Your generation has been often been called "Generation Me." Does your generation have a sense of material entitlement? Read the following article from Newsweek and reflect on the author's discussion of narcissism. Do you agree/disagree? Explain why. Please offer a detailed response.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/194640
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40 comments:
WHen it comes down to discussing our generation, it seems as though therea are so many problems with "us." Realistically, there is. I believe we are a narcissistic generation, although that does not make me have any less confidence in myself. I think because of the media, we are very materialistic leading us to want to be what the media portrays. I am afraid of what the future has in store beccause of people in our generation not being able to portray themselves in a professional manor and not know how to be independent. It is strange to talk bad about the generation I am in, especially when I want to go into such a superficial and narcissistic industry like fashion; however, I feel as though my parents have spolied me with the right amount of... "things." There is a difference between confidence and being a narcissist; perhaps there should be a rehab for being narcissistic
I deffinitely agree with this. Our generation prides themselves around what we own. But this will change over time. The way society changes has happened many times. This isn't the first. Im sure our parents did not grow up the same way their parents did. This kind of stuff happens over time. I bet in 20 years "Generation Me" will be writing about the new generation and all of their issues. If you look close enough at any generation you can find a problem.
Chris McCormack Per. 2
I think there is some subtle stereotyping in her argument. I personally didn't have a 6 figure sweet 16... Twenge makes great points about the youtube stars and reality shows. Who? Trump ice spring water? yeah, google it. The B for showing up to class is almost comical. I liked my old band teacher's policy: You all start out with C's. You have the rest of the quarter to decide what your grade will be. We probably do have a sense of material entitlement because the rapid availability of...everything. With Twitter and tweets and birdy or whatever. I guess I will have to agree because I have had my own share of "I am special" coloring books. Technology has changed the world around us and has morphed us into the Generation Em...Me
I suppose we could be called generation me. we like stuff we need attention we constantly draw attentilon to ourselves by doing stupid flambiont stuff. We constantly update on twitter and facebook and youtube and it's unbelievable.
I agree with this article that our generation has a sense of self entitlement. Our generation has a huge sense of self entitlement and enjoy plenty of attention whether its by doing stupid stuff, or ipdating facebook 20 times a day. The reason we are so materialistic is because we are constantly bombarded with advertisments are almost everything imaginable.
I think that the title that our generation has been given is 100% correct. Everyone in our school is all about themselves and who has the best stuff. like the best car and best clothes. we live in not a wealthy town but most people can afford to get what they want. It causes a lot of competition of having the best items. Besides having the best stuff kids are just all about themselves to begin with. its just the way our generation has grown up and it would be hard to change now. this doesnt include everyone though some people still can be kind.
Our generation has a sense of material entitlement that is seen everywhere. As kids, we often expect to get a brand new car, tons of clothes and basically everything we want. While there are many people that aren't affected by this epidemic, most kids are. The general mindset seems to be that the world revolves around me, me me me. Although it is embarassing to be part of this generation, it is true.
"Generation Me" some might say that kids are full of themselves and the truth is that they are its all about status and whos at the top of the food chain and if your some quiet kid who talkes to no one then you will be a nobody but if you are a kid who says what he wants whenever he wants he earns more respect that way on diffrent levels. and for the spoiled kids there are only soo few that truley get what they want, but it is true that the rate of spoiled kids is growing due to the race to have the bigger and best thing out there. so I am proud to be apart of "Generation Me"
Bobby Mikulewich Peroid. 2
I do believe that our generation has a sense of material entitlement. People are proud of the things they own, and how much money they have. Our society is filled with people who like to be the center of attention. People are so worried about what people think about them and constantly update their twitter , facebook, and myspace with things that dont really matter.
Now a days, all you see is teens looking in mirrors, fixing their hair, reapplying makeup, admiring their smile, examining their pore size. Examining one's self appearance has become a science of it's own. I've witnessed a girl touch up her make up, brush her hair and spray perfume, all in the middle of class during an exam. It can be easily gathered that this generation is consumed by narcisistic thoughts.
