Is this generation too spoiled

[The Red Next Door]

i had been told that our generation is gimme gimme now generation, that do not want to work for nothing . what do you think? is are generation so materalistic beyond the fact being materalistic?

[Invincible Summer]

Define "our" generation.

And I would beg to differ that people in "our" generation living in Somalia are spoiled. Besides, everyone knows that the West is materialistic, and it's not jst recently. I don't see where the discussion/argument is.

[LOLseph Stalin]

Like Destructicon said, I think it's just the society the west is brought up in. Of course if you compare places like Canada and the US to places like Somalia and Ethiopia you would see that the needs there are very different from the ones here. I'm sure many people in Africa would just be happy to have a decent meal and a roof over their head. Most people here, even those in poverty have that, but we still want more. Why? It's there and easy to access in most cases. Not to mention, we're constantly surrounded in advertising so this encourages people. For many of these people it becomes a status thing. They're thinking "Oh, if I have this new high-tech phone I'll be the greatest", And then there's just general materialism. These people just seem to want things for the sake of having them and because it's "cool". I really hate to pick on my friends all the time, but they're a perfect example. I don't think they could last two seconds without texting somebody on their cellphones. I honestly don't see what the big thrill is with texting people, especially when they're in the same room as you(yes, my friends are that bad sometimes). It's alot better to talk to the people in person and because of this constant use of technology I honestly think this generation lacks important social skills(not to mention grammar and spelling, argh...). Like I rarely use my cellphone. I don't feel the need to unless it's an emergency. Anyway, this is my rant. I sound primative or something... Keeping all this in mind, yes I do think many people in this generation are becoming too materialistic and obsessive over technology.

[jake williams]

I'm generally a bit disturbed by admonitions about "kids these days". There's a notion that young people are exceptionally materialistic, or ignorant, or powerful, or lazy. There's a lot missing out from these views.

The domination of young people by old people is, in fact, one of the key features of our oppressive capitalist society. Much like patriarchy, it does not necessarily show in and only in capitalist societies, but capitalism interacts with and uses preexisting hierarchies. To put a lot of discussion into a pretty brief space, younger people are more susceptible to propaganda. Capitalist propaganda (ie. advertising, as well as political propaganda) has accelerated, and young people are getting the worst of it - not because "they have too much power over their parents!" but because it's easier to organize the buying habits of a 5-year-old than it is to organize the buying habits of a 50-year-old.

There's some sense to labour-aristocracy-y notions that the West benefits from imperialism to such an extent that even elements of the working class derive a certain type of privilege from capitalism, and I can see how this might trickle down to what might look like "laziness" in young people, but again, I'm skeptical. I think that also has more to do with the fact that capitalism is in fact anti-work - people, and young people in particular, are taught by state schools, the capitalist media, etc. not to enjoy being productive members of their communities.

[ComradeOm]

"The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect to their elders.... They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and are tyrants over their teachers."
(Socrates)

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?"
(Plato)

"I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint"
(Hesiod)

[Sean]

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself.

- 'This Be The Verse" by Philip Larkin

As ComradeOm just pointed out, this isn't just "our" generation (although you'll actually find lots of generations on Revleft, we have quite a diverse age range). At the end of the day, this has been said about every single generation, and every generation before that consider the one theyve spawned as spoiled and disrespectful. Its just the way of the world.

[NecroCommie]

Its just a few morons who shame the entire youth. There is nothing wrong with youth in general, although western youth tend to be somewhat "demanding".

[Communist Theory]

Its just a few morons who shame the entire youth. There is nothing wrong with youth in general, although western youth tend to be somewhat "demanding".
Haha just "somewhat" that is putting it lightly.