In elementary and middle schools, children get participation trophies because "everyone is a winner."
High schools are under pressure to lower academic standards to keep their graduation rates high. Colleges are under pressure to lower academic standards for admission and for graduation to bring in tuition money, and, of course, to make sure that "minority" students can get in and get degrees.
Instead of academic rigor, colleges offer self-esteem courses and "safe spaces" for students.
Social media has created a mindset where everyone can pretend that their Facebook page and Instagram account makes him a celebrity. They can link to celebrity profiles as "friends" to maintain the pretense that they too are famous for being famous.
Computer and video games allow kids to pretend that they're skilled marksmen, fighters, athletes, outdoorsmen, etc all without having to acquire any of the skills necessary to be any of those things.
Is it any wonder that we have a generation of MacArthur Wheeler's running around? All that's missing is the lemon juice.
“Computer and video games allow kids to pretend that they’re skilled marksmen, fighters, athletes, outdoorsmen, etc all without having to acquire any of the skills necessary to be any of those things.”
Absolutely correct. I’ve seen it. When I took my sons to Disney many, many years ago, we went through a Buzz Lightyear ride where we shot light pistols at real targets while riding through. They always made fun of me for not being good at video games.
When we exited the tunnel, they were shouting, “I got 12,000! I got 9,000! How much did YOU get, Dad?” I calmly replied, “32,000”. That was a VALUABLE lesson for them. We had a “real” gun, not a controller.
They are excellent marksmen today, by the way...