Memoirs of an Amnesiac

I did this when I was a bit younger. I even argued a lot with my grandfather about it. I can't believe I would come to do this myself when I reach this age. This realization came in just days ago while I was settling a trouble one of my students did.

It used to be that my grandfather would argue with me how different the children in our generation and in theirs were. "In our generation, children would never do this".... is often the opening lines of what seemed to be a call center spiel of my grandfather. In retrospect, I recalled how I often scowl at his seemingly lack of understanding and would quip, "Lolo, times have changed. This is the twentieth century and before you never had computers." Like a well-meaning line, I recite this to him every time. This happened whenever lolo is beset with his Alzheimer's. I could never believe I would come to this realization now, like it is something sitting patiently, waiting for me to discover it.

Times have really changed and so have young people. For instance, in this forum alone, I have come to meet people who are very much open about what they feel to the public. They make their lives an open book. They are an obvious epitome of young people wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Whatever they have in mind, they reveal it, including things that should not have been revealed. Take for example, those that concern the heart. We were very much adamant about expressing our emotions before. We were very scared about what our peers would think about us. There was always this pride. Now, with the presence of Twitter, Facebook, Friendster, and some other social networking sites, expressing oneself has become an "in-thing." It has its repercussions. By being open about what they feel, they have become vulnerable to the public's criticism. This they take with a grain of salt.

Second, despite the advancements in technology, where communication and connecting has been equalled to just a click away of a mouse, young people have become so much more of a social recluse. They'd prefer to be just at home. How ironic it is that when you look at their friends' list, you would see about a thousand friends and yet, you would doubt how many of them, he/she has really been close with.

Third, they have lost sense of what is right and wrong. It is a twisted generation. What used to be right is now wrong. What used to be wrong is now right. For example, it is beyond our prides to really have someone give us a Dutch treat. Now, with these young kids, if you won't treat them, they'll resent you for it. Another, if you haven't had ***, we'll you're not in. You have got to have the latest gadgets, as if it'll be your last day on earth if you won't. DSLRs, Ipods, Ipads, to what have you gadgets that just leaves the snatchers and pickpockets craving for more. Before, we have to be home not later than ten, now...it is the time that they leave home. They have got to dine in this restaurant and that or else, they're an odd one.

Fourth, they have no respect for authority anymore. They have lost their conscience. It has become normal to express themselves. They could cross the line from being tactless just so they could EXPRESS. And they don't care who gets hurt. If you do, get hurt, it's your fault.

They're a generation of happy-go-lucky lot. Never caring for what happens in the future. They have no foresight. If they ever have jobs, they spend their salaries on too much booze and night outs. They drift from one job to the other. They lost the dignity that comes with staying in a job and growing there. They have lost the appreciation and humility that comes with having a job and actually learning the ropes. They rely so much on what they have now, never minding whether, they'll be able to sustain it in the future.

Such were these young people. The generation Y. And they are a sad plight.