

Responsibility comes with ownership.

A few generations ago kids grew up with lots of responsibilities. They had duties around the house, they worked on the farm, they took care of siblings, etc.

Today it's hard for a typical sixteen year old to be responsible for anything. Practically the only thing this coddled generation is allowed to do is "get good grades" but any teenager with half a brain realizes the things they are learning are ridiculous, not really useful. High school doesn't teach you any real skills. So teens just watch the world around them, and wait. Try to fit in.

Then when they graduate at eighteen it's still hard for them to own anything. The only thing kids that age are supposed to be responsible for is "getting good grades" in college, which is mostly just a clever way for them to incur a bunch of debt.

After college it's hard for a twenty-five year old to own anything -- their careers are just starting. It's not until kids are in their late twenties (if they are high class) or mid thirties (if they are low class) that they can buy a crappy $250,000 house (in Midwest prices) made up of the lowest quality two by fours and siding available, the cheapest particle board cabinets and carpeting ever manufactured, slapped together over a few weeks by teams of illegal immigrants who work for all the contracting firms. Houses that are built for, and genuinely worth about $50k, but are sold for five times that, and then mortgaged for even more.

Then, after all this, we call our kids irresponsible. Come off it. Want your kids to be responsible? Give them some better options! Give them some real responsibility, something maybe a bit more important than indoctrination and debt and wage slavery. Give them real ownership of something genuine. Buy an empty lot and have them help you build your house, using ICF or one of those Eco Domes. Start a web company with them. Help them get their EMT certifications, or computer certifications. Help them learn to garden and sell the produce. Send them to France for an exchange program, or to Africa to volunteer at a hospital. Let them really learn about the world. But don't subject them to the status quo and expect them to end up responsible.

With a society like ours, I'd be irresponsible too.

[Lauxa]

Thanks for that video Marco Polo, very funny. I have noticed that I preface a lot of my arguments with "I don't know" and my husband has told me that I've gotta stop doing that because it instantly undermines my authority before I even start. I do this even on subjects I feel strongly about. Before I thought it was just a "filler", something to say while I was considering what to say. After watching this video I would have to say it goes deeper and reveals a sense of not wanting to commit to my own opinions. Maybe I should just learn to speak less.

[Remiel]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

Responsibility comes with ownership.

A few generations ago kids grew up with lots of responsibilities. They had duties around the house, they worked on the farm, they took care of siblings, etc.

Today it's hard for a typical sixteen year old to be responsible for anything. Practically the only thing this coddled generation is allowed to do is "get good grades" but any teenager with half a brain realizes the things they are learning are ridiculous, not really useful. High school doesn't teach you any real skills. So teens just watch the world around them, and wait. Try to fit in.

Then when they graduate at eighteen it's still hard for them to own anything. The only thing kids that age are supposed to be responsible for is "getting good grades" in college, which is mostly just a clever way for them to incur a bunch of debt.

After college it's hard for a twenty-five year old to own anything -- their careers are just starting. It's not until kids are in their late twenties (if they are high class) or mid thirties (if they are low class) that they can buy a crappy $250,000 house (in Midwest prices) made up of the lowest quality two by fours and siding available, the cheapest particle board cabinets and carpeting ever manufactured, slapped together over a few weeks by teams of illegal immigrants who work for all the contracting firms. Houses that are built for, and genuinely worth about $50k, but are sold for five times that, and then mortgaged for even more.

Then, after all this, we call our kids irresponsible. Come off it. Want your kids to be responsible? Give them some better options! Give them some real responsibility, something maybe a bit more important than indoctrination and debt and wage slavery. Give them real ownership of something genuine. Buy an empty lot and have them help you build your house, using ICF or one of those Eco Domes. Start a web company with them. Help them get their EMT certifications, or computer certifications. Help them learn to garden and sell the produce. Send them to France for an exchange program, or to Africa to volunteer at a hospital. Let them really learn about the world. But don't subject them to the status quo and expect them to end up responsible.

With a society like ours, I'd be irresponsible too.

I agree with you. I was one of those people (I'm 24 now). The only thing I got out of college was a degree. And guess what? I'm now (post college) taking responsibility for my own life. Parents may be partially at fault for not instilling it in their kids when their kids were younger. Its still their responsibility to do it, yet it is our responsibility to make that our own. Its alot like growing up in a religious family and having religion instilled on you from an early age. At some point "I" have to grow up and decide for myself on religion. I also have to take responsibility for myself. I have to want it and desire it and I have to make MYSELF responsible.

I find little to no value in blaming the previous generation because all it does is continue the "I'm not responsible" trend. By passing blame for not being responsible I'm not being responsible for my own actions now am I? Ironic isn't it? Passing blame is never the responsible thing to do.