Posted on 07/29/2019 10:32:12 AM PDT by Ulmius
After some thought on the generation gap appearing in today's society, I have decided to reach out to some of you to get a wider dialogue. Here are some basics about me:
- 24 years old (been a Free Republic member since 2014)
- served in the regular Army for five years (Arabic linguist), I've been out for a year
- one more semester of a bachelors' degree in international relations, plan to attend grad school for linguistics in spring, have a few computer science online certificates
- working for now as a rent-a-cop for $12/hr part-time, I live with my father
- I'd like to do some linguistics-related work, interested in Middle Eastern and Caucasian languages specifically. I may want to get into a consultancy role related to data science
- I'd describe myself as a right-leaning nationalist, and not as much a libertarian anymore. Socially, I am more on the conservative side
Can't wait to see what y'all have to talk about, thanks.
My kids are millennial. They certainly don’t meet the stereotype—nor do their friends.
Thank you for your time in the Army. My son in law is still in the reserves and did a year in Africa.
You must get frustrated with the names and stereo-types that people have about young people these days.
What is the one assumption that makes you crazy?
And what is the one stereo-type that makes you want to scream?
No reason you should be working as a rent-a- cop with your skills, experience and with what you bring to the table as a vet. Ask to join our Battle Buddies USA Facebook page and we’ll help you out.
Hrm. That’s kind of what I was afraid of. So, it’s like this. I’m a Gen X slacker (freshly 52). Wasn’t so long ago we were in your position. Unfortunately, I fell for some of the lies and internalized them, and let some of them negatively impact my life. It’s a bit too late for me to worry about that now, but it’s not too late for you and your friends.
So, a couple more questions, and again, please don’t take these harshly... To be honest, I struggle with them a bit myself.
Do you think that previous generations have squandered your future? How? Do you think there should be consequences, and if so, what?
Do you think that your generation has been lied to, and if so, what lies, from/by whom and what do you think you can do about them? (and/or consequences)
Do you think that your generation is capable of escaping the thought traps that they have been placed in and charting a new course? (and how). This really matters.
And finally, on a personal level, the stuff that really matters - regardless of the circumstances of your generation, do you think that you can find a way to make a good, or even great life for yourself? Do you have a plan to achieve this?
(Note, in case I forget to blather on later - the biggest mistake I’ve made, and that I think anyone can make is to internalize negativity. This isn’t about Pollyanna ‘positive thinking’ bs, but about selling yourself short. Don’t do it. You’ve (most likely) already done things that I could only dream of. Dream big and work toward those dreams. You might just achieve them, and if not, you’ll have the knowledge that at least you strove for greatness. That is I think one of the greatest crimes of today’s edutainment industrial complex - killing our dreams. Don’t let them do it to you.)
How are things in your parents basement?
I’ll address the polarization in this manner:
The attack on traditional values has borne people who go with it and those who react against it. Those who go with it have given up the complicated search for meaning in favor of instant gratification or they swing against it, thinking doing so is some sort of revolutionary act (remember, many my age view lgbt as a civil rights issue). Those people are attempting to capture thestruggle which has been missing, aping the hippie movement. Those for trad values aim to do so without the apathy of their forbears which they feel made the issue happen in the first place.
Those of us who save money do so to weather the storms ahead, and those who don’t are ok with living in apartments and all that. With drugs, those who do them do so to escape our defeatist mindset and to transcend the programming we feel has been done to us. Those who don’t view drugs as a social ill and often have witnessed their effects on their family and friends, and for the latter reason.
We mostly group together (after we leave high school especially) to have a network of people to offset the isolation we feel by ourselves with our technology
Do you date/or are you in a relationship? Hows that go these days for you young whippersnappers?
Did you do any deployments?
Is the “mood” of the active military being accurately/honestly represented by the media (including Military Times sites)?
Describe the impact, if any, related to transgendered military members from the beginning of your enlistment until the end of your enlistment? What was the attitude of other enlisted personnel about serving with transgenders and/or homosexuals?
Just curious to hear your observations about these topics.
Our three sons were all USMC, but were in active between about 2002 and 2009, so I expect things changed a great deal during the 0bama years.
Thank you, and thank you for your service and participation on FR.
The state should be a representation of the people’s will, the aspirations of the dominant culture. I support the nationalist movements in Europe, though America is a different story. American exceptionalism has brought our attempts to install “democratic” governments in the states our government has destabilized in the Middle East, so I do not support such sentiments being expressed in national policy.
Interesting thoughts. With demographic changes already in the works, maybe the future is now. Or are future "ugly" demographic changes more about the consequences of genetic engineering?
In my younger days, individual effort was rewarded. By the 70's, it was discouraged. Now, it is anathema to many. Considering your age group, do you feel this way? Do most of your age group fell individualism is to be avoided?
If the Trump revolution succeeds, which IMHO will include the idea that individualism is not an abomination, will mass indoctrination fail?
He’s on the cusp.
Actually we are already in it. The crisis is not necessarily a single “event” but a time.
The 1940s was actually a period that started with the economic disruption of the early 1930s.
It is expected to come to a peak in the 2020-2025 period.
And if you believe the predictions about a Sino-American conflict, that sounds about right.
You’d make more flipping burgers for $15/hr.
Probably on the edge—I am “technically” a boomer, but I am so close to Gen X, my cohort really identifies more with classic X behavior than Boomer behavior.
And yes, everyone is different. Its more about the culture you were raised in (local, national, world) than your specific identification.
Do you think that previous generations have squandered your future? How? Do you think there should be consequences, and if so, what?
Yes, monetarily (national debt, not investing in inheritances is what I hear a lot), in being raised wrong , etc. Consequneces will probably come when the safety net fails and nursing homes become the destination for many elders.
We have been lied to (most of us have been anyway) about what our roles should be, what to expect, and on how we should act towards other people. Most of it is from the media complex, some from misguided elders, and some from state institutions. Open access to information and open, unfiltered dialogue with peers seems to help a lot
Millennials can escape, but Gen Z will do it much better than us. We idolized ideology and searches for it in vain when its flaws were exposed. Gen Z has no ideological commitments, which is probably better for society.
I can find a way to make a great life, even if I’m worse off financially. I seek to make myself better from the information I am learning now, and to one day have a greater presence in altruistic organizations.
Good, I’m actually in a big upstairs room haha.
English sure is something.
It sucks for a lot of us. We have a few options:
1) date people from work or social bonds
2) go on tinder and other dating apps to pursue a noncommittal relationship
3) meet someone online somehow
4) go to a place of worship and meet someone there
Dating people from work can be a bad combo, you know about tinder, online relationships are always iffy. The latter can be stable, but it can also fall apart since casual relationships are much easier to do now. I’ve never been in a relationship
[hey y’all, we have a live one]
love millenials!!
[video] brain bugs explained:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgIOGw9NoI8
[just kidding...]
ahem. hmmmm....
ulmius, serious question:
beatles? or zep?
:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgIOGw9NoI8
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