It's Your Time You're Wasting by Frank Chalk

[Vonny]

The only advice I would give in such an instance would be to read my novel Pro Bono Publico, even though both of the parties that shared power during the period concerned are given very short shrift. That which is the rule today was caused by the misrule of yesterday.

I'll do that Emil, and then I'll review it on your book review thread. I've been looking forward to reading it.

[stlukesguild]

Of course we must not fall into the mistake of judging an entire generation with the same green pen (the older or the younger generation!) and recognise that the generation Vs generation debate is a recurring theme as old as time. The 60s generation had their own obvious song too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=594WLzzb3JI

Of course the Who were quite a bit before "my generation"... and it might also be noted that they also "grew up" to a certain extent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhrZgojY1Q

While we're on this theme, I would think a better song for Alex might have been:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxYGOSSj9A0

Rather, my thoughts are drawn from my own experiences about teaching after years in education and with listening and learning from a variety of people within all walks of life. I can understand that this is not good enough for some people though, and that vacant notions of “freedoms” or other buzz words are much more definitive.

Agreed.

I can understand that everybody believes their generation is the brightest, the sharpest, in one word the best...

Of course. Such an egocentric view is a common developmental stage of most adolescents... one that most begin to outgrow as they further develop their critical thinking abilities.

The values that they think liberating are those of the 'stupid' elder generation who are making a nice living by selling the younger generation all kinds of rubbish and telling them that it's different from what the older generation likes. There's nothing new in this of course, it's been going on since the 1950s, but it's amusing how they can be tricked into buying things that they 'must have' before the next 'must have' item rolls off the production line.

I largely agree... but I would suggest that the general stupidity or gullibility of each subsequent generation goes back well before to 1950s. Indeed, I would surprised if you could prove that any generation was more or less "exceptional" (for better or worse) than the previous.

[Vonny]

I largely agree... but I would suggest that the general stupidity or gullibility of each subsequent generation goes back well before to 1950s. Indeed, I would surprised if you could prove that any generation was more or less "exceptional" (for better or worse) than the previous.

Well, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone more spoiled than my mother.

However, it would certainly be interesting to see this generation go through WWII, with the rationing, and so forth. What if people today had to work in fields picking cotton? That would be something to see!

How many of today's feminists would be strong enough for the pioneer life? Could they walk from the East Coast to the West Coast, 20 miles per day, while pregnant, and pray that they camp by a source of water in case the baby comes along that night, then bury another child with cholera along the trail and get up and take off again the next day? What about the "individualists" today whose principles it would violate if they ate a bite of meat? How would they have fared as pioneers? (And I'm saying this as one who couldn't have survived - I know.)

[Seasider]

The values that they think liberating are those of the 'stupid' elder generation who are making a nice living by selling the younger generation all kinds of rubbish and telling them that it's different from what the older generation likes. There's nothing new in this of course, it's been going on since the 1950s, but it's amusing how they can be tricked into buying things that they 'must have' before the next 'must have' item rolls off the production line.

This kind of "stupidity" is called Capitalism. The endless need to buy and go on buying... stimulated by manufactured obsolescence, changes in fashion or styles, poor quality materials etc.
I once saw a film called The Man in the White Suit where a material that never wore out was invented but then was forcibly removed from the market because it threatened the livelihoods of everyone involved in the textile industry.

[Emil Miller]

I largely agree... but I would suggest that the general stupidity or gullibility of each subsequent generation goes back well before to 1950s. Indeed, I would surprised if you could prove that any generation was more or less "exceptional" (for better or worse) than the previous.

Yes, the so-called generation gap goes back much further, but I chose the 1950s as a notable point in the exploitation of youthful ignorance because that was the decade of the most profitable creation in the ad man's box 'The Teenager': prior to which, disposable income, such as it was, rested in the hands of the older generation. With the advent of the 50s this situation took a sudden change on account of the post-war boom in the USA which also impacted on other countries, and so the media-fostered teenager, a word whose etymology predates the 1950s but was not in common use, was heavily promoted and has been constantly encouraged and used by the business community ever since.

[Seasider]

In the last decade or so it is children who have been increasingly targeted. Their skilled use of pester power and their advert- encouraged familiarity with expensive brands deliver their parents up to the altar of consumerism.

[LitNetIsGreat]

In the last decade or so it is children who have been increasingly targeted. Their skilled use of pester power and their advert- encouraged familiarity with expensive brands deliver their parents up to the altar of consumerism.

Yes indeed, don't get me started on advertising!

[Emil Miller]

I'll do that Emil, and then I'll review it on your book review thread. I've been looking forward to reading it.

That would be nice and it would be another review to add to Neely's, but I don't know if you would enjoy a novel which is primarily historical in content and, although the themes have a general application, is set within the context of English life since WW11. However, the story does move between various countries because of the UK's international status and it also attempts to throw some light on the arcane legal system in England.
You might care to check it out on Amazon if you haven't done so already.

[OrphanPip]

Well clearly the solution is just to stop reproducing, I'm doing my part.

[Alexander III]

Why?

