~ ~ Is there such a thing as the ‘Generation Gap’?
Well, there’s an interesting question if ever there was one.
It’s also a question that I’m not at all sure if there’s a definitive answer, unless it’s both ‘yes and no’.
~ ~ Ever since ... Read review
Advantages: It's always been there. (the generation gap) Disadvantages: It's not as big a gap as you might think!
~ ~ Is there such a thing as the ‘Generation Gap’?
Well, there’s an interesting question if ever there was one.
It’s also a question that I’m not at all sure if there’s a definitive answer, unless it’s both ‘yes and no’.
~ ~ Ever since man first walked the earth children have had differences of opinion with their parents. And young people have always resented what ... ...physical abuse to “correct” kids is now a thing of the past.
But kids STILL think there parents know nothing, and are so far behind the times that they crawled out of the Ark with old Noah!
Personally, I don’t think that this is an unhealthy attitude. It has always been so, and will always probably remain so.
We’re all a product of our own generations, and of our upbringings. A child’s general principles ... more
~ ~ Is there such a thing as the ‘Generation Gap’? Well, there’s an interesting question if ever there was one. It’s also a question that I’m not at all sure if there’s a definitive answer, unless it’s both ‘yes and no’.
~ ~ Ever since man first walked the earth children have had differences of opinion with their parents. And young people have always resented what they consider old-fashioned and fuddy-duddy attitudes from their ‘elders and betters’. When I was a kid in the 50’s and 60’s, the prevailing attitude when it came to raising kids was “children should be seen and not heard”. In other words, we weren’t really encouraged to take part in ‘adult’ conversations.
~ ~ Corporal punishment was also very much the norm, both within families, and within the schools and State Institutions. “Spare the rod, and spoil the child.” I was a wicked little beggar at school, (well, maybe mischievous would be a better description) and rarely out of trouble of one sort or another, and got the “tawse” (leather strap) so frequently it’s a wonder I had any hands left by the time I reached my teenage years! My parents didn’t physically beat me though. The odd slap around the lug by my mother, and twice my dad took his belt to me, but I fully deserved it both times. My point? I respected my parents for the fact that they didn’t have to resort to physical violence to reprimand me. (A week’s ban from the golf course was MUCH more effective in my case!) And I resented the authorities greatly for the fact that they DID choose to beat me. In fact, I got myself expelled from school for a week once for telling a form teacher exactly what he could do with his leather strap. It had something to do with sticking it in a rather dark, smelly part of his anatomy, if I recall correctly.
~ ~ Attitudes in society change, and thank God this use of physical abuse to “correct” kids is now a thing of the past. But kids STILL think there parents know nothing, and are so far behind the times that they crawled out of the Ark with old Noah! Personally, I don’t think that this is an unhealthy attitude. It has always been so, and will always probably remain so. We’re all a product of our own generations, and of our upbringings. A child’s general principles and attitudes are formed by what they pick up from their parents, (most of all) from their education, (greatly) from their friends and peers, (not always good) and from the media and television. (Who have a lot to answer for!)
~ ~ It’s totally normal for parents to try to protect their kids from the slings and arrows of everyday life, and to try to pass onto them some of the lessons they have learned in life. It’s also totally normal for kids to pay no attention to them whatsoever, and to go out and often make the very same mistakes and errors that we ourselves did as kids. We live and learn, as the old saying goes, and it’s a very true one. Nothing teaches us a lesson better than personal experience, and I honestly think it’s a bad mistake that many parents make when they try to be TOO protective of their children. I think we have to try to let them make their own mistakes, but to always be there to pick up the pieces when they fall. (As they invariably do!)
~ ~ I loathe the old expression that you often hear older people using.
“It wasn’t like that in my day!” Or alternatively. “It wasn’t like that in the old days!”
It’s usually expressed when they are just about to be hypercritical of some real, imagined, or perceived threat to their own comfortable perceptions or convictions by a young person. How do I answer that thorny old hackneyed expression? Maybe not. Chances are it was a lot WORSE. That’s why we all struggle and toil. To try to ensure that the next generation, OUR children, have more opportunities and have to struggle and toil LESS than we, and our parents before us, had to. It’s always been the way, and it always will be the way, please God! The younger generation today are generally FAR better educated than we were. Their job opportunities are far more varied. They expect (and demand) more from life than previous generations ever did. And why shouldn’t they? It’s every person’s right to try to better their lot in life, and I’m glad that MY generation has managed to give them the many opportunities that we never had. Just as my parent’s did for me in their time!
~ ~ When I was a nipper, I loved bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. My mother and father loved singers like Jim Reeves and Kenneth McKellar, and thought that the bands I liked were destroying the very fabric of society! But I STILL like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and wonder of wonders, society is still here, and has not fallen asunder! Today it’s singers like Marilyn Manson and Eminem that the kids all love, (examples only!) and who parents think are the devil’s own spawn. While the Beatles and the Rolling Stones are looked upon as yesterday’s news and old “wrinklies”. (Some of them are so old they are even DEAD!) Strange thing is, I recently compiled a tape for the car of some of my own old favourites from the 60’s and 70’s, and guess what? My wee lass (12) absolutely LOVES it, and is always pestering me to put it on!
~ ~ In my younger days, it was long hair, flares, and old Levi jackets and jeans that the older generation frowned upon. Nowadays attitudes have changed so dramatically that is often the kids who are embarrassed by what their parents are wearing! Here’s a case of the refreshing attitudes of the young changing things for the better. Nowadays the “business suit” is no longer expected, and things are a lot more relaxed when it comes to “dress code”, for either work or play. People are accepted more for what they ARE nowadays, and less emphasis is put on the impression they tried to achieve in the past by wearing a type of “uniform”. Long may it last, and God bless the youngsters (past and present) for changing things in this area.
