My generation has had some flak about being too entitled, pampered and sheltered (mostly because older managers don't know how to handle us effectively when most our productivity comes out of the box) coming after initial praise about being more collaborative and optimistic, but hey, in the aftermath of the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression, we haven't (rightfully) rioted the streets after robber barons dwelling in one or two generations above us pilfered our dreams and ruined an implicit social contract that more education means more job security. Heck, even crime has trended even or lower, which is almost unexplainable if you ask me. I dunno wtf progressive means anymore. Pretty much something the media pinned because they can't describe the anti-partisan migration younger generations are moving away from (semi-conservative personal values, weighed economic values with non of the baggage of yesteryear) and only appears liberal since it's the only party with any sane semblance of credibility. If there were two legitimate intellectual parties with reasoned goals, the polling would look entirely different.
I think my generation doesn't really care, to be honest. Occasionally I'll hear social issues brought to attention but I think it's more of a fad or just pretending to sound interested.
I think the rise of Anonymous and the ability to use the internet to fight the evil corporations today are example of people caring. The convenience of not having to walk out into the streets and protest is what is amazing about it. Reddit organized the attempted dismantlement of Rush Limbaugh's show by forcing all their sponsors to cancel-- it worked, at least temporarily. Arab Spring was organized using social media, protests were still "live" but information was spread quickly and efficiently. Kony 2012, albeit largely flawed and controversial, (the video) spread like wildfire. It was literally everywhere. Anonymous has organized tons of attacks on the FBI, the RIAA, the entertainment industry, etc. It worked. SOPA/PIPA have been cut down and slashed. Personal threats are made to the corrupt and their information gets found out within days. I LOVE IT. If it takes violence and even fatalities to fight corruption then I am all for it. Corrupt senator? Let loose his personal information and address and let all hell break loose. You can't fight the internet.
The last time the US declared war was June 5, 1942. On Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary. Despite what AIPAC might have you believe, the Second World War has been over for quite some time.
I don't think this is necessarily a good thing. You're just replacing one bad for another. See what happened in Iraq or what Spike Lee did.
Very TECH based progressivity there. Internet by itself is a POWERFUL device. Just harnessing even 40% of its ability can boost progression. So yes Gen Y either by assocation to internet or by themselves can be considered progressive. You got the internet staff, so wield it without qualm. One thing though with the internet, such as forums like this is...in the virtual world you can convince YOURSELF that you are PROGRESSIVE and about doing all the right things. You will have a lot of like-minded people to BACK you up on your assertions. But then some of that collective progressitivity doesnt always apply in the REAL world. Not so much the issues of government oppression and economics, those can be discussed at length online and solved online. I mean SOCIAL issues. A visible sign of gen Y are the "hipsters" with their body art and earthy causes. Are they as ACCEPTING of cultures and variety as they appear? Or are they playing to the IMAGERY of being different? Its happened before, young risk taking know-it-alls in contrast to the generation before them. I think what every generation learns is at the core its about whats a good environment for CHILDREN. Having children and making people mommy and daddy can slow progressions down cuz they just dont have time for all that stuff like they used to, taking kid to soccer practice can do that lol
Information and understanding are the cure for bigotry, peer review defines aberrant behaviors. I think social interaction on a worldwide scale will produce a more homogeneous ethical standard. The threat to that is economic stress. People struggling for survival will dehumanize their competitors and rally around tribes of self-interest.
When I first heard the term 'Generation X' I drew a connection to the drug ecstasy. I also thought it was fitting. When I hear the term 'Generation Y' I think that generation is getting leftovers as far as names are concerned. I guess Y2K could apply. Hopefully we're not too lazy that we can't come up with creative names for generations. Generation Z?? This thread got me thinking about the accomplishments of GI Generation, Babyboomers & Generation X (way too early for Y, IMO). It's sad but the biggest accomplishment I can come up with for Gen. X is the speed of micro-processing. Almost everything else has been piggy backed from the previous generation.
It's pretty much the same crowds occupying both. Don't make yourself look ignorant by thinking otherwise.
Can ask how is generational progressivity actually MEASURED even? Measuring the most distance between a low point and high point? Kinda like how "Coach of the Year" awards are handed out taking a mediocre team into a good one. Or like some "Stand and Deliver" Jaime Escalante turning inner city school dropouts into math wizards. Whoever solves the most PROBLEMS? Or is like trailblazing, whoever can CUT OUT the most stuff in the way to OPEN UP a trail. It'd almost mean you NEED pre-existing problems to begin with to attrack lol At SOME point most of the DIRTY WORK will have been done. And its more about future generations MAINTAINING levels of progress and tweaking and adjusting instead of REVOLUTIONIZING. So its a bit unfair to say that cuz Generation Y didnt have as much stuff as baby boomers to contend with that they're less progressive. What if status quo actually isnt SO BAD? Or what if previous generations actually did what they're supposed to do making the world better and generations can reap the benefits instead of trying to FIGHT and CUT DOWN and REBUILD all the time? There's still PLENTY we can do to make the world better. At minimal, as long as Generation Y and after doesnt just do CHANGE for CHANGE SAKE and make things WEIRD. Or actually REGRESS.
