An army of narcissists?

The Washington Times ^ | 4/11/06 | Cheryl Wetzstein

[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.......

[Tijeras_Slim]

I suggest the author read "The Culture of Narcissism" by Christopher Lasch, published 1979. Pretty much dissects the Boomers. (Yes, I am one.)

[qam1]

Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.

[roaddog727]

Welcome to the Real world bump.

[sgtbono2002]

Narcisist ---perhaps. Genme? Perhaps

Asshole? ---definitely.

[lovecraft]

"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."

So it's my parent's and society's fault that I didn't end up an astronaut? Cool! Who do I sue?

And all this time I thought it was all the beer and girls I chased in college!

[Catholic Canadian]

This is true for Canadians of this generation as well. I know, because I belong to this generation. Fortunately for myself, I was born to Eastern European immigrants who taught me a good work ethic. I know many friends who are like this guy, and it has got worse with each subsequent generation.

[Tamar1973]

U.S. champion skier Bode Miller...

How did such a loser even qualify for the Olympics in the first place?!

[I still care]

There are two songs that make me nauseas, that I always turn off the radio when they come on.

One is "Imagine" by John Lennon.

The other is "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston. It's a peon to self worship. I was raised on H-O-Y - Jesus first, others second, put yourself last.

[Pondman88]

I just blame my ex.

[mtbopfuyn]

In other words, Bode kept another olympic hopeful from going just so Bode could rock.

[Catholic Canadian]

Having just completed the rest of the article, I don't think this new self centred generation is any better off, because I know far too many with serious drug and alcohol problems who have or are in the process of destroying themselves.

[Little Bill]

My kid is GenX, an independent SOB if there ever was one. He knows he is going to get screwed and therefore is very Conservative, family oriented, and hates rats, what more could you ask for in a Son. He also learns from his mistakes and never repeats them.

[I still care]

I have to put two more cents in here.

With the diminishment of the Christian culture of life in our nation, people have had to turn to "feel good" stuff in order to validate their self worth.

According to Judeo-Christian belief, people are worthy because they are made in God's image, by a loving God. There is a simple inherit worth in the nature of our being.

We are loved by the one who created us, and pronounced his creation "good".

If you have crawled up from the fishes, the self concept has to be totally different.

[mtbopfuyn]

Youth volunteering is up, while rates of crime, youth victimization, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, even youth suicide are all down... Marine Corps Gen. James Jones has it right when he says, "?'We're seeing a huge cultural shift away from the word 'I' to the word 'we,' in this new generation ... and that's to be celebrated.'... "Always try your best, and don't giveupon your dreams."

From what I see, today's youth are doing just fine.

[lovecraft]

He probably had the same teacher I had in high school....the one that kept repeating the mantra "That YOUR generation will not make as much as your parent's did." Because of inflation, Reagonomics, etc.

Well, I've already proved that theory wrong, and I hope your son does too.

[tiki]

I imagine there are many in all generations. I visited my brother a few years ag(Baby Boomer) and noticed that his house was full of pictures of him and his wife and not one picture of their 2 children or 3 grandchildren. I always thought that they loved themselves more than anyone and that just cemented it in my mind.

I would think that it would be easier to be narcissistic if you hadn't had too many bumps on the road.

[Larry Lucido]

Sheesh. I guess the guy should have just committed suicide for having a bad week.

[stuartcr]

It's because of the media, and mostly tv...especially the constant ads for ...'doing it your way'...'have it your way'...'no questions'....'you deserve a break today'...'break the rules'...etc

[taxed2death]

"Americans born after 1970 -- including the so-called Generation X and Millennial Generation -- have become "an army of little narcissists," says Mrs. Twenge....."

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.