Некоторое время назад прочла интересную (на мой взгляд) статью, которая расматривает интерснейший вопрос. Вопрос нашего поколения. Статью написал человек лично мне знакомый, поэтому я точно знаю что при написании было использовано множество литературы, это так же много часов поиска и личных наблюдений. Автор в будущем обещал перевести на русский язык, ну а пока предлагаю вашему вниманию на английском языке.
Who are you, Generation Y?
Our generation has many names – Generation Y, Millennial, Generation Next, Internet Generation, Generation Waking Up, Generation Google, Einstein Generation, Generation ADHD, Ritalin babies. All those names reflect the world in which we grow up, born between the 80's and the late 90s – the world of the Internet, iPods, UTube, MySpace. We never have trouble multitasking; we can watch television, solve puzzles, listen to music, talk on the phone, and find the information we need on the web at the same time. With all the technology and improvements, what we are lacking is independent thinking. We are accustomed to have our problems solved by others, and we are relying on our best teacher – Hollywood.
Our generation has many names – Generation Y, Millennial, Generation Next, Internet Generation, Generation Waking Up, Generation Google, Einstein Generation, Generation ADHD, Ritalin babies. All those names reflect the world in which we grow up, born between the 80's and the late 90s – the world of the Internet, iPods, UTube, MySpace. We never have trouble multitasking; we can watch television, solve puzzles, listen to music, talk on the phone, and find the information we need on the web at the same time. With all the technology and improvements, what we are lacking is independent thinking. We are accustomed to have our problems solved by others, and we are relying on our best teacher – Hollywood.
The psychology of our generation, like all previous ones, has been formed by the events, leaders, heroes, incidents and trends of its time. The Millennium Generation is the first generation that grew up with the Internet. It is a significant key in shaping us the way we are. Network gave us access to different sources from music recordings to online chat rooms. Also we can create our own places for performances, conferences and forums, debate and expression. Thanks to the World Wide Web we had an opportunity to receive the latest information at the time of global crises, reducing the planet to the size of iPod’s screen.
We love people, we are quite active in our communities, and we frequently involve ourselves in volunteer work. Due to the development of electronic technology, Internet, mobile phones, iPod, we love to talk; social connections are very important to us. But we are missing the personal, deep relationships. We want what shows on TV – a perfect job, marriage, family – but we have a commitment-phobia. Our parents have the highest divorce rate out of any generation. After observing such rifts, we want to get it right. We want to avoid the divorces, scandals and general all around crap.
Through globalization the Gen-Ys in the world are not much different from each other. The world no longer has clear boundaries, all merged into one stream of information. Before, the groups to which you belong were very clearly separated. Now, our best friend, our boss and our parents are all connected in the same social network. So when we update our status on Facebook, we hung out with them all at once.
Our generation Y has access to the most diverse and rich information on any topic. We believe what we hear, but there is a downside in all knowledge. There is no more mystery for us – everything seems predictable. We can foretell what will happen at the end of the movie without seeing the end. We don’t have the ability to focus on something long enough to get a thorough understanding. For example, we get bored or lose focus so easily that we quit reading and skim for what immediately answers our question, right or wrong, leaving no room for nuanced answers. According to Sophia Yan, “In 2004, Pediatricsmagazine published an important study that suggested frequent television watching was likely to produce impulsive and restless behavior.” It’s never enough for us. Patience is not in our vocabulary. We read, we watch television, we surf the internet, but we are not inclined to analyze and re-examine our findings. We focus on the results, but we cannot see the big picture of the future.
Unlike other generations, our generation is optimistic and creative. Our mentality is hardly controlled by any limitations. By looking at the speed of development of modern technology, for us, Gen-Ys, nothing is impossible – if not today, for sure tomorrow. Make our dreams come through and reach our goals are well known to us. There is no long-term commitment, but rather we’re involved with the project to achieve that goal, and don’t find it necessary to stretch it out further. We don’t see the point in staying in a relationship that isn’t mutually beneficial. A prestigious job and a high position are not a dream anymore. We are growing horizontally rather than vertically. Instead of climbing up the vertical ladder, more likely, we’ll try to get a broader experience in several different areas.
We want to get maximum enjoyment out of our life, develop our unique personalities, and try everything. We value our time. Every minute is on the schedule. Asking a specific question, Gen-Y always wants to get a direct answer and doesn’t like to listen to lengthy abstract reasoning. We are a confused generation with a lack of attention. We rush, run, choose, and we try to do everything, but we can’t understand ourselves and set our priorities. And since we don’t know what we want, often don’t do anything.
As a true Gen-Yr you may ask, “Why write a long essay? Who is going to read that? Just give us main points and move on.” If that’s what you want, here are few facts:
· We’re a generation of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
· We’re skeptical of marriage and have a commitment-phobia.
· We’re impulsive, impatient and restless.
· We easily lose attention and focus.
· We’re a confused generation with scattered brain.
· We’re self-centered and self-oriented.
We are hiding behind a façade to cover who we really are. We tell everyone that we’ll be the first, in demand, and multifaceted. We don’t want to listen to previous generations. We don’t want to be their clones. We say that we don’t need interpreters and mediators, borders and fences. Our house is the whole world. We’re not afraid to be successful, not ashamed of our achievements and embarrassed of our mistakes. We say, “Those who don’t make mistakes don’t make anything,” but we forget that “a fool learns from his mistakes and wise man learns form other’s mistakes.”
Does it all sounds like a little kid trying to prove himself? Wants to show to the whole world that he worth of something? Or like a teenager wanting and not receiving enough attention from adults? Of course teenagers are “cool”, nothing seems to bother them. They are wearing a prefect mask of indifference, apathy and lack of interest. Unless you dig deep in their soul you wouldn’t find how much they want opposite of what they show. Today, peer group pressure is a major problem for us, caused by influences imposed by others and our wanting to fit into certain groups. Although we say there are no more boundaries, we’re special and unique as individuals, but we tend to look up to the Hollywood – its standards of success, beauty, happiness – and we try to imitate that.
Who are we as a generation? Is it true what the world says about us? Are we really that smart, knowledgeable and experienced in life that we don’t want to take advice from previous generations? What about history that tends to repeat itself? Are we ready to take the world in our hands and make the right choices? Can we look into the future and change anything? Or it’s all true what they say – we only focus for nanoseconds? We’re still young in our early thirties, twenties, and teens. It’s not like we’re trying to teach new tricks to the old dog. Of course, time will put everything in its places. The main thing is that we won’t regret lost time and opportunities that we can’t return.
0 comments:
Post a Comment