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Topic: the generation gap struggle
crimsonphoenix Joined Wed 09/19/07 Posts: 276	Fri 09/18/09 05:48 PM
i have seen( and been involved) in many debates, and struggles between the young and old. i think both have their strengths and weaknesses. when do you think the transition between youth and age happens in the mind and beliefs of a person? what do you think is usually the cause for this event? what are some of the distinguishing attributes of youth and age? what sets them apart and makes them similar?

heavenlyboy34 Joined Fri 07/04/08 Posts: 17348	Fri 09/18/09 06:08 PM
The biggest things are 1) paying one's own bills 2) having kids 3) getting/keeping a job. That's just from my experience.

crimsonphoenix Joined Wed 09/19/07 Posts: 276	Fri 09/18/09 10:36 PM
thank you HB. anyone else.

artman48 Joined Sun 07/12/09 Posts: 933	Fri 09/18/09 10:41 PM
My old man never said he loved me once---until I made it back from vietnam---he cried as well. Don't think there is that much diff. and don't think i answered your question. Life went back to normal after that. Until he died!!

Ladylid2012 Joined Sun 07/05/09 Posts: 42269	Fri 09/18/09 11:06 PM
I don't experience a generation gap in my life...all my friends are younger than me, I have a great relationship with my sons. If anything old people get stuffy, stuck in their ways, maybe that's why I have no friends my age..we can learn from the youth as much as they can learn from us..

SkyHook5652 Joined Sat 08/23/08 Posts: 4063	Fri 09/18/09 11:19 PM
i have seen( and been involved) in many debates, and struggles between the young and old. i think both have their strengths and weaknesses. when do you think the transition between youth and age happens in the mind and beliefs of a person? what do you think is usually the cause for this event? what are some of the distinguishing attributes of youth and age? what sets them apart and makes them similar? Personally, I see it as just a difference in experience. An older person usually has had more varied experiences than a younger person, and thus the two would naturally reach different conclusions about what is important. In general I would say that more experience is an indication of a broader viewpoint, and because of that, older people usually have broader viewpoints than younger people. I think heavenlyboy34 came up with some very practical “milestones” that could be used to mark “the transition between youth and age”. But of course, the entire concept of a “generation gap” is a gross generalization. So any attempt to define it, or its causes, would necessarily also have to be fairly general.

Jeanniebean Joined Wed 01/30/08 Posts: 40028	Sat 09/19/09 07:12 AM
I think the debates are basically a power struggle between old ideas and new ideas. In the case of parents and their children, the children are struggling for independence. With that comes being responsible. Some young folks have no clue what that entails. They just want to bust out of their prison and be free as an adult and be respected as an adult. Older and wiser people sometimes see younger people as "clueless" or "foolish." Younger people see older people as cynical or negative. Older people want stability, security, relaxation, hobbies, etc. Younger people want adventure, fun, fame, fortune, excitement, romance, etc.

pkd1220 Joined Thu 05/24/07 Posts: 8318	Sat 09/19/09 07:33 AM
Jeanniebean- I want all the characteristics you listed for a young person, although I am well past that stage. I have met many young people who are aware of what they want from life at an early age. I guess I can't say that I knew what I wanted to study or who I wanted to be at 18. I think a persons upbringing, circumstances and life experience help determine how responsible they are. Some grow up early-having no choice. I know people in their 60's and 70's who are still irresponsible. Those that deal with life altering events grow up faster than those that are still under the wings of their parents. I know several men that choose to still live at home with their mother in their forties. They have the coping skills of a teenager because they always have their parents to fall back on and take care of them. When young people are responsible for their well being, food and a place to live with no help from others, they view themselves as grown up and behave accordingly.

Jess642 Joined Sat 03/31/07 Posts: 22732	Sat 09/19/09 03:58 PM
when do you think the transition between youth and age happens in the mind and beliefs of a person? When they allow them to become so. what do you think is usually the cause for this event? Some idiot telling them to 'grow up' what are some of the distinguishing attributes of youth and age? Youth.....they are living in the moment...completely. 'Aged'....living in the past and the future simulataneously. what sets them apart and makes them similar? Joyful optimistic oblivion for the youth....angst ridden pessimism in the 'aged'. They both have the capacity for change.

Jeanniebean Joined Wed 01/30/08 Posts: 40028	Sat 09/19/09 08:46 PM Edited by Jeanniebean on Sat 09/19/09 08:47 PM
when do you think the transition between youth and age happens in the mind and beliefs of a person? When they finally appreciate their mother, and when they take responsibility for their own life and stop blaming someone else. Some people never grow up.. and reach this point. what do you think is usually the cause for this event? Some idiot telling them to 'grow up' Some people need to 'grow up.' what are some of the distinguishing attributes of youth and age? Youth.....they are living in the moment...completely. 'Aged'....living in the past and the future simulataneously. what sets them apart and makes them similar? Joyful optimistic oblivion for the youth....angst ridden pessimism in the 'aged'. They both have the capacity for change. To 'grow up' is to learn the pitfalls of life and become some what wise and responsible. In doing so one does not have to loose their positive attitude and become pessimistic about life. Not to 'grow up' will make you a prisoner and land you into the care of others who will have to take care of you. There is nothing wrong with being a grown up, if you are grown up. Who would trade what they have learned for their youth if they had to once again be clueless to the world?

crimsonphoenix Joined Wed 09/19/07 Posts: 276	Mon 09/21/09 12:14 AM
thank you JB. thank you jess. i agree. thank you pkd i agree some people have harder times and have to "grow up" faster than others. thank you skyhook. thank you ladylid. i wish there were a lot more people like you. thank you artman i appreciate your candor. i can barely fathom how difficult it must have been to be in the Vietnam war and lose your father afterward.

earthytaurus76 Joined Wed 04/08/09 Posts: 6603	Mon 09/21/09 12:38 AM Edited by earthytaurus76 on Mon 09/21/09 12:42 AM
Maturity, and experience. The two imo SHOULD be set apart, otherwise, wed all be embracing more for ourselves ideas that complicated ourselves in youth, or at a younger age. Yes, we should not forget where we have been, but it doesnt mean we should live as if weve known, and learned nothing. I think its important to keep up with whats going on with all, and stay informed. In my case, I have a child who is learning, and I must stay tuned, so I can relate, and understand to help him along. Maturity and experience are factors in growth, and also if we dont grow from our experiences, our chances for survival are very low. Without the maturity, and experience of our own elders, we wouldnt survive. Disrespect between the two creates distance, and issues.

wux Joined Wed 07/29/09 Posts: 7426	Mon 09/21/09 08:42 PM Edited by wux on Mon 09/21/09 08:44 PM
i have seen( and been involved) in many debates, and struggles between the young and old. i think both have their strengths and weaknesses. when do you think the transition between youth and age happens in the mind and beliefs of a person? At five-thirty-five p.m. on Wednesday evening. --------- what do you think is usually the cause for this event? Having run out of beer and not being able to run out for beer. --------- what are some of the distinguishing attributes of youth and age? Youth: Juicy, wondering how things work, wanting to know more but not what they teach in school. --- Aged: Sinewey, given up on learning how things work, watching tv and finding enjoyment in opera. ----------- what sets them apart and makes them similar? Sets them apart: Going to bed early when it's still light outside and the young don't want to, and the aged wants to but can't. Similar: Both craving for favours of the opposite sex, but one gets it maybe, the other one has an increasingly diminishing chance of unlikely growth of popular acceptance. Or similar words to the same or reasonably facsimilous effect.