Next Generation Getting Soft

02 August
2006

Next Generation Getting Soft

...kids today

Allow me to settle into my old curmudgeon persona, which I can slip into as easily as a bedroom slipper. Kids today have a sense of entitlement. The days of working hard for rewards is becoming a distant memory. Instead of coping, adjusting or "doing without", the egocentrism of today's youth dictates that the rest of the world should accommodate the youngsters when things do not go their way. Oddly enough, I do not blame the kids. Their surrounding environment has created this "me first" mentality. Parents are catering to their every need based on what they are told on television. Buy this, buy that and your child will be happy.

We need to toughen these kids up a bit. Take for example the new student basketball distribution policy at my Alma Mater. Back in the day, students (including myself) would have the privilege of camping out all night for a couple of basketball tickets. And we liked it. Making students work hard for their reward made the reward so much sweeter. Now, students can simply get their basketball tickets via e-mail. I find this disturbing. Another example of spoon feeding America's youth. Next you'll be telling me that there will be no failing grades anymore.

Posted by steve at 08:04 | Comments (2)

Comments

Mr. Curmudgeon

While you may be a curmudgeon, this isn't a 'The Kids Today are Weak' issue.

The CAA was paying for the security that's necessary for the long queue that UNC basketball generates and (apparently) decided that's not a good investment.

A better curmudgeon-y attitude would be:

"The CAA of my day understood the type of fan that camped out in near freezing temperature was a good one to have at a game. Wait until the season starts and the whole Dean Dome sits on their hands like the alumni."

Posted by: Dan Fisher at August 02,2006 08:46

Re: Next Generation Getting Soft

I like the online system. You either go full brunt the other way, back to camp outs. Otherwise make it as easy as possible for students to get tickets.

Dan is right though - sometimes using a ticket is based on the thought "if I stay home then I did X for nothing", if X=something hard, you go. if X=clicking a few buttons on the computer - maybe you don't. I bet we see an increase in empty seats as kids grab up seats to all the games, just in case.

Posted by: harper at August 02,2006 12:29