The generation of which I am a part, tends to be very materialistic. Who has the latest this, the newest that and in the end everyone just wants to have the nicest things and be something that everyone else admires and aspires to be. Well, what really makes us that special? It's no longer heard of just to be happy with who you are. Everyone is always looking for that one step up on everyone else...an even more extreme case of "Keeping up with the Jones'." We don't want to 'keep up' with everyone else, we all want to dominate and be the best. The strive for perfection keeps us looking in mirrors and working towards being 'the best.'
Magazines, advertisements, commercials, reality shows based on the modeling industry - they all show us ways that we can 'better' our physical appearance. They teach us that if we wash our hair with that shampoo and we paint our faces with this brand of make-up then we'll be well liked and we can be every sense of the word perfect. All these ads have our generation constantly thinking about that physical appearance.
The truth of the matter is, no body really does care. Everyone has the mind set that everyone else will care and they become so self consumed...However, when everyone's minds are filled with narcicist thoughts no one is thinking about anyone else.
Not only physically are we self consumed, but through other outlets we demonstrate how overly self loving we can be; facebook stauses, twitter, campaigning for "best" awards, even just in casual conversation some people can't stop talking about themselves and how 'great' they are, and how 'awesome' their lives are and how much we should all care about their great deal of problems.
Can we really blame the people of our generation though? It has been the outside world that has influenced us through this - the magazine ads teahcing us the 'value' of self beautification, every narcicist thought we have has been nursed by our parents instead of being repremanded, and the technological outlets that encourage our display of self love and worth. Have we ever been told that there are other matters more important than ourselves? We have been taught to go after what we want and not let anything crush our dreams - right there that shows greatly defines how important we are. There is no debate that we are a self consumed generation; in fact, everyone who is part of this generation is well aware of the overwhelming sense of narcissism, but when were we ever taught that it was wrong?
Nicole Savastano
Period 2
Narcissism is often defined as a psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem. My generation most certainly plays the role of a narcissist. I most certainly believe that my generation has a sense of material entitlement. I feel like they all think that they can get whatever they want. I think a large part of this problem stems from the idea that today's society focuses so much on what Hollywood does that they feel like they need to emulate them. They lose a sense of responsibility and most times fail to take the blame for their wrong actions. Just as the author said, my generation is one that tries to get whatever they want from their parents without giving something back in return. A lot of us will complain about doing household chores and our parents will give in to us. In a way it is also the parents fault. I think our generation has become more self indulgent due to the fact that they can get whatever they want. This I believe causes competition between everyone who wants to feel like they are superior. A lot of this has to do with the media and everything that they portray. I, however, am not a big fan of being narcissistic because I don't like when others are made to feel inferior because they can't afford the time name brand clothes or drive an expensive car.
Gabriella Sehne, Period 8
I never thought about our generation being the narcissistic generation until this was brought up. Unfortunately I can't disagree. Nowadays it is all about appearance and first impressions and standing taller then the person next to you. In a way it is our own fault, letting the thoughts of others get to us and leting ourselves get lost in the competition against your friends and peers. However, I feel this generation would know their place if they were put into it from day one. My dad does spoil me, I can ask for something and he'll work on getting it for me as soon as he can. However, if I get out of line or do something that he doesn't like, I quickly get put into my place and punished for it. I feel most children do not get punished for their actions and just recieve the endless gift supply part. I feel on the inside, no one is narcissit. It's just all about coming off that way because the world we live in is a competetive one and no one wants to be a loser.
I definately agree with this article. Today, our society is extremely obsessed with "me". Most people in our generation only care about themselves and their own success. They use resources such as facebook and twitter to make sure everyone knows exactly what is going on with them at all times, just to promote themselves more than they already have.
