Is this a fair assessment?

[Shevanel]

Originally Posted by Lovely

Americans can be extremely sarcastic, and I'd argue there's not much difference between those two populaces if you could find an actual way to measure it.

I just view some things as off-limits because I'm annoyed at constantly hearing about it, as is such with this generational criticism.

Whether said reasoning can be applied to the rest of my peers is debatable and I won't venture to make assumptions in those regards.

No no, Americans don't get Sarcasm at all.

[Lovely]

Originally Posted by Shevanel

No no, Americans don't get Sarcasm at all.

[Mogget]

I hate the people who write that sort of crap. Maybe my generation doesn't get jobs because there are no fucking jobs. Maybe we live at home because rent prices are out of control. And so on. The previous generation has fucked us over economically, legally, and environmentally. We're the first generation in the last hundred years that will be worse-off economically than our parents. We may not get the social security benefits that those of us lucky enough to have jobs are paying into. Half the country wants to gut the basic environmental protections that make our air safe to breath and water safe to drink. The price of gas is rising steadily and efforts to build a sustainable mass transit system are consistently blocked.

So no, it's not a fair assessment. It's a shitty attempt of the older generations to blame the problems they caused on us.

[Black Cat]

I've never understood the generation dysphoria between those past and present. Wasn't the goal to make the world a better place for your children and their children to come?

Is it accurate? Maybe. It depends on which generation you're from.

Is it humorous? Probably only if you're older and see the complaints the article makes as valid rather than offensive, which is how the majority of youth will see it (as evidenced by the responses it has received thus far.)

[Peanuts]

Ahaha, that's funny. Also, generalizations everywhere. Of course, those having been born in Gen Y are more likely to disagree with it. But I think it's too soon to really say anything for sure. Maybe in 10-20 years we'll see what we were actually like.

[Pret Allez]

Originally Posted by Lewissss

I think the reason other people don't get it or find it funny is all down to cultural differences. Most people who said 'No' were American or Canadian. We who find it funny and get the point are either from the UK/Europe.

We're really good at making fun of ourselves and enjoy the use of irony and sarcasm. I have American friends that get really defensive and offended by some of the things I say, things that I'd laugh off.

I get what the humor is supposed to be. I just find it subpar and in poor taste.

[Lewis]

Originally Posted by Lovely

Americans can be extremely sarcastic, and I'd argue there's not much difference between those two populaces if you could find an actual way to measure it.

I just view some things as off-limits because I'm annoyed at constantly hearing about it, as is such with this generational criticism.

Whether said reasoning can be applied to the rest of my peers is debatable and I won't venture to make assumptions in those regards.

I'm not saying that Americans don't have a sense of humour or use sarcasm at all, it's just a known that Americans sometimes don't understand British or European humour - as we sometimes don't with American humour.

I've experienced this with a number of American friends that when I've said something in jest (or in an ironic way), they take the comment to heart and think I'm being completely literal.

[Bobbgooduk]

I've found the reactions to this fascinating!

It really IS all about the butt-crack Y revealed by the saggy pants - and yet some have taken it to be offensive and subpar.

As I said, the stereotypes annoy me too - but that isn't what the joke is about - it all centres around the cartoon.

When I was growing up in the 60s, there was a massive difference between American and British humour. The British are much more self-deprecating in the way they view life and the humour refelcted that.

When I watched programmes like I Love Lucy or Sargeant Bilko, I really couldn't understand what was funny.

Now, though, I think we have grown much closer together and some of the BEST comedies are American. Whether that is because I have changed or the Americans, I don't really know - I've never taken the time to analyse it - but things like Family Guy, American Dad, Southpark, Scrubs, Simpsons, 2 and a half Men mark a "coming together" of humour - not every episode, of course, but a general trend.

I think it's only natural to feel defensive if you feel you are being unjustly categorized or attacked, but I am a vocal advocate of young people and wondered if I was being too sensitive in seeing it as a negative generalization.

I also thought it was interesting how even hunour can polarize opinion.

Thanks everyone!

[sugarcubeigloo]

Originally Posted by Mogget

I hate the people who write that sort of crap. Maybe my generation doesn't get jobs because there are no fucking jobs. Maybe we live at home because rent prices are out of control. And so on. The previous generation has fucked us over economically, legally, and environmentally. We're the first generation in the last hundred years that will be worse-off economically than our parents. We may not get the social security benefits that those of us lucky enough to have jobs are paying into. Half the country wants to gut the basic environmental protections that make our air safe to breath and water safe to drink. The price of gas is rising steadily and efforts to build a sustainable mass transit system are consistently blocked.

