Gen Y yuppies unhappy

jonward85

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wait-but-why/generation-y-unhappy_b_3930620.html

I don't usually care for Huffpo, but gotta say, i kinda agree with this article. I'd like to get MFPs thoughts on this as well.

SoDamnHungry

Major agreement. I also read something once about how we're influenced by movies to always feel like we're the main character of a story and something better/more dramatic/more fun/more romantic should happen to us. And then it doesn't and we're disappointed. Kind of like the special remark.

jonward85

I had to agree with this. It seems like all the kids these days (though i am in this generation) feel like they are the star of their very own movie and everyone should care. I just don't get it,.

stetienne

I think one of the key points is this:
" Where the Baby Boomers wanted to live The American Dream, GYPSYs want to live Their Own Personal Dream....To be clear, GYPSYs want economic prosperity just like their parents did -- they just also want to be fulfilled by their career in a way their parents didn't think about as much."

echofm1

I'm not sure if it's because of where I grew up (small rural factory town. 3,000 people and the biggest town for an hour. Next biggest town had 10,000 people), or because both my parents and a majority of my friends' parents were all older when they had us (40-ish), but I don't feel like the majority of the people I know are all that entitled. I haven't seen a ton of this "special flower" focus that I hear about a lot.

I know I and a lot of my friends were just ecstatic to have a job when we graduated. None of our jobs pay fantastically, but it's enough to live on with a roommate and do something fun from time to time. Are these articles all being written as assumptions of what older people see in our generation, or am I just giving people too much credit?

nomeejerome

I did not think Gen Y were born in the 70's? I thought that was Gen X and Gen Y started in mid-80's?

clarkeje1

bump

RunWinterGarden

I definitely think there are a ton of people in my generation who are just expected things to be handed to them and that have been told they are "special" throughout their lives. I can't stand those people.

Now, that being said, there are a lot of people my age who expect to get promotions and raises because they are doing the work of those above them. In past generations years of experience were rewarded more than actual accomplishments and there are a lot of us that look at that and think it's stupid. Now I come off as "entitled" when I talk about wanting to be promoted after only being promoted last year, but I'm doing the work of the next level already so I feel that I should be rewarded with that. That's not entitlement because I'm not asking anyone to give me something, I'm doing what's required for that.

rml_16

I had to agree with this. It seems like all the kids these days (though i am in this generation) feel like they are the star of their very own movie and everyone should care. I just don't get it,.

Reality TV.

rml_16

I did not think Gen Y were born in the 70's? I thought that was Gen X and Gen Y started in mid-80's?

That's correct. Gen X is 1966-1980. Gen Y is after that.

RunWinterGarden

I had to agree with this. It seems like all the kids these days (though i am in this generation) feel like they are the star of their very own movie and everyone should care. I just don't get it,.

Reality TV.

No, it's bull**** classes that they made us take in school when we were younger. I used to have to take a class about self esteem (seriously, an entire school year telling you that you are special and great). It was the only class in middle school I got a C in because I told the teacher how much bull it was.

Until we remind kids that they aren't anything special this will only get worse and worse.

ldrosophila

I read this article the other day. I think one thing it doesnt address are some of the economic changes. The need to have more, living off credit, and a high rate of inflation.

some of the disillusion comes from working so hard and still living paycheck to paycheck.

rml_16

I had to agree with this. It seems like all the kids these days (though i am in this generation) feel like they are the star of their very own movie and everyone should care. I just don't get it,.

Reality TV.

No, it's bull**** classes that they made us take in school when we were younger. I used to have to take a class about self esteem (seriously, an entire school year telling you that you are special and great). It was the only class in middle school I got a C in because I told the teacher how much bull it was.

Until we remind kids that they aren't anything special this will only get worse and worse.

That, too. I think it's a combo.

I was in the generation right before all that self-esteem crap started, but my daughter's schools did it.

Self-esteem should come from achieving something, not just because you breathe. lol

But then you have this abundance of things like Jersey Shore, Real Housewives, whatever, where seemingly random, everyday people with absolutely no talent are getting rich and famous just living their lives on TV. I think a lot of kids in Gen Y and beyond (what's after that?) expect that to happen to them.

NataBost

I did not think Gen Y were born in the 70's? I thought that was Gen X and Gen Y started in mid-80's?