I completely agree with what the article is saying and our generation is completely self involved. I believe that its due to the fact that technology has become such a big factor in people's lives and it makes it very east to communicate. I also think that it's just due to evolution and the times. Back in the old days people didn't really think about themselves and now that times have changed people want to change the way they think. It's like if you wear the same necklace for a month and then you start to get tired of it. What do you do? You change things up and put on a different one. Its the same thing as saying people have put on a new way of thinking.
I agree with the fact that people are way to into themselves nowadays. We always think that weveryone cares so much about what we're saying and doing, and how we're feeling and this and that, but they don't. We think we're the best at everything because we simply exist. We're not though, my dad would always tell me that no mattert how good I am at something, there is always someone better. People think that they're amazing, and they also think that this gives them a right to do whatever they want and act however they want. Our generation expects everything they want to be in front of them right now because they think they deserve it. This isn't true. We need to go back to the fact that we don't always come first, sometimes others come first.
I think that our generation definatly has a higher sense of self worth than people in years past. People strive to be able to give their kids and families anything they want which makes people that they are worth more than others. I know that some parents will give anything to their child's social life and throw extavagant sweet 16 parties so their kids can become more popular. Personally, my parents have always taught me that they will only give so much and then I have to rely on myself. For my sweet 16, I had a spending cap which, if I went over, I would have to pay back in the gifts i recieved. Some adults don't care if their children learn the value of a dollar as long as they have a fullfilled social life which is inevitable setting their child up to fail once things aren't handed to them anymore. I think parents should deffinatly punish kids for bad grades, however not give extavagent rewards for good ones. Anyone is capable of recieving an "A" if they work hard enough and considering its something anyone can achieve, I don't think its something that shouldnt be heavily praised. I feel that the way kids are being raised from what they see around them to how they are appeased is just setting them up to expect to have thigns handed to them. Hard work has deminished and praise and reward have become expected.
Julianne Russo per 8
I agree that we have a narcissistic generation, but only to an extent. Yes the majority of us are narcissistic, but not everyone is that bad. Not everyone is materialistic and what not. And there is a difference between being confident and being cocky. In my opinion, confidence is believing in yourself and seeing the good in yourself and stuff. Being cocky is just advertising what you have and how great you think you are. So yea, most of our generation is pretty narcissistic, but then again, our generation shouldn't be singled out. Every generation is going to have SOME type of problem. Some people just need to get out of their own little world and get with reality and see that the world doesn't revolve around them. Maybe they need to start seeing things from an outsider's perspective to how ridiculous they look.
Our generation is nothing more than a "stop what your doing and pay attention to me society." People measure thamselves on athletic ability, intellegence, wealth etc. all to make them feel better and to put others down. Now I'm not saying its bad to have egos. I'm just saying that we started going over the top when 16 year old girls have a show about there sweet 16 which portrays them as a selfish B***H. All this does is make everyone who is at the top full of themselves and it creates problems to our average society because its not okay to be average anymore. It really isn't and this is causing problems of if some is too skinny, too fat, too weak, too strong, too this too that. We need to all learn how to be ourselves and pride ourselves on our accomplishments but also respect the accomplishments of others. If we can't learn to do this than our society shall be forever screwed for eternity.
Yes. Our generation absolutely has a sense of entitlement. I'll addmit to it myself. We don't notice it, but we all feel that we are entitled to things. For junior prom, we feel we are entitled to a 200 dollar prom dress. When we turn 17 and pass our road test, we feel we are entitled to a car. After we graduate, we feel we are entitled to have a college education provided to us by our parents.
My block is full of houses for sale that were bought by people that felt they were entitled to a house that they could not afford at the time and now cannot afford to pay the mortgage on.
It truly is sad that we go through every day feeling entitled to happiness and never disappointment.
