Understanding Millennials

Okay.we've covered the job bit. I'll grant you that. Point taken. But what about those responsibilities outside of working? There is no argument against that a great many young adults are dependent upon their parents in matters I believe are entirely the responsibility of the user. I speak of parents who pay for their adult children's cars, phones, social lives, etc. I stand by my firmly strong opinion that too many parents are ignoring parenthood obligations and instead enabling their children and fostering a sense of entitlement.

I know several people who are 50+ who live with their moms. Why don't we bash them? Or those who are 40+ and can't work? Like me. Bash away. "Explain" me...

Every generation changes...the world keeps changing...and the world keeps revolving. It was my generation who were the hippies, the flower children, and finally started all the, "Never say 'no' to your children...always encourage them...build up their self-esteem...peace and love...and yes, drugs." I can remember my mother just shaking her head because it wasn't the way she raised us. I didn't really partake in the hippie values, but I also did not approve of the seemingly loveless, rigid way in which I was raised: "Children should be seen and not heard." My parents lived through the Great Depression, worked hard, had little money, and they APPRECIATED everything their parents gave them...or so we were constantly told. My mother and some of my school teachers told us that our generation was a bunch of ingrates. So...I personally grew into a perfectionist always trying to seek approval.

There is good and bad with how the values change in every generation. One of my favorite pieces of prose is Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. One of my favorite lines in it is: "You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

How are they expected to pay for that stuff without a job? You seem to expect the impossible.

There were a lot of hurt feelings on this thread, a lot of anger and some biased judgment. But that's called having an opinion right? Where I don't understand millennials, I don't understand PEOPLE these days in general.

When Simon, in that video, talked about sitting at a table with a group of friends and them all having their phone out is now a CULTURAL thing. EVERYONE is doing that, even 40 year olds. I go out to eat out alone a lot, and I have my phone by me, not for texting but for reading something like Wordpress, and I casually observe others. MANY people do what Simon is describing, at any age.

Look I am not a millennial, but I worked starting at the age of 14 and left home at a young age to go find my life. I went out there, ended up finding out I was bipolar, and my manic episodes ripped me away from my career. This left me distraught and defeated. He did mention the element of mental illness in the video, (depression) but that doesn't come from bad parenting, or just being "rejected" by society or friends, or even Facebook. Granted I don't have Facebook anymore because I do agree with him in the fact that people. and I want to stress ALL people, (as in any age), make their lives better than they really are.

I think its a generational thing with us as ALL as a culture spiraling downward due to our dependency on technology. I am not a millennial and I check my phone first thing in the morning, but as I realized my addiction was intense, I put it on silent and in a drawer when I was ready to sleep. So it would technically be "away" so I could rest.

I don't buy into the fact that it is just millennials that fall into the categories that he put in the video. I think all of US as a culture is like that.

They shouldn't HAVE that stuff if they can't pay for it.

You seem to think these things are a right and not a priviledge. My point about entitlement proven

How can they even go about looking for a job if they don't have a car? Or a phone? My point about your standers being impossible is proven.

*drops mic*

Why are people here if they hate technology? If you hate it, get some social skills and real life friends.

Good point.

You have proven my own point rather well

Huh? So your point is that a millennial shouldn't have access to a car or phone unless they can afford it, which they need a job to afford, which they can't get without said car and phone?

Where in this is your point proven? Sounds paradoxical to me, which actually proves my point.

The point? ENTITLEMENT. You think young adults are entitled to have these things without earning them. They are NOT in fact rights. They are earned priviledges. Can't get a job? Evaluate why. Then volunteer and give back responsibly to the community. Can't get a job? Get an education. I repeat, you are not entitled to these things.

I wasn't hating on technology (in case you were talking about my post), I was just using one of the points he made.

When I was young, even back then, there were not enough jobs to go around. Sure, get an education, and someone else will be jobless.

Is that so hard to understand?

FACT: Most employers need their employees to have a reliable mode of transportation, that includes a car, and a means of reliable communication, which means a phone. Sure, you can go to college, but that also comes at a cost. Lifelong debt. Volunteering also requires access to reliable transportation and communication. Also, not everyone will hire kids these days due to the economy and lack of new jobs being available. So, you can have a higher education, AND volunteer all the time and still not get a decent job.

You're missing my point entirely here.

Personally, I am millennial and of all of my friends, I am the only one who is still living with my parents.

My other friends have children, husbands and lives outside of their parents' homes these days. I feel that's because in American culture, it's practically beaten into you that as soon as you turn 18 you leave the house, find a job, and as soon as you turn 20, you get married, move to the suburbs, have children, hate your life, get divorced and everything goes downhill.

I live with my parents because I have a mental health condition that makes it hard for me to work, (not saying I don't work, I do!) and I have a dream that I am trying to reach for, but can't get there on my own without the support of my parents.

People, (older people) act like it's such a crime for someone not to go to school, not to want to get married, have a baby, work a "regular" job, etc. It's NOT a crime. Just because we don't want to live our lives in the mundane life that you lived doesn't make us lazy or irresponsible. I get it if people are being lazy and mooching off their parents, but I see that happening more with older people 40s, 50s, NOT millennials. MOST millennials I know are out there, working, paying for their own apartments, married with children and living successful lives that most of these older folks can't imagine.

I'm watching this right now. So far, I think it's really interesting. I was born in 83. Not sure if that's a millennial or not. I think he said 84 which cuts it really close. But regardless, I think that...it's not just a millennial issue and I agree with the others here that judging people as a group is not really helpful. I'm also wondering who that guy is he's talking to. He's not getting to say anything, and I feel awkward for him, LOL.
Edit: Oh! It's the host of the show. He's just being a really good listener. Well what do you know.

Discussing a certain group of folks as in "millenials" is akin to discussing gays, democrats, republicans, haves and have nots, etc. you get my drift. Unfortunately, in doing so, there are times when posting becomes personal and unsupportive which is against our Community Guidelines.

For the above mentioned reason, this thread is now being closed. Please do not start another thread discussing this topic in moving forward.

Thanks!