Reply #29: I think part of it was . . . [View All]

the people who grew up prior to/during WWII - had to work and work hard. Every day. No "instant" gratification. Results took effort. There were no guarantees of "success" you got what you worked for.

People felt good about coming out of the depression. About "winning" the war. About suddenly people being able to afford to "live" and to get their kids into schools and keep them there. The ones that weren't "academically" motivated could and did succeed with other necessary skills.

People, like my dad, who never officially finished more than 3rd grade, was able to "work his way" to the top - and retired with PHds reporting TO HIM 'cause just cause he was "uneducated" didn't mean he wasn't very smart. He never forgot going without food during the depression - or having nothing but "flour and water 'biscuits'" with some slightly rancid left over bacon rind. He never forgot having to sleep four to a bed - cross-wise with their feet hanging off the sides 'cause they were all to "big" to sleep right ways on the bed.

I think kids starting feeling "entitled" to having things handed to them. to having it easy. to not going hungry or having high standards to aspire to. To face the knowledge that you either worked - and worked hard - for what you got, or you got nothing.

It was a heady time of technological advances. Amazing things that changed the world. Now - we're pretty ho-hum about "technology". We landed on Mars and people were like, so what? We could perfect replicators and transporters and people would think "pretty cool" and "about damn time" rather than OMFG - LOOK AT WHAT WE"VE ACCOMPLISHED!! HOW AMAZING!

People are "amazed" by golf shots and touchdowns and movies and the ostentatious display of (unearned) wealth. We rely on lotteries and reality shows rather than a work ethic. You made your bed and you had to lie in it so you made damn sure your sheets were clean and wrinkle free even if that meant washing them by hand and ironing them.

OK - I sound like some grumpy old woman (don't say it!! lol) - but I think people are just complacent anymore.


I was appalled when I went back to school (University) a few years ago after a - um - 25 year hiatus, and the students around me (for the most part, not all) were only concerned with how little work they had to do in order to "pass" the class. They cared nothing about actually LEARNING anything, they just wanted to credit so they could move on to the next thing.

Sacrifice? not even in the vocabulary of younger people anymore. (Most, not all.) Hard work? What's that? Everyone gets a "trophy" or a medal, just for showing up. Excellence is not celebrated or rewarded for fear that someone might get their feelings hurt. Mediocrity, eh, it's "good enough", isn't it?