I'm old and I like Millennials

a reply to: Krazysh0t

And ironically, it's elders who are stereotyped as being anti-social with the "get off my lawn" crap & with the stereotype of preferring to live in the middle of nowhere (aka a small quiet neighborhood) specifically so they won't have to interact with others.

They complain that youths are losing social skills, yet it's the younger generations who lean towards social media; lean towards large heavily populated metropolises; are more open to friendships with people from different ethnic, ideological, and gender-fluent backgrounds; are more accepting of socialism; are more likely to team up with random strangers through flash mobs, crowdsourcing, crowdfunding, etc.

This leads me to believe that millennials & late Gen X'ers aren't losing social skills at all; we're simply not seeing eye to eye with the older generations on how to socialize with others. Every generation has had and will continue to have recluses & exhibitionists, lone wolves and cults, etc. But like you said, we've now entered a time where even the most reclusive physical shut-ins can interact with countless people from around the world in the span of a few minutes.

a reply to: enlightenedservant

I agree with most of what you said.

However, social skills will always be required in situations where computing devices are not in use between the parties communicating. Specifically, in customer-facing jobs. In-person communication only improves with use and experience. If the traditional method of flapping one's lips to get a message across gives way to social networking or texting, then naturally the in-person aspect of communication is going to take somewhat of a hit. It's a lot more difficult to communicate effectively when you don't have a backspace key.

a reply to: enlightenedservant

This is not a political conversation and being accepting of socialism has nothing to do with social skills, so lets leave that out of it as to not ruin this very nice discussion.

I also agree with much of that, but not entirely.

Social skills includes face to face with people from all age groups and backgrounds and the ability to interact in public. On the Internet it includes the ability to be civil in discussions, tolerant of others views and have at least minimal decorum.

Face to face I'd disagree that things are headed in a positive direction. I've interviewed many young people over the last few years who were completely lacking in even basic social graces and had problems talking to a prospective employer in conversational English. Often rudely leaving their phones on and interacting with it during an interview, not understanding they had just guaranteed their resume was headed for the trash can. They bring friends with them or show up in groups completely unprepared to even fill out documents. I wish I could say it's rare, but it is not. Sometimes its so cliche as to be almost comical.

I get calls from young people seeking work who immediately start interviewing me and demanding information in an angry tone, again guaranteeing they will not be working for anyone if that is how they approach it. They seem oblivious to how rude they are and like I said it is not a small percentage of them. They sound like kids in their terrible teens back-talking their parents or a teacher, rather than young adults with a few years of college that actually want a job.

Not all of course or even a majority, but enough of them to see it is a problem. Clearly basic civility has not been a part of their schooling or teachings from their parents when they were younger and it's not hard to see why they need work.

"Simply not seeing eye to eye"? I'm not sure I see what that has to do with basic social skills offline? Rude is rude, dismissive is dismissive, civility is civility and generational differences are meaningless when it comes to a persons demeanor in public.

I'm not trying to sound like the old curmudgeon, but there really is a decline in social skills with the young adults.

a reply to: enlightenedservant

Oh good god.

NEWSFLASH: I don't know anyone under 70 that doesn't use the internet and social media --- DAILY.

And city-living? Yeah, we've had cities for centuries in the U.S. I live downtown in the largest city in my state.

I just can't get over the narcissism...and the ignorance about anyone older than 'a Millennial.' I can't wait until the next generation comes along to tell you how backward and scared you are of progress and technology.

Oh, and that *embracing socialism* crap is nothing to tout when there is so much corruption & waste in government spending and zero oversight.

Yeah, I was a HUGE socialist when I was younger and too stupid to realize that you can't trust anyone in the U.S. government with a socialist economy.

Awful. But I do have hope you will mature one day. *heavy snark*

originally posted by: makalit
...He didn't say 'socialism' once...

Yes he did:

....yet it's the younger generations who lean towards social media; lean towards large heavily populated metropolises; are more open to friendships with people from different ethnic, ideological, and gender-fluent backgrounds; are more accepting of socialism...

Link


Give it up for the generations older than Millennials...we can READ!

originally posted by: makalit
a reply to: MotherMayEye

my bad, looked and didn't see that. still, the way he was going he said "accepting of gender fluidity" and then said "accepting of socialism" millienials are accepting he said. He's equivilating social-nes to listening and accepting/supporting others. The definition of socialism is an economy that everyone equally controls. It's about listening to others interests.

And, yet, here I am...open, accepting, and supportive of the LGBTQ community, and I support an economic system that is HEALTHY....yet, I don't believe that we have a government that we CAN TRUST to spend money in a socialist economy.

So you are saying Millennials are more trusting of government spending and that is a reflection on what? Stupidity? Naivete? It isn't a reflection on anything smart and savvy.

No matter how much I would like for everyone to be cared for properly in this country (and world)...the corrupt crap that does the spending cannot be trusted. Period.

I guess it takes age to figure that out.

Socialism is bad because those spending the money are bad. If they were good...you might have a point.

originally posted by: makalit
a reply to: MotherMayEye

my bad, looked and didn't see that.

Also, here is some tech-savvy advice from a Gen Xer....when you don't *think* someone on a particular webpage wrote the word 'socialism', press ctrl+F and search the page for the word 'socialism.' It's a great way to utilize the search function and keep egg off your face.