What is everyone's thoughts on 'children being children'? Todays children are exposed to a lot more than we were (ironic since most of us are just barely adults hah). Be it sex ed, violence, drugs etc. Is it better that they know these things and are educated in it, or should the age old saying "ignorance is bliss" take priority?

Would you say the information to the youth of our children is a boon or a curse?

Do you use a computer from the 90s and wear a burlap sack as a shirt? Do you have any piece of new technology (i.e. iphone, kindle)that you don't reallyneed? Media and other people tries to get us to buy things and want to buy things to partake in collective effervescence; after all, few people want to be an "alternative" person. We're taught that we should travel and buy newer computers and bigger homes, when we really don't need it. We can do just find in a small apartment with functioning computers.


You're right, I made a mistake by saying majority. About 1/3 of Canadians don't have savings, which is still a huge percentage. Link here


I'm alluding to "buying that shiny, red bike you've been eyeing in that window". Do you need that new toy? Do you need those pants?

We view university as being necessary, and to an extent, I agree. Post-secondary education is important because it is supposed to give us knowledge to pursue other forms of employment that will give us status and more money. This is because people view formal institutions as teaching properly, when we know that's not true. There are other ways to learn things, and instead universities and colleges are saying we need "this degree" if we want to do this. They take our money and don't always provide the proper service.

University is not as necessary and accessible as we wish it to be. The standards of high school and university have dropped so that everyone can get there and get a better job. But as the quality has dropped, we aren't getting more from it. Not everyone is destined to go to university; though, maybe they can learn a trade of something.

Cars aren't necessary unless you're living in a rural part of the country. What's wrong with taking public transportation? Is it not better for the environment and our banks? It's healthier to take the subway, instead of driving.

Sure, you can save your money to get things that are important (i.e. university, lodgings), but you don't need absolutely everything. There are still ways you can attain your goal and have savings.


Do you need to go to Rome or Paris? Aside for business purposes, we don't need to go elsewhere. It just costs us money and time. Planes help us get from point A to point B faster than walking, but walking is better for our health and the environment. Do you really need to get their quickly? Why is there a time constraint?

And you've hit the nail on the head: we need the phone and computer in today's society. But do you need the newest version of the macbook? What's wrong with other computers that are less expensive? I understand that, now, those tools make it easier to access information and communicate with other people, but we do we need to spend hundreds of dollars when we can save that money and get something that achieves the same goal? It would be a lot kinder to our pocketbooks, wouldn't it? It would mean we'd still have other forms of media and money in the bank. My point is: we spend money on things we don't need!



People think that owning many objects makes us happier, but our happiness is finite. Eventually, we grow bored of this new object, and in order to make ourselves happy again, we choose to buy yet another object. We can buy big homes, but we're still going to wish it were better. Maybe we'll move because we want to live in another location, or a different style house, or one with 3 bathrooms instead of 2. If we keep focusing on materials, we're not going to be really happy. Why not save your money and have an apartment that you can live comfortably in? Do you really need a guest bedroom?



I'm not saying we should hope to suffer like those people did, but as a result of suffering they didn't take what they had for granted and were conscious of what they spent. In this world and economy, nothing is safe. We could easily go through another depression (we're still recovering from a recession). But people who were well off (those who had quite a bit of money) were able to live better lives than those who had little money. What I'm saying is, we can learn from them and be more conscious of what we buy. We don't need a lot of the things we're purchasing, and quite frankly, we'd have a lot more money if we didn't spend it on unnecessary items.

Really? You don't think so? I admit students and people in the workforce living off of minimum wage may have trouble putting money away, but that doesn't mean there is not a point where they won't have some extra money that they can save instead of spend. Do they need to go to a club and get smashed? Is that the only fun thing you can do? Are there not cheaper alternatives to fun? If you don't have money for something, don't do it until you are confident you can afford it. There are so many people who can have $57,000 in the bank, but don't because they spend it on things they don't need! I'm a 2nd-year university, and I work at a hospital. I've got $13,500 in the bank! I'm more fortunate than others, but that's because I work to go to school and have a living, and I still have fun without spending lots of money. Even with bills to pay, you can still put money in the bank. Can you imagine what we'd do if we didn't have pension? How are people in other countries who don't get pension manage to live without working?



