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[XXSockXX]

I think it's all pretty natural, once you're over a certain age, it's very easy to a) lose touch with the younger generation and b) to find comfort in the fact that in the "glory days" that were your youth, everything was much better. This makes you feel better about yourself and allows you to blame everything on "these stupid kids".

There are writings from antiquity dealing with that issue. In the 19th century it was crime novels, not TV or video games that made all youths criminals. It's always the same, probably always has been. Probably some Neanderthals were complaining that their youngsters cut their flint knives wrong and were painting ugly deer instead of decent cave lions.

Actually I'm beginning to have a hard time relating to 18-20 year-olds sometimes, so I guess that mindset just comes with age, unless you're actively trying to be aware of it.

[Vector]

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[XXSockXX]

I actually consciously try to understand and empathize with Teens Today because of my parents' blanket rejection of my entire generation. I think condemnation of the youth--for being youth, and not having their heads screwed on yet--frequently falls along axes of oppression. It makes more sense to accept people where they are and try to form an alliance.

I totally agree with the sentiment. However, it does get harder over time. I'm 35, so pretty removed from teens. They basically grow up in a different world, which they take for granted (which is only natural because it's the only world they know) and this repeats every generation more or less, besides the usual "being young" behaviour. Not at sci-fi new world levels, but the changes in technology and society are considerable. So at some point, it becomes easy to see younger people as spoiled entitled brats, because it's easy to forget that the world changes (and not the people), and because change is frightening and because "well, back in my day we had to...".

It's a pitfall that gets harder to avoid as you get older is what I'm saying, and apparently many people don't even bother trying, because it's easier, more comforting and self-assuring that way.

[Reelya]

There are writings from antiquity dealing with that issue.

Yup, we have Socrates on that issue, that the younger generation were going to hell in a handbasket in his day. I'd be pretty certain that by the time that generation grew up, they'd be saying the same thing about the next generation.

[XXSockXX]

I'd be pretty certain that by the time that generation grew up, they'd be saying the same thing about the next generation.

Exactly. While simultaneously making fun of Socrates, the old fart, and his outdated views.

[Bauglir]

There are writings from antiquity dealing with that issue.

Yup, we have Socrates on that issue, that the younger generation were going to hell in a handbasket in his day. I'd be pretty certain that by the time that generation grew up, they'd be saying the same thing about the next generation.

Sadly, there's no evidence Socrates ever said that. In fact, the oldest quotations on the matter I could dig up while searching don't go any further back than the 1900s. Obviously this changes nothing - the concern is still an absurd one.

[Lightningfalcon]

Beowulf apparently dealth with the issue of how soft the new generation was becoming. 

[XXSockXX]

Sadly, there's no evidence Socrates ever said that. In fact, the oldest quotations on the matter I could dig up while searching don't go any further back than the 1900s. Obviously this changes nothing - the concern is still an absurd one.

Your link attributes the quote to a comedy by Aristophanes. It also says Plato attributed the quote to Socrates. So, no matter who said it, it's old.

[Bauglir]

The Aristophanes play was a caricature, which is to say it was not meant to be taken seriously as a real gripe, and (I had to pull out my copy of The Republic to find the source, but yes, it is in there) the Plato quote was in the context of a hypothetical society that did not discipline its children, and a discussion of what is nevertheless the silliness of trying to put such discipline into legislation, at least if I'm parsing it correctly. Again, it's not a lamentation of moral decay. Therefore,

EDIT: Actually, I parsed it incorrectly. The quote from Plato indicated that children would self-discipline themselves if properly educated, and that therefore trying to create laws to discipline them was a futile waste of effort. That's actually a strong vote of confidence in the moral strength of the youth.

[Bohandas]

What os needed to stave all this bad thinking that comes with age off is a sense of absolute contempt for the past; including your own past. Meditate upon all the stupid things you did when you were younger and upon all the stupid things people believed in bygone eras. Also, let technology take the place of religion in your life, in terms of veneration and messianic promises and prophecies. A peter pan complex is also helpful.

[freeformschooler]

What os needed to stave all this bad thinking that comes with age off is a sense of absolute contempt for the past; including your own past. Meditate upon all the stupid things you did when you were younger and upon all the stupid things people believed in bygone eras. Also, let technology take the place of religion in your life, in terms of veneration and messianic promises and prophecies. A peter pan complex is also helpful.

Anything is possible so long as we're certain of our inherent chronological and intellectual superiority!

[XXSockXX]

The Aristophanes play was a caricature, which is to say it was not meant to be taken seriously as a real gripe,

If it satirizes an attitude, that attitude must have existed back then.

At least that is what we would have said back in my day, when we had to read literature in actual libraries and not on these intertubes that...oh crap it's happening again...

Anything is possible so long as we're certain of our inherent chronological and intellectual superiority!

And once we're chronologically disadvantaged, we emphasize our intellectual superiority...

[Bauglir]

If it satirizes an attitude, that attitude must have existed back then.

Fair enough, I suppose. Carry on!

[SalmonGod]

What os needed to stave all this bad thinking that comes with age off is a sense of absolute contempt for the past; including your own past. Meditate upon all the stupid things you did when you were younger and upon all the stupid things people believed in bygone eras.

I'm not so sure about this, because I think a lot of the attitude is a matter of psychological projection.  Especially with baby boomers (and pointed out with my interaction today), they tend to gripe about younger generations exhibiting behaviors they themselves are guilty of.  Work ethic?  Entitlement?  Fucking look at yourselves!

Anyway, "kids these days" type grumblings are a major social turn-off to me, and perhaps one of the reasons I tend to get along better with younger people.  Self-awareness is the #1 key to earning my genuine respect, and this topic is one of the most blatant ways to display a lack of.

I will make just three observations about the nature of those more than a few years younger than me, and they aren't even criticisms.  They're just three points that I see as highly influential, although the nature of that influence varies greatly depending on the influential.
1.  They didn't get to experience the world before the rapid development of the surveillance/security state in America post-9/11.
2.  They didn't witness the evolution of the internet as it was adapted into a common utility and shared resource.
2.  They didn't witness the evolution of advertising and other media-designed-to-influence into the sophisticated and well-researched science it is today.

Interesting observations about the defining characteristics of different generations can be had, and I believe real differences do exist... but moral decay type bullshit can go fuck itself.

[Angle]

Amusingly enough, I would complain about moral decay... but not in my generation. I'd say it's present in society as a whole, with my generation probably being some of the least guilty.