I’m not old, I’m thirty, but already when I was in high school, I could see that most of the teenagers were dumb, ugly, boring, and that very few were worthy of friendship. As a teacher, I could see that the young people were dumber than ever, imprisoned in values they think liberating. I don’t lose hope in the youth, though: they are our only chance.

I do not think my generation is the best, for that (amongst the west) I reserve that honor to those born in the 1780'-90's.

But I am proud of my generation. You saw everyone as dumb,ugly and boring? have you considered that the problem might stem from you? I strugle agianst bouts where everyone is boring and dumb and ugly, but I make sure not to get lost in my ego and I try hard to look on it without my dam self ruining everything, and I assure you I am proud of my generation.

Look to be honest at the age of 19, I have been to more countries that 95% of peopel will ever vistit in their lifetime. And I dont know, but I see something which makes me proud, especialy in my generation. It is always a strugle against the ego which seeks to drown you and the world with you, but if you stay afloat there is somethign to see. And , there are studpid people, and dumb and ignorant and selfceneterd, but by dam, they have all cried at one point in their lives, they have all felt as I ahve felt at somepoitn in mylife, more so my generation, and beacuse of that, I could never condem any.

[Alexander III]

Yes indeed, don't get me started on advertising!

Look, we are all part of society because it has benefits which we enjoy, and we must tolerate it's lack of benifts. Advertising comes with consumer goods. If you dont like advertising, stop buying things. Ofcourse you can't do that, so instead of complainign about the drawback of advertising remember how hard your life would be if you couldnt buy things anymore. Instead of getting choleric at each advertisment, be gratefulle everytime you buy something, that is is there for you to buy.

But if you really can't tolerate advertising, stop buying things.

[Emil Miller]

In the last decade or so it is children who have been increasingly targeted. Their skilled use of pester power and their advert- encouraged familiarity with expensive brands deliver their parents up to the altar of consumerism.

Children are targeted, as witness the rows of sweets lined up at supermarket checkouts, but then so are teenage girls who are tempted by the 'celebrity' magazines also stacked at the checkouts. They do, however, provide a break from the boredom of waiting while one reads that: 'Justin Dumps Charline', 'My Drug Hell by Melinda' and 'I'm 25% Gay says Brad' etc etc.
Still, never mind, they'll grow out of it.

[cafolini]

Why?

Although I can understand that everybody believes their generation is the brightest, the sharpest, in one word the best, it’s worrying to see such a lack of critical thinking towards today’s world. There are those who are capable of critical thinking, who developed a historical sense, and who know that our time is far from being the best; and there are people who never imagined that today’s world is a world where they are alienated by different powers, where their life has lost meaning, where they are less and less human. There are those who despise today’s world, and there are the fools who enjoy their time. I’m not old, I’m thirty, but already when I was in high school, I could see that most of the teenagers were dumb, ugly, boring, and that very few were worthy of friendship. As a teacher, I could see that the young people were dumber than ever, imprisoned in values they think liberating. I don’t lose hope in the youth, though: they are our only chance.

I'm proud not only of my generation but of the subsequent generations of almost the entire 20th century because they managed to explore, discover and divulge more science and more useful technology than in all of history put together. And it has nothing to do with lack of critical thinking. On the contrary. There has been more critical thinking in the second half of the 20th century up to today than in all of history put together. There have been much better writers, more variety, more brain use and expansion, more evolution than in all of history put together. Let those who can see appreciate it. The rest will be recycled whether they like it or not. The stagnant mongers of the end of the world, the apocalyptic, etc., etc. and etc., no longer stand a chance to spoil what we have going on.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Look, we are all part of society because it has benefits which we enjoy, and we must tolerate it's lack of benifts. Advertising comes with consumer goods. If you dont like advertising, stop buying things. Ofcourse you can't do that, so instead of complainign about the drawback of advertising remember how hard your life would be if you couldnt buy things anymore. Instead of getting choleric at each advertisment, be gratefulle everytime you buy something, that is is there for you to buy.

But if you really can't tolerate advertising, stop buying things.

Why do we need advertising in order to buy something? Your argument makes no sense. I want a beer I'll go into a pub. I need a present I’ll go online. I don’t need a fat man constantly screaming in my face in order to try to sell me car insurance at every turn. If I want insurance I’ll get it.

This is without even getting in the morality of advertising which is abhorrent at best.

[Alexander III]

I'm proud not only of my generation but of the subsequent generations of almost the entire 20th century because they managed to explore, discover and divulge more science and more useful technology than in all of history put together. And it has nothing to do with lack of critical thinking. On the contrary. There has been more critical thinking in the second half of the 20th century up to today than in all of history put together. There have been much better writers, more variety, more brain use and expansion, more evolution than in all of history put together. Let those who can see appreciate it. The rest will be recycled whether they like it or not. The stagnant mongers of the end of the world, the apocalyptic, etc., etc. and etc., no longer stand a chance to spoil what we have going on.

I agree with you in pride for my generation, but not with the rest to be honest.

I do not give a fig for "critical thinking" and discovering "technology and science better than the rest" - I mean sure those are great things but progress does not make me proud. I feel pride not in the progress but in people who can live and feel like all other men before them, in those who do not think of the future, or the present; those for whom eternity is their playing feild. If that makes sense.