Posted on 04/03/2006 6:38:16 PM PDT by neverdem
The romantic comedy "Failure to Launch," which opened as the No. 1 movie in the nation this month, has substantially exceeded pre-launch predictions, taking in more than $64 million in its first three weeks.
Matthew McConaughey plays a young man who is affable, intelligent, good-looking — and completely unmotivated. He's still living at home and seems to have no ambitions beyond playing video games, hanging out with his buddies (two young men who are also still living with their parents) and having sex. In desperation, his parents hire a professional motivation consultant, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, who pretends to fall in love with McConaughey's character in the hope that a romantic relationship will motivate him to move out of his parents' home and get a life.
The movie has received mixed reviews. But putting aside the movie's artistic merits or lack thereof, I was struck by how well its central idea resonates with what I'm seeing in my office with greater and greater frequency. Justin goes off to college for a year or two, wastes thousands of dollars of his parents' money, then gets bored and comes home to take up residence in his old room, the same bedroom where he lived when he was in high school. Now he's working 16 hours a week at Kinko's or part time at Starbucks.
His parents are pulling their hair out. "For God's sake, Justin, you're 26 years old. You're not in school. You don't have a career. You don't even have a girlfriend. What's the plan? When are you going to get a life?"
"What's the problem?" Justin asks. "I haven't gotten arrested for anything, I haven't asked you guys for money. Why can't you just chill?"
This phenomenon cuts across all demographics. You'll find it in families both rich...
(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...
My nephew could sue for plagiarism
I have two college degrees, Business (UNC) and Electrical Engineering (NCSU). I hated school, but I got through it.
What a bunch of losers. I couldn't WAIT to get out on my own, which is one reason I skipped college altogether. I've been on my own since age 19.
They could always change the locks!
Let me see ... You're living in my house, presumably eating my food and enjoying the fruits of my labor (cable TV, heat, lights, warm showers) and you're not paying for any of that. How is it you're not asking me for money? You're certainly taking all the benefits for granted!
Bottom line? You couldn't survive on your own working 16 hours a week at Kinko's. Not and enjoy the many splendors you enjoy at Dad's Place.
Freedom from home didn't come fast enough...! For me anyway...!
I don't know if the NEA and NOW are the problem. The fault seems to lie more with indulgent or self-absorbed parents who can't be bothered to teach or enforce manners or responsibility in their children. If Mom and Dad aren't going to do it, the schools and society at large certainly won't.
Many of those guys would do well to spend six months at Fort Benning...
Do they have Countryclub Democrats?
This phenomenon exist because these kids already have attained what motivated prior generations to get out and achieve on their own. Namely, they have liberal, affluent parents that draw no lines in the sand and coddle these children. Thus, a home, food and sanctuary from the pressure of the world are conveniently provided. The cultural norm of free sex without commitment, courtesy of modern liberal thought, provides the other ingredient in the old motivational formula. In the past, a male needed to have something and be able to provide for his spouse in order to attract a woman of good quality. Now a dude doesn't even need to fork out for tacos at Taco Bell to get his hook up to put out. Of course, it goes without saying that this motivationless lifestyle will tend to resist the burden of children in order to prolong childhood and aimless hedonism.
We always knew the WaPo was full of slackers who live in their parents' basements.
nothing wrong with my boys....I'm bucking this raise yer boys to be cakers trend
I have no idea what is wrong with these guys. I was out of my parents house at 18, and now, at the ripe old age of 23, I couldn't fathom moving back in with them.
Congratulations!
Bah! Kids these days are lazy, overfed, and undermotivated...well, except for the ones who just liberated 50 million people in Afghanistan and Iraq. Every time you see a no-load like the one in the article, think of them.
Their houses are too big.
My room was converted into an office back when I went off to school...
second grade was even tougher!
(Actually, not until I went to Grad School, but by then I was 2000 miles away.)
Moving back in with Mom and Dad remained an option, sure, but it would have been a concession of failure in life for my generation. I am no quitter.
I am not sure why it is considered acceptable now.
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