While perhaps the article does stereotype the generation (not everyone has six-figure sweet sixteens or Twitter), its true that this generation is pretty self-centered. We are the first generation to grow up with a computer, to have the technology to know what is happening on the other side of the world in a heartbeat - but the thing is, we don't really CARE what's happening there. Instead we use the technology for Facebook to announce to the world that we're going to work or eating dinner. It's no longer "Have you seen Jill around lately?" It's "Have you seen Jill's Facebook status lately?" It's ridiculous. This combination of technology and the willingness of parents to go to such great lengths to assure us that we are "special" has turned out a generation of monsters. A B just for showing up? You've got to be kidding.
I think that labling an entire generation is inaccurate to begin with. Sure maby in this generation there are more kids who are self centered but there are plenty of people who aren't. I think that it is the parents fault of thier kids being narcissist. It seems that more and more people feel that they are entitled to things. Such as showing up for class and feeling that you are entitled to a "B" at least. Less and less people are earning what they want and feel that they are entutled to get it. Such as cars. There are many people who have worked for thier cars and paid for them and earned thier cars. Then people get brand new cars paid for by thier parents because they feel thay are entitled to them. It would be the parents fault for not teaching thier kids and giving them everything they want insted of making them earn it.
I believe that the reason why we are in a "Narcissistic Epidemic" is because we can. We are like this because we have everything available to be like this. We have all the technology like the internet where we can tell anyone anything about us whether it be by blog, tweet, Facebook status, chat, or forum. Chances are that other people really don't care too much about what the other person is saying, but it does not really matter because it makes the story teller feel good. It makes them feel wanted, comfortable around others, and even a since of being needed and loved. This isn't a bad thing, I think though.
Yeah, our generation does have a sense of materialistic entitlement, but once again, it is because we can. There is a reason why there is more than one version of things like the MP3 player, a computer, and clothing. We have options, and we have the right to wear what we want, say what we want, and do what we want even if others don't like that.
I agree. Our generation sucks. People are too consumed by themselves, and getting too high off of the dust on their shoulder. Since when did people ever pick and choose who they should be friends with, or who to sit at with lunch because if you sat at one table.. it'd make you look bad. Our generation is so consumed by what everyone thinks of them, that they dont realize everyones too busy thinking about themselves to really notice if you're walking holding hands with the best looking guy in school. No one gives a crap. People are too consumed with the idea of looking cool, posing for pictures with their alcoholic drinks PURPOSELY made in the picture. Lets take pictures showing we know how to be dumbasses. We care about what celebrities post on twitter.. what theyre doing.. but why should we care? Theyre people like you and me, they just have a little bit more air in their head that makes them think theyre great or something. And it doesnt fase me one bit. I think people suck. I can't even stand being in this school anymore because people are too busy looking down their nose at one another. There's cliques where people don't even talk, or stand near eachother, and why is that? Because they're not as socially illegable to stand next to you? You're sick in the head, and chances are your kids are gonna be the most screwed up of all. Peoples feeling never matter anymore, and out of all the people that I know there's probably ONE person that I know I can absolutely trust with my life, and even I could be wrong. Is that what we've turned into, untrustworthy, decieving, stupid-asses. Divorce rates are increasing, and people can't even stay friends for a matter of four years throughout high school because we're too controlling, and so unaccepting, and not being able to just love people because they're alive. My pastor on sunday talked about how people used to focus on only glorifying God, and how we should love our enemies, and treat them how Jesus treated all those people who hated him, and who hung him. He STILL showered them with love. We dont help people anymore, we dont get along, everyones constantly talking about one another rather than real topics. The majority of teens don't even know what it's like to talk about real life topics. Get off your high horse and go learn something life changing.
