The Dumbest Generation?
In my web travels this week, I came
an article about an English professor at Emory College who has
written a book about how people under 30 are part of "The Dumbest
Generation". His book, "
The
Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans
and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Don't Trust Anyone Under 30)"
typifies an age-old generational struggle.
A Baby Boomer lamenting the future because Generation Gen X and Y will mess it up. I imagine the "Greatest Generation", the ones who fought in World War II, would have said the same about the Baby Boomers.
"According to recent reports, most young people in the United States do not read literature, visit museums, or vote." If the only way to measure the health of a nation is by the number of people reading literature then we're in trouble, because it completely ignores the other ways that intelligence and engagement can be measured. As well, I'm sure that if conscription was on the table, as it was in the late 60s and early 70s, I'm sure that more people would be voting.
The comments on the Amazon site are definitely an interesting read:
"Take responsibility for the monster you created, Boomers. This is about the third or fourth purported explanation I've seen on my own about the currently college-aged generation, and it's as off-track as any of the others."
The response:
"Why can't you take responsiblity for your own ignorance rather than blaming others? This is just typical of this generations whining and expecting everything to be done for them."
It is comments like the above that shut off the dialogue and turn it into a blame game. "It's your problem, deal with it." It's easy to be drawn into the argument, but when it comes down to it, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
A Baby Boomer lamenting the future because Generation Gen X and Y will mess it up. I imagine the "Greatest Generation", the ones who fought in World War II, would have said the same about the Baby Boomers.
"According to recent reports, most young people in the United States do not read literature, visit museums, or vote." If the only way to measure the health of a nation is by the number of people reading literature then we're in trouble, because it completely ignores the other ways that intelligence and engagement can be measured. As well, I'm sure that if conscription was on the table, as it was in the late 60s and early 70s, I'm sure that more people would be voting.
The comments on the Amazon site are definitely an interesting read:
"Take responsibility for the monster you created, Boomers. This is about the third or fourth purported explanation I've seen on my own about the currently college-aged generation, and it's as off-track as any of the others."
The response:
"Why can't you take responsiblity for your own ignorance rather than blaming others? This is just typical of this generations whining and expecting everything to be done for them."
It is comments like the above that shut off the dialogue and turn it into a blame game. "It's your problem, deal with it." It's easy to be drawn into the argument, but when it comes down to it, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
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