Quote:
Originally Posted by CLABRO
Here's my opinion from a 27 year old millennial.
Things have changed (just like they have in the past and will continue to do so into the future), however, we're at this interesting point in history where technology is really interacting with our daily lives and influencing our decisions like it never has.
It's a combination of many things that has turned society into what it is today. Things change inevitably, but society has changed quicker and has become more extreme than we've seen before.
This younger generation is the first to grow up with social media and how it influences our lives. Technology has taken off in the last 10 years or so; beginning of social media (feeling of having to keep up with the Jones' or pretend that your life is perfect or family is the perfect family), the 24 hour news cycles (shows the worst of humanity most of the time), political correctness and participation awards (someone will be offended by what someone on a forum from the other side of the country has an opinion on, parents not disciplining their children effectively or not teaching their kids what the word, "No" means (so they grow up without any moral integrity or very little respect towards others).
Kids grow up using iPads now and are completely enamored with technology in their everyday lives and expect things to happen right away or them being able to obtain something quickly without waiting patiently like older generations had to do. They want everything ON DEMAND or at the PRESS OF THE BUTTON. That philosophy translates into other aspects of this younger generation and therefore they don't show as much compassion or respect to older folks as the older generation did when they were younger. It's not because these kids are mean or rude, it's because growing up, technology and social media has been intertwined with their daily lives so they're more worried/put more energy into seeing who will be the next person to like their post or tag them in a photo on Instagram than to sit down with their grandparent and listen to stories or gain new insight or wisdom from elders.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that this younger generation sees things in a different way than the older generation. Sure, some are lazy, but you have lazy people in older generations as well. The younger generation has been influenced by technology and social media since they were born and it's all they know. They see that you can be successful and one of the richest people in the world by being a college dropout (CEO of Facebook) or as long as you become Youtube famous or Instagram famous then you're successful. They look at it from that point of view and not so much as from the point of view that the OP shared about how when he was younger, he'd give respect to someone in his position because they clearly made it to where they are in life from hard work and determination.
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I can see why you would think that, but it's been the same for the past 100+ years, every decade:
The 1800s brought daily transport, with the completion of many national railroads, and widespread mail service
The 1890s (I think) brought Telegraph
The 1900s expanded telegraph to countries and continents
In the 1920's radio was introduced - which was revolutionary in communication. You could hear music and news from all over the world.
FDR introduces his "Fireside Chats" with the country in the 1930's, taking politics to a new plane.
The war in the 1940's was broadcast, and made "real" to the folks back home. News reels at the start of every motion picture put it all front and center for the first time.
The 1950s was TV - movies, news, etc. came into your home.
The 1960s brought more channels, and portability, and personal tape recording.
The 1970s brought personal tape decks, car telephones
The 1980s brought computers
The 1990s brought the internet
It's really been going on for 100+ years - it's not new at all.