Generation... Why?

I recently read an article about my generation, Generation Y. There are many names given to the generation of people born in between 1982 and 2000, but for post purposes, I am going to refer to this generation as Generation Why.

The article that I read is the following:

"Who Are the Millennials?

Douglas Main, LiveScience Staff Writer

Teenagers and twenty-somethings have been dubbed the Millennial Generation, or simply Millennials. But what does it mean?

Generation Y definition

The term Millennials generally refers to the generation of people born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s. Perhaps the most commonly used birth range for this group is 1982-2000. The Millennial Generation is also known as Generation Y, because it comes after Generation X — those people between the early 1960s and the 1980s. It has also been called the Peter Pan or Boomerang Generation because of the propensity of some to move back in with their parents, perhaps due to economic constraints, and a growing tendency to delay some of the typical adulthood rites of passage like marriage or starting a career.

The publication Ad Age was one of the first to coin the term "Generation Y," in an editorial in August 1993. But the term didn't age well, and "Millennials" has largely over taken it. But the terms basically mean the same thing. 

Millennials characteristics

Millennials have been characterized in a number of different ways. On the negative side, they've been described as lazy, narcissistic and prone to jump from job to job. The 2008 book "Trophy Kids" by Ron Alsop discusses how many young people have been rewarded for minimal accomplishments (such as mere participation) in competitive sports, and have unrealistic expectations of working life.

A story in Time magazine said polls show that Millennials "want flexible work schedules, more 'me time' on the job, and nearly nonstop feedback and career advice from managers." Another Time story in May 2013 was harsher. Titled "The Me Me Me Generation," it begins: "They’re narcissistic. They’re lazy. They’re coddled. They’re even a bit delusional. Those aren’t just unfounded negative stereotypes about 80 million Americans born roughly between 1980 and 2000. They’re backed up by a decade of sociological research."

One 2012 study found Millennials to be "more civically and politically disengaged, more focused on materialistic values, and less concerned about helping the larger community than were GenX (born 1962-1981) and Baby Boomers (born 1946 to about 1961) at the same ages," according to USA Today. "The trend is more of an emphasis on extrinsic values such as money, fame, and image, and less emphasis on intrinsic values such as self-acceptance, group affiliation and community." The study was based on an analysis of two large databases of 9 million high school seniors or entering college students.
They have also been described in positive ways. They are generally regarded as being more open-minded, and more supportive of gay rights and equal rights for minorities. Other positives adjectives to describe them include confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and receptive to new ideas and ways of living.

Generation Me

There is a spirited, if not tiresome, debate about whether Millennials are self-entitled narcissists or open-minded do-gooders; surely the truth lies somewhere in-between. Generally, however, there does seem to be more of an emphasis on the self than in previous generations, one reason why this group has been called Generation Me.

Other scholars have pointed out that the attempt to make generalizations about an entire generation is a futile effort. Further, some have suggested that discussion of "Millennials" tends to focus on mostly white youth from suburban areas, ignoring the unique experience of immigrants and minorities.
Email Douglas Main or follow him on Twitter or Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook or Google+."

Now, how does that make you feel? The sad thing is, I don't see much that I can even argue with in this entire article. I obviously know people my age, and I can't say I approve of all of them. The thing is, we ARE too entitled. We have been allowed to think that we deserve and need to be given everything as soon as we want it. I know you can debate about how it might be our parent's (Generation X) fault, but I really don't see it that way. Out of any other generation, we have the most reasons to be thankful, but somehow we are the most prone to suicide, theft, recreational drug use, murder, obesity, and alcohol abuse. Does this add up to anyone else? Our parent's, their parent's, and so on had to fight for what they wanted. Our ancestors, if you will, had to strive day in and day out to get a good education, stay healthy, earn a living, care for their families, and have the liberties they desired.

You wanna know what you're doing? You're sitting around, complaining about how the world is so unfair, and not being willing to lift a finger to do anything about it. I think it's humorous to hear a younger person complain about homosexuality, separation of church and state, rights to bear arms, and so forth, when they aren't willing to change themselves and speak up (no, Facebook and Twitter posts do not count as "taking a stand"). Young people aren't willing to stand up for our Country, as screwed up as it may be. You all want to sit there and complain about how awful America is and how horrible American's are, but you aren't willing to support the facts that America is still the most fair and reasonable country out there. News flash, if you can't handle America or the people in it, for whatever reason, how about you take on Russia? Or China? Or South Africa? Exactly, you couldn't. You have no idea what it is like to give up everything, literally everything, to survive. This doesn't mean going without cable for a few months, this means dropping out of school when you're ten because your dad and uncle just died in war and your pregnant mother, who works three jobs already, can't make enough money to buy a can of beans and needs your help. Dramatic you say? Well, ask your grandpa how realistic that was for his generation. Not even that, how common it was.

Or girls, how about being spit at and kicked around like garbage because you asked to vote or work outside the home? Yeah, that was legit, within the last 100 hundred years in America, and to this day, in other parts of the world. But look at you now, complaining because you don't get free condoms as often as you would like. Wow. Way to pick a worthy battle to fight.

I know I'm stepping on many toes here, but I don't care. Someone needs to wake you up and I can tell by knowing enough people in my generation, that there aren't many of you that are willing to sound the wake-up call. I won't apologize for "being rough" on you, welcome to reality. Life isn't ever fair and you have to try to succeed. Crazy, I know, but be happy that you know if you'll eat dinner tonight or not.
As poor as we want to make American's out to be, it doesn't change the fact that we are SO FAR AWAY from the state we were in during the Great Depression.



...So get off your end, make a difference, or keep your mouth shut. Much thanks.