They may not have lived a life full of information that new technology brings us, but because of technology they don't have a good standard of living because they're busy spending money on technology that doesn't last long enough. It's true that the good ole' days have been over-glorified, but it's not like it was the worst. They didn't have to worry about looking good to please complete strangers. Many people didn't have the money to do dress well, but did they care? They still managed to live happy lives because they weren't buying into materialism.

You cannot say that technology has made everyone's lives happier. Technology has helped people learn more so that they can help people. There are a lot of benefits to technological advancements, and yet there also seems to be a lot of useless inventions that are just a drain on our pockets and brains.

So you think farmers are making themselves unhappy? They spend more money on technology that is supposed to help them meet a product quota, and then it breaks down or needs something that costs more money. The price of what they work hard for does not return enough money for them to fix or update their systems, and yet every year they're expected to if they want to make a living. I honestly doubt that these farmers are making themselves unhappy, but it's the people selling these machines and governments demanding them to work harder to "benefit" everyone in the country or continent.

Technology has helped us in some aspects, but we're focused more on making money than on living healthily. Why not live off the bare minimum? Money doesn't buy happiness, unless it's allowing people to live a life free from financial burden.

i lol'd

While I agree with everything you're saying here, one thing that people value almost as much as, or possibly even more than, material objects is being able to aspire. Even when your conditions are good, you still aspire to have better. It's human nature. Telling a person that buying that Ferrari isn't going to make him or her any happier is basically like telling a person before bungee jumping that the line is very secure, so there's no reason to be fearful: while both statements are very likely true, it's human nature to want more and human nature to be fearful of heights. A person's rational mind and his or her emotional mind are not always in line.

Kind of a nice idea that doesn't pan out in real life. It'd be nice if I could ignore my subconscious' drive to own a Ferrari, because I know owning one isn't going to make me happier, but I just can't do that. My rational side is at the mercy of my emotional side, and not so much vise versa.

"Those who complain about our generation forget who raised it."


I didn't read any of the posts but would like to share this cool quote.

What's wrong with our generation (Spasificaly the elementry and middle school kids behind us, or me) is that I am not even out of high school and I can cliame the words "Back in my day" becuse...

Little kids didn't dress trashy
Music had a point to it, not just nothingness

and many more reasons, my question is, have the times really changed? Or are we just mature enough to notice it now?

I used to work for a fashion public relations and branding company called "People's Revolution". I asked the CEO why she named her the company that name (I thought maybe she was a communist), since it had nothing to do with the fashion industry, and she said that she happened to believe that the world will only change when we change ourseleves. Stop blaming others for the turnout of our generation and start transforming ourselves.

All very poor, generalised, unfocused and "classic" issues... none of which harbour the true issues.

I love how people think they speak on behalf of their whole generation, when actually they just parrot vague ideas from their own culture.

Generation definition:
the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time.

That means EVERYWHERE, not just middle class westerners... not just uni hopefuls... everyone the world over in our "generation" group. Our biggest failing, is not recognising this fact. People become so egocentric within their own 'world' and culture that they forget they are part of something much larger, it's easily done, I'm as guilty as anyone of this.

Oh and Malibu, that stuff tastes like sh*t.

You like your numbered lists huh.

1. Everyone only cares about drugs, alcohol, getting "jobs" - Yes, everyone. You are totally correct and there is no way anyone could possibly disagree with this all encompassing summary of our generation. I like how you've put the word jobs in such an ironic manner too, like they are such a fantastical idea.
2. We, the young people of this world came up with political correctness did we? And we; the young, rebellious, drug taking, alcohol fueled young people are the victims are we? Didn't think so.
3. Liberalism leads to "taxation, regulation, lack of freedom, and ignorance". I think you should read more.
4. "There's no such thing as human nature. There's human behaviour" - nature vs nurture huh? Why do all babies cry when they experience certain emotions/feelings?
5. I feel nothing but sorry for your lack of ability to comprehend the world around you, attack me all you like... I actually enjoy you trying.
6. Good defence.
7. How very liberal of you.

So please, teach me about my "real world" I'd love to hear about it.