Can't blame them for wanting a life

~1962-1980, give or take a little on either side. Then there are those born on the "cusps" who could go either direction, or have characteristics of either.

Like Rev, my parents are Boomers -- I am VERY different from them. Not nearly as selfish to start with.

I understand what you are saying. I am from the south, and always keep some bottled water in the trunk. 100 degrees, zero water and a flat tire to change? Not good. We also have sports bottles we keep filled from the fridge, stay hydrated is a big deal, just like coats are for folks in the great white north.

How does someone get an apartment, just starting out, when every apartment wants to see rental history?

How does someone get a new job when every employer wants to see job history.

I'm asking this objectively of course, i'm a grown man with a job and an apartment.

Just playing devils advocate here.

get a secured credit card build a credit history pay the balance every month do not carry a balance on your card -

No, I'm not talking about the Guatemalans.

I'm talking about our own millennials - all of them. I say our own, because I am the father of one.

I have been critical of them for their ignorance, not stupidity, but lack of drive to experience & learn - their seeming lack of natural curiosity.

Also, I have misunderstood their tendency to be PC. It took a while for me to understand. The turning point was when, I picked my daughter up from high school one day. I was listening to an audio discussing discovery of new planets. (But, I had frequently listened to prepper stuff.)

When she got into the car, she said, "I don't want to hear that end-of-the-world shit!".

I thought WTF? But, later, I understood. I am a realist and I had tried to transfer some understanding of "the way things really are" to her over the years. The problem is, I have lived my life. I had opportunities, and a relatively stable culture in which to pursue them.

Boomers experienced the American Dream. Sure, some of us went to Vietnam, and suffered the disillusionment of realizing that our government really does not value individual lives of it's citizens. Yet, we thought that we were serving a righteous purpose. And we did so willingly.

Millennials today, see the dark side. Maybe they are more realists that we are. They don't see a bright road ahead.
So, they strike a psychological bargain, to be able to cope. The whistle past the graveyard with their PC behavior, in hope that by placating all discontented parties, everything will be OK. And, just maybe, they will have time for a real life while they are on this planet.

There is hope.

But, we cannot expect positive change during our lifetimes.

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Well what is the agency that abolished gen x "a few years ago"? Of course their was a generation gap there. Of course they were the product of baby boomer parenting. This is a stupid argument.

Also to OP, I dont buy this at all. Basically we should understand that millennials are shit because we are realistic and they want to to have hope? How about you tell your millenials that you dont have a birth right to success. And success comes in different forms. But it is no longer 150K worth of college guarantees that executive job your parents had. And those degrees are still out there. So if you find money as your measure of success then quit getting stupid ass degrees. Get useful.

But the real truth is that good money can be made by getting your hands a little dirty. College is no longer the ultimate answer. But first and foremost we have to remember that we are the adult in this situation. We are supposed to guide them and be parents. Not friends. It isnt our job to make sure our kids are feeling happy every minute of the day. It is our job to make sure they live happy lives overall. And that will come by being decent humans and members of society. It will happen when they make enough money to move out of your basement.

Sure things change in time. But not the need to be productive citizens that consider others and not be self absorbed little shits.

Well thought out and well written. I'm not sure that I completely agree with your conclusions, but thank you. It's something to consider.

They are the result of an entitled upbringing .. add that to first world problems an a shitty school system .

And I bet that "experiment", on how to open a can of food using a can opener, what for their masters degree thesis.

I agree. It seems that the "system" is stacked. It is easy for me to say, "Do what your father did. Get a job, sir."

But, the landscape was different then. I waltzed into college and got an engineering degree. I worked while I attended, but I could pay my semester tuition with two-weeks wages. There was no competition from the rest of the world, when I had three job offers upon graduation.

My daughter had to go to graduate school to get a professional job. She has $150,000 of education debt.

Many people with masters degrees are working for $15.00/hr.

I understand what you are saying. I am from the south, and always keep some bottled water in the trunk. 100 degrees, zero water and a flat tire to change? Not good. We also have sports bottles we keep filled from the fridge, stay hydrated is a big deal, just like coats are for folks in the great white north.

I get this but.....you have to think of how 'other' generations handled thing's they didn't want but stepped up to take care of.

Sometimes, you have to realize and grow up about the world and what it means to live here. I have a son whom is 20. He used to say that stuff too. Until he finally realized, reality IS what it IS. You can't ignore it or make it go away because it's not pleasant to you.

It's like dealing with a death in your family. No one wants it, but you have to accept that it happens and deal with it.

But I understand the sentiment totally.

OK. But how to we return to some cultural stasis?

That’s such a great idea, Lady Jane, but I hope that water isn’t in a plastic bottle? With the intense heat, all kinds of plastic chemicals will have leached into that water.

OP,

I see the world as the AWAKE and the Sheep. They come in the form of liberals, conservatives, Christians, muslims, fat, thin, black, white, etc.

I respect you for trying to wake up your daughter to the truth. AND you are correct that "we" have lived a good portion of our life while they are just starting out.

The best plan for a parent to take is a Biblical approach IMHO. Teach the children that you should put your creator first AND love others as you love yourself. That we believe we are in or near the end times but that can also be hundreds of years away as far as we really know. Then encourage them to build their skill set for a long and prosperous future where they can pursue their interests and help others along the way.

Heck, if it was not for the bible and understanding human nature I would think the same as many well meaning liberals who want globalism. Of course believers know that power concentrated in the hands of an unaccountable few will be disastrous for the many.

Anyway for whatever its worth, proud of you. We need more good parents like you.

Thread: Car tire just blew out. Stuck on side of road, help!!!

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I agree. It seems that the "system" is stacked. It is easy for me to say, "Do what your father did. Get a job, sir."

But, the landscape was different then. I waltzed into college and got an engineering degree. I worked while I attended, but I could pay my semester tuition with two-weeks wages. There was no competition from the rest of the world, when I had three job offers upon graduation.

My daughter had to go to graduate school to get a professional job. She has $150,000 of education debt.

Many people with masters degrees are working for $15.00/hr.

No, I'm not talking about the Guatemalans.

I'm talking about our own millennials - all of them. I say our own, because I am the father of one.

I have been critical of them for their ignorance, not stupidity, but lack of drive to experience & learn - their seeming lack of natural curiosity.

Also, I have misunderstood their tendency to be PC. It took a while for me to understand. The turning point was when, I picked my daughter up from high school one day. I was listening to an audio discussing discovery of new planets. (But, I had frequently listened to prepper stuff.)

When she got into the car, she said, "I don't want to hear that end-of-the-world shit!".

I thought WTF? But, later, I understood. I am a realist and I had tried to transfer some understanding of "the way things really are" to her over the years. The problem is, I have lived my life. I had opportunities, and a relatively stable culture in which to pursue them.

Boomers experienced the American Dream. Sure, some of us went to Vietnam, and suffered the disillusionment of realizing that our government really does not value individual lives of it's citizens. Yet, we thought that we were serving a righteous purpose. And we did so willingly.

Millennials today, see the dark side. Maybe they are more realists that we are. They don't see a bright road ahead.
So, they strike a psychological bargain, to be able to cope. The whistle past the graveyard with their PC behavior, in hope that by placating all discontented parties, everything will be OK. And, just maybe, they will have time for a real life while they are on this planet.

There is hope.

But, we cannot expect positive change during our lifetimes.

That’s such a great idea, Lady Jane, but I hope that water isn’t in a plastic bottle? With the intense heat, all kinds of plastic chemicals will have leached into that water.

Um there's no such thing as gen x.

You are either boomer or millenial.

This was changed a few years back.

OK. But how to we return to some cultural stasis?