The Gen Y Hoax - Part 3

The backlash begins.

Remember how the hippies were going to change the world? All that stuff about love and peace? Well, the hippie dream lasted only a few months.

Lots of world-changers came to San Francisco and didn't know how to take care of themselves so they went home or degenerated and soon the world of psychedelia gave way to glam rock, disco, punk and rap.

The heyday of Gen Y hasn't lasted much longer. Their cheerleaders have barely begun to bray about how great they are and how they're going to change the world and, kaboom, the Wall Street Journal publishes a story that claims they're just spoiled sissy creeps.

Apparently, they've been raised by uber-soft parents with ultra-low standards who praise them for every inconsequential thing they do. Here's how a Gen Y renegade sees it:

Employers and professors are finding it necessary to compliment every little thing that students/young workers are doing.... major corporations, like Bank of America, are hiring consultants to teach older managers how to deal with the sensitive younger crowd.

The majority has been raised so weak that as soon as something doesn't go their way, they fold up like a cell phone. The strength of character is extremely low.

Is it possible that the tough guys have been mistaking normalcy for weakness? I don't know. Here at The Recruiting Animal, we're not taking any chances so a psychologist has been coming in to teach us how to deal with the new generation.

She has us role-play a scene in which one person gets angry. The victim shows a very sad face and the aggressor realizes something has gone wrong and shouts, "It's huggie time!" and gives the person a big hug. But it's only an air-hug to avoid any claims of harrassment. And I have to say that it's working. I feel much more confident now when dealing with the younger people.

See also Don't Coddle Kids.

Comments

[Ryan]

How can you possibly begin making a case against an entire generation by comparing them to the Hippies and Acid Rock? I guess all you have to do now is string together a few terrible jokes and you're good to go.

Is this whole anti-Millennial movement that has spawned itself in light of our adulthood really about us being spoiled? Or is it possible that a few people are just a little pissed off that they never asked for more?

We don't just bite our lip and suck it up like you probably did. We show a little passion and emotion. We're seeking a change in a world that will soon be ours. We want feedback from our older peers because we recognize the experience they have and we yearn. And most importantly, we don't waste time being angry in a situation - we find ways to fix it.

I may be new to the blogosphere, but posts like this are already second-nature to me. I have a hard time even considering this one an argument. It’s more like a bitter, incoherent couple of paragraphs from a person who is jealous of the opportunities my generation has…

And the best part of the whole situation is no matter what is said about us, YOU have to adapt to us, not the other way around…and that is beautiful.

[Stephen]

Well, now. I have to say that this is an amusing little tiff. I am a Gex-Xer myself, and I am appalled at the younger generation - no real work ethic, an incredible sense of self-esteem based on zero accomplishment, and the amazing ability to see every criticism as a personal attack.
I used to be in the hospitality business, and I cannot tell you how many times I saw a young person cry because I told them they could not go home until they finished their side-work. I do NOT have to adapt to the Gen-Y entitlement mentality. I have enough on my plate preparing for the Boomers to head off to Sun City and start sucking up all of the health care resources like a Dyson. The MSM likes to shout "Fire" about the health-care crisis (currently caused by illegal infiltrators from Mexico and beyond). Wait until the Boomers start in with their claims that we Xers have to keep them alive for 30+ years after they cease to be productive.

In the words of the Zen Master Hyakujo, "No work, no food."

[Agree with animal...]

What is interesting to me is the "entry level" salary appears to have risen from the mid 20K's to the mid $40k's over the course of the past 10 years, while an upper management role in the $100K range 10 years ago is...well, still $100K!...my first salary straight out of school in the early nineties was a mere $28K, with an undergrad degree and some relative experience nowadays I could easily command a salary as a Gen Y'er in the Mid $40K's, now why is this? Is it merely the market?

Air-Hug :)

[Bruce]

As a member (technically) of Gen Y, I've got to weigh in in agreement with the Animal. I've had the opportunity to hire, fire, manage, and work with peers from several generations. Gen Y seems to feel the most entitled. I really don't think it's a function of the generation though, as much as it is of age. We (they?) haven't gone through the maturing process that older generations have. Five years and a dose of reality later, Gen Y will look a lot like Gen X, which looks a lot like those who've gone before them.

[Min]

blah blah blah, have read the same bullshit so many times, soft parents, bah, i was beaten up a lot by my dad, as were the majority of gen y as polls show corporal punishment is still favored by [mediocre] American parents..

also, do you imply we have to submit to something that was here before we were born, sorry, but I do not recall being briefed before being born to ask for my agreement to whatever social contract is in place, i do as i please, and try to change the things i do not agree with, not enough vacation for my annual trip to europe? i quit!

and 100% against corporal punishment!

[Min]

Stephen, you moron, just how the f... do you generalize about millions of people just because of your pathetic, low pay experiences?

Ha-ha!