So You Think You Have a Novel in You?

[Zordar]

In America today, the post-boomers (and post-post boomers) are more likely than ever to have gone to college to pursue something they view as "enriching," rather than earn a degree that is likely to help them make a living. They have been told they're special, that they should "do what they love," and that accepting anything less is failure. As a result are more likely than ever to be underemployed, sitting (or working) in coffee shops with their laptops and iPads, convinced that they have an important novel, screenplay, painting, or album inside of them, that it's just a matter of time before it bursts out.

But in the meanwhile, they are unfulfilled, bitter, and angry at the world, much like the previous generations -- the main difference being a lack of any practical skills and a steady paycheck. Is this progress?

:eek:

[Freedom&Liberty]

The most important things get done on a daily basis by average people.

[Zordar]

Average is not acceptable.

[Šñøü†ê®]

Zordar, y'all talkin' our yer ass again or do y'all have any evidence to back up your claims!

[Archaix]

Generational arguments are always the weakest.

[86Dùde]

LOL, not really. Generations have certain characteristics. The American boomers are, generally, a pile of filth.

[Archaix]

Generational arguments allow you to pin any quality to something on the weakest of premises. There are no clear-cut 'generations' advancing down the ages in steps, and even if there were they'd come from different classes, geographical regions, cultures and politics, and would encounter different experiences in their lives anyway.

It's a weak and pointless style of argument.

[Šñøü†ê®]

A more profound question regarding novels, movies, etc. is who is controlling what is published and how does the process work in case there is a talented author out there somewhere? One could argue 99% of the fiction on the New York Times Best Seller list is garbage. Just like on MTV, the movies, etc. How does that garbage get there?

[Zordar]

Generational arguments allow you to pin any quality to something on the weakest of premises. There are no clear-cut 'generations' advancing down the ages in steps, and even if there were they'd come from different classes, geographical regions, cultures and politics, and would encounter different experiences in their lives anyway.Nonsense. Even in the U.S. where there are many different regions, classes, and competing cultures and politics, there are clear differences between generations. For example, baby boomers, aside from being scum, are much less technically savvy and far more likely to view gay marriage negatively than Generations X and Y. This doesn't mean you can't find a boomer who is plugged into the Internet all day who wants the gays to marry, of course, but the generalization is strong and accurate.

[86Dùde]

Not to mention they're selfish and spoiled. But then how couldn't they be? They had it made and then they blew it. Now, we're left cleaning up after their gluttony.

[Archaix]

Nonsense. Even in the U.S. where there are many different regions, classes, and competing cultures and politics, there are clear differences between generations. For example, baby boomers, aside from being scum, are much less technically savvy and far more likely to view gay marriage negatively than Generations X and Y. This doesn't mean you can't find a boomer who is plugged into the Internet all day who wants the gays to marry, of course, but the generalization is strong and accurate.
Yeah, that "generation" that campaigned for civil rights in the first place and helped entrench it in law. Fuck those guys.

I hate conceited people who think 'their' generation is privelaged- it's the sole cause of pathetic philosophies like postmodernism. It should be considered part of ageism and classed in the same league as other descriminatory prejudices like sexism and racism.

[Šñøü†ê®]

Everything of value and in tune with the Cosmic Creator is really an art form of some kind and without cultivating personal creativity, what makes humanoids any better than a herd of goats?

[86Dùde]

Everything of value and in tune with the Cosmic Creator is really an art form of some kind and without cultivating personal creativity, what makes humanoids any better than a herd of goats?

Very good point. Nothing. We're worse than goats except that we still have the power to change and goats can't.

[KillZone]

It is futile to argue about which generation is the best or worse, imho.

That is of course why I do it anyway.