Talkin' bout my generation

Okay, I usually don't go off on rants like this....but something got in to me, and now I will share.

So, on facebook today, I saw THIS]video called 'Gallon smashing.' (For those who can't or won't watch, essentially it's just a kid who goes through walmarts and pretends to slip while simultaneously smashing two one-gallon jugs of juice/milk/water on the ground just to witness peoples reactions.)
Now, as you'll see that I made clear at the end of my rant, I don't agree with what the kids in the video were doing. It's wasteful and makes other people clean up after their mess. It's a stupid, childish thing to do. But...not surprisingly...they are (highschool) children doing this.

Anyway. I made the mistake of reading some of the comments.

One of the first ones I saw was from an older man named Darren. He had this to say:

Kids in the 50's created the space program. Kids from today are doing this. I weep for the future. Self absorbed, no-class retards.

Again, I don't agree with the video. But to label an entire generation as 'self absorbed no class retards' is horribly ignorant. It is also a common opinion I have seen by many people within the Baby Boomer generation.

Well, to save space, I'll just post my reply.

Hey Darren - We went to YOUR schools. YOUR institutions. YOUR churches. We bought YOUR 'space' technology. We follow YOUR laws. We fight YOUR wars. We pay YOUR taxes. We listen to the bogus 'political leaders' from YOUR generation (which are bankrupting our nation, expanding military forces across the world and destroying the Constitution.) We take YOUR medicines. And everyone knows that the baby-boomer generation is the most materialistic, shallow, violent generation in the history of mankind. AND YOU THINK WE'RE SELF ABSORBED NO CLASS RETARDS? You have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me.
If an apple tree is producing bad fruit, do you blame the fruit or the person who is suppose to be nurturing the tree and its harvest??
Don't even try to pretend that there weren't KIDS doing KID THINGS when you were a child. Flipping eh. I'm sorry, but I really hope your ignorance and passing on the blame to our generation makes you feel better, because that's about all you've got going for you at the moment. Oh, and for the record, you have NO idea what you're talking about. My generation is the one who has been forced to fix YOUR problems, so pardon us if we choose to have fun while we do it. You're going to die soon-ish. But we're stuck with the mess that YOUR generation passed on to us. Comprende?
EDIT - for the record, I think this video is stupid and the kids are stupid for doing it. I feel for all the people who have to clean up their mess, and it's a shame they wasted food. But, by no means, is this reason for blanketing blame across an entire generation.

I'm sorry. I had to get that out.
I know anger isn't the answer to anything. And I do not like to spread it. But I am so tired of having my generation blamed for the problems in the world. I'm so tired of people saying my generation is apathetic. SOME people within my generation are apathetic, sure. (It's a concern of mine that I have fought tirelessly to address and bring awareness to.)
I have dedicated my life to hard work. I live peacefully and I work hard. I have one full time job, but have also started two separate businesses at the same time: one is a production studio and the other is a health and body business with my fiance. I am here to serve humanity. I am here to spread love, happiness and health. I am here to come up with creative solutions to current problems. I write, I create, I work, I educate, I volunteer, I study, I love and I live. And I know SO MANY people just like me. My friends are out in this world doing AMAZING things right now. (I wish I had the time to enumerate all of them.) But me and my friends actively collaborate and volunteer within our community. We strive to live as examples to others. We give as much as we can. And yes, we have fun while we do it. And I know that there are more across the entire world just like us. I am within only one small microcosm of the world that is waking up.
So, please, cut us some slack.
No one in the history of the world has EVER lived in a world like the one we live in now. It is ignorant to compare growing up in the 50's to growing up in the 90's or the 00's. It's a new world. We have new stressors and external forces. We're being bombarded left and right with propaganda, and radio frequencies and cell phone tower frequencies and 'terrorists' and wars and sex and porn and commercialism at its finest/worst and so much more. We have so much muck to climb through to just get to a place where we can breathe and assess what is happening in this world. But we are doing it. And one by one we are waking up to the challenge.

We are not apathetic. We will not settle. We will not propagate the same incessant bickering and violence and greed and corruption that has dominated the last, well....history of mankind. We are the change. So excuse us if you think we are 'lazy' for not continuing the same social constructs that you have created. We're busy creating our own.

Thanks.

Click here for more information.

There was a quote from an Apollo astronaut I read once about cell phone technology...

