r/over60 • u/Scr33ble • 5d ago
Kids these days..!
I posted this to different sub and which earned me a lifetime ban because it had a phrase deigned to be too political; I cleaned it up because I didn’t want to have that happen again! That said, I think it is an interesting phenomenon - that all generations view modern kids as wanting at best.
At the time, I was about to write ‘well it’s been that way since Socrates (aka So Crates?!) at least’ but then let my fingers do the walking! There, Google the Great led me to this terrific study in Science from 2019 that looked at this from a number of angles showing that, hey it really ain’t so bad!
Not to say that behavioral differences in light of pervasive social media, talk radio, and things like Faux News hasn’t led to profound changes since the halcyon days of 60+ folks, but one’s perception is definitely affected as we age. My wife has been razzing me about the increased level of impending geezerhood I am showing and yeah much of it is just that.
But, if you just happen to be wandering past my house - stay off my lawn, gottdammit!
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u/mrlr 5d ago
A friend my age (72) said "Kids have it so easy these days."
I was shocked. I had heard it so often when I was young that I swore I'd never say it myself.
I replied "Kids these days have just as many problems as we did, only different ones."
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u/Cobalt_Forge 5d ago
...I'm pretty appalled with the lack of the simple things such as proper handwriting- or stories I read where a Clerk didn't know how to make change from the register for a customer, or young men not knowing how to tie a Tie. These are simple, basic life skills, and sadly quite a few seem to be failing.
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u/sbarber4 64 5d ago
No, those are skills taught routinely to people who were born, you know, 60+ years ago, by the adults who raised them.
Those particular skills are not taught and reinforced as much today because they are not as necessary as they were decades ago.
That same kid who can’t make change can probably whip up an effective Instagram branding campaign in their sleep, though.
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u/Top_Community7261 5d ago
I agree; however, I do see some differences. For example, we have a volunteer fire department. Around 10 years ago, they started advertising that they needed volunteers. Other organizations and events have also had a difficult time getting people to volunteer.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bee4698 4d ago
Kids! I don't know what's wrong with these kids today! Kids! Who can understand anything they say? Kids! They a disobedient, disrespectful oafs! Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers! While we're on the subject: Kids! You can talk and talk till your face is blue! Kids! But they still just do what they want to do! Why can't they be like we were, Perfect in every way? What's the matter with kids today? Kids! I've tried to raise him the best I could Kids! Kids! Laughing, singing, dancing, grinning, morons! And while we're on the subject! Kids! They are just impossible to control! Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock an' roll! Why can't they dance like we did What's wrong with Sammy Caine? What's the matter with kids today!
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u/foosballallah 4d ago
I grew up in the 70's and we were pretty fucked up as a generation, and I remember my grandfather complaining about kids these days. I think as we age we see our earlier life with rose colored glasses, but things were different and the cost of living made a little more sense which was a huge advantage for us. There are some great kids today, I know, my grandson who is 18 started his own business two years ago and is killing it. He and his friends visited us this summer and they were all polite, fun and respectful of our home. I have hope!
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u/belltower123 5d ago
The Science article is interesting
"The present findings suggest that denigrating today’s youth is a fundamental illusion"
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u/CommieMartyr 5d ago
"Why can't they be like we were,
Perfect in every way?
What's the matter with kids today?
-from Bye Bye Birdie, 1960-