Do you think that today's generation has a sense of entitlement?

1. 69

   Bruce A. Beaudetposted 12 years ago

   Do you think that today's generation has a sense of entitlement?
   
   If so, what do you think is the cause?  If not, how would you describe this current generation?

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2. 75

   phtechposted 12 years ago

   I feel like I'm on the back end of this generation, but I will give my opinion. I think we have a sense of entitlement in the sense that we expect things that our elders never expected because they may not have existed. I think that so many people from the Baby Boomer generation fought for so many rights that by the time we were born, we were more "spoiled" than previous generations. Of course we feel entitled to have the best, that's the way our parents raised us. "The American Dream", however, is not an entitlement and should still be worked toward by all.

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      phtechposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      To reiterate my point, I think everyone should expect better because it causes people to seek invention and growth. I don't think everyone should be handed anything though.

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3. 60

   definitionsposted 12 years ago

   I think it varies.  The current generation, at least in my observation, have been presented with things like Facebook, Twitter and the iPad...the iPad retails for several hundred dollars and 'back in my day' us kiddies did not command gifts worth more than $30-$40.  We were happy to get Matchbox cars or, if it was really special, a remote control car.  I think that Facebook and Twitter are not particularly productive.  While I am very hesitant to generalize, I would describe today's generation as "distracted by too many things you don't need!"  The cause of this, of course, is money - more corporations want money and create artificial needs within people.  In the 80s and 90s, we made do without an iPad...how did we survive?  lol :-)

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      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Times change with each generation so their respective/individual needs change. Those who grew up in the 30s can make do with very very little, they didn't expect much Thos who grew up in the 60s had much more opportunities, expecting MORE in life.

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4. 0

   JThomp42posted 12 years ago

   I think it really depends on how you were brought up. Did you ever have to do without food, shelter, electricity, water, etc. Or were you one of those kids who looked down on the kids that didn't have it as good as you. Kids that had to come up the hard way it seems to me do not have a sense of entitlement. Kids who had everything handed to them that they wanted, yes they do think the world owes them something without having to put in the hard work to deserve it. This to me is very sad. What do they do when mom and dad are no longer around?

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      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So YOU'RE saying that kids should only grow up in the toughest of circumstances and not in affluence? Kids who grow up WITHOUT tend to be hardened.They tend to TAKE what they want & BULLY others into giving them things. I knew of such kids.

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      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      gm.... Did you experience this type of childhood where you had to do without. You need to read my comment again, for you took it completely wrong.

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   3. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thankfully I did not.  I knew of children who did and they stole from more affluent children or shook them down for money. One girl who was socioeconomically poor regularly shook down pupils for lunch money, feeling NO guilt.Some bully other children

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   4. 0

      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      gm.... I'm sorry you feel this way, but this is not what I experienced. We were made fun of because we did not wear the "popular" clothes or shoes. We were looked down upon because we got free lunch. We were just considered as trash basically.

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5. 79

   DexisViewposted 12 years ago

   I think that it is more of a generation that "expects more" than maybe entitlement.  It's the age old opinion of each generation prior to the current.  For example, my mom's generation believes every generation after hers to have a sense of entitlement and not being as appreciative as her generation.
   I think that expecting more can be a great thing.  It's how we evolve.  Call it entitlement call it expectations, it can lead to thirst for knowledge, drive to have more and do more which, in turn, brings discovery.
   This current generation is vibrant and giving.  Part of the norm for this generation is that many were brought up with the "giving back" mentality.  It's a generation big on volunteering and helping out others less fortunate.  What can be better than that!

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Children today are not more entitled.  Many were born into affluence and want that in their lives, pure and simple.

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6. 59

   Darksageposted 12 years ago

   Personally, I  think that all generations have a sense of entitlement. Way before, each generation would always create something that makes them better than other generations. But each generation is different from each other, and one thing can be seen, each generation seem to improve more than before. More geniuses are made and they seem to be better than those before. Being part of this generation, I can say that, Yes Sir, we do have this entitlement.

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7. 59

   Sunny Riverposted 12 years ago

   This generation (which I am sad to say I'm a part of) absolutely has a sense of entitlement. I say this from my experience simply working with the public. I do not like this generation. They take almost no responsibility for themselves or their actions and believe they are owed whatever they want in the world. They treat others with no respect because the world revolves around them, so why should they care?
   I think a big part of it is what the media has been pushing on them all their lives. They've been fed all this nonsense about how they're so important and aren't taught anything more valuable than who's getting with who. They expect to be handed everything they want without working for it and then complain and whine like it's the end of the world when they can't get the latest phone or car or whatever.
   Its absolutely horrifying and I'm terrified for the world thanks to them.

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