<p>Particularly interesting because I’ve seen many posts (not to point any fingers) where students or their parents feel that they are “entitled” to get into a certain school or deserve a scholarship because their “stats” are “exceptional,” “hook status,” etc. But honestly, in our increasingly competitive society, doesn’t everybody? It’s interesting that the author states how “being gifted and talented is as common as having a blog” today, because it practically defines (competitive) college admissions today, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>The president of my mother’s college said that he feared the day when the parents of his employees would call him as frequently as the parents of his supposedly grown students. He thought the day was near, sadly.</p>
<p>Perhaps it deserves a question: do we (society) as a whole feel entitled to too much these days?</p>
<p>Personally, I think yes. Or perhaps more than just we feel entitled to things, but we also take for granted too much for granted. Honestly, just because we live in one of the wealthiest nations with one of the highest standards of life doesn’t mean everybody else does. And yet even with everything that we have already, we still feel entitled to more. Perhaps it’s just a result of our overconsumerism - and as we gain more we simply never stop wanting.</p>
<p>Especially whenever I see stories of parents or students talking to teachers about “unfair” grades - when they’re perfectly fair. At times, granted, teachers do make mistakes, but for the most part it’s simply whining. Look, if you forgot to turn in an assignment - why should the teacher take it easy and let you off? It makes no sense. Why should you be entitled to this nonexistant “privilege” just because you want to go to some Ivy-League school and getting a B would tarnish your transcript? Please, be proactive, not reactive.</p>
<p>They weren’t called the “Greatest Generation” b/c they whined their way to victory or out of the Depression. I fear if there is some great crisis (say if the economy tanks, or, speaking of tanks, we run out of oil) this generation won’t know what to do. We (Boomers) have had it too easy (speaking for most of us) and our children have had it easier still. </p>
<p>It’s been wonderful in this country, having a world of choices–consumer choices, freedom to live anywhere you want, remake yourself, learn anything you want to, drive anywhere to do it…but we have been awfully profligate in doing so. </p>
<p>Not to derail the thread, but this is related–[rant] Now we (or our leaders) feel we can spend TRILLIONS on a war while cutting taxes and continuing to use oil (not just in cars, but in everything we buy made of plastic and then throw away) and not having to sacrifice a bit. Our leaders believe we would balk at any sacrifice…and they would be right. [/rant]</p>
<p>Not true, IMO. We haven’t been asked to make any sacrifices. And if we were, we would have to sincerely believe in the cause we were sacrificing for.</p>
<p>For the war, Americans aren’t sure what we’re doing there, why we’re there, etc. I think if we genuinely believed in the Cause, we’d do whatever it took.</p>
<p>For conservation – well, even the President says we don’t need to conserve; we just need to get more oil from Alaska. So why sacrifice?</p>
<p>I don’t think we’ve had a leader who can pull us all together and make us feel like we should sacrifice.</p>
<p>I saw an ad in an airport trumpeting that there will be something like 3 million users of plastic born this year in China and asking, “Are you ready?” The implication being that this is a great opportunity for plastics manufacturers. What about landfills?</p>
<p>Maybe 10 years ago (I don’t really remember how long ago --) we didn’t recycle glass and plastic and metal containers; we just threw them in the trash with everything else. At some point, we were asked to “sacrifice” that convenience and sort our trash into different categories. Most of us were dragged kicking and screaming into that. But I also think we saw the need for that sacrifice, and most of us now comply with that without really thinking about it.</p>
<p>So, again, if we can be shown the need for the sacrifice (and maybe if there are some laws that require that sacrifice), we will go along.</p>
<p>VeryHappy–you’re right, and I was not clear. I think our leaders know we would balk at making sacrifices for THIS war.</p>
<p>Clearly we have not been asked to sacrifice anything for it, except for those who volunteered and paid in body parts, mental health, and even their lives.</p>
<p>And perhaps this war (driven by an interest in oil) would not have been necessary if we had all used less oil since the 70s’ “Oil Crisis” which was forgotten as soon as it was over. Thirty years of SUVs and Hummers, with more power instead of better mileage. More toys made of plastic instead of wood. More computers and VCRs with parts of plastic and rare (and sometimes toxic) metals that we don’t recycle. And more pre-wrapped meals from the freezer case, where we throw away plastic and paper galore instead of homemade meals where we compost the remains of the produce aisle.</p>
<p>I’m as guilty as anyone else, probably (except for the SUV and Hummer bit) so it seems to me we need laws mandating some things at the corporate/industrial/manufacturing level. We need a “War on Waste” and then people would believe it’s a real problem.</p>
<p>How many people recycle? In some neighborhoods, over 50%, in some neighborhoods, virtually none at all. I’d like to see mandates built into the consumer chain, so we would have places to take our used goods and it would be worth our while. And we could all probably do without so much “stuff” to begin with.</p>
<p>I saw a photo of a river somewhere in Asia (I am embarassed I cannot recall where) that was absolutely choked with floating plastic things. Just what every country needs–more plastic.</p>
<p>We shouldn’t have to wait to be asked or have everything proved to us 100%, before we “agree” to make a sacrifice, or to pass a law.</p>
<p>If it takes a real “sacrifice”, some sort of crisis, for us to act, then clearly it IS “all about ME.” Of course, by that point, the personal gain is about as personal as it can get. Survival.</p>
<p>(btw, do we really consider recycling to be a sacrifice? Perhaps an inconvenience. To “ME”)</p>
