Do you envy today's youth?
Discussion
Obviously their firm loins and perky botties are an automatic yes, but other than that I was talking to a 15 yr old relative the other day and realised there was very little I'd want to swap with him compared to my own youth.
I don't think they were more innocent times, but there were certainly more leisurely and measured in terms of the input, expectations and pressures out there and it seemed like he had a lot less room to breathe than I did.
These days there are many more opportunities to travel, learn and find your tribe but I'm kind of glad the internet didn't saturate me until well into adulthood and I treat it like something to be picked up and put down rather than it being all consuming.
Looking at today's younglings do you feel envy, pity, alarm or hungry?
I don't think they were more innocent times, but there were certainly more leisurely and measured in terms of the input, expectations and pressures out there and it seemed like he had a lot less room to breathe than I did.
These days there are many more opportunities to travel, learn and find your tribe but I'm kind of glad the internet didn't saturate me until well into adulthood and I treat it like something to be picked up and put down rather than it being all consuming.
Looking at today's younglings do you feel envy, pity, alarm or hungry?
I think this has to depend on how old you are.
Surely being born today is being born in 1920, and having to go and fight in a war? Alright, not many people about born in 1920 anymore! Same principle, applied to other countries with more recent wars. Former Yugoslavian countries for example.
I expect if a young person had a life threatening illness that is now treatable but forty years ago wasnt they'd be very glad to be born now!
Not everything has got worse, plenty has got better, so you could argue on balance you prefer yesteryear, but it's hard to dismiss being young now so quickly I think.
Surely being born today is being born in 1920, and having to go and fight in a war? Alright, not many people about born in 1920 anymore! Same principle, applied to other countries with more recent wars. Former Yugoslavian countries for example.
I expect if a young person had a life threatening illness that is now treatable but forty years ago wasnt they'd be very glad to be born now!
Not everything has got worse, plenty has got better, so you could argue on balance you prefer yesteryear, but it's hard to dismiss being young now so quickly I think.
cml24 said:
Not everything has got worse, plenty has got better, so you could argue on balance you prefer yesteryear, but it's hard to dismiss being young now so quickly I think.
There's tons of stuff today that I would've absolutely loved to have around back in the day, but it's the sum of it all and weight of it that feels like a lot less fun overall. No, I think I'm about right age-wise. One of my reasons for not wanting to be school-age now would be I had huge trouble at school with bullying etc. My home was my "safe space" and the thought of coming home to it continuing via social media fills me with dread. It hasn't affected me long term (that I'm aware of) and gone on to be relatively successful but it does make me think.
Type R Tom said:
No, I think I'm about right age-wise. One of my reasons for not wanting to be school-age now would be I had huge trouble at school with bullying etc. My home was my "safe space" and the thought of coming home to it continuing via social media fills me with dread. It hasn't affected me long term (that I'm aware of) and gone on to be relatively successful but it does make me think.
Yup I have a niece who is a lovely kid aged 11. She thinks too deeply into comments and often feels isolated from friendship groups. Can’t imagine going home only to see it all evening againNot a chance and I grew up in a poor town in the 80s/90s.
Most teens i know struggle what what they think they deserve in life and what there getting, nearly all have or do to some extent suffer bullying online, the pressure to always have the best and latest is huge.
My son knows of at least two girls who have changed schools as pics of them in compromising "poses" wound up going all round the school.
He has little to no interest in dating and due to turning a few girls down, was label as being gay, when he started getting "support" he told them he wasnt and was promptly labelled "homophobic" instead.
Teenage years in this day our a bloody mine field and I doubt many survive without lasting scars both real and mentally.
Most teens i know struggle what what they think they deserve in life and what there getting, nearly all have or do to some extent suffer bullying online, the pressure to always have the best and latest is huge.
My son knows of at least two girls who have changed schools as pics of them in compromising "poses" wound up going all round the school.
He has little to no interest in dating and due to turning a few girls down, was label as being gay, when he started getting "support" he told them he wasnt and was promptly labelled "homophobic" instead.
Teenage years in this day our a bloody mine field and I doubt many survive without lasting scars both real and mentally.
Do I envy the yoof? Yes and No.
Yes - Growing up in the suburbs in the 80s there was often seemingly nothing interesting to do at the weekend, I remember hating Sundays for their utter small town boredom. Looking back on it now I should have asked for a guitar for Christmas, as now I want to play one I have very little time to play it. Looking back on it now as a middle-aged tosser there are an abundance of things I could have done, if only I had sought them out. By comparison, there are so many things for kids to do nowadays they can surely never be bored - lots of it expensive, however.
No - social media setting unrealistic expectations, especially for girls, and pressures from all sources to do well at school from the very outset else you will be a failure at life blah blah blah. I've got a 4yo kid and want to impress on him the importance of being a nice person, and having fun in life is what matters most.
Yes - Growing up in the suburbs in the 80s there was often seemingly nothing interesting to do at the weekend, I remember hating Sundays for their utter small town boredom. Looking back on it now I should have asked for a guitar for Christmas, as now I want to play one I have very little time to play it. Looking back on it now as a middle-aged tosser there are an abundance of things I could have done, if only I had sought them out. By comparison, there are so many things for kids to do nowadays they can surely never be bored - lots of it expensive, however.
No - social media setting unrealistic expectations, especially for girls, and pressures from all sources to do well at school from the very outset else you will be a failure at life blah blah blah. I've got a 4yo kid and want to impress on him the importance of being a nice person, and having fun in life is what matters most.
Yes because the opportunities open to younger people are fantastic and i had nothing like that in my youth.
Take mountain bikes for example, a youngster today can build a career out of riding mountain bikes and IF they are lucky, will get noticed by a drinks manufacturer and get taken on and have an incredible lifestyle.
When i was a kid, nothing like that was available to youngsters. Skateboarding was just starting to arrive and i think BMX was on its way.
For that reason i’m envious and obviously technology is so much better nowadays.
Some things were better as a kid for me, the original Space Hoppers were great, less traffic on the roads so you could ride about without worrying.
Summers were sunny and hot
Ice creams were better imho
Football wasn’t as invasive as it is now
Take mountain bikes for example, a youngster today can build a career out of riding mountain bikes and IF they are lucky, will get noticed by a drinks manufacturer and get taken on and have an incredible lifestyle.
When i was a kid, nothing like that was available to youngsters. Skateboarding was just starting to arrive and i think BMX was on its way.
For that reason i’m envious and obviously technology is so much better nowadays.
Some things were better as a kid for me, the original Space Hoppers were great, less traffic on the roads so you could ride about without worrying.
Summers were sunny and hot
Ice creams were better imho
Football wasn’t as invasive as it is now
bloomen said:
Obviously their firm loins and perky botties are an automatic yes, but other than that I was talking to a 15 yr old relative the other day and realised there was very little I'd want to swap with him compared to my own youth.
...you want the firm loins and perky botty of your 15 year old male relative.Okay.
Yes.
Uni was something only really clever people did, so for the majority you went out to work at 16 and it was probably something local. Travel was expensive and your social circle was small.
My kids and their peers have far more opportunities in education, careers, travel, relationships etc. The only downside is the cost of property.
Uni was something only really clever people did, so for the majority you went out to work at 16 and it was probably something local. Travel was expensive and your social circle was small.
My kids and their peers have far more opportunities in education, careers, travel, relationships etc. The only downside is the cost of property.
Edited by 98elise on Monday 27th January 20:10
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