~ ~ I was at an old aunt’s funeral in Scotland a couple of years back. She was a favourite aunt, and her son (my cousin) has always been a close friend, as well as a relative. As we were coming out the Church after the funeral service, he said to me.
“That’s the last of the older generation gone now, Ken.”
I replied.
“Look around you mate, and smell the roses. WE’RE the older generation now!”
He looked at me with a sort of dazed expression on his face. It had obviously not occurred to him before that he was now in his late forties, and no longer a youngster. Lots of older people are like that. Hell, I’m 52 past last July, and I don’t particularly feel any older now than I did when I was a teenager. (Apart from some aches and pains I didn’t have back then!) But I KNOW that I have lived a full and interesting life, and that I have a lot of life knowledge and experience (good and bad) that I can attempt to pass onto the younger generation. Whether they are prepared to take that advice is another story entirely!
~ ~ Always remember kids; YOU are the next “older generation”. But hey, don’t worry about it. I know I never did! It’s a relatively painless transition, and one that you don’t see coming most of the time. (heh, heh) Just get on and enjoy life, and make the most of yourself that you can.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright KenJ November 2003
~~~~~~~~~~~
I have Amanda (MandyMinx) to thank for the inspiration to write in this Category. She’s written an outstanding opinion on the generation gap, relating it to Christmas. Go and read it now!
Advantages: It makes us feel different... Disadvantages: It makes us dismissive of others...
...between ALL generations – it is simply the product of society moving on. What seems to be at issue is the extent to which generation gaps exist and more importantly how much they matter.
My grandmother left school at the tender age of 14 in the dark dank industrial cityscape of Lancashire and was quickly tempted into the cloth mills. Many years of manual hat-making made her fingers sore but she was fundamentally fulfilled in a loving marriage and ... ...about them?
My point is this…every generation is brought up as different cultural influences are shaping society. As we grow older we find that our character is largely made up of the experiences and society we knew in earlier days, the longing to know everything about everything lessens with age as we come to terms with who we are and what is truly important. So society moves, sometimes a little, and sometimes a great deal away from what we understand ...
Kirsty1 02.10.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Is there a generation gap?
I think there is only a generation gap if you let that gap get in between you and people of different ages.
Are you one or a hundred and one, I don't really care I see you as a person. We have all been one, Hopefully we will all reach a hundred and one.
Communication is the only thing that is needed to bridge that gap. When people say things like, look at the way youngsters dress, listen to that terrible music etc. It is they that have made the ... ...me theirs. I think that is why I have a lot of respect for them and they for me.
My parents never became old. They kept up with the times. They were into computers, Dvd’s etc before I was. No they are not young they are both well over 60. Yes their bodies may have changed but their outlook about life changes with the times.
Some of my best friends are in their 60’s I go down to the local pub on a Friday afternoon and I have to be literally ...
gill1960 14.11.2002
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Advantages: Evolution and improvement. Disadvantages: Understanding between the generations.
This is my personal experience with the generation gaps in my life. I do not feel that this opinion reflects everyone’s lifestyles. WHAT ARE THE GENERATION GAPS?
My mum is nearly 60, My dad’s sister is 45, I am 21 and the kids who throw rocks at my windows are 16. In my opinion these are the 4 generations, and the gap between them is regarding respect and social morals. My mum’s generation grew up having what they needed and wanted little more, ... ...to go through life! This is the generation that fought for women’s rights, that protested against nuclear war and that wanted to save the world, because they cared about it
My Auntie’s generation also grew up having what they needed, but also some of the things that they wanted. They have respect for what they have earned, but still want more.
Their social morals are slightly different; you can swear, but not at your mother, you can drink, and ...
treley 21.03.2004
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Advantages: Can be like my grandad Disadvantages: Forgot - my grandad is dead
Before asking if there is a generation gap i think we need to look at what exactly we are trying to define. If the question is regarding do people from different era's have a different outlook on life, of course they do. We all have our 'ideal years of life.' For some the sixties, others the eighties, for the older generation it may be pre World War two. It is only natural that the events of this time will lead to differing views. But in reality ... ...the woman that you feel) is very apt. My grandparents were born in the 1920's. However they take a great interest in modern society. They look things up on the internet (the first time they found porn was humerous and slightly disturbing!) and travel to the library to do this. They like foreign travel and to hear the stories of what the numerous grandchildren are doing. They are in their 80's and although physically old have a young outlook. The ...
grizzlybear 11.03.2003
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Advantages: I can say remember the old times, just like a geezer Disadvantages: My hair is gray like a geezer
...reason that I mention this is I think about this change in my life when I watch my girls grow up. They have all of these changes ahead of themselves. They are currently going through the years of wonderment; they are soaking up all the knowledge that will form their basic foundations. If a few years, they will turn into the know-it-alls that I was and I am sure drive me to further drink.
There is a generation gap, and I think it gets more pronounced ... ...party line. That is right, I had to check and see if the old lady down the street was on the phone talking about her cats before I could make a call.
I loved growing up in the country. When I was in the 6th Grade I got my first job at a chicken processing plant. We got chicks ready to send off to laying houses, 32,000 of them to be exact. We vaccinated them and debeaked them (don’t tell PETA) before we sent them on their way. I smelled so bad when ...
Scott_Howitt 16.03.2003
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