Very insightful and thoughtful post, Eros.
1) I agree with the point that the whole "self-esteem" movement has created a generation that feels that they are owed something.
2) There is merit in the "Old School" system of proving one's worth and working for everything one has to one's name.
3) Although I do see the value in the self-help and self-actualization movements, your observations and the article I posted above do point to the fact that, in of itself, it does not work. Moreover, we live in an INSTANT GRATIFICATION society. Our current timeframe and expectation deadlines doesn't mesh with REAL self-improvement. The latter takes TIME and DISCIPLINE. DISCIPLINE and SACRIFICE aren't really values that you hear discussed widely in mainstream media. But those are the values that propelled earlier generations of Americans to a comfortable standard of living. Asian immigrant kids from Korea, China, and India are the latest practitioners of this value system and it shows.
4) There is value in self-help but I think it is just ONE tool and one element. For it to contribute consistently and effectively it must be factored in with other values and tools.
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Originally Posted by eroswebmaster
I agree with what you're saying Gene, but I also understandn where this article is coming from.
Back when I was a kid and played pee wee football at the end of the year there was a championship team, and 2nd place and the rest didn't make it.
When my younger brother *7 years younger* started playing sports everyone got a fucking trophy, even the losers. It was all about building self esteem.
I was just telling my dad this the other day, that there is something wrong with the kids who came out of the late 50's, 60's and on, in that we all feel like we're owed something.
We were always told that we could be anything we wanted to be when we grew up, but were never told we would have to work hard for it.
So we all grew up thinking that instead of being garbage collectors, policemen, grocery store managers that we would be millionaires, movie stars, rock stars, sports stars because that's what we wanted to be.
So what do we have now? A bunch of spoiled rotten brats who are unsatisfied with their lives, thinking they deserve more than just providing for their families.
You hear it on these boards when people make fun of others for shopping at Wal-Mart, or buying $20 perfume.
They think we're all supposed to be sitting in $500K condos with 72 inch plasmas on the walls.
No, that's not how real life is.
We need more men like our grandfathers. Guys who were willing to put in 30 years at a company as not even middle management, just workers. Ensuring that their families had a roof over their heads.
Not a world full of spoiled brats who only value their toys.
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