So no, it's not a fair assessment. It's a shitty attempt of the older generations to blame the problems they caused on us.

I actually feel more or less like this. My initial reaction was to be annoyed by the statements. Perhaps I'm just being overly sensitive, but I work a full-time job and another part-time job for supplement (after graduating not too long ago). I just feel like I work too hard (and most of my friends are in the same boat) for someone to make such a sweeping generalization. So, I struggle to find the humor in it because it sounds like an older generation simply criticizing a younger generation.

That being said, I get that its a just a joke and I'll live.

[Neutrality]

I have some other ones for Gen Y:

Y: Don't we have marriage equality yet
Y: Is there racisim
Y: are people in jail for weed
Ohh...wait it's cause of the older generations. =P

[Mogget]

Here's the thing about humor about social groups: it can only move upward and (to a lesser degree) across. That is to say, a joke told about a powerful group by a weak one can be funny, it serves to challenge the superiority of the more powerful group. A joke told about a weak group by a powerful group serves to keep the weaker group in its place, and is essentially a bullying tactic.

Humor, like good journalism and religion, should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. Jokes like the one in the OP fall into the opposite category: they comfort the comfortable and afflict the afflicted. I don't object to sarcastic and self-deprecating humor, that's most of my repertoire; I do object to humor told by a group that is more powerful than me with the intent of keeping me in my place.

[Bobbgooduk]

Mogget!

Ignoring the stereotypes for the moment - do you think the cartoon (only) is bullying or about a power-struggle between generations? Or is it an ironic nod to the fashion which includes gravity-defying pants which reveal more underpants or butt-crack that the older generations are perhaps used to?

Of course the stereotypes are unfair - most steroetypes are.

[Mogget]

The cartoon's toilet humor and doesn't really interest me.

[prism]

No, that it not a fair assessment. Prior generations will always think less of the generations that follow. The adults of any of the listed generations would have asked the same exact questions about their society's youth.

There are a lot of explanations to answer those questions. Our generation isn't buying as many cars as the generations before us, and this can be due to environmental awareness, the current economic climate, etc.

[RueBea85]

I think it is pretty funny, I do think that it can be true for some people but there are still a lot of people that do not fit in the category.

[AshenAngel]

Lol no... xD

[Gen]

I think people always put way to much thought into the ideals of work enthic and additude amoung the different generations and countries/cultures. In my opinion, is really quite simple.

Why is this generation seen as more lazy and entitled? Because it has had the greastest ability to feel as such than in the past. As humans evolve and our standards of living rise with us, it becomes less of a need to work hard in order to survive. It becomes, work hard in order to live more lavishly. If people had to maintain a 4.00 GPA and College Degree to eat diner tonight than there would be alot more textbooks being worn out. But in todays's society(atleast in the places we are talking) that is not the case. People dont HAVE to work as hard as in the past, so it is much more of a choice.


As for Americans, its actually quite similar. America is easily the most "lavish" obsessed country today, but it is, because its allowed to be. The "Norm" in America is alot higher than many other areas in the world. Things like education, successful jobs, "work" have become more of a choice than in history.

DISCLAIMER: Before some people get all riled up. I am in not saying that the American life is better than anywhere else. I am saying that in its entirety the population has higher expectations and entitlement, because at this point in history they are able to support them.

Overall, I would say its a good thing that the generation arent burdened with as much suffering as in the past, but it is a shame that they dont all take advantage of it. That being said we still cannot fault the them because of the some.

(I did realize the joke. Just giving a opinion :/ lol)

[kitsune309]

Actually, after 1995, it's Generation Z. They are responsible for the crappy Disney Channel stars and bad cartoons. Do not lump me in with those degenerates. >.<

'Nyhow, I see where they're coming from, but I think that this is the generation that has it hard in a different way than some of the others. There isn't a clear single purpose for us. No one's sure what revolution is the important one, unlike the economy in the '30s, and WWII in the 40s, and the civil rights movement in the 50s, and the sexual revolution and counterculture in the 60s and 70s. Generation Y doesn't have a specific battle to fight. We try to make it the Gay Rights movement, but, unfortunately, too many people don't have an opinion or don't care. It's too early to tell what generation Z is going to be like all together, I think.