This got me mad

**Hovey** · 12-12-2008 01:42 PM

Independent Street : Is Gen Y Too Soft to Be Entrepreneurs?

im getting really irritated by people calling out our generation and saying all sorts of negative things.

**rogercbryan** · 12-12-2008 02:11 PM

They do that about all generations... you have to remember that these articles are written about the 80% of people... if you work hard... educate your self.. and take some risks then you'll be in the 20%... don't sweat the ignorant

**byzantium** · 12-12-2008 05:56 PM

In today's (Friday 12/12) Wall Street Journal there's an article about 7 year old kids selling their old stuff to raise money to buy new stuff. One girl is selling a bunch of doll accessories so she can buy a new doll. Another, slightly older girl sold an old ipod and Game Boy to buy herself a new ipod (blue). A boy sold a bunch of toys from a line called "Diego" (not sure what this is, I don't have kids) to buy a variety of stuff. One boy was asking $200 for a "big" (didn't say how big) box of Power Rangers figures. Mom talked him down to $45. He's already rejected $25. I think the entrepreneurial spirit is just fine, despite efforts by baby boomers to turn kids into Young Communist Pioneers. And then the boomers have the nerve to call youth lazy! THEY are the lazy ones! Hey grandpa, you might forget about Social Security and try WORKING for the first time in your life at something other than pushing paper!

**SophieM** · 12-13-2008 06:51 AM

At least we didn't wreck the planet...

You know, the previous generation always get at the new ones, when they aren't that good themselves. There are many entrepreneuers in my generation (Y), just look at this forum!

**minnesotacold** · 12-14-2008 02:55 AM

I am 31 years old (Generation X) and my fiance's son is a typical Generation Y. Please do not take this the wrong way but I have hard times understanding these young kids these days. When I was 18, I moved out of my house, worked 2 jobs and with a lot of hard work, I was able to buy a car and finally graduated from college. Now at 31, I am finally thinking about starting a business. Although I understand that not all people are alike, my stepson is just a typical American teenager. It appears to me that most kids in this age group (18-23) are very shallow and materialistic, they have absolutely no idea what life is about, and tend to spend their money on a lot of stupid things. It seems like a lot of them still live with their parents and totally lack that :drive: to work hard and succeed. They are like media zombies, it does not matter how stupid a tv show is, they are totally ready to absorb it like sponges.I also notice a total lack of consideration and respect for others, it seems like these kids think that the world revolves around them and they are like little "superstars", extremely selfish and oblivious to the real world. It is almost like they have a sense of entitlement where they think they deserve things without having to work hard for them(I DONT GET IT!). I also notice that a lot of these young people have very screwed up moral values, like lying and cheating is almost no big deal, there is a total lack of character and principals. Sorry to sound like an old man but I have the hardest time understanding the mentality of the young people these days( and I am not even that old!!!)

**mike810** · 12-14-2008 03:08 AM

That article is true I am afraid to say. Most of Gen-Y fit those characteristics, but the ones that don't are exceptionally talented. I think for the most part, it's kind of like, either you have it or you don't for our generation.

**Mega B** · 12-14-2008 03:14 AM

I come under the generation X banner i will get my pipe and slippers out then

**pboychuk** · 12-14-2008 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by minnesotacold

I am 31 years old (Generation X) and my fiance's son is a typical Generation Y. Please do not take this the wrong way but I have hard times understanding these young kids these days. When I was 18, I moved out of my house, worked 2 jobs and with a lot of hard work, I was able to buy a car and finally graduated from college. Now at 31, I am finally thinking about starting a business. Although I understand that not all people are alike, my stepson is just a typical American teenager. It appears to me that most kids in this age group (18-23) are very shallow and materialistic, they have absolutely no idea what life is about, and tend to spend their money on a lot of stupid things. It seems like a lot of them still live with their parents and totally lack that :drive: to work hard and succeed. They are like media zombies, it does not matter how stupid a tv show is, they are totally ready to absorb it like sponges.I also notice a total lack of consideration and respect for others, it seems like these kids think that the world revolves around them and they are like little "superstars", extremely selfish and oblivious to the real world. It is almost like they have a sense of entitlement where they think they deserve things without having to work hard for them(I DONT GET IT!). I also notice that a lot of these young people have very screwed up moral values, like lying and cheating is almost no big deal, there is a total lack of character and principals. Sorry to sound like an old man but I have the hardest time understanding the mentality of the young people these days( and I am not even that old!!!)

I am 21, and its kinda funny, I feel like I have the Gen-Y bug you talk of, but im still trying to be successful, I probably spend half of my day being completely useless, however I still make a decent living, go to college and pay most of my bills myself, but I feel if I actually worked more I could easily make more money and be successful quicker than I am now, I just cant seem to stop playing that computer game or put the remote down, its a stupid addiction.

**hugh009** · 12-14-2008 10:03 AM

There is NO generation that is too soft for entrepreneuring spirit including mine - the BabyBoomers!

Ignore the mudrackers and get on with your project!

Hugh

**chrispalko** · 12-14-2008 12:34 PM

Become the exception and let articles like this refer to the others. People can make a generalization of a group as a whole, but that same generalization cannot refer to every individual.