[bestwriter]

I am a senior citizen. My experience with youngsters of today, be it family, friends'' circle and even online prompted me to compose this poem

THE YOUNG OF TODAY

I see them rushing everywhere,
For those around, they don’t care
Going past with a ‘Hi’ and ‘Bye’
‘Have no time’ they say with a sigh!

They run to catch a bus or a train
In the slush and dirt of the pouring rain
Their job’s at stake they seem to say
This is their life from day to day.

With one hand glued to their cellphone
They wait for the sound of the musical tone
Chatting away, not a moment to spare,
Looking neither here nor there.

Their thoughts are scattered everywhere
The kids at school, with none to care
What about food their thoughts go there
The cleaning routine there’s none to share

Throwing their hands at times in despair
Our life they say is beyond repair
The choices are several where could they go
They have to rush they can’t go slow.

Yet they have a smile on their lips
They go about, swinging their hips
Their popular slogan, ‘leave us alone’
‘It‘s our business you mind you own’

Do you agree?

[eldavis]

The younger generation we have today is just something else. They do not want to bring themselves down to learn from others.

[ptrikha21]

Wonderfully penned. I am of a generation that can be termed as a link between the 60 to 70 year old folks and the youngsters.
The lack of time, need to feel "approved" by peers, Social and Other Media's pressures to become "Great" or "achievers" weighs a lot of them.

Still, there are some who stand by what they want and carve their niche among the crowd.

Majority however are stressed.
Many do not respect elders but for most of them it is not intentional but something that comes out as a result of trying to do a lot almost every time.
Now, I am no expert but somehow I feel that they seem to be weighed down by a lot of things.
Yet they perceive their parents or grand parents as not so smart or even foolish.
So they often do not listen to them.

It is a complex situation and there is no single point of view....

[cmoneyspinner]

You're quite the poet!

Don't kids in every generation say “Leave us alone!”?

[peachpurple]

Yes i agree. Though i am in my 50s, i work with them. Already used to their lifestyle that i had adapted

[Jem Smith]

"The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise." - Plato

Old people have been saying this kind of thing about the younger generations for all thousands of years. Kinda suggests that maybe it's not something wrong with this specific generation and more just that people get cranky as they get old.

[bestwriter]

The younger generation we have today is just something else. They do not want to bring themselves down to learn from others.

What they pick from the Internet is Gospel to them.

--- 06 Jan 2025, 15:20 ---

It is a complex situation and there is no single point of view....

They make time to interact with their own age group but if there is an event they will invite others as they need people to attend that event There is no one on one interaction.

--- 06 Jan 2025, 15:22 ---

You're quite the poet!

Don't kids in every generation say “Leave us alone!”?

Looking at my own life I always made time for elders and now looking at what is dished out to me there is a huge difference.

--- 06 Jan 2025, 15:25 ---

"The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise." - Plato

Old people have been saying this kind of thing about the younger generations for all thousands of years. Kinda suggests that maybe it's not something wrong with this specific generation and more just that people get cranky as they get old.

I do not have to go far Pluto may say anything but there is indeed a huge difference between my attitude when I was young towards the elderly and how the present generation treats them.

[ragdollie]

Times have changed significantly over the past few decades. I think it'd be strange if young people who were raised amongst it acted the same way kids in past eras acted. Young people in the future will act differently too, I'll probably find them strange and confusing as an old woman then. You also can't generalize an entire generation of people based on the actions of some. It doesn't really work that way.

[bestwriter]

You also can't generalize an entire generation of people based on the actions of some. It doesn't really work that way.

Indeed there are exceptions to every rule. My conclusion is not just based on my own experience but what is seen generaly around here.

What is your experience. Do you have youngsters around you that go all out to care for seniors around them Do they keep in touch with them on a regular basis. Do they visit them, do they eat the dining table for example with their parent.............the list is endles.





ragdollie
 
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[cmoneyspinner]

Looking at my own life I always made time for elders and now looking at what is dished out to me there is a huge difference.

Yeah. I get it. When I was growing up disrespecting your elders was UNACCEPTABLE.

[Streamguy69]

I know what your saying and I agree. I also have a phone that is my lifeline and I am always on my phone texting someone or doing some kind of business. The only time I am not on my phone is when I am at work for 12 hours a night

[bestwriter]

I know what your saying and I agree. I also have a phone that is my lifeline and I am always on my phone texting someone or doing some kind of business. The only time I am not on my phone is when I am at work for 12 hours a night

Any plans to change this routine?

[Jem Smith]

I do not have to go far Pluto may say anything but there is indeed a huge difference between my attitude when I was young towards the elderly and how the present generation treats them.

Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, not Pluto. I bet the previous generation said the same thing about your generation when you were young.

What they pick from the Internet is Gospel to them.

That's true of many older people. I often see people of my parents' generation sharing fake news stories they saw online without questioning them. People do it on this forum too. Just yesterday someone shared a story from a parody site on this forum thinking it was real (or pretending it was? Hard to tell). Critical thinking is something people of all ages could stand to do a bit more of.

--- 07 Jan 2025, 11:41 ---

What is your experience. Do you have youngsters around you that go all out to care for seniors around them Do they keep in touch with them on a regular basis. Do they visit them, do they eat the dining table for example with their parent

I have 'youngsters' around me that do exactly that. It's not uncommon.

--- 07 Jan 2025, 11:45 ---

They make time to interact with their own age group but if there is an event they will invite others as they need people to attend that event There is no one on one interaction.

What's wrong with inviting others to an event? That's how events work. Are you saying young people don't interact with other people one on one at all? Obviously they do, and how would they be attending events without doing that?

[bestwriter]

@Jem Smith

May be you have not followed what I have said or I was not clear. They only invite others for events just to have a crowd but never interact with them OTHERWISE

[Jem Smith]

@Jem Smith

May be you have not followed what I have said or I was not clear. They only invite others for events just to have a crowd but never interact with them OTHERWISE

Okay. That is not my experience of young people. How do you know whether they are contacting each other, or if they just aren't contacting you?

[bestwriter]

@Jem Smith This niece of mine calls me to attend a function and was never in my life for years. That is how I see today's generation. For them "Be bygones be bygones" mean just forget what seniors have done for them and move on. You are fortunate that they all care for you, love you and are in your life. Are you a senior too?

[Jem Smith]

@Jem Smith This niece of mine calls me to attend a function and was never in my life for years. That is how I see today's generation. For them "Be bygones be bygones" mean just forget what seniors have done for them and move on. You are fortunate that they all care for you, love you and are in your life. Are you a senior too?

I didn't mean that the young people I know all care for me, specifically, although my children do treat me well. I was thinking of how they behave towards their grandparents. I'm not a senior, no, so my perspective will be different. I am middle aged. I'm impressed by the behaviour of most of the teenagers I know, especially my children's friends.

I don't know your niece, but I would think that calling you to come to an event after not being in your life for years might be her way of reaching out to you. Do you reach out to her and invite her to things?

[bestwriter]

I have absolutely no interest in those who have stayed away for so many years. The question of trying to reach out does not arise I invite those who are in my life and that is how it should be.

[Jem Smith]

I have absolutely no interest in those who have stayed away for so many years. The question of trying to reach out does not arise I invite those who are in my life and that is how it should be.

That's up to you, but it's a bit weird to complain about people inviting you to things. What next, getting upset at receiving a Christmas card?

[bestwriter]

Nothing weird as I can see. Invitations are extended to those who are in one's life. And yes same with Christmas cards