"It took less computing power than what is in todays modern cell phone to launch a man into space and now we are using it to launch birds at pigs."

Originally posted by eleven44

Originally posted by zonetripper2065
Kids today are worthless pieces sh*t.

And (if that is true) why do you think that is?

Hippies.

When they come to town, everyone's in trouble...

Do you understand "The Who?"

Or are you merely quoting one of the all time greatest Rock Bands of our time?

Just asking.

Peace

reply to post by eleven44


Because they are lazy media adicts and cant go 5 minutes without texting or dicking around on facebook.

reply to post by zonetripper2065


A vast majority of individuals sit around on the internet. Forums, porn sites, online poker. It's really not just the adolescent teens. I've got a one of those darnfangled Facebook pages myself and I have to turn off 1/2 the broadcasts from people due to lack of interest or superior want of taking a keyboard to my face.

Originally posted by zonetripper2065
reply to post by eleven44

 

Because they are lazy media adicts and cant go 5 minutes without texting or dicking around on facebook.

I just got done with working a high school dance show. From the light booth I could see the audience quite well. The HS kids were playing with their phones waiting for the show to start.
The parents and adults were playing with their phones waiting for the show to start, playing with their phones while the show was going on, and making phone calls as soon as the show was over.

But sure it's the kids that are the problem. Not those they learned the behavior from. . .

Originally posted by jude11
Do you understand "The Who?"

Or are you merely quoting one of the all time greatest Rock Bands of our time?

Just asking.

Peace

'Understand?'
I believe I understand The Who, but perhaps not your questions.

For the record, these are some of the bands I was raised on (and still listen to):
The Who
The Beatles
Pink Floyd
Led Zepplin
The Amazing Rhythm Aces
The Rolling Stones
Buddy Holly
Neil Young
ZZ Top
Fleetwood Mac
The Eagles
Bob Dylan
The Moody Blues
Steely Dan
Elton John
Jefferson Airplane

and many, many more.

My parents passed on their great taste in music. I love 'classic' rock.

I chose to quote The Who to illustrate the fact that this whole 'blame the younger generation' has been going on throughout history and to possibly relate it to (I presume) your generation.

For the record, I am in a band and we cover the song 'My Generation' by the who, as well as 'Gimme Shelter' by the Rolling Stones and 'Somebody to Love' by Jefferson Airplane and many other 'classics.'

There is also this quote from Socrates :

"The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they alone knew everything and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for girls, they are forward, immodest and unwomanly in speech, behaviour and dress."

(But I do believe there is some dispute as to whether the quote can truly be attributed to him or not.)

reply to post by eleven44


should check out Oingo Boingo and Iggy Pop. and if your really feeling freaky G.G. Allin.

reply to post by randomtangentsrme


The parents suck too, not as badly as their jobless no will to work children.

Originally posted by zonetripper2065
reply to post by eleven44

 

Because they are lazy media adicts and cant go 5 minutes without texting or dicking around on facebook.

I'm sorry, but I really can't help but point out the irony of your argument.

You have been registered on ATS for just about 8 months (roughly 240 days), and have made over 1,629 posts. That's an average of 6.8 posts EVERYDAY.
OR 1 post every day for 4.4 years straight.
OR 1 post every 3.5 hours for the last 8 months.

And yet someone my generation are the 'lazy media addicts*' who can't go '5 minutes without texting or dicking around on facebook.'.................................................................

I, on the other hand, I have been on ATS for over 2 years and have less than 500 posts. Do the math if you feel like it.
I don't always have time to post on here because, up until 8 months ago I was working 3 jobs. I finally landed a full time gig with a great University and, in my 'free' time, am hard at work at my two other businesses that I am starting. I'm an entrepreneur at heart. (actually....now that I realize it, I started my current job the exact same day you registered on ATS. Interesting...)
But no, keep telling yourself that we are worthless and jobless.

You're trolling, yes?

Otherwise, please reconsider your argument and get back to me.

reply to post by eleven44


Yeah after I work a 12 hour shift I don't want to do too much,posts add up quickly when getting involved with "debates" and have a lot to "say". If I were trolling you'd know it.

Originally posted by zonetripper2065
reply to post by eleven44

 

Yeah after I work a 12 hour shift I don't want to do too much,posts add up quickly getting involved with "debates" and have a lot to "say". If I were trolling you'd know it.

