Why is being young so desired and being old so badly treated?

Question

My students at school (I'm a teacher) said they would rather be dead than old. Why?

A Japanese student was sad. She said that in her family her old grandmother was respected and always asked for advice.

In Kenya, Africa where I grew up elders educated the young were in charge, and were respected The young people happyily looked forward to being respected elders

Here in Australia Aboriginal tribal elders were also respected.
A true-blood Aboriginal said young men travelled far, carried out brave deeds, did good deeds etc as part of life so that they could tell tales when they became elders even though life was tough. Now the Aboriginal full blood said that young half white men roamed city streets, drunk and useless. He said they seemed to want death and were incredibly dis-respectful to their elders.
There is a movement to get young aboriginals to return to their old ways Some Aboriginal towns have gone dry - banning all alcohol and have put the Grannies in charge

Answer 1

A major culprit is the advertising industry. It short-sightedly encourages the cults of external appearances and material acquisition in order to profit from the consumerism of young people and others who are searching for identity and fulfillment.

Answer 2

Progress and change grows at a geometric rate. The progress we've made between 1907and 2007 is far more radical then the progress we've made between 1807 and 1907.

With only a few exceptions this pattern applies to all of history.

In a rustic area where people live largely as their parents and their parent's parents lived the experience that comes with age is a valuable asset.

When the rate of progress is significantly faster than generational advancement the experience that comes with age is less valuable and the aged are often confused and ignorant of the working of the world that grew up around them.

This is not always the case. It's not inevitable. You can keep in step with the world, ever learning and updating yourself.

For some reason there's a sort of unspoken belief that learning is for children. These people fall into traps of "golden age" nostalgia, technophobia, xenophobia and culture shock.

That's when they lose their value.

Answer 3

Here the young treat the old Badly,they're in the way,so get their money and stick them in a nursing home,out of sight,out of mind!!!

Answer 4

Some ppl do not seem to know the difference between God telling them they are ishypoo and not getting a raise.

The same person also can not tell the diff. between God and a tuft of pocket lint.

Answer 5

American culture has it backwards, we worship youth and beauty instead of wisdom. Someday this may be our undoing.