Generation Q

piercehawkeye45 · 10-10-2007, 11:30 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/op...ml?ref=opinion

Quote:

The Iraq war may be a mess, but I noticed at Auburn and Old Miss more than a few young men and women proudly wearing their R.O.T.C. uniforms. Many of those not going abroad have channeled their national service impulses into increasingly popular programs at home like “Teach for America,” which has become to this generation what the Peace Corps was to mine.

It’s for all these reasons that I’ve been calling them “Generation Q” — the Quiet Americans, in the best sense of that term, quietly pursuing their idealism, at home and abroad.

But Generation Q may be too quiet, too online, for its own good, and for the country’s own good. When I think of the huge budget deficit, Social Security deficit and ecological deficit that our generation is leaving this generation, if they are not spitting mad, well, then they’re just not paying attention. And we’ll just keep piling it on them.

Any thoughts?

I am surprised by the fact that he says we are the volunteering and whatnot in record numbers, all I have usually seen is apathy among my peers since politics rarely gets brought up in conversations. Besides that I agree with a lot of this, it seems like people on my campus are either apathetic or cynical about most protests (I fall under this category) or too idealistic to be anywhere close to reality and very few are in the middle. This combination has a result of people protesting issues they can not change (Iraq) or not protesting at all, very sad and scary.

Urbane Guerrilla · 10-10-2007, 11:49 PM

Other commentators have remarked that the rising generation less resembles their boomer parents in behavior and ideas/ideals than it does their grandparents. At the least, this suggests a swing of the social pendulum.

Politics is not a widespread hobby among the early twentysomething. Most people don't start taking much time over politics until lateish in their thirties, I think.

Aliantha · 10-11-2007, 01:18 AM

pierce...it could be the people you hang with. You'd be surprised how revolutionary some youth of today are.

piercehawkeye45 · 10-11-2007, 09:14 AM

That could be it too. Some students actually went on a hunger strike to support our workers during the worker's strike, but that was only a few people. My friends right now actually have a some strong opinions on some issues, but they are like me and not as vocal for similar reasons. Almost everyone else I've met are apathetic or the same as me but we just haven't talked politics.

That, or maybe youth revolutionaries just don't like the cold. Protesting in -30 degree (F) weather really does suck...

queequeger · 10-11-2007, 10:41 AM

Now if only we could get them to vote, they might make a cultural revolution successful...

Sundae · 10-11-2007, 02:51 PM

Politics were unavoidable when I was growing up (80s)
"Alternative comedy" had hit tv from the comedy clubs and we felt it was "our" sense of humour.

Top 40 songs were also political, and you could easily find a band that mirrored your political mindset. When we were 15-17 we honestly couldn't wait to grow up, get the vote, join Blood Donors, go to Uni, protest and save the world.

All my friends belonged to at least one pressure group, whether it was Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth or Compassion in World Farming. I don't belong to any of them now, and I bet none of that group of friends does either - or at least not the same ones.

Perhaps we just got distracted when we discovered drugs...

DanaC · 10-11-2007, 06:13 PM

....drugs can be quite distracting

ZenGum · 10-12-2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

....drugs can be quite distracting

Soma, anyone?

queequeger · 10-12-2007, 03:26 PM

There is just as much music/hullabaloo now amongst pop culture that deals with the political field, as well as plenty of people who join activist groups at a young age... but I refer back to my last statement.

You wouldn't need so many lobbyist groups out there if our lawmakers were actually worried about getting voted out of office rather than appeasing a lobby. Ask any pollster in the country: 18-25 year olds all TALK about voting and making big ol' changes, but they dont friggin vote. Not only do the youngest generations vote the least, almost every successive group of 'youngest' votes less than the LAST.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-12-2007, 07:29 PM

Don't confuse revolutionary with revolting.

TheMercenary · 10-12-2007, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queequeger

There is just as much music/hullabaloo now amongst pop culture that deals with the political field, as well as plenty of people who join activist groups at a young age... but I refer back to my last statement.

You wouldn't need so many lobbyist groups out there if our lawmakers were actually worried about getting voted out of office rather than appeasing a lobby. Ask any pollster in the country: 18-25 year olds all TALK about voting and making big ol' changes, but they dont friggin vote. Not only do the youngest generations vote the least, almost every successive group of 'youngest' votes less than the LAST.

