U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division
Posted on 04/11/2006 12:07:23 PM PDT by qam1
A few weeks ago, U.S. champion skier Bode Miller turned in a stunningly poor performance at the Olympics, with two non-medal finishes, a disqualification and two incomplete races.
Unabashed, he told the Associated Press: "I just did it my way. I'm not a martyr, and I'm not a do-gooder. I just want to go out and rock. And man, I rocked here."
Mr. Miller's exuberant self-assessment makes him "a poster child" for "Generation Me," says San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge.
Americans born after 1970 -- including the so-called Generation X and Millennial Generation -- have become "an army of little narcissists," says Mrs. Twenge, who explains her views in her new book, "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled and More Miserable Than Ever Before."
Unlike their parents and grandparents, "GenMes" have "never known a world that put duty before self," she says. Instead, they were raised in a culture obsessed with self-esteem and feel-good mantras such as "Believe in yourself, and you can be anything" and "Never give up on your dreams."
The result is a generation of youths who are tolerant, confident, open-minded, ambitious -- and have wildly unreasonable expectations about how they fit into the adult world.
"They expect to go to college, to make lots of money, and perhaps even to be famous," Mrs. Twenge says. But when reality hits, and they don't get the coveted college placement or high-paying job, or they discover the high costs of housing and health care, many members of Generation Me crash emotionally, she says.......
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
When I was a young man, I was full of piss and vinegar too. My only regret is that I didn't party more in college. Now, entering my last decades, I am in agreement with Lin Yutang, the Taoist philosopher of old China, who wrote:
"Happiness consists of being able to get your hair cut every couple of weeks. . . and watching your industrious neighbor take a tumble off his roof."
"I would think that it would be easier to be narcissistic if you hadn't had too many bumps on the road."
It would be easier to be narcissistic if they didn't have mirrors.
I never heard of Bode Miller until today (don't care about winter sports). This is from his bio on NBC sports (up to the Torino games):
"Career highlights
Bode Miller is the reigning champion in the World Cup overall, the most coveted prize in Alpine skiing. He won two Olympic silver medals (giant slalom, combined) at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, and also has five career medals (four golds) at world championships. He had flirted with the overall title for years (fourth in 2002, second in 2003, fourth in 2004) before finally winning it in 2005."
Yea, real loser.
/sarcasm
They crash emotionally, then blame everyone and everything around them, except for themselves.
Because they have been permanently endowed with the inalienable right to Self Esteem, no failure nor horrible misdeed can ever take it away.
Self Esteem should be the natural consequence of success, not a detached hubris bestowed by misguided teachers.
I dont think Bode is going to join the marines.
Collectively, psycohology professors and university faculty have done more damage to the American spirit than one flip remark by an Olympic hopeful could ever do. I agree, she should STFU.
U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division
Good insight! My profession (shrink) calls them narcissists, but "asshole" actually IS the equivalent lay term. Or, more politely, "jerk".
I'm glad someone posted this. I was just about to. Thanks.
I've never been a fan of "generational" thinking; it's all a pose to get people to buy more books, thinking they are "part of a generation" when we are all individuals who are part of the groups we join, whether religious, political, etc. I have no more in common with other people born in 1965 than with anyone else, but some seem to think that because we recall the same awful 80's tunes we are somehow "fellow Gen Xers" or whatever. How stupid.
Who cares? One writers opinion piece, hardly a fact driven one.
EVERY generation has its losers and winners. I never bought into the "greatest" generation, or all boomers are whiners etc.
"When I was your age, we ......."
Sheesh.
My favorite part of this piece-
"Mrs. Twenge agrees that today's youth are optimistic, but she still worries about them. Another case in point in her book: Tone-deaf "American Idol" wannabe William Hung, who advises his fans, "Always try your best, and don't giveupon your dreams."
OH NO, she is worried about William Hungs advice??
"This walking, talking piece of fecal matter has obviously not even bothered to look towards the Mid East and other parts of this world where "kids" born from 1970 on, are fighting and dying for her right to spew this sewage from her pie hole.
She needs to STFU and in a hurry."
I was going to say essentially the same thing, but I think you said it better anyhow.
Nice job! :-)
(I love it how folks can stereotype entire generations consisting of millions of people.)
As long as he doesn't sing his advice.
}:-)4
Greatest movie ever made about duty, honor, sacrifice and love of country.
It makes my eyes water up just thinking about it.
released 1944
Yes, in general the "silent generation" as well as the "greatest generation" that had a MILITARY DRAFT was greatly helped by their enforced military service. Generation X makes due within a military that has enormous day care centers on every post.
I don't think Bode Miller is a "loser". He is an insufferable jerk, however, as narcissistic as they come.
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