4 ms·

Yes, millennials are screwed. I do also largely agree with all the mentioned stereotypes against millennials, which largely explains just why they are so screw

Yes, millennials are screwed. I do also largely agree with all the mentioned stereotypes against millennials, which largely explains just why they are so screwed. After having lived in third-world countries for some time I don't feel sorry for them either. I know that sounds cold and callous, but I don't care. They still have it better than most people in the world. Suck it up. I see this in my own kids too. I warn them about wasting time on stupid crap, but they largely blow it off. At some point they will be out the door, on their own, and poor. Hopefully they make it on their own, because they aren't moving back in. They have had sufficient warning and preparation which they dutifully ignore. If rent is half your pay check then either increase your income or move to a different location with a lower cost of living. I have known numerous people who have moved from California to Texas for exactly that reason and I have also met some people who have completely left the US for this reason. As a software developer I see where entitlement creeps in at various places. Sometimes it is from young people who cry because they suddenly realize they are drowning just need a little life raft, which because a crutch for their next life raft. Sometimes it is from old people who are tired of keeping up and just want to retain their position in life. At the end of the day it all comes down to being competitive with your quality of output. Here is a simple way to identify the behavior behind the problems many millennials face. Ask a simple question: "Should I feel sorry for you?" Clearly, the answer is yes, but that an affirmative answer challenges the cognitive complexity that allows a person to exist in that state in the first place. Again, don't care.

vkou 9y ago
One day, you will grow old, and less-able. You may need the kids that you blew off to take care of you.
- austincheney 9y ago
  I was careful to mention that I am not blowing them off.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
sdwa 9y ago
The problem is that if you go by the fact that someone somewhere has it worse then where's the motivation to change anything? Should we not be holding our societies to a slightly higher standard than what passes in the third world? You may not care, and that's good for you, but I'm sure you can appreciate that such an attitude is pretty much useless if we ever want to progress beyond a society where someone's worth is directly tied to their "quality of output" (maybe you don't).
- austincheney 9y ago
  > The problem is that if you go by the fact that someone somewhere has it worse then where's the motivation to change anything? Initiative. People with initiative tend to be better off regardless of how bad anything else is. > Should we not be holding our societies to a slightly higher standard than what passes in the third world? You should hold yourself to whatever standard is most appropriate for you. Crying about how bad life is, or expecting sympathy, probably won't get you what you to where you want to be. There is a world of difference between sympathy and empathy. One of those is a childish quality that results in nothing positive. The other allows you to improve yourself and the world around you. If you cannot tell the difference you are no position to suggest such opinions of others.
  - sdwa 9y ago
    >Initiative. People with initiative tend to be better off regardless of how bad anything else is. That's just a truism though. Your advice may as well be "read more books" or "work harder". These are not solutions to the wider problems facing our societies. >You should hold yourself to whatever standard is most appropriate for you. Crying about how bad life is, or expecting sympathy, probably won't get you what you to where you want to be. To be dissatisfied with our society and the inter-generational transfers of wealth is is to "cry" and to "expect sympathy"? You've build up a nifty little strawman there that allows you to be awfully condescending, and that's nice and all, but as with all strawmen, it's not grounded in reality. >There is a world of difference between sympathy and empathy. One of those is a childish quality that results in nothing positive. The other allows you to improve yourself and the world around you. If you cannot tell the difference you are no position to suggest such opinions of others. Sorry but what is your point? Self-improvement is great and something we should all aspire to, yes! But why then is improving our society off limits? We cannot improve something without first criticising it. I don't understand why you are so sensitive to people criticising where we are just because people in Africa are poorer. It does not make sense to me.
ameister14 9y ago
I think it's a bit sad that your relationship with your children is one of 'well, you're 18 now, I've done my job. I will no longer help you.' Almost all wealth (and almost all successful families) is created over generations by parents and children assisting each-other.
- austincheney 9y ago
  Before you get all sad on me do you actually have teenage children of your own? I have watched my much younger sisters-in-law go through something like this with strung out dependency on Mom. At some point you actually have to cut the cord. It is safer the younger they are. You hope they go to college, graduate, and get a great independent job. This doesn't always happen. Like with everything else life is much easier when expectations are set early.
- murph-almighty 9y ago
  I have to agree with you because I'm in a similar boat. I've worked out an arrangement with my dad to pay back about half my loans interest free. The interest itself doesn't amount to much on the principal, but it's a significant chunk of money. However, because we refinanced those loans onto his home equity line, he can deduct that interest. Currently I live at home and commute 1.5-2 hours into work. I don't expect to be doing this forever, it's a 1-2 year gig to knock my debt down by overpaying as much as possible. It helps that I have a well paying job for my major/area, too. All said and done, this is not ideal for me- I'd like to live on my own and shorten my commute. But my debt is not ideal either, so I'll take what I can to reduce that, even if it means living out of my childhood bedroom.

