<a class="postlink" href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100528/sc_livescience/todayscollegestudentslackempathy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/201 ... ackempathy</a> According to researchers at the University of Michigan, college students are "assholes, seriously, they act like dicks."* While there is no consensus why this is happening, anyone who's spent more than five minutes on the internet can't deny that a general lack of empathy is endemic. As if on a crusade for irony, a particularly sensitive and caring individual posted this in the comments of the very article linked: Truly insightful analysis. *quote may have been modified slightly Focus: Speculate wildly, devolve into petty bickering and ultimately prove this article right.
"Me Generation" is a bullseye title, make no mistake. The internet has given every household in the world a sword to bitch with, with the bonus added of no consequences. Sure, it's easy to get that chip off your shoulder, just go on YouTube and say to everyone that watched that Faber Drive video that they're all fags! You're right no matter what! Tell them you'll kick they're ass if you ever saw them and they're lucky they're in Greenland. Also, materialism has spiraled out of control in the last few years, and now "Hipster" is the new fucking look up here. I'm not kidding, the stores are littered with flourescent blue, purple and yellow plaids everywhere. The prices are unreal. Why don't you just steal it from the Goodwill bin like the way your bloodbrothers do? You should see the Noah's Ark off-ramp of schmucks walking out of the Beer Store on the weekend with twelver's of Pabst. The last time I checked, these filthy jobless know-it-alls were considered to be the card-carrying joke of society (along with Juh-sey Boys). Did I miss something? The shit spread like a rolling blackout. Everyone is so impressed with presentation these days. I don't know if it's just a territorial thing, but 90% of women I see ages 15-35 that go to the mall are completely tarted up. It's the mall. You spent two hours getting ready to go there. Who are you trying to impress? Chad Chazzington the *ahem* ASSISTANT manager of Laura Secord? You go, girl.
Yeah, fuck hipsters and girls who wear makeup to the mall! I - wait, