Should we give our young people more credit?

There are moments of brilliance to be sure, but they are few and far between. Most of the younger people don’t want to work, don’t want to be inconvenienced by having to get up to support themselves, and those that do demonstrate what I deem to be a heretofore unrivaled level of incompetence. I was living on my own at age 18 and haven’t been supported by anyone else since then. I made decisions, worked towards goals, set priorities, and managed to survive and thrive. And I was by no means alone or special.

But even with the case cited, there are issues that show entitlement. They are suing the state for using coal power as part of their energy for the state and they are conflating that to causing climate change. But this shows that the state is using well above the average of renewables. So they are making a claim that is sensational but weak. It also ignores the economics of life in general. And climate change is not limited to a state, nor is it caused by a state alone. And all the time they are ignoring things like the cars they and their families use to drive to and from the attorney’s office and the courts. The heating and air conditioning that their homes use. The pollution from airliners they might take on vacation or for a business trip to promote their lawsuit.

I give them high points for caring. But not for thinking the process through nor the implications. They heard about climate change and felt that making a stink would be a great thing. But they aren’t bringing solutions, only creating problems.

“Most of the younger people don’t want to work, don’t want to be inconvenienced by having to get up to support themselves, and those that do demonstrate what I deem to be a heretofore unrivaled level of incompetence.”

Just when I thought I was starting to like @seawulf575 he has to post bullshit like this. The young people I work with (and I work with them all the time, every single day) are all, to a person, extremely hard working individuals.

I’ve worked with 18 to 30-year olds mostly for twenty two years — both as a college professor and even before that as a designer. I’ve had thousands of students.

Sure there are some slackers and knuckleheads, but those can be found in any generation.

By and large, I have found young people to be dedicated, passionate, and hard working. Many have been brilliant and have amazing ideas.

I see my job now as really helping to facilitate those ideas by teaching them the skills they need.

Yes.

We should because they deserve it – And they’ll some encouragment to keep going in the face of the usual ignorant, self serving, garbage spilled out by older but not wiser critics who’ve caused problems they can’t fix, or even face.

“Gianforte ends Montana’s climate change coalition membership”
https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-climate-environment-and-nature-montana-climate-change-ec0475298f6f11ace1941a291ac16e71

Oh, and if my answer wasn’t clear enough or TL/DR — YES, absofuckinglutely.

@Caravanfan I understand your view of me being negative. But let me ask a few questions. Do you work with 18 year olds? Are you narrowing your view to only one small area of society?

I understand there are, as I said, moments of brilliance. And while my previous answer may seem like I am slamming entire generations, I recognize there are good workers and caring people in those generations. But overall? I don’t get those qualities from most. You work in a field that people go into because they have a passion for it. You work with some of the better end of things. But step out of that field and look around with really open eyes (and mind). I see it everywhere. I was at a store the other day and watched an older woman struggling with an object. 2 of the employees walked right by without helping. They were in that younger generation. I ended up helping. I can’t think of the last time I ate out where the servers were younger and my order was done correctly. I’m not talking about ordering a steak and it was a bit overcooked…I’m talking about not getting the food that was ordered.

These are just examples I see on a daily basis. There is, to me, an overall apathy in the younger generation. I have a job where I have 27 people that work for me. I like them all, but will tell you that I have far more repetitive problems with the younger ones. The older guys do a better job overall. I do have a couple younger workers that also do good jobs and I don’t have to worry about. But many of the younger ones I am continuously having to coach on the exact same things. They don’t listen or choose not to do something because it takes a little extra effort.

I think the difference between the people you work with and the ones I work with is the difference between a career and a job. You work with people that are looking for a career. I work with people that want a job. More accurately they want a paycheck…the job is how they get it.

@JLoon is a youngster I can definitely look UP to. ;)

“we seem to think that we have more knowledge & experience than the upcoming generation.”

We’ll, we think that way because it is true. What young people bring to the table is a different perspective, a fresh look at things. It’s up to those of us a little older to help guide young people through the hazards ahead of them without crushing their perspective. Sometimes we don’t give young people enough credit but… If you give young people too much rope on the whole, they’ll wreck the place. Elders are responsible for keeping this from happening. Unpopular answer, but you know it’s true. That said, when elders don’t give enough rope, change stagnates. That’s a failure we see often.

Some kids, yes.

Some kids, definitely not. You can’t draw broad conclusions based on one or two examples.

@seawulf575 Wow, you went to a store one day and saw a couple of young people behaving badly. Therefore all young people are lazy and incompetent. Got it.

@Brian1946 I see what you did there…

@Caravanfan You should know by now that I don’t jump off the deep end over one event. If I saw some kids acting rudely only one time and never again, I wouldn’t be having the same attitude.

But interestingly, you worked with a couple young people that weren’t lazy. Therefore all young people are hard working and not lazy. Got it.

Funny how when you have tunnel vision you are broad-minded, but no one else could possibly be right. Seems contradictory, doesn’t it?

I think it’s fair to say that all generations have their stars and their bad apples. Pretty obvious too.

Plus, doesn’t every generation think the ones behind them are ‘less than’ in some way? Stupid and stereotypical.

Now…get off my lawn.

@cookieman At least you have a lawn

No @seawulf575 I said I work with young people every day. And I have for over 33 years, so yes, I can say that most young people are hard working. Additionally, my daughter is 21 and one of the most hard working people I know (way harder working and far less lazy than I am). So, respectfully, up yours.

@Caravanfan But you are still only looking at your little slice of the pie. Expand your view. Move it away from those (relatively) few young people you actually work with. Look at all those in society you interact with even in a passing way.

I’m sure your daughter is hard working. It is likely you taught her a good work ethic. I did as well with my kids. And they are, like yours, very hard working. But let me ask…I’m assuming your daughter is well respected in her jobs. So why is that if all young people are hard working? I know I had this discussion with my kids. They were amazed that they would start a job and the people at the job were amazed at their ability and willingness to learn. They even told them that most of the young people that were hired didn’t care…just wanted a pay check. One company they worked for would give them time off for them to attend college classes…not just out early, but take an entire semester away from work. And that company was hiring them back over and over again. They even tried to get them to get a degree in something they could use at that company just so they could keep them. Now I know companies don’t do that very often…it is only in very special cases. So if ALL young people, or even MOST young people are all really hard working and competent, why not just replace them when they want to go to college? The answer is very simple: MOST young people are not hard working and competent.

And when you tell someone up yours, it is never respectful. Don’t fool yourself; you are certainly not fooling me. You got angry because I called your smarmy comment and decided to make it more personal. You are way to arrogant. Not really respectful or disrespectful…just an observation.

This question was about groups of young people who have enough information and understanding to care about global issues like climate change – and enough courage to speak up and to act.

The argument that they deserve no credit and no respect for their committment – because their “work ethic” doesn’t suit bosses at dead end jobs, who pay shit wages and don’t know how to train or mentor anyone – tells me these kids are really on their own.

I hope they can make this world a better place. Because the people who think they’re in charge now are worthless.

@seawulf575 “I’m way to arrogant.” No, I’m way too arrogant. If you’re going to insult me at least spell correctly so I can take you seriously.

@JLoon My understanding is that the question was about young people in general. The group fighting for climate change was an example that might change a mind.

@Caravanfan Apparently communication was complete as you understood perfectly what I meant. The fact that you sink to trying to correct spelling shows you can’t really address what I had to say.