While driving home one night his week, I was listening to an interview on Radio National, they were speaking with Dr Jean Twence, she coauthored a book called "The Narcissism Epidemic", it was about how the kids who grew up during the "me Generation" were getting on now that they're starting to go to college or function in a real world where they're not praised and pampered for every little thing they do, regardless of how insignificant it is.

Turns out that kids raised like this are not doing so good in the real world and they're finding out in a big hurry that if they stuff up, no one is going to stroke their furrowed brow and say to them "there there mummies little snowflake, don't listen to the meanies, you're special".

The Dr even told the story of the type of songs kids were taught in some kindergartens:

To the tune of the French song Frere Jacques

I am special
I am special
Look at me
Look at me

Well bugger me, here I am at home a few days later reading about another mass shooter called Elliot Rodger in the good old U S of A and he's left number of death notes that tend to indicate that he was bought up in just such an environment and could not handle the rejection he was having to face in the real world.

I'm not for one second suggesting that being bought up in the age of entitlement was the cause of him going on this rampage, the guy was obviously in need of some serious couch time and some industrial strength meds, but I don't think being raised like that helped him deal with the rejection too well.

Make me kinda glad that I didn't go too far overboard with praise for my kids when all they did was just normal kids stuff.

I think you & the good Dr are certainly onto something there.
We have around 29 apprentices at work & the attitudes I see in those young kids is all about entitlement & "keep me entertained", just last week a second year apprentice complained about still having 2-1/2 years to go & "why can't I just be signed off as a tradesman now, I deserve it because I've been committed to this company for 1-1/2 years now & it's not exciting enough". I just laughed in his face & walked away before I yelled said something to him that he would regret, sadly you can't even give them a verbal tune up these days, the precious little things might get upset, oh how times have changed since I did my time.......

In regard to the shooter, poor little petal (sarcasm) did his shooting in his flash new BMW too, but oh life is soooo tuff.........

Don't quite know what generation, but last few years we have had lots of graduates, early 20's coming in.
Initial impression is they are smart, switched on, responsible - much more so than me 30 odd years ago.
But we cant hold them more than 2 -3 years - they are off looking for something better / easier / more fun. Don't want to put in the hard yards and wait for the reward.
But they may just be smarter than I am.....

Bang on Obs ( and V12 ) .... seeing it here , scary thing is they will be running the show soon enough - I will be surfing more !!

^^ that's funny

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weiry said...
^^ that's funny

Gold - brought back some funny memories.

Some interesting points you raise there ob n Vanders. I see it a bit as well.