Solid. Man's stated desire for peace and ease but actual need for strife/struggle. Frank Herbert-esque….or maybe Jung. Or Tyler Durden

jja79 said:

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My 23 year old college dropout son owns a home and makes what I did at 40. Broad brush seldom works.

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How does his income translate to the purchasing power you had at the same income level?

He's made 6 figures the last 2 years. Not sure how that translates but it's probably better than his peers that are the topic of this thread.

Rapier108 said:

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GAC06 said:

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This guy didn't know the contra code

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Up, Up, Down, Down, Left Right, Left Right, B, A, Start.

Dang I feel old.

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Thought it was as B, A, Select, Start. Could be wrong.

Select start for two players

As long as they don't take too long bringing my drinks pool side, I've got no problem with them.

The topic of the thread is whether an entire generation is in trouble, not whether some among them will outperform others. That's a given for any generation.

You cited the income comparison between your son, not me. And it's a relevant comparison. I'm genuinely curious as to how it compares, but not curious enough for any more hair splitting (and we can assume anyway).

He could be pulling in 1.0MM/Y but if that doesn't buy a pot to piss in at that moment in time he's certainly no better off.

He was able to buy a nice home in the TPC San Antonio area last year so he's way ahead of where I was at 23 with an A&M degree and a bank job in 1979.

Y'all can say the OP, me, shouldn't generalize an entire generation but I don't remember credible news agencies reporting on polling numbers that showed Gen X didn't want to drive, marry, or have kids. Those reports exist about the increase in % of all those for Gen Z.

Nice. Fun track and a fun resort. I've heard they close the course a few weeks before the Valero. Shame. I'd like to play it in that condition.

The lack of urgency to get a driver's license ASAP is the one I just can't understand. What teenager doesn't want that freedom?

Seems like the private and home school kids are ok

Enviroag02 said:

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Y'all can say the OP, me, shouldn't generalize an entire generation but I don't remember credible news agencies reporting on polling numbers that showed Gen X didn't want to drive, marry, or have kids. Those reports exist about the increase in % of all those for Gen Z.

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Don't concern yourself about this post as It elicited a large number of replies, meaning it mattered enough for them to respond. I'm the one that posts nostalgia threads all of the time because I'm an Ol' Dame and remember a past childhood that was freedom, fun, responsibility without our parents watching over us. We learned independence and self reliance which in turn generated confidence.

So what you have posted is germane for this forum. Not everyone will have had the same experience, especially those that learned how to parent their own kids. But not everyone does know how to parent.

So do not take anything posted on this thread personally. I would like to see you post information based topics more often.

Sooper Jeenyus said:

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The lack of urgency to get a driver's license ASAP is the one I just can't understand. What teenager doesn't want that freedom?

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Ones that have never known "that freedom."

For the homeschool related points, I will say homeschooling of today is totally different than homeschooling of the 80s/90s. You simply can't compare them.

aggiehawg said:

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Sooper Jeenyus said:

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The lack of urgency to get a driver's license ASAP is the one I just can't understand. What teenager doesn't want that freedom?

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Ones that have never known "that freedom."

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Honestly tracking apps play a role in this as well. If my parents could track my every move and got a report of every time I went over the speed limit I wouldn't be as excited to drive off either.

The not wanting to drive thing is a pretty sad indicator...we COULD NOT WAIT to drive, and I was envious of my buddies who got their licenses before me. In 1996 I'd sneak my dad's explorer out to carefully cruise the neighborhood before I got my Driver's License.

Even more sad, is that I wonder if driving will even be "a thing" when some of our younger children hit their mid-teens? Some of our children may never drive...i hope that's not the case, but it's a very real possibility imo.

Rubicante said:

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aggiehawg said:

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Sooper Jeenyus said:

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The lack of urgency to get a driver's license ASAP is the one I just can't understand. What teenager doesn't want that freedom?

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Ones that have never known "that freedom."

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Honestly tracking apps play a role in this as well. If my parents could track my every move and got a report of every time I went over the speed limit I wouldn't be as excited to drive off either.