vkou 9y ago

One day, you will grow old, and less-able. You may need the kids that you blew off to take care of you.

austincheney 9y ago
I was careful to mention that I am not blowing them off.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]

sdwa 9y ago

The problem is that if you go by the fact that someone somewhere has it worse then where's the motivation to change anything? Should we not be holding our societies to a slightly higher standard than what passes in the third world? You may not care, and that's good for you, but I'm sure you can appreciate that such an attitude is pretty much useless if we ever want to progress beyond a society where someone's worth is directly tied to their "quality of output" (maybe you don't).

austincheney 9y ago
> The problem is that if you go by the fact that someone somewhere has it worse then where's the motivation to change anything? Initiative. People with initiative tend to be better off regardless of how bad anything else is. > Should we not be holding our societies to a slightly higher standard than what passes in the third world? You should hold yourself to whatever standard is most appropriate for you. Crying about how bad life is, or expecting sympathy, probably won't get you what you to where you want to be. There is a world of difference between sympathy and empathy. One of those is a childish quality that results in nothing positive. The other allows you to improve yourself and the world around you. If you cannot tell the difference you are no position to suggest such opinions of others.
- sdwa 9y ago
  >Initiative. People with initiative tend to be better off regardless of how bad anything else is. That's just a truism though. Your advice may as well be "read more books" or "work harder". These are not solutions to the wider problems facing our societies. >You should hold yourself to whatever standard is most appropriate for you. Crying about how bad life is, or expecting sympathy, probably won't get you what you to where you want to be. To be dissatisfied with our society and the inter-generational transfers of wealth is is to "cry" and to "expect sympathy"? You've build up a nifty little strawman there that allows you to be awfully condescending, and that's nice and all, but as with all strawmen, it's not grounded in reality. >There is a world of difference between sympathy and empathy. One of those is a childish quality that results in nothing positive. The other allows you to improve yourself and the world around you. If you cannot tell the difference you are no position to suggest such opinions of others. Sorry but what is your point? Self-improvement is great and something we should all aspire to, yes! But why then is improving our society off limits? We cannot improve something without first criticising it. I don't understand why you are so sensitive to people criticising where we are just because people in Africa are poorer. It does not make sense to me.

ameister14 9y ago

I think it's a bit sad that your relationship with your children is one of 'well, you're 18 now, I've done my job. I will no longer help you.' Almost all wealth (and almost all successful families) is created over generations by parents and children assisting each-other.

austincheney 9y ago
Before you get all sad on me do you actually have teenage children of your own? I have watched my much younger sisters-in-law go through something like this with strung out dependency on Mom. At some point you actually have to cut the cord. It is safer the younger they are. You hope they go to college, graduate, and get a great independent job. This doesn't always happen. Like with everything else life is much easier when expectations are set early.
murph-almighty 9y ago
I have to agree with you because I'm in a similar boat. I've worked out an arrangement with my dad to pay back about half my loans interest free. The interest itself doesn't amount to much on the principal, but it's a significant chunk of money. However, because we refinanced those loans onto his home equity line, he can deduct that interest. Currently I live at home and commute 1.5-2 hours into work. I don't expect to be doing this forever, it's a 1-2 year gig to knock my debt down by overpaying as much as possible. It helps that I have a well paying job for my major/area, too. All said and done, this is not ideal for me- I'd like to live on my own and shorten my commute. But my debt is not ideal either, so I'll take what I can to reduce that, even if it means living out of my childhood bedroom.