Good points, and hence most young people and their ability to make a difference is completely marginalized. Most don't understand the issues.

Aliantha · 10-12-2007, 07:34 PM

Maybe they should raise the voting age then.

TheMercenary · 10-12-2007, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Maybe they should raise the voting age then.

I don't know. I have a hard time with letting people vote at 18, letting them go and die in some far off land, but not letting them have a beer. Maybe they should just get involved and vote.

Aliantha · 10-12-2007, 07:48 PM

Well, it's different over here. I think young people are much more involved in the political process. As soon as you turn 18 and register to vote, you then have to vote. I know you lot think people should have the choice of whether to vote or not, but I honestly think that's what is contributing to the apathy of your youth.

They don't have to, so they don't care. If they were obligated to make a choice, then maybe they'd put more thought into it.

TheMercenary · 10-12-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Well, it's different over here. I think young people are much more involved in the political process. As soon as you turn 18 and register to vote, you then have to vote. I know you lot think people should have the choice of whether to vote or not, but I honestly think that's what is contributing to the apathy of your youth.

They don't have to, so they don't care. If they were obligated to make a choice, then maybe they'd put more thought into it.

I would agree with that, but hell, we can barely get them to do their homework so they can graduate highschool and go on to college.

10-10-2007, 11:49 PM	#2
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Other commentators have remarked that the rising generation less resembles their boomer parents in behavior and ideas/ideals than it does their grandparents. At the least, this suggests a swing of the social pendulum. Politics is not a widespread hobby among the early twentysomething. Most people don't start taking much time over politics until lateish in their thirties, I think. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

10-11-2007, 01:18 AM	#3
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	pierce...it could be the people you hang with. You'd be surprised how revolutionary some youth of today are. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-11-2007, 10:41 AM	#5
queequeger Hypercharismatic Telepathical Knight Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The armpit of the Universe... Augusta, GA Posts: 365	Now if only we could get them to vote, they might make a cultural revolution successful... __________________ Hoocha, hoocha, hoocha... lobster.

10-11-2007, 02:51 PM	#6
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Politics were unavoidable when I was growing up (80s) "Alternative comedy" had hit tv from the comedy clubs and we felt it was "our" sense of humour. Top 40 songs were also political, and you could easily find a band that mirrored your political mindset. When we were 15-17 we honestly couldn't wait to grow up, get the vote, join Blood Donors, go to Uni, protest and save the world. All my friends belonged to at least one pressure group, whether it was Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth or Compassion in World Farming. I don't belong to any of them now, and I bet none of that group of friends does either - or at least not the same ones. Perhaps we just got distracted when we discovered drugs... __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-12-2007, 03:26 PM	#9
queequeger Hypercharismatic Telepathical Knight Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The armpit of the Universe... Augusta, GA Posts: 365	There is just as much music/hullabaloo now amongst pop culture that deals with the political field, as well as plenty of people who join activist groups at a young age... but I refer back to my last statement. You wouldn't need so many lobbyist groups out there if our lawmakers were actually worried about getting voted out of office rather than appeasing a lobby. Ask any pollster in the country: 18-25 year olds all TALK about voting and making big ol' changes, but they dont friggin vote. Not only do the youngest generations vote the least, almost every successive group of 'youngest' votes less than the LAST. __________________ Hoocha, hoocha, hoocha... lobster.

10-11-2007, 09:14 AM	#4
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	That could be it too. Some students actually went on a hunger strike to support our workers during the worker's strike, but that was only a few people. My friends right now actually have a some strong opinions on some issues, but they are like me and not as vocal for similar reasons. Almost everyone else I've met are apathetic or the same as me but we just haven't talked politics. That, or maybe youth revolutionaries just don't like the cold. Protesting in -30 degree (F) weather really does suck...

10-11-2007, 06:13 PM	#7
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	....drugs can be quite distracting

10-12-2007, 07:29 PM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Don't confuse revolutionary with revolting.

10-12-2007, 07:34 PM	#12
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Maybe they should raise the voting age then. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-12-2007, 07:48 PM	#14
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Well, it's different over here. I think young people are much more involved in the political process. As soon as you turn 18 and register to vote, you then have to vote. I know you lot think people should have the choice of whether to vote or not, but I honestly think that's what is contributing to the apathy of your youth. They don't have to, so they don't care. If they were obligated to make a choice, then maybe they'd put more thought into it. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

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