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Are We Raising a Generation of Helpless Kids?

^Except that we can see by historical record that society continued to function and progress despite the lamentations of the older generations, thereby providing evidence that, at least far more often than not, it is indeed the older generation that is delusional in this regard, not the younger.
 
^Except that we can see by historical record that society continued to function and progress despite the lamentations of the older generations, thereby providing evidence that, at least far more often than not, it is indeed the older generation that is delusional in this regard, not the younger.

In fairness, Dennis lost a lot of good friends when the youth of Neanderthal society screwed things up for the whole species, and he's been bitter ever since. ;)
 
In fairness, Dennis lost a lot of good friends when the youth of Neanderthal society screwed things up for the whole species, and he's been bitter ever since.

Damned wheel.

^Except that we can see by historical record that society continued to function and progress despite the lamentations of the older generations, thereby providing evidence that, at least far more often than not, it is indeed the older generation that is delusional in this regard, not the younger.

That sounds quite reasonable. The popularity of "progress" is pretty recent and the idea consists mainly of looking around and saying "the world is more homelike and comfortable for me than it ever was at any other time." Of course, if the conditions under which human beings have to live in a few hundred years are what scientists - exemplars of progress - expect them to be, the young people of the time may wonder what the point of all that "progress" really was. They'll probably blame the old folks for not having been very bright about the whole idea of "better."

Human existence is a cycle that's fundamentally what it's been as long as we've been paying attention. But we've got smartphones. Yay.

When you're much older you'll see the world differently, and you'll still insist that you see it clearly and that others are mistaken. It's true of every time and every age; you'll exchange one set of limited and mistaken beliefs for another. Everyone does. Aging mainly consists of coming up with more subtle explanations for not being able to stop making the simplest of mistakes or invent a single new one.

The kids are not building a better world, any more than the Boomers did. They wouldn't know where to start.
 
The kids are not building a better world, any more than the Boomers did. They wouldn't know where to start.

That has nothing to do with what she wrote. Her point was that the "Today's youth is horrible"-narrative is old and somehow new generations haven't generally done worse than previous generations. Human society as a whole hasn't really devolved.
And since "History does not just repeat itself" (the saying that it does is bullshit) there's a chance that things might change for the better as humanity becomes more "informed".

You said new generations aren't better than previous generations. TSQ's point was that new generations aren't worse. So I'm not sure why you felt the need to point this out.

I agree with your hesitant reaction to the word progress since it reminds me too much of the so-called modernization theory that was popular among historians and political scientists for quite a while in the 20th century and is currently mostly laughed at.
 
Dennis, the whole point of society is that we improve upon it by standing on the shoulders of those before us. If you stuck me out in the middle of the woods, with no supplies, and two sticks of wood, I wouldn't even be able to start a camp fire. Yet, I don't have to, because thanks to this generation, the generation before it, and the ones before that one, and so on and so on, I don't need to. I have the electric light, I have a mobile phone, I have a 99 cent Bic lighter which takes out all of the work. That doesn't make me lazy, it just means I'm more established than my ancestors, and that will continue down the line for the generations that surpass my own.
 
And so you have a smartphone to watch animated ponies on if you like.

Yet the smart people seem to think that we're killing the planet.

Progress! ;)
 
And so you have a smartphone to watch animated ponies on if you like.

Yet the smart people seem to think that we're killing the planet.

Progress! :lol:

One does not negate the other, nor does the advancement of one require the advancement of the other. Better technology will lead to greener sources of energy, and greener methods of waste disposal. A more technologically advanced society does not necessarily mean a more polluted one. We're learning this, but it is taking time, and some refuse to be a part of the conversation because they feel there is no worry.

The manifestations of ignorance and apathy are not limited solely to the youngest generation.

Also, side note, but I don't own a smartphone. Though I would certainly use my mobile phone to call for assistance.
 
And so you have a smartphone to watch animated ponies on if you like.

Yet the smart people seem to think that we're killing the planet.

Progress! ;)

You're acting like people hadn't been wasting fossil fuel long before we had smart phones.

Is this some silly rhetorical battle of the generations now? Who's more decadent?
 
Ugh. Dennis, Cut the patronizing crap, It's disrespectful and detracts from any validity your argument might have. You're doing a poor enough job of understanding what I am thinking and feeling now, that you'd even presume to predict what my future mindset will be is laughable. No, I don't know what I'll be like in 30 years, but that it's a mystery to me makes it unfathomable to you, and to argue anything else is not wisdom, it's utter foolishness.

No, I do not insist I see everything clearly and that others are mistaken. What I do insist is that by looking at evidence one can draw some fairly sound conclusions. The evidence shows that pretty much every generation since recorded history has bitched and moaned about the failings of the next. The evidence also shows that despite the dire predictions of their elders, each generation continues to speak, and invent, and fuck, and reproduce, and create -- collectively what I meant by 'progress', which was a poorly-chosen word.

The kids these days are fine, and they pretty much always have been.
 
The assertion that older folks looking askance at the younger generation is an ancient delusion overlooks the corollary, which is that the younger viewing asserting that this is an ancient delusion is...also an delusion. And everyone is pleased to believe that they see clearly and that it's the other folks who are repeating a tired old mistake.

So if both the perception of the past and the perception of the future is a delusion than the present is where the insane reside?

Sounds reasonable...:rolleyes:
 
So if both the perception of the past and the perception of the future is a delusion than the present is where the insane reside?

Sounds reasonable...

:lol: The present is where everyone resides, the crazies and the folks who think they're not. All the time. ;)
 
Whether or not the world is falling apart around me, I am going to try to help my kids avoid the mistakes I have made, and do their part to make the world a better place. What other option do I have?
I am fairly pleased at the actions and thoughts of parents in my age group, and if their counsel and instruction and example actually sticks in the minds and hearts of their kids, then the future will be brighter.
 
Whether or not the world is falling apart around me, I am going to try to help my kids avoid the mistakes I have made, and do their part to make the world a better place. What other option do I have?

No good ones. A lot of us would like our progeny to be the first people ever to not make serious mistakes that they have to live with. Try as you might, though, you can't save your kids from being human.

I don't think my kids have made any of the mistakes that have particularly vexed me in my life - so far - but not so much because I learned 'em nothing as because my flaws in certain areas are more pronounced than the average bear's. All they have to do to improve is regress toward the mean. :lol:
 
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I've honestly thought about getting a separate word processor, or at least a cheap non-wifi computer. I like to write, but I get too distracted by the internet sometimes. I want to have a separate device that is physically incapable of having an internet connection.
Ever hear of an ancient device known as a typewriter? You can take it anywhere, no batteries needed. You might have seen one in a museum or pawn shop.

RoJoHen -- I would get one of these -- it's exactly what you're looking for:

http://www.amazon.com/Alphasmart-NEO-AA-0410-10971-AQ-Neo-Handheld/dp/B007BHWRII

I've been typing on one of these for years when I need to write free from other distractions.

It can hold a charge for months.
 
^. Grandkids. I'm holding out for grandkids. It's the hope that has prevented me from strangling my kid more than once.
 
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