I made note of some of the research he cited that brought him to all his ‘conclusions’. I found that I have access to many of the same sources, which I also reference in my blogs and accompanying research; http://www.revoy.ca, and http://www.blindspot.ca. I think Mr. Bauerline conveniently left out some important facts, and if he didn’t do it “conveniently”, then I would challenge him to study his arguments more thoroughly so he’s at least got some ground to stand on. Throwing around the name “PEW Research” just for some instant credibility is not only distasteful, it’s annoying for those of us that link the name with research in a way that doesn’t contradict the context it was found in.

Also, I wonder if he realizes that most of the characteristics he’s complaining about are actually consistent throughout many teenagers in every generation.

The more I read into his accusations and comments, the more I realized, “this guy just wants some publicity”. And what better way to get attention than to stir up a fuss. Too bad he skewed his research – he might have been able to come up with a respectable opinion.

LOL, etc: The trouble with abbreviations and stuff is that sometimes other people don’t “speak” them, too, so it serves to separate younger hipsters from the rest of society… and that’s problematic.

In fact I think that’s the general jist of the concerns and complaints here about gen-y-ers, that they have been separated from common connective experiences and that it has an alienating effect on both sides.

I think the oldsters are concerned, if not freaked out, at how graphic sex and violence have become so commonplace with younger people that they have entirely lost their value and weight. Think for a moment of what people used to have to do to get laid – they got married!! OMG.

Now you can play a game all day and graphically murder hookers, cut off people’s heads with chainsaw, etc and it’s just like a normal experience, just doin’ it all the time, y’all. Those things used to be really truly inconceivable/shocking, for what it’s worth. Keep that well in mind when considering the intergenerational stuff. You guys are explicit sex and graphic violence pioneers! Oh boy!!

The reading/book thing: There is a sensory delight about books. You hold them. You smell them… the old books are deliciously musty. You can carry them, you can take books off to the farthest meadow and read, read, read, way longer than a battery on any gadget will last. That is the one thing I hate to see slipping away, the sensory experience of books.

Thanks for listening to this old fart, kids, I’m forty.