I mean when you see the likes of pop idol etc where it seems everyone wants to be famous/rich etc (yet any glance at the priory clinic shows that this often does not lead to happiness)..
Also I notice how my young cousins are very materialistic/not keen to work/hedonistic..
Is this a new phenomenon or just a normal adolescent phase? Cannot see either of them being happy to work every single day in a job they despise as a cleaner like my Mum did just to survive/scrape by.
2007-02-18 06:00:15 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
I agree with Jennifer J, the first answerer. Not just kids today, but when I was a kid, too (in the 80s.)
I had no clue what it was really like to work and pay bills until I finished college. I'd been sheltered from that kind of reality all my life. Then all of a sudden, people expected me to just fall into place and do what adults do. I love my parents, and they did a lot of good things as parents, but one thing they absolutely did wrong was not preparing me very well for what real adult life is like.
All colleges and universities should require students to work a really boring cubicle job for at least a semester - and use the tiny salary they earn to pay ALL their bills. That will give them a good idea of what work is really like.
2007-02-18 06:55:48 · answer #1 · answered by catrionn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If what you are implying is that the media has affected today's youth by teaching them to have unrealistic expectations of what adult life will be like, then I certainly agree. Reality television shows such as The Simple Life, American Idol and other such programs do seem, in my opinion, to be highly influential and UNrealistic. Certainly it is normal for adolescents to dream of being rich and famous, but I think it would be interesting to see if these shows would get as high ratings if they also aired the hard work that many of the contestants and stars have endured to get where they are today. However, just because young people seem whimsical does not mean that they will be unable to cope with the hurdles of everyday life once they reach adulthood.
2007-02-18 14:21:07 · answer #2 · answered by favblue_3000 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Children, teens and even some young adults don't seem to have a clue! I blame that on the fact that most of them have/had no parents home (out working) to talk more to them.
In some ways it is a normal adolescent phase--when I was young, everyone wanted to start a band, become an actor, etc. But back then, they grew out of it, and either continued with higher education--or got a "real" job.
2007-02-18 14:15:23 · answer #3 · answered by Holiday Magic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is one of the best questions I've read in quite a while.
What kids don't know is how much daily life will challenge them when they become adults and how much character strength they'll need to deal with this and create happy lives. Courage, honesty, integrity, confidence, patience, persistence, compassion, effort...it takes personal qualitites like these to make things happen... and there are severe consequences when you don't.
What parents don't always appreciate is that these traits have to be established in youth so that their children will be strong for life when they're adults. All of this IN ADDITION to a good education. In order to esablish these kids need to work through challenges. This is where most parents fail. They mistakenly believe that you need to protect your kids from responsibility, mistakes and adversity, when in truth this is how you grow stronger.
Yes, most children have no idea what's in store for them.
2007-02-18 14:08:21 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am 46 and there is a perception amongst my peers that if one of us goes wrong then it must have been the fault of the parents. The fact is that your parents are making decisions based on your welfare at all times and they can't be blamed if they miss bits. There is a saying in Scotland "You're all the man you'll ever be" and that means that your youth is no longer an excuse for your behaviour.
Oops must dash. mums got the tea ready
2007-02-18 15:54:38 · answer #5 · answered by David R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kids want too much too soon and get over their heads in debt then expect parents to bail them out, they think nothing of asking parents for a loan of £1,000 or two just to buy a tv or similar knowing they can't pay it back as they're not prepared to work long shifts ...then have the cheek/brass neck to tell their parents they're mad working long hours at their age Ha!
2007-02-18 15:00:06 · answer #6 · answered by richiesown 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably, because many of the adults dont know either.
2007-02-18 15:05:55 · answer #7 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