I was called an old person this week. First time ever. A 16-year-old punk called his dad and me "old people."
I'm not offended. It was inadvertent. The little twerp actually said: "I guess that's the way old people play."
While he was being schooled by two 40-somethings in badminton, he felt the need to critique his elders.
It's normal. I don't hold it against him. It's natural to think you know everything at the age of 16. But calling me old at the tender age of 40? I barely graduated from high school!
Last year my daughter described two people in a car, calling them "old people." But she clarified: "You know, Baby Boomers." This I can understand. At the age of retirement, at the cusp of senior citizenship, one can safely be called old. But not at the peak of one's adult life (yes, everything's downhill from here).
I don't deny that I'm older. I've come to terms, for instance, with being called a "host Dad" by the 20-year-old university students who board with us. And as I've mentioned before, there's clearly a difference in our interests and understanding of the world – a generational difference, if you will.
I've been rather critical of this younger generation in my past couple blogs – probably too critical. There's a tendency for us older people to harp on the young folks.
The fact is, I like young people. Even the 16-year-old child whom I beat regularly in badminton. Normally, he's an extremely pleasant and considerate human being. The students who board with us are also polite and respectful. Part of it could be Japanese culture, but I've see it in our youth, too.
In fact, I would say Canadian/American youth are becoming more Japanese-like in their behaviour. They're less rebellious than past generations: they drink less, smoke less, and have less casual sex. Is this a bad thing? Sure, they might live with their parents until they're 30, but at least they get along with them!
Baby Boomers, by contrast, were in all-out rebellion with their parents and the world. Who can blame them? In the U.S., they were being sent to fight in the jungles of Vietnam! And they lived with parents who acted like, well, parents of the 1960s.
A comedian joked that parents of the '60s promised their kids nothing, and if they dared ask for something, they got a beating. Today we promise our kids everything. We're "pony parents" – if our kids want one, we'll try our darndest to get it for them. It's why they want to live at home for so long – not to mention the lifetime of free food and accommodations.
But again, it's not all bad. The Economist reports that today's parents spend twice as much time with their kids than 50 years ago. For fathers, it's even more: 16 minutes in 1965 compared to 59 minutes in 2012. Almost four times! The benefits are proven: children are healthier, smarter, and better behaved when fathers are actively involved in their lives.
Yes, some kids are coddled to the point that they could be inhibited. The author of iGen fears that kids are no longer prepared for the real world. There may be some truth to this. But maybe they're also less resentful, more secure, and less prone to living a miserable life.
Just a theory.
From an older guy.
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