Serious question . . .
I’ve got this perception of Millennials as hopeless conformist lemmings, brainwashed by the media and pop culture. That obviously doesn’t apply to you, since you’re on FR, but would you say that’s characteristic of most the people you know in your age group?
Many of us, yes. There are those who are aware of the greater truths and prefer to keep it private. Conformity is on the rise again
They're polarized in almost every issue. I don't mean "polarized" in the bastardized way we use the term (i.e. arguing over politics). I mean most millennials do things that are rarely half-way. For instance, they're either staunch Christians who don't cuss and who are saving themselves for marriage, or they're vulgar regular party goers who identify as atheists and who engage in sex with lots of partners (sometimes simultaneously). When I was their age there were a lot more of the middle-ground (i.e. going to church and calling themselves Christians, but doing a little partying too and engaging in a little pre-marital).
And it's the same with money habits. (Many millennials are part of the Financial Independence Retire Early FIRE mentality, or they have spending habits worse than my ex-wife, few kinda in the middle). Same with drug habits (few just doing a little pot, they're either not doing drugs at all or they're hooked on heroin or meth). Same with physical fitness. Same with work ethics. Just about everything.
And another thing: they hang out with each other and get along with people who think 100% different. Again, when I was their age us goody-two-shoers didn't have many party going friends, nor did the partiers have many sold-out-to-Jesus friends (though we both had friends who were in the middle). The millennials have tons of friends who think opposite of them, they get along with each other well, and they don't argue about their habits like people who feel like they have to defend themselves.
Ulmius, does that sound right? That's how I see the millennials in Alabama.