This because I don't think my age group falls into this idea.

thekyleo

I had to agree with this. It seems like all the kids these days (though i am in this generation) feel like they are the star of their very own movie and everyone should care. I just don't get it,.

Reality TV.

No, it's bull**** classes that they made us take in school when we were younger. I used to have to take a class about self esteem (seriously, an entire school year telling you that you are special and great). It was the only class in middle school I got a C in because I told the teacher how much bull it was.

Until we remind kids that they aren't anything special this will only get worse and worse.

Totally agree, I may only be 28. but I never liked "you're special". I do not consider myself special or anything out of the ordinary. The fact that i'm not dead now has far exceeded my expectations of my life to this point. I have a secure career (I don't like it some days, but who doesn't like there job some days) Kids need to be toughened up.

meeper123

That is so funny and explains a lot about my husband lol I blame the parents why? Just 'cause lol (jk)

Trechechus

I'm from generation Y. We aren't all that bad.

rungirl1973

Doesn't apply to everybody in that generation. By this definition, my kids are in Gen Y (19 and 20), but I'm in Gen X and MY parents are baby boomers. But, I digress.

I think this entire thing is just bs. It's all in your background and upbringing, and making generalizations based on age is just as bad as generalizing based on ethnicity, gender, etc.

I may not be part of that generation, but I want my career to be fulfilling too. Who wants to drudge away 8+ hours of every day on something that isn't fulfilling?

odusgolp

I love this.

ElyseL1

they are also forgetting that they are in their 30s and still living at home with mom and dad and allowing their parents to pay for their food and other items because they cant just find a decent paying job and shut it. Lol my husband and I are in our mid to late 20s and have a hard time relating to other ppl our age, bc we already bought a house, he's working hard towards a promotion and I work from home. We have always been realistic abt we can own and are grateful that we are where we are. My husband works very hard and he's determined to do well in life. None of our friends have even moved out of their parents house yet and we are all the same age.

BL_Coleman

I think one of the key points is this:
" Where the Baby Boomers wanted to live The American Dream, GYPSYs want to live Their Own Personal Dream....To be clear, GYPSYs want economic prosperity just like their parents did -- they just also want to be fulfilled by their career in a way their parents didn't think about as much."

I agree, but I do not necessarily think this is a problem. Both of my parents worked hard and made "middle class successful careers and lives" but I am not necessarily convinced they were happy with they way their careers worked out. My parents gave me a leg up and opportunities and benefits they did not have...So I was able to start out in my early 20's I was 22 when I completed college making good money 40-50's. Now that I am 28, I am not "happy" in my job. In fact there was a year when I honestly HATED it. Because of this I am looking to go back to school for a law degree. I will most likely live 3 years as a poor student to make LESS than what I currently make starting out. BUT we only get one life to live and I would rather be HAPPY making less than RICHIER but miserable.

And honestly if anyonce calls me the entitlted Y Generation for this I have to words and they are not exactly polite.

I am Active Duty USAF and after spending my formative years doing what was good for country and nation I would rather use my GI Bill and go to school and make myself HAPPY....

Proud Participant of the Entitled Generation

BL_Coleman

they are also forgetting that they are in their 30s and still living at home with mom and dad and allowing their parents to pay for their food and other items because they cant just find a decent paying job and shut it. Lol my husband and I are in our mid to late 20s and have a hard time relating to other ppl our age, bc we already bought a house, he's working hard towards a promotion and I work from home. We have always been realistic abt we can own and are grateful that we are where we are. My husband works very hard and he's determined to do well in life. None of our friends have even moved out of their parents house yet and we are all the same age.

We can be friends..I feel your pain. I would work fastfood and concessions again ( I did as a teenager) before I moved in with my parents.. I'm 28

Melissa22G

I had to agree with this. It seems like all the kids these days (though i am in this generation) feel like they are the star of their very own movie and everyone should care. I just don't get it,.

Reality TV.

Haha :laugh:

And yeah, THIS.

