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Rev

33

That quote looks like just another complaint about "the younger generation". There are records of complaints about "the younger generation" going back to the Sumerians. If there was any truth to them, the world would have gone to hell millennia ago. It's best to take them with a hefty pinch of salt.
– Raedwald
Commented Nov 25, 2019 at 23:12
17

Those hundreds of generations of complaints about "the younger generation" could also point to some new fangled thing they didn't like as the reason for youthful fecklessness. People are good at post hoc justifications. This generation its trigger warnings. Previous generations it was TV. Or radio. Or rock music. Or books (seriously!). And do on. It's always something.
– Raedwald
Commented Nov 25, 2019 at 23:21
11

@Raedwald: So it does makes sense to know what is unique about this particular generation of Americans, isn't it? Although I agree with the 4th paragraph. SE Inc sounds like a NY company selling to Americans - and they entirely ignore the global aspect in the survey. Being a minority might be relevant, but short of indigenous people every racial background is a majority somewhere.
– MSalters - reinstate Monica
Commented Nov 25, 2019 at 23:41
3

@manassehkatz-ReinstateMonica You might also enjoy The Madness of Crowds
– Sridhar Ratnakumar
Commented Nov 25, 2019 at 23:59
2

Arghh... only available in my library in electronic format. Reading is when I actually get away from the computer! But I'll consider it anyway.
– manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
Commented Nov 26, 2019 at 0:03
6

Similar to the "Sexual revolution" in the 60s and 70s, I suspect only a small percentage of the Gen Z generation is actually involved in this call-out culture.
– Alex
Commented Nov 26, 2019 at 7:21
18

@Alex If the minority is vocal enough, it can still influence the culture at large. The "walking on eggshells" problem mentioned in the quote is still a problem even if only a small proportion of people are doing the calling-out.
– Mario Carneiro
Commented Nov 26, 2019 at 7:40
4

@MarioCarneiro On the surface yes, but my parents didn't experience much from the free love revolution in the 60s and 70s. I guess it is the same with the "walking on eggshells" problem. Of course there is a much more cautious culture in the office, especially if you are white male, however, personally I have seen little change outside the office away from the preying eyes of social media.
– Alex
Commented Nov 26, 2019 at 8:33
7

From my own personal experience the people walking on eggshells are generation Z who have to avoid hurting the older generations feelings when they tell them off for making inappropriate comments in the workplace...
– user3161729
Commented Nov 26, 2019 at 9:50
9

-1 While it's true that SO Inc seem to want to drag specifically American culture wars into an international site, let's not play their US culture wars game with another "Booo, kids get off my lawn" generational bun fight. Walking on eggshell has been a corporate culture problem in many offices for generations, for many reasons. Let's not forget many people have to walk on eggshells around their (usually older) bosses lest they get fired because of some work-irrelevant pseudo-moralistic disapproval of their love life, domestic living arrangements, non-majority religion, dress or hobbies.
– user56reinstatemonica8
Commented Nov 26, 2019 at 9:51
@user56reinstatemonica8: Yes, or even for just the slightest tiny tiny hint of disagreement (I have a second-hand account (fellow student)).
– This_is_NOT_a_forum
Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 2:14
3

@Alex yes, I'm sure. But the minority are vocal enough that people have been fired, and even arrested for having un-offensive views. How long before Alexa starts to report your uncool niece to the suede/denim secret police?
– gbjbaanb
Commented Nov 28, 2019 at 11:36

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