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Yeah, my dad is annoying enough about nagging me when I turn Life360 off, and I'm 43. Being a teenager these days must be unbearable if you have nosy parents.

My experience has be mostly the opposit.

My 4-kids, all have college degrees and reliable/running vehicles with no debt.

One employed and living with new wife
One spent 4 years in the marines, enlisted marine of the year for west coast, finished undergrad and in law school (ranked 6/160), works at law firm in summers/breaks. GI Bill. Getting married this year.
One is living on his own, working and has a side business making furniture and has the most awesome dog I've ever known.
One is 2nd Lt in Marines and just deployed. Last fit rep was 5-stars across the board, his company CO loves him.

Several nieces and nephews doing just as well.

Work with a lots of Gen Z, all very reliable, motivated and ask lots of good questions and want to learn.

There are lazy folks in every generation. I think the internet just makes us see it a lot more than we ever did when we were kids.

ts5641 said:

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A_Gang_Ag_06 said:

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Rapier108 said:

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Enviroag02 said:

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Where is this all coming from?

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Between what they're constantly fed on social media, and many have been raised to believe they deserve "the best" from the word go, they simply cannot understand why they don't deserve to make $100,000+ from the first day on the job, or make $50 an hour for part time work.

They are the instant gratification generation.

Generation Zombie:

They are a self centered, destructive generation that cannot think and cannot feel, so they create causes to make themselves feel important.

They are empty inside and have nothing real to offer society as their entire reality is the fake world of TikTok and Instagram.

They are largely uneducated, but believe they are highly educated because many have a worthless college degree. They also believe they are always right in all situations, and to disagree with them is always racism, sexism, hatred, bigotry, homo/trans-phobia, or some other made up word.

This is what happens when you give folks participation awards instead of pushing them to achieve, and not kicking them in the ass when they get out of line.

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I agree with pretty much everything you're saying. It's worth pointing out though that they don't give those participation trophies to themselves. It's the overcorrection of Gen-X parents due to their experiences as children.

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This part is maddening to me. I'm Gen X and we had the best childhoods ever at the perfect time. Yet for some reason we lost our frigging minds with regard to raising children. We're the ones who started with the participation trophies and the self-esteem movement. Why did we do that?

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GEN X WOMEN . Tell me I am wrong. :-)

I know this board skews "older" so I will try to be polite and respectful.

Gen Z is not growing up in the same world you grew up in. It's barely the same universe.

Everything is overpriced. Our government imports foreigners to compete for college spots and our government imports foreigners to compete for jobs. Our government has let in (and now is failing to deport) 50 million foreigners which drives up the costs of everything. Our government force isolated everyone for a few years. Our government allowed OnlyFans, which opened up the door for young, naive women to just become sex workers from their bedroom. There are many other reasons but that's good for now.

Gen Z cannot afford anything you could afford. Gen Z does not have the job prospects you had. Gen Z does not have the wife prospects you had. It is a sad situation for them, and I do not fault them for being unmotivated given these facts, but they will be the generation that gets this country straight again

I had to read this a few times to decide if you're being serious. I can't believe people starred this. Gen Z grew up the most affluent of any generation. Like all generations it has its losers who now can use social media to play the victim. As I and others have posted on this thread opportunities for the American dream, employment advancement, marriage partners, etc are ample for those that want it. By want it I mean those that refuse to be victims, those that believe in themselves those that understand everything day they're competing against everyone else and own their success or failure.

I really can't believe your woe is me post.

jja79 said:

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I had to read this a few times to decide if you're being serious. I can't believe people starred this. Gen Z grew up the most affluent of any generation. Like all generations it has its losers who now can use social media to play the victim. As I and others have posted on this thread opportunities for the American dream, employment advancement, marriage partners, etc are ample for those that want it. By want it I mean those that refuse to be victims, those that believe in themselves those that understand everything day they're competing against everyone else and own their success or failure.

I really can't believe your woe is me post.

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Yes sir I appreciate your post and I appreciate that you are 69 and have a well raised son.

