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I don't think that it is that complex. People are becoming increasingly hedonistic (my own opinion in life, comparing older generations and newer generations in

I don't think that it is that complex. People are becoming increasingly hedonistic (my own opinion in life, comparing older generations and newer generations in how they reward themselves, saving habits etc). So that leads to people not really interested in the "smarts side of trends".

Tostino 4y ago
You don't attribute savings trends to anything but the hedonistic desires of an entire generation? Really, you can't think of anything else at all? Try hard now.
- sidlls 4y ago
  Not quite the desires, but the access and availability of confirmation of those desires, through technology from MySpace to Facebook, and now TikTok and Instagram, almost certainly plays a role. I believe narcissism and hedonistic desire is likely relatively constant across generations. What differs is the technology each generation is raised in and has access to. I believe (opinion, I'd like to see studies about it actually) that the easy access to the narcissism reinforcing tech Gen-Z grew up with has made the expression of these desires more pronounced, and not at all in a positive way. Personally, I've seen it in action (of course, this is anecdata, now, so not necessarily generalizable). I know a 20-something guy and am involved in his and his friends' lives to a certain extent. These young adults haven't had adversity much different from anything I faced growing up in the 80s with a deeply impoverished family living in the south, or that my wife faced when she was growing up in the same era, but they are far less resilient (in almost every aspect) and tend to treat every little setback as a major trauma. I'd say the outliers of my generation (in terms of emotional instability and lack of resilience) have become the norm in Gen-Z, and I hypothesize it is due largely to the prevalence of modern social media and how it facilitates and encourages this extreme-drama view.
  - oneoff786 4y ago
    I guess that settles it. You know a 20 something guy. Why even bother mentioning falling real wages, increased housing prices, rising student debts, etc. it’s TikTok’s fault.
    - sidlls 4y ago
      HN used to be a place where comments were considered charitably, and at least a passing attempt at replying to the actual comment and not a made-up version to score a cheap rhetorical point was more common.
      - oneoff786 4y ago
        That is my charitable response. Your anecdata is worthless. The economic situation of young Americans has significantly declined over time. Failure to recognize that as, hard stop, the most important factor, means your perspective is way off.

Tostino 4y ago

You don't attribute savings trends to anything but the hedonistic desires of an entire generation? Really, you can't think of anything else at all? Try hard now.

sidlls 4y ago
Not quite the desires, but the access and availability of confirmation of those desires, through technology from MySpace to Facebook, and now TikTok and Instagram, almost certainly plays a role. I believe narcissism and hedonistic desire is likely relatively constant across generations. What differs is the technology each generation is raised in and has access to. I believe (opinion, I'd like to see studies about it actually) that the easy access to the narcissism reinforcing tech Gen-Z grew up with has made the expression of these desires more pronounced, and not at all in a positive way. Personally, I've seen it in action (of course, this is anecdata, now, so not necessarily generalizable). I know a 20-something guy and am involved in his and his friends' lives to a certain extent. These young adults haven't had adversity much different from anything I faced growing up in the 80s with a deeply impoverished family living in the south, or that my wife faced when she was growing up in the same era, but they are far less resilient (in almost every aspect) and tend to treat every little setback as a major trauma. I'd say the outliers of my generation (in terms of emotional instability and lack of resilience) have become the norm in Gen-Z, and I hypothesize it is due largely to the prevalence of modern social media and how it facilitates and encourages this extreme-drama view.
- oneoff786 4y ago
  I guess that settles it. You know a 20 something guy. Why even bother mentioning falling real wages, increased housing prices, rising student debts, etc. it’s TikTok’s fault.
  - sidlls 4y ago
    HN used to be a place where comments were considered charitably, and at least a passing attempt at replying to the actual comment and not a made-up version to score a cheap rhetorical point was more common.
    - oneoff786 4y ago
      That is my charitable response. Your anecdata is worthless. The economic situation of young Americans has significantly declined over time. Failure to recognize that as, hard stop, the most important factor, means your perspective is way off.