Please, tell me about myself. Tell me about my fiance. Tell me about my dozens of friends and their lives. Tell me about my brother and my cousins and my former classmates. You obviously know more about our lives than we do, yes?

I work my @$$ off constantly. I started my own pet setting and yard business when i was 10 years old. I had my first 'real' job within a month of turning 16 and getting my drivers license. I have worked upwards of 3 jobs at once to just get by. I have started 2 companies. I am in a band. (And not just a little dinky garage band, but one that is actually currently working with one of the top music entertainment lawyers of our time and are in direct communication with many labels.) I have clocked over 50 hours this week just at my 'job' job, but have spent many more than that getting starting up my latest business. (My fiance and I just received a nice loan to start our own health and body business and will have our products in some of the local stores within the next 5 weeks.)
I usually have 1 day 'off' a week, and I dedicate that to being as productive as I can be.
I believe in hardwork, and I am NOT the only one within my generation.
Again, I wish I had time to enumerate all the amazing things my friends are doing. Maybe I will one day. But, i'd really just recommend that instead of spending all of your time on ATS after work, you actually get involved with your community and what the youth is doing within your community. I GUARANTEE you there are people from my generation doing things that would blow your mind.
Or, just continue to be bitter against us on ATS and formulate your own naive opinion of what you think you know. Way to go on 'denying ignorance...'

Originally posted by randomtangentsrme

Originally posted by zonetripper2065
reply to post by eleven44

 

But sure it's the kids that are the problem. Not those they learned the behavior from. . .

^^ Exactly.

I see parents every day absorbed in their iPhone and laptop and tablet and whatever else as they ignore their children. I parents all the time give their child a video game or portable dvd player at the dinner table and not say one word to each other the entire time they are there.
I feel for those children. How can we 'blame' them for turning out the way they did when that is all they were taught?

I'm lucky. I was taught hard work and dedication. I played outside growing up. I built ramps and made trails and rode bikes and went fishing and hunting and camping and etc. etc. I didn't grow up on video games. Sure, I have facebook and a smart phone and a laptop, but I use them mainly as TOOLS to create artwork and connect with other like minded individuals.

Again, if you think the fruit is bad....you should look at the tree it came from.

edit on 24-2-2013 by eleven44 because: (no reason given)

reply to post by eleven44


Thats great and what ever, I couldn't care less about you, your wife/fiance, friends family or your grandma. Screw the community, I'm interested in one thing. Making money and enjoying my own life.To hell with everyone else. Whats your band called?

Originally posted by eleven44

Originally posted by jude11
Do you understand "The Who?"

Or are you merely quoting one of the all time greatest Rock Bands of our time?

Just asking.

Peace

'Understand?'
I believe I understand The Who, but perhaps not your questions.

For the record, these are some of the bands I was raised on (and still listen to):
The Who
The Beatles
Pink Floyd
Led Zepplin
The Amazing Rhythm Aces
The Rolling Stones
Buddy Holly
Neil Young
ZZ Top
Fleetwood Mac
The Eagles
Bob Dylan
The Moody Blues
Steely Dan
Elton John
Jefferson Airplane

and many, many more.

My parents passed on their great taste in music. I love 'classic' rock.

I chose to quote The Who to illustrate the fact that this whole 'blame the younger generation' has been going on throughout history and to possibly relate it to (I presume) your generation.

For the record, I am in a band and we cover the song 'My Generation' by the who, as well as 'Gimme Shelter' by the Rolling Stones and 'Somebody to Love' by Jefferson Airplane and many other 'classics.'

There is also this quote from Socrates :

"The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they alone knew everything and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for girls, they are forward, immodest and unwomanly in speech, behaviour and dress."

(But I do believe there is some dispute as to whether the quote can truly be attributed to him or not.)

edit on 24-2-2013 by eleven44 because: (no reason given)

I didn't ask if you could list the top 20 bands of a generation.

I asked if you understand The Who?

Peace

Originally posted by zonetripper2065
reply to post by eleven44

 

Thats great and what ever, I couldn't care less about you, your wife/fiance, friends family or your grandma. Screw the community, I'm interested in one thing. Making money and enjoying my own life.To hell with everyone else. Whats your band called?

edit on 24-2-2013 by zonetripper2065 because: (no reason given)

I really hope your trolling.
If not, the hypocrisy and mind numbing-ness of your statement is overwhelming.

Earlier you were ragging on my generation for being 'self absorbed', and now...you just said that ^^^^

You do realize that THE ENTIRE REASON the world is in as sh!tty a situation as it is, is because people, such as yourself, have the mentality of 'screw everyone else, I just want money,' right?

And...frankly, I don't care if you don't care about me. I still care about you. (Love you, even.) My band, my businesses and my life are all dedicated to helping others and spreading happiness and health. Even to those who don't care about anyone else. It is only through unity, collaboration, community and love (not in a 'hippie' sense, but in a genuine, practical sense) that we can overcome the current state of the world.

But, for what it's worth... my band is called Word of Mouth

Again, IF you're not trolling...please reconsider your priorities. 'Enjoying life' = fantastic. 'Screwing everyone else' = the problem.

reply to post by eleven44


1144, you are one of the few in your generation (probably GenZ: 1990 onwards) who try to show a better way to their peers.

But what many in this generation do not understand, is that it is not the baby boomers who made things this way today. The separation agenda has been in play for a very long time, and controlled by a very small minority in each generation that followed. Many late baby boomers had no say in what direction things went, we simply did not have the power to force change.

Much of what follows is a generalised perception of what happened.

Advertising companies realised in the 1950's that they could market directly to youth instead of their parents. This has grown to become the single most effective marketing ploy of all time, and is directly responsible for the changes baby boomers have seen that we dislike over the past 40 or more years.

As an example, you only need to see the idiotic tv ads showing kids of today doing things we would never have done because it is irresponsible and downright stupid. I might add here that most of these ads are written by early GenY'ers now days.

Which brings me to a point about the two generations called GenX and later GenY. Late baby boomers were the first to truly say, "I will give my kids everything because we had to go without when we were kids."

Problem was, many of these parents did not require anything in return for everything. Previously, one had to work for anything they got by doing chores, insuring their homework was done, showing good behaviours at all times and doing well at school.

GenX were the kids that grew up with everything being given to them. In turn they raised their kids with the same motto, ""I will give my kids everything because we had to go without when we were kids." As you can see there was a Perception shift on what "going without" really meant. Baby boomers really did have next to nothing and so were extremely greatfull for anything they got. While GenX thought they went without because Media showed kids with 'more'.

So early GenX's kids (and late GenX as kids) what we call GenY, spoiled their kids more and asked for little or nothing in return. It was this generation that allowed little kids to play the emerging violent video games, watch the increasingly more violent and sexually explicit movies with ever increasing foul language, etc. It was this generation that gave little kids the rights of adult, without ever having to earn them.

We can see that GenX enjoyed this part of their lives and were truly the first to be all about "Me". In so doing they did not bother to read the labelling on games and movies to insure anything was suitable for their young kids. This then taught GenY that they could have everything without any effort being put into, that they deserved it all simply becaue they were alive, and that they did not need to respect elders. Instead they demanded respect whether they had earned it or not.

Late GenX kids were pretty much the same by this time as the early GenY kids.

Then we got to the 90's where western culture was already on a slippery slope into what we see around us today. A time where parental disempowerment was already legislated for almost 20 years as part of the separation agenda, and where media really ramped up the whole kids have adult rights BS as it pummeled our culture with more and more advertising purely to kids. GenX and GenY by this time were employed in the media, hence the changing perception on what was the right things to do.

A percentage of late baby boomers, GenX'ers and early GenY had kids that we call GenZ. The oldest of which are now in their early 20's. And because baby boomers have been around for so long, we can see what caused the changes and where it has led us as a whole.

It is not one generation that is responsible for what we see around us each day, it is at least 3 generations that allowed things to get where it is now. Each giving more and asking less.

So it is no wonder many of we older people voice our dislike for what we have to put up with in public, which includes the electronic public domain. We cannot go anywhere now without hearing young teens, 20 somethings and early 30 somethings swearing, abusing others, violently attacking anyone for no reason, doing stupid things to gain notoriety online and generally lacking respect not only for others but also for themselves.

When I was a kid growing up, we had to show respect, we had to know our place in the scheme of things. We were very much aware that we were children and that as we grew up into adulthood we too would take on the mantle of adult rights and freedoms. Sadly, most youth today do the opposite.

I do not include you in my generalisations as you have told us how you are trying to show a better way for your generation, and I thank you for your efforts.