The Age Of Entitlement

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This article seems to touch on several recent threads here at SP ('It's okay to beat your kids,' 'London Riots,' even a MUG topic), so I figured I'd post it independantly rather than append it to one of those.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...rampant-but-can-be-corrected-experts-say.html

It's very long, so rather than try to summarize it all I'll leave it to you to read it and comment if you want, but do note that this is not really about entitlements in the form of social programs et al; moreso the concept of entitlement at the individual level.

I suppose discussion could go in any of several directions (relationships, child-rearing, professional life, etc.), so feel free.

One parallell I found interesting was the commentary on the supposed disdain for work among those with these entitlement 'issues' ... which made me think of the so called London rioting 'chavs.'

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Sorry for the bad form of replying to my own post here, but I just saw this:

Adult children’s ‘bad mothering’ lawsuit dismissed

Too good to pass up.

 

An article well worth forwarding.

 

I've taught a lot of rotten, spoiled, snotty kids with a sense of entitlement. But not all are like that.

 

Good topic Gaear!

My wife's best friend is a perfect example of entitlement. She is a spoiled, silver-spoon brat. She can be cool when hanging out, but only if you are doing what she wants. She doesn't work, her rich Dad gives her lavish gifts and her mom always tells her what her current problems are, they aren't her doing. Which is insanely enabling. We were jsut on vacation with her an her husband. The husband, the money provide of hte family, does everything he can to stop this behavior and battles with her parents because of it. It will probably cause them to divorce. I am quite certain she will choose her parents over her loving husband in order to continue her easy lifestyle of doing nothing but what she wants. Which can involve drinking, even when watching their 3 year old. I am amazed that my wife is even friends with her as they are complete opposites.

 

Did the husband not see all that before they married, or was he just blinded by 'love?'

 

He probably naively thought that she would grow out of it. More the fool he.

 

The article seems to lean on a few experts whining about "entitlement," particulary in Utah. I would like to have seen a little more work by academics from outside the Utah echo chamber. It's just my opinion but I don't think entitlement has that much to do with the larger issue. It's only one piece of a larger problem. But "entitlement" is a great buzzword for those who hold a particular point of view.

 

Enlighten us as to the larger issue or problem, SVP.

 

The "Utah echo chamber"? What is that?

 

I will when I have time again. Nathan has kept me so busy and the girls are back in school. I'm trying to get help with Nathan's special needs but the insurance company is being a complete ass. I have to wait till December before one of its "in-network experts" has an opening to evaluate Nathan, [I need the resources for special, in home, professional care] even though the State of Texas will do a complete evaluation October 3rd. Figures. In the meantime, I'm much too busy to write a really detailed, lengthy post. I'm almost frantic, since school started, tryng to keep up with everything, especially in the evenings. You guys won't see much of me.

Don't spend a lot of time on it.

 

I still doubt this is any sort of new phenomenon. There have always been some spoilt kids and some hard working kids and some neglected kids. How is this news?

 

I hear what you are saying, Harbs, but I believe that there has been a real breakdown of common courtesy in Western society, and that respect for authority and consideration for the feelings if others, not to mention thought for group welfare, has all declined significantly among a greater percentage of the society. I'll try to elaborate on that more when I can post via a real keyboard.

 

If that's what you want then fine. I really had no idea what you meant.

But Harbs when WE were the spoilt kids it was different. Our rudeness was because our parents and their generation were clueless.

 

I think he knew, he is a pretty intelligent guy. I also think he could help guide her away a bit from it, as he makes enough money himself as an int'l pilot. But who knows?

 

He is basically dismissing the material coming from Utah by insinuating they are a bunch of clueless tools who are too stupid to listen to differing opinions. That's usually what "echo chamber" comments mean.

In all fairness, some Utah folks are a little insular. But not that bad.

 

When academics tend to bunch togther in a particualr area, they tend to echo each others ideas. Example: Chicago school of economics.

See, LKD? It's not anything like you were trying to describe. Sometimes I worry about you.

 

It's commentary.

 

Yeah. Pretty much every generation except ours has no idea.