5 ms·
We are raising a generation of deluded narcissists
- magic5227 14y agoIronically written by a deluded narcissist.
- kjackson2012 14y agoI work with a group of coworkers that are a little less than half my age, 1 or 2 years out of college. They are all excellent. Of course they goof off and sometimes make inexperienced decisions like every kid their age (ex. thinking that sharing a 1 bedroom apt with a stranger is a good idea, even though the bathroom is in the only bedroom). But I did the same things at their age, but they are surprisingly professional and make mature decisions at work. If I didn't spend a lot of time with them and only spent time with people my age, I probably would think the same thing, like my parents probably thought of me and my friends. It's the fallacy of age, and it happens every generation. My wife, on the other hand, works with someone who is is the epitome of the article. Self-entitled, bratty, arrogant, etc. But I think this is more the case of the upbringing and not necessarily to do with the generation. I think they're going to be just fine.
- xk_id 14y agoI don't know. I'm in my final year in college (London), and it is very, very rare that I meet someone my age who is genuinely interesting. On the other hand, I meet very often students who think they are "cutting edge". For example, I've met maybe a couple of persons who have an iPad and tap into its potential (e.g mobile digital library that enables annotations and dictionary; wireless, customisable MIDI controller; client for remote controlling your computer; digital notepad; etc.). I may have very high standards, tho; but that's because I grew up studying the lives and works of humanity's champions (scientists, arists, etc.), instead of popular culture.
- betelnut 14y agoIt's worth keeping in mind that the people you grew up studying are invariably selected/memorable for their contributions and that it's very hard to identify the same people in your milieu. Kind of like saying "50s music is better" or "19th century novels are better" - you're benefiting from history's sorting process.
- xk_id 14y agoI feel we're not benefitting enough from this sorting process, really! I wish our education would try to give a more comprehensive perspective on what human nature can potentially achieve – that is useful and meaningful!
- kjackson2012 14y agoI hate to be blunt, but when people claim that almost everyone around them is <fill-in-the-blank>, it's usually more of a reflection on that person rather than the people around them.
- fxthea 14y agoI hope that was sarcasm because it sounded very narcissistic.
- xk_id 14y agoI'm sorry, it shouldn't sound narcissistic. I don't think I'm doing that great myself, and I'm a bit embarassed by that. Which is why I'm looking for smart people all the time, so I can stay motivated to work.
- owenjones 14y ago"For example, I've met maybe a couple of persons who have an iPad and tap into its potential (e.g mobile digital library that enables annotations and dictionary; wireless, customisable MIDI controller; client for remote controlling your computer; digital notepad;" So this is what qualifies as being interesting / cutting edge now huh? I don't know, maybe the article is right...
- msy 14y agoFaux News rants on the HN front page? Oh dear. Time to move on.
- tptacek 14y agoWhat on earth is this story doing on Hacker News? It's an editorial at Fox News. Flagged.
- forgingahead 14y agoAs opposed to editorials or op-eds from the NYTimes, HuffPo, Salon, TheAtlantic (see a link just below this one), WSJ, Rolling Stone, Mother Jones, Business Insider, Techcrunch, etc etc etc? The article could be better written but let's debate the merits of the writing, not where it was published.
- tptacek 14y agoThey're all bad. I try to flag them all.
- ryanisinallofus 14y agoLink to the actual study, or a real synopsis.
- gte910h 14y agoThe report says the freshmen who take it report less studying, higher ability, and considerably higher grades than cohorts in the past. People think they're good at things who got significantly higher grades without having to study much than people in the past. Who would have thought that would lead a person to believe they could do something and rate their capabilities higher.
- sxcurry 14y agoConsider the source. This does not correspond at all to my experience teaching part time at a local liberal arts college. My students have been smart, hard-working, and very realistic about their abilities and the real world. They are so far ahead of where I was at that age...
- bct 14y agoI'm sympathetic to the thesis, but this is a really poor article. Read Christoper Lasch instead.
- tthomas48 14y agoGET OFF MY LAWN!!!!
- Kim_Bruning 14y agoIsn't this just a ramification of of the dunning-kruger effect? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
- michaelbuddy 14y agoIt's a good thing this was written. Otherwise I would have NO idea about how terrible college students must be. Now I have proof, so let's all take steps to keep them unemployed, shun and criticize them. And I'll continue to watch a heavy heavy amount of fox news in order to properly evaluate the things I'm unfamiliar with. How else will I maintain a moral compass?