I hear all the time how much easier kids have it today, and without question, they do in many areas. When I attended college in the early 1980’s, I had to go to the library to do my research when writing a term paper. I used the Dewey Decimal System and even went as far as using cutting-edge technology at the time of microfilm. Spending hours looking at the screen of a microfiche machine for material to support my paper. If you have never heard of Melvil Dewey or microfilm, then google it on your phone, the easy way.
The access to knowledge today is limitless, and a bit scary. I don’t understand AI, -artificial intelligence – today, but it sounds like it will write a term paper for you. I would have most likely tapped into that resource back in the day, I was a busy guy. The word “artificial” does concern me a bit because whatever is generated is not coming from within my mind and soul.
So, I would agree that kids today below the age of forty do have it easier – in some areas – than the older generations. But then again, I had it much easier than my parents did. My mother was raised on a farm in Missouri and used a wooden outhouse for a bathroom growing up. No heat or AC in their farmhouse, just a potbelly stove for heat and a fan in the corner for cooling. They opened the windows in the summer hoping for a breeze. They did not even get indoor plumbing until she was in high school. Can you imagine trying to get ready for the Senior Prom today under those circumstances?
Honestly, I believe it’s a balance. I can’t even begin to imagine where I would be today if every time I did or said something stupid, it was being filmed or recorded by others. Then taking my foolishness and posting it on a platform for the entire world to see and ridicule. That is tough, and young ones today are dealing with social issues that us “Baby Boomers” never had too. Without question, I’d been on the cancel list. Not because I was hateful and mean, but because I was a bonehead kid who was in the process of growing up and figuring out my life.
I read a story last week where a women’s basketball player from the University of Iowa deleted all of her social media accounts because she was receiving death threats over a controversial foul she was involved in during a basketball game.
Death threats? Who are these people?
I struck out a bunch when playing baseball, I even had a baseball bounce out of my glove and over the fence for a homerun. I felt bad enough, and the thought of some anonymous idiot piling hate on me is disheartening. I’m not sure my skin was thick enough to take on all that back then. It is now, because I’m sixty and I’ve learned not to care what people think about me.
One advantage I had growing up was that I was allowed to make mistakes without the entire world chiming in. It was much easier to make blunders back in the seventies and eighties than it is today.
Kids today have the world at their fingertips, literally, but we all do. But the hate, ridicule, and harassment kids are having to deal with for simply trying is beyond unfair. I am so thankful I did not have to deal with that nonsense when I was growing up. Do kids have it easier today? YES and NO.
But does it really matter who had it tougher? Kids today are so much smarter than me. They have forgotten more science and technology than I ever learned. Has their life been easier than mine at that age, no, not really.
We’ve all heard the saying, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” Why is that so hard?
Never forget those who believe in you, they will always outweigh the hate. Anyone outside of that is not worth your attention. Remember that.
I had everything I needed growing up. Kids today need the same thing, and it doesn’t matter what generation you are from – unconditional love and support.
Therefore, encourage and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
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Todd Howey is a columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose articles appear on Fridays. Email comments to [email protected].