<p>Oh, I recycle…but a lot of things at this point just can’t be recycled. Not in our area, at least. Electronics, for instance, should have a recycling fee built into the base price so manufacturers will take them back and consumers will have an incentive to not landfill them. And all the plastic that isn’t #1 or #2.</p>
<p>Another resource we seem to be running low on is many kinds of fish. Scientists tell us we are overfishing orange roughy, for instance, or red snapper…so why do we continue to see those fish ON SALE at the grocery store? Makes it hard to believe they are scarce. If there aren’t laws against harvesting certain kinds of fish, the stores won’t stop selling it.</p>
<p>Lawmakers won’t pass laws because they listen to lobbyists instead of their consciences. And nobody wants to voluntarily deny themselves anything unless everyone else does it too.</p>
<p>On NPR this a.m. there was a piece by Cam something or other who has written a book about how to please the “millenniums” in the workplace. They’re so used to being praised by their parents that now their BOSSES have to act that way, too? He said they’ll become disenfranchised if they aren’t constantly told how great they are, and they must be thanked for showing up for work?? Its times like this when I feel maybe I’ve lived too long! I really don’t understand that mentality at all. I’d FIRE someone before being grateful that they show up. What is this all about?</p>
<p>I think most everyone has to learn at their first job how to behave–to be responsible, to hustle, to do parts of the job they would rather not do…or be fired. Sometimes people do get fired from the first job, and then hopefully they figure out what they did wrong: They are not the center of the Universe, no more important than anyone else, and certainly not more important than the Boss.</p>
<p>I love this, mommusic. This is the reason why I wanted each of my kids to hold some sort of job, even if only for a brief period of time, before going to college. There are unique things about responsibility that you only learn in a work environment.</p>
<p>Yes, this book I heard about went on to say that the Milleniums ALL need a mentor, and that if they’re made to feel that their contribution is worthwhile and they feel included, they’ll be super loyal to the company. Give me a break. “In a perfect world”…I guess I’m just jaded but no one asked me what I FELT about anything. I just wanted my paycheck to pay the landlord! It never occurred to me to ask for anything. Another thing the author said is that they ask up front during their interviews about when they can leave for vacation “and that that’s OK”…I’m no longer working “outside the home” so I’m admittedly out of it, but does this sound right to you working CC’ers out there?</p>
<p>College is an artificial environment. No matter how far away it is, it is still more of a “reality show” than reality. Kids do not understand independence until they have to be on their own (and no, filling out your own application and asking the questions yourself during the orientation is not the same as being on your own). So no wonder people graduate and act “entitled.” </p>
<p>Like Marian, my kids held a couple menial jobs during high school (summers). When I posted a year ago about how valuable it was, there was a generalized reaction of disdain by many parents. Like it was a waste of time. Some snorted and referred to my kids as “burger flippers” (although they never worked in food service). “MY kids have BETTER things to do with their time than work for minimum wage (sniff).” Well, with that kind of attitude being taught/displayed, no WONDER there is a sense of entitlement by kids.</p>
<p>Every generation bemoans the selfishness and immaturity of the next. This goes back as far as Hesiod (ancient Greek) who bemoaned the loss of the vanised golden age. Sinatra, Elvis, and Beatles fans (bobby soxers, hound dogs and mods) are great grandparents, grandparents and parents. And so it goes. I encountered a lot of shallowness, conformity and selfishness in the “greatest generation.”</p>
<p>I think this topic ties in quite well with college admissions. Aspiring middle and upper class students have too much to accomplish in their young lives for them to waste time working a “menial” job. They have to take all the honors and AP classes available to them, they should do advanced research, they have to hold leadership positions in school, local, state and even national organizations, they should play at least one varsity sport and be team captain, and of course they should be doing something very big and important to save the world. When on earth would they have time to flip burgers? Admissions officers will acknowledge, if asked the question, that they consider a paying job to be a significant EC, but I’ve never heard them state that opinion without also elaborating that they know some kids have to work to help out their families economically. In other words, it’s OK to work if you have to, but an affluent student is expected to do something more academically meaningful with his time. Taking college classes while in high school is looked upon very favorably, for example, and many kids do this in the summer or on Saturdays during the school year. All of these endeavors are wonderful, but they all are part of building up the “me” package.</p>
<p>None of my son’s high school friends held down jobs of any kind during high school, and none of his college friends will be working at the kind of jobs we did as students. There’s not a waiter/waitress, landscaper, construction or factory worker among them. Some are relaxing, some are traveling, and many are doing unpaid internships. The latter will not offer the same training in humility as unskilled labor does.</p>
<p>“None of my son’s high school friends held down jobs of any kind during high school, and none of his college friends will be working at the kind of jobs we did as students. There’s not a waiter/waitress, landscaper, construction or factory worker among them. Some are relaxing, some are traveling, and many are doing unpaid internships. The latter will not offer the same training in humility as unskilled labor does.”</p>
<p>GFG – this is a scenario pretty much limited to the upper-middle class & higher – a tiny fraction of the US population. For MOST kids, flipping burgers or the equivalent is the reality of their work experience, whether the money goes to helping the family, saving for college, or just getting ‘fun’ money.</p>