UsedToBeHusky

It's an interesting and entertaining article... but I thought we were Generation X, and our kids were Gen Y. Or did I miss something?

jonward85

I too was raised in a small town and i agree that in that setting it seems to be a lot less "You're Special". Most of my friends are like me in that we think we're ordinary. My sister is two years younger though and in her age group i see it a lot. I also see it in some of the people we hire at the company i work for and it is only getting worse. Kids do need to toughen up. My kids are in school now and some of the rules that have so that no one will be left out make me wanna cry at how stupid they are. We must please everyone and everyone's special! UGH.

nomeejerome

Part of the problem is a lot of Gen Y look at past generations and disregard the hard work and years of experience and have the expectation they should be promoted, rewarded, awarded, acknowledged etc. just because they have been doing the work for a short period of time. There is a difference between doing the work for a short period of time and gaining multiple years of experience to fulfill the requirements of higher level positions, rewards, awards etc. Another problem is the expectation of being rewarded for doing what they are supposed to be doing in the first place and being upset because they are not getting what they want as fast as they want it or as fast as they feel they deserve it. I acknowledge that not all people in Gen Y act like this, but it does seem to be the majority. (I also acknowledge this is not limited to Gen Y)

UsedToBeHusky

You know, I think there is some merit to this theory... honestly, I believe the thoughts surrounding life and survival for each generation is partly to blame for the obesity epidemic.

But I do want to point out that this is sociology, the study of the behavior of groups. I believe the individual is responsible for making their own happiness, and I think most people believe that to be true, in general.

But then again, my beliefs could totally reflect that I'm actually a member of the lost generation that the article failed to identify.

UsedToBeHusky

Part of the problem is a lot of Gen Y look at past generations and disregard the hard work and years of experience and have the expectation they should be promoted, rewarded, awarded, acknowledged etc. just because they have been doing the work for a short period of time. There is a difference between doing the work for a short period of time and gaining multiple years of experience to fulfill the requirements of higher level positions, rewards, awards etc. Another problem is the expectation of being rewarded for doing what they are supposed to be doing in the first place and being upset because they are not getting what they want as fast as they want it or as fast as they feel they deserve it. I acknowledge that not all people in Gen Y act like this, but it does seem to be the majority. (I also acknowledge this is not limited to Gen Y)

But you can't deny that the business environment has changed since our parents were working. I mean, it used to be that you could work for the same company for years knowing full well that there will be a pension waiting for you when you are ready to stop. In this era, the individual is responsible for taking care of the future. And there are many other ways in which modern business has abandoned their greatest asset, the employee, and as a result, Gen-Y is embittered because they are not receiving the same benefits for the same amount of effort that their parents received.

jenbit

I need to send this acticle to my sister.. She is 25 and I'm 33. She just got out of collage 2 ys ago and decided that she was only appling for jobs just like mine... Mind you I've been in my feild since I was 18 and worked hard to get here.... Then she wonders why she can't get a job and mumbbles that other people are treating her as a child(she also doesn't have the experience or the correct degree for my job )

ironanimal

Actually, what makes this Gen Y yuppie unhappy is the abysmmal employment statistics for under-25s.

ldrosophila

Part of the problem is a lot of Gen Y look at past generations and disregard the hard work and years of experience and have the expectation they should be promoted, rewarded, awarded, acknowledged etc. just because they have been doing the work for a short period of time. There is a difference between doing the work for a short period of time and gaining multiple years of experience to fulfill the requirements of higher level positions, rewards, awards etc. Another problem is the expectation of being rewarded for doing what they are supposed to be doing in the first place and being upset because they are not getting what they want as fast as they want it or as fast as they feel they deserve it. I acknowledge that not all people in Gen Y act like this, but it does seem to be the majority. (I also acknowledge this is not limited to Gen Y)

But you can't deny that the business environment has changed since our parents were working. I mean, it used to be that you could work for the same company for years knowing full well that there will be a pension waiting for you when you are ready to stop. In this era, the individual is responsible for taking care of the future. And there are many other ways in which modern business has abandoned their greatest asset, the employee, and as a result, Gen-Y is embittered because they are not receiving the same benefits for the same amount of effort that their parents received.

This is what I was thinking when my father completed his electrician's apprenticeship back in the 70's within a year of working (little experience) he was able to purchase a house, property, a car, and have a stay at home wife. His union had a stronger influence and could demand more pay and had excellent benefits and an insurance package. Both of my Grandfather's had excellent pensions from GE and a public works company. My Grandpa barely completed his high school education, but still had a good paying job that allowed his wife to stay at home, raise 4 boys, travel, new cars, a home, boat, and motor home.

If my father completed his apprenticeship now he couldnt expect the same return for his minimal work experience. My Grandfather as a lineman with minimal education probably wouldnt see those same results today. If anything he might even be denied the job because he lacked the technical experience that is required today.