But I will say again Gen Z is not growing up in the same world or even universe that you did. I made a few points explaining that in the post you just responded to.

Your whole "I can't even believe someone posted this and others starred this" kind of proves the point.

I have millennial and Gen Z kids. My Gen Z kids (boys) were taught that they would inherit a world where they might have to fight for the same freedoms we took for granted. Thus my sons are rather well adjusted, conservative, and somewhat normal, (my ex is crazy so she did a number on them when I wasn't around) and very hard workers, but they are surrounded by a world trying to destroy their values, debase what it means to be a man who takes care of his family and unfortunately they are drawn to women who are liberal.

I pray for them a lot. Then there is AI. God help us all and I use it almost daily. Gen Z will have to become hard because hard times are coming.

The world my 23 year old grew up in was much easier than his 69 year old dad did.

I think there are plenty of examples of high achieving kids on this thread to support that everything is possible for those that want it and are willing to compete. I suspect a lot of parents didn't prepare kids to compete since this generation has been handed everything.

Frok said:

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Dogging on the latest young generation is typical, they'll be fine. Young people aren't mature.

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I was a church camp counselor in college; I taught youth in Sunday School in the '90s, 2000s, and later in the mid-to-late 2010s. Sure, they aren't mature, but the youngest ones were far different from the older ones. For the older ones, the challenge in teaching was because they'd want to cut up. The older ones just sat there with the blankest looks on their faces. Some asking to go to the bathroom at the same time every Sunday!

The younger kids have virtually NO ability to sit and listen unless it is in front of a screen of some sort.

jja79 said:

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The world my 23 year old grew up in was much easier than his 69 year old dad did.

I think there are plenty of examples of high achieving kids on this thread to support that everything is possible for those that want it and are willing to compete. I suspect a lot of parents didn't prepare kids to compete since this generation has been handed everything.

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No, it was not. I could list another 10 reasons why but that is not what this thread is about. I am talking about Gen Z in general. I am glad your son was raised good and I commend you for that.

However, Gen Z is not your son. The problems I listed earlier, which you have still failed to address or even comment on, weigh on all of Gen Z

I lived through the boomer and Z worlds and Z had it much easier. I'm curious what your age is?

jja79 said:

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I lived through the boomer and Z worlds and Z had it much easier. I'm curious what your age is?

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You did not grow up in the Gen Z world. Which is why I have repeatedly said Gen Z is not growing up in the same world or even universe that you did

jja79 said:

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The world my 23 year old grew up in was much easier than his 69 year old dad did.

I think there are plenty of examples of high achieving kids on this thread to support that everything is possible for those that want it and are willing to compete. I suspect a lot of parents didn't prepare kids to compete since this generation has been handed everything.

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Dude, my oldest is 24 and I'm 49.

My kids are absolutely having to deal with far more BS than I ever did. The world has drastically changed and continues to do so. I very much worry about their long term ability to afford a home and have a family.

Keyno is right.

You are right. We never heard of work from home, tele-commute, jobs that provided food etc.. sure didn't have apartments with roommates with their own bathroom and each bedroom had its on key system. Didn't have google at our fingertips hell or spell check for college. We didn't expect the government to pay off loans or provide healthcare.

Wait are you wanting government to outlaw onlyfans?

backintexas2013 said:

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You are right. I never heard of work from home, tele-commute, jobs that provided food etc.. sure didn't have apartments with roommates with their own bathroom and each bedroom had its on key system. Didn't have google at my fingertips hell or spell check for college. I didn't expect the government to pay off my loans or provide healthcare.

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Good for you. Unfortunately this thread is not about you.

Neither did anyone my age. Now they do. It was a general nobody. Let me change it since you can't grasp that. My fault should have been clear.

Sorry that some young people are struggling. Millions are thriving.

jja79 said:

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My 23 year old college dropout son owns a home and makes what I did at 40. Broad brush seldom works.

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Yep. It's very possible. Many parents who have kids that still live at home want to blame society instead of the kid or the upbringing.