Baby boomers and to an extent, their first generation offspring, have this weird perception of the world as people in this thread have pointed out. They still think things work like they used to in their day.
Of course they are now sitting on all their cheaply "earned" assets, accruing interest and "value" in their investment properties and stock portfolio, etc. If I was born only 10 years earlier I would have 2 properties by now (going by my earnings and cost of houses), but instead I have none and am renting. I would be happy with only ONE place to call my home, but no, impossible for me, and always will be since my wages (and gfs) aren't increasing in the same manner houses are (15-20%).
When my old man was my age (26 years ago), he had the opportunity to buy a house now worth 300K, for only 22K. His wage at the time was 23K.
The only benefit I can see about being in the late 70s early 80s range of being born is I should be at my peak to take what I want when the shit hits the fan, unlike the baby boomers.
PeakOil is You
Why are younger Americans so miserable?
Re: Why are younger Americans so miserable?
by PolestaR » Fri 21 Apr 2006, 13:55:09
Bringing sexy back..... to doom
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Re: Why are younger Americans so miserable?
by Shiraz » Fri 21 Apr 2006, 13:59:21
Good thread Leanan. I was just about to start one with regard to this book. I saw an interview with the author a few days back, but didn't see the relevence until the stew ripened today.
In the interview, the author speculated a reason as to why US kids are so unhappy. She suggested that a key problem may be what might be called "decontextualized positive reinforcement". By this, I mean the practice of, for example, always telling children that what they have done is excellent, regardless of the actual quality of the work. More broadly speaking it can be understood as the goal, in parenting, of increasing a childs self-esteem constantly, never seeking to introduce reality as a check, but instead always reinforcing the fantaical view that your child is the best, is special, even the most special.
She suggested that this practice, perhaps rather intuitively in retrospect, didn't have the function of creating self-esteem as desired, but tended to create attitudes in children of arrogance, self-righteousness, and entitlement.
Rather obvious perhaps, but when expectations are so out of line with reality, disappointment is probably predictable. The author suggested that research showed that when children are reinforced both positively AND accurately (ie. reflecting reality), they tended to understand themselves better, both strengths and limitations, and tended to have a better appreciation of others, due to better awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of others. This better social adjustment was key to happiness.
I wanted to bring this up in relation to peak oil because it seems to relate to the reluctance of society to consider peak oil. One can see a reflection of the behaviour of these maladapted children in the Bushian 'faith-based policy' prescriptions, and in the willingness of society to accept the decontextualized positive reinforcement embodied in the protestations of the mainstream economic agenda.
A generation of politicians has been treating it's populous like so many well-meaning parents (though I don't impune any such good intentions into the behaviour of the polititions lol), and have created a generation which is characterized by the same arrogance, self-righteousness, and sense of entitlement (*clears throat* present company excluded lol) - a generation of folks without realistic sense of it's own strengths or weaknesses, and a comensurate contempt for anyone so bold as to bring bad news...
In the interview, the author speculated a reason as to why US kids are so unhappy. She suggested that a key problem may be what might be called "decontextualized positive reinforcement". By this, I mean the practice of, for example, always telling children that what they have done is excellent, regardless of the actual quality of the work. More broadly speaking it can be understood as the goal, in parenting, of increasing a childs self-esteem constantly, never seeking to introduce reality as a check, but instead always reinforcing the fantaical view that your child is the best, is special, even the most special.
She suggested that this practice, perhaps rather intuitively in retrospect, didn't have the function of creating self-esteem as desired, but tended to create attitudes in children of arrogance, self-righteousness, and entitlement.
Rather obvious perhaps, but when expectations are so out of line with reality, disappointment is probably predictable. The author suggested that research showed that when children are reinforced both positively AND accurately (ie. reflecting reality), they tended to understand themselves better, both strengths and limitations, and tended to have a better appreciation of others, due to better awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of others. This better social adjustment was key to happiness.
I wanted to bring this up in relation to peak oil because it seems to relate to the reluctance of society to consider peak oil. One can see a reflection of the behaviour of these maladapted children in the Bushian 'faith-based policy' prescriptions, and in the willingness of society to accept the decontextualized positive reinforcement embodied in the protestations of the mainstream economic agenda.
A generation of politicians has been treating it's populous like so many well-meaning parents (though I don't impune any such good intentions into the behaviour of the polititions lol), and have created a generation which is characterized by the same arrogance, self-righteousness, and sense of entitlement (*clears throat* present company excluded lol) - a generation of folks without realistic sense of it's own strengths or weaknesses, and a comensurate contempt for anyone so bold as to bring bad news...
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Re: Why are younger Americans so miserable?
by lotrfan55345 » Fri 21 Apr 2006, 16:58:32
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RG73', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lotrfan55345', 'Y')ou should all watch the movie "Mean Girls" to see what teenage American life is like. 
A Lindsay Lohan movie will never be an accurate portrayal of American teenage life. Come on now. How can a movie where every teen has tons of money, has everything that comes out of their mouth written by a screenwriter, has perfect skin and great clothes, etc., etc. even begin to be an accurate portrayal of teen life?
Have you ever seen the movie...?
But anyway, I should rephrase, typical attitude of teenagers.
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Re: Why are younger Americans so miserable?
by HonestPessimist » Fri 21 Apr 2006, 19:37:02
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lighthouse', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('grabby', '
')
... Is it GET TOGETHER with friends LISTEN TO MUSIC, SMOKE SOME WEED, have sex with whomever, and drink beer and go home?...
')
... Is it GET TOGETHER with friends LISTEN TO MUSIC, SMOKE SOME WEED, have sex with whomever, and drink beer and go home?...
That's my life except I don't like beer. I prefer wine.
That's the problem. You would be contended with that every day than being a productive member of a society?
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