Spring Break
Care for self rules iGeneration
David Breland
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Opinion
David Breland is the entertainment editor at The Reflector. He can be contacted at life@reflector.msstate.edu.
The iGeneration, those of us born between 1981 and 1999, is now officially the most narcissistic generation. Dan Zak, a staff writer for The Washington Post, tells in his article this past Sunday that narcissism and entitlement have been steadily on the rise since 1979, according to a study published this year in the Journal of Personality.
I think Zak is right, we are a bunch of self-absorbed brats. Just look at what we watch on TV: "The Hills," "Laguna Beach" and the other lineup of B.S. reality shows on the air. What do these shows promote? Lavish lifestyles, erroneous entitlement and an "everyone else should be here for my needs" outlook on life are all pandered to us as the new American dream. This wonderful outlook has kids wanting everything and never giving up anything, much less one ounce of comfort.
Don't believe this is true? Zak points to a crowded airport as a prime example of our ever-growing inner brat. Crowds of people with their own agenda on a tight schedule brings out the best in all of us. We scream at customer representatives, shove, cut in line and all other nastiness because our little schedules get messed up.
"You have people screaming at customer representatives at airports because it's snowing out - as if people are entitled to have a sunny day," said professor W. Keith Campbell, a specialist in the study of narcissism at the University of Georgia. "That's where it gets out of hand, with entitlement, the issue is ... there are certain times when we're entitled and other times we're not. The problem is when we have that meter wrong."
Another prime example for our wonderful behavior is restaurants. You don't have to be a professor of narcissism to be able to catch people showing their ass at an eatery. I have seen people be downright cruel to poor servers who are trying their best. God forbid in a crowded restaurant that we have to wait for our food a little longer. Clearly, it's the restaurant's fault and not us for perhaps pre-planning to maybe beat the lunchtime rush or just deal with the fact it's busy in restaurants at certain times.
The iGeneration, those of us born between 1981 and 1999, is now officially the most narcissistic generation. Dan Zak, a staff writer for The Washington Post, tells in his article this past Sunday that narcissism and entitlement have been steadily on the rise since 1979, according to a study published this year in the Journal of Personality.
I think Zak is right, we are a bunch of self-absorbed brats. Just look at what we watch on TV: "The Hills," "Laguna Beach" and the other lineup of B.S. reality shows on the air. What do these shows promote? Lavish lifestyles, erroneous entitlement and an "everyone else should be here for my needs" outlook on life are all pandered to us as the new American dream. This wonderful outlook has kids wanting everything and never giving up anything, much less one ounce of comfort.
Don't believe this is true? Zak points to a crowded airport as a prime example of our ever-growing inner brat. Crowds of people with their own agenda on a tight schedule brings out the best in all of us. We scream at customer representatives, shove, cut in line and all other nastiness because our little schedules get messed up.
"You have people screaming at customer representatives at airports because it's snowing out - as if people are entitled to have a sunny day," said professor W. Keith Campbell, a specialist in the study of narcissism at the University of Georgia. "That's where it gets out of hand, with entitlement, the issue is ... there are certain times when we're entitled and other times we're not. The problem is when we have that meter wrong."
Another prime example for our wonderful behavior is restaurants. You don't have to be a professor of narcissism to be able to catch people showing their ass at an eatery. I have seen people be downright cruel to poor servers who are trying their best. God forbid in a crowded restaurant that we have to wait for our food a little longer. Clearly, it's the restaurant's fault and not us for perhaps pre-planning to maybe beat the lunchtime rush or just deal with the fact it's busy in restaurants at certain times.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Blake Watson
Blake
posted 3/04/08 @ 11:41 AM CST
Thanks, David... you hit the nail on the head.
Willy
posted 3/05/08 @ 10:26 AM CST
The truth is a beautiful thing.
elise
posted 3/06/08 @ 11:13 AM CST
Much of what is being said is so true however I do believe there is a sense in the country among us that we can serve. In the presidential campaigns we have a candidate that really speaks to us but it is interesting that Senator Obama talks directly to our egos - Yes we can! A perfect mantra for the self serving as if we will actually step away from our ipods, TVs and laptops and actually do something. (Continued…)
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