kristenseverino
period8
Kids now a days are completely infatuated with themselves. They have been brought up to be in some kind of love affair with nobody else but themselves. The worst part is that these kids are far too narcisistic to see the truth, that they are all about status and how they project themselves to others, be it in the form of materialistic goods, the latest fashions or simply updating their facebook statuses to let everyone know what's going on in their lives constantly. Your best friend may care about your new haircut, but the rest of your 400 friends probably don't. These kids are led to believe that they are of the utmost importance to everyone around them, and it's just sad. It's one thing to take pride in yourself, your appearance, or your belongings but there is a line that should be drawn. Kids feel like they are just entitled to everything; a brand new car when they turn 17, a Blackberry, a $30,000 private college education. Even information is found in the blink of an eye, and with these Smartphones and PDA's now available, nobody has to even think about anything because their phone will do it for them. The chilren are led to believe that they can have what they want when they want it, and they want it now. Blackberrys were originaly made for people in the business field becuase it was necessary for them to have portable access to e-mails and other tools of that nature. No longer are we taught to appriciate the little things in life; instead we see past all of these finite details and look towards materialistic goods and ways to constantly improve ourselves and how others view us.
Shayna Williams, Period 8
I agree in a way. I think the only reason we could be in a "narcissism generation," due to the media and how it effects us. The media sometimes makes the real world believe that this is the way that we should be living and this causes us to think its okay to just be self involved and not care about what the other person does not have, as long as you have it. I personally believe those are only "material" items, hints why they call it "materialistic."
After reading this article, It makes our generation feel as thought there is something wrong with all of us and we have no control over our self esteem. While I agree with this article and that we are a narcistic society, I don't feel that by giving our kids less things, the problem will be solved. I think it has to do with learning how to work for what you want. If you cleaned your room and worked for the new outfit mom bought you, then you deserve to have it and it's not selfish of you, even if you have more than everyone because you worked for it. At the same time, I feel that when people start to think the world revolves around them, they lose all respect for the their society and who is around them. This will bring our generation down to become underacheivers. I am afraid of the the future has instore and hopefully our generation learns respect. I think if kids just took the time to grow up. This would have stopped the problems. I beleive the cause of this narcisistic issue is because kids keep growing up faster and faster.
This generation does has a sense of material intitlement and I try to aviod that. There are things I want and things I would love to has, I don't demand any of it and I can function perfectly well without it. That being said, without a sense of intitlement society would not have advanced at the rate it did and won't have the level of freedoms and liberty that we have today.
Narcissism is bad, but a high level of self-confidence is not. In my mind people can not make demands of me and expect nothing in return. I can choose to be selfless, which I do very frequently. I love myself, and I want the very best I can possibly get for myself, but that doesn't mean that I don't care about other. We need the achieve a middle ground between complete narcissism and lothing one's self. And rememeber that loving yourself is okay and wanting the best for yourself is only natural.
I believe that most of my generation do believe that they deserve to be treated almost as royalty. That the parents and media of this generation have made people believe they have everything their way. The media portrays an excess amount of unrealistic social behavior where rewards are given out for no reason at all. As well as our parents telling us you can be whatever you want. Not telling their kids that you have worked hard for what you want and even then you might not succeed. Parents erase the fact of failure from their childrens lives inorder to protect them from anything.
In this nation today, it is starting to seem like more people in our generation think that they can get whatever they want. Realistically, most people can’t get everything they want, no matter how much they beg their parents, however, a lot of teenagers can get a lot of the things they do want if it is buyable. Today in the world, it seems like parents give in much easier than what they use to, therefore, they just automatically buy everything their children ask for, whether they think they deserve it or not. I think that teenagers feel as if they need what to have whatever other teenagers have; therefore they just assume their parents will automatically buy it for them. If a parent refuses to buy them something, I feel as if they automatically use the excuse “but everyone else has one” or something among that line. I also feel that our generation doesn’t respect the adults in there life as much as they should. I feel that our generation is always trying to put themselves in front of everyone else. If something isn’t going to benefit them, they feel as if they don’t need to do it. Now I don’t believe everyone is like this all the time, however I do believe that at least once in a while teenagers make sure they put themselves in front of everyone else. I feel as if teenagers will only do something they don’t want to do, only if they are getting something back for it. An example would be something like daily chores. I doubt someone would actually do their chores unless their parents bribe them with allowance, or ice cream, or even threatening to take something away from them. In the end, I feel that some teenagers don’t fit in this description at all, and that those teenagers might just have a little more respect to their parents and all the other people around them. Maybe it would be nice if the people who always put themselves first, to try and put someone else first, even if its just a relative or friend.
Jackie Loveland
Period 8
It's fitting to call this generation, "generation me." Constantly we are reminded in the media of selfish acts of others. Kids also expect to much. If they don't get something they want, they'll complain to their parents, hoping their parents can get them what they want. When it comes down to it, I believe people take life for granted. They don't realize what they have is fine, and they don't always need the newer thing.
Bryan Martin Per.2
Our generation most definitely prides themselves on what we own. In this society it is the end of the world if you do not get a new car, do not own the coolest clothes, or even if you do not own a facebook or update your status 500 times a day! We can definitely be called the generation of me. "Out doing you neighbor" proves this very true. If the man next store gets a brand new fence, you make sure that your house has an even better one! This is what our society has turned into..having the best things and THINKING that you are now the best.
-Nicole Williams
Period 2
I dont really think it is that big of a deal, yeah so what if our generation is narcisistic? Did they expect anything less? times change new things come out all of the time, the people who are saying we are narcisistic grew up when the computer was first coming out so it may seem like a shock that just about every teenager has one in there room but its really not that big of a deal. Products are improving everyday thats how people make money and if consumers, or parents, didnt buy all of these things for their kids maybe the economy would be even worse then it is. Maybe "generation me" just doesnt feel like working to pay for your retirement funds with the possibility of them not being there when were old.
-Ally Simeone, Period 2
I do agree that our generation has a huge sense of material entitlement. People today become obsessed with having to much money or who has the niceset car or newest clothes. Everyone only cares of what others will label them as. Kids today never know what its like to not get something when their whole lifes all they've been told is yes.
Lauren Graff pd 2
I think "generation me" is correct and I believe that every generation is different in there own way. My parent grow up in a different way than thier parents and I certainly haven't grow up like mine. I feel as though my parents have spoiled me and my 5 brothers and sister is was a healthy amount. I deffinity agree with this article though.
Jackie saggese
period 8
Lots of kids these days are soooo snotty. They are stuck up will get whatever they want whenever they want it. If you are a good kid, that makes good decisions, are polite, and does good for the world, then you deserve some nice things. You obviously shouldn't get anything you want whenever you want it though. However, lots of kids these days disrespect their parents, sell and do drugs and what not, and get into all sorts of trouble and they think that they are amazingly awesome, and should be given anything and be treated with respect in return. I say screw them. You want respect and nice things, earn it.
I have to agree, i deffinitly think our generation is more obsessed with our appearance and what we are doing more so than others. apparently some people think that letting others know what they are specifically doing every 10 minutes is appropriate to do when it really isn't. But never the less, there are many people in our generation that are not like this and it would be nice if some people can also see that and not just focus on the negative. It's scary to know that a lot of people in my grade are going to college next year because they have a lot of growing up to do and its shocking to think that they may never grow up.
I do not agree with this article written in the paper. In every generation there is that majority that are narcissist and only care about themselves. I don't see our generation floating off into oblivion. We are still aware that there are others in this world. It is difficult to argue that social networking sites like twitter and facebook have nothing to do with this labeling of our generation but it does. Certain things are posted on the web because people believe that everyone wants to know what they are doing every moment of their day. This is not true. For example, when I update my status it is not for everyone to see it is either a joke between my friends and I or something I had heard or seen recently. Twitter is used to tell others what you are doing almost every moment of your day, but we forget that people twitter back. This shows that we don't only care about what is going on our own lives but we can become connected with others who are perhaps doing the same thing. In today’s society much emphasis is placed on having what everyone else has. This may cause it to look as if those who "keep up with jones'" are self consumed with out doing others. But again not everyone in out generation does this. In my opinion as long as I am happy I don't need to compete with anyone else. I live my life they way I feel appropriate and it is not based on what some else decided to do with theirs.
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