Posted on 08/15/2016 11:06:57 AM PDT by Lorianne
Millennials are not some vast unsolvable mystery. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau (PDF), they earn $2,000 less than their parents did at a comparable age, they are more likely to live in poverty, and they are more likely to live at home.
But Baby Boomers and Gen Xers still seem to find it hard to believe that basic economic math can explain much of the younger generation’s behavior.
After several news outlets, including The Daily Beast, reported that rates of millennial sexual inactivity in early adulthood are surprisingly high, armchair social theorists came out in force to blame it on everything but the fact that nearly one-third of young adults are still living at home.
One right-wing college news website found a way to attribute the finding to millennials’ desire for “safe spaces.”
Conservative New York Times columnist Ross Douthat speculated on Twitter that it was an example of the “porn paradox,” whatever that means. Others attributed it, predictably, to the effects of technology or increased anxiety. A Rutgers biological anthropologist even suggested that millennials might be too “motivated” and “ambitious” to even bother with sex.
The most likely explanation—which was mentioned in the study itself—is that parents’ basements do not make great boom boom rooms. But who needs Occam’s razor when you’re publicly opining about the behavior of an entire generation? Lower wages sending 22-year-olds back home after college isn’t nearly as sexy as complaining about porn or political correctness.
The truth is that lower wages and poverty can account for so many of the things that older generations find so mystifying about millennials.
For example, millennials drive less than their parent’s generation—and until recently, at least—were relatively uninterested in buying cars. As The Atlantic reported in 2012, this crisis prompted automakers to appoint “youth emissaries” and come up with new car colors like “techno pink” and “denim.”
But trying to make cars cooler doesn’t change the fact that, as CityLab found, there’s a significant gap in vehicle miles traveled between millenials who make over $30,000 a year and those who make less. Simply put: Cars cost money and millennials have less of it.
Millennials have also been shamed for how much they spend eating out instead of say, saving for retirement. “Millennials Are Spending an Embarrassing Amount on Brunch and Takeaway Pizza,” Vice recently declared.
It’s easy to chalk that generational difference up to some sort of narcissistic short-sightedness but the truth is probably a lot closer to fatalism: When millennials can’t save for retirement anyway, why not spring for some bottomless mimosas instead of enrolling in a 401(k)?
SNIP
Apparently there’s an actual millennial trying to participate in this discussion, and he’s getting reviled because he doesn’t want to support one or two or three of us.
If that’s how we treat native born millennials here who might actually be looking to learn, FR is screwed.
Everything. Dr. Benjamin Spock ... not the guy on Star Trek with the funny ears.
He taught their parents and grandparents to be lazy and stupid.
What are you talking about? I joined at 17, with my parents signing my permission. It was one month before 9/11. Have you not read my earlier posts?
I have a few degrees, including a professional degree. You might want to read my earlier posts regarding my education and military/professional experience.
Dr. Spock was influential on parents of boomers, not millennials.
My fault that I don’t want to fund socialist programs? My fault that I am not going to lick your boots and take your support for these Ponzi schemes as the Gospel?
I swear it’s like I have landed in an alternative universe. You boomers sound like old timers at a Bernie rally.
... and some of the mental illness he promoted continues to get passed on from generation to generation.
Hang in the Mr. Millennial. Don’t give up.
You’ve been taught a lot of lies. Keep fighting for air and truth!
America made HUGE positive changes during a time when most people identified as Christian. Consider that. The missing dimension for every lost generation is God.
I am not blaming boomers for any of that. I am indicting on a charge of being a hypocrite and I think this thread is sufficient probable cause.
You guys are rabidly defending your socialist Ponzi scheme. I don’t remember authorizing the government to steal from me to promote a Ponzi scheme.
> You boomers sound like old timers at a Bernie rally.
Not this one Mr. Millennial! : - )
“Everything. Dr. Benjamin Spock ... not the guy on Star Trek with the funny ears.”
For God’s sake,I know that.
I still don’t see what his impact is on Millennials.
.
I agree. Most boomers are at least honest and say they have some of the blame. Just like I have a lot of blame for not slapping other Millennials into shape or using my legal education to attack Roe v. Wade with every fiber of my body.
I am still young though.
your logic is hanging on a very thin thread, but ok! : - )
This is my point. Boomers want to make a past time out of mocking Millennials, but they should remember we are the ones footing their bill. Many Millennials are renouncing their citizenship and moving abroad because they feel displaced. No culture, no country, no prospects. That should be troubling if you are a Boomer.
Keep an eye, geopolitically, on places where freedom is on an upswing. That is freedom to succeed OR FAIL. There is charity for people who fail, but it’s mostly the job of individuals and churches, not the corrupt government.
The US might truly be hosed. Keep your eyes open. Buy guns and ammo. Be ready to bail out if you have to.
Otherwise, FIGHT. ARGUE. RESIST. VOTE (I guess).
I’m Gen X so don’t exactly have a dog in this fight.
And as critical as I can be of both generations, wasn’t it largely millenials who stopped the enemy’s advance cold at Gamergate and paved the way for a whole Trumpian “go pound sand” attitude toward political correctness?
I’ve been seeing this PC crap in colleges since 1989, and we sure as heck didn’t stand up to it like they are.
So I’m coming around a bit on the millenials....at least the ones who have their head screwed on straight enough to realize what’s going on.
I was once hopeful that we Gen Xers would rise to the occasion and fix things. Then I saw my peers become parents and got a dose of reality.
As much as I find Dr Spock contemptible.
I think people exaggerate his effect.
*Let me through. My cousin's a doctor!*
IMO if this country has any chance, there’s going to be a lot of disruption first. A LOT of people are going to be ejected, jailed, and, honestly, killed. There’s too much hate of America being rewarded. There are still enough people vested in our system that the enemy within could be fought off, but people are still asleep. Parasites of all kinds are destroying the host.
Mr. Millennial, IF you can buy in to full throated “WESTERN CIV” then consider staying and fighting. And I mean the real possibility of defending your neighborhood and town with long guns.
But if you find a better place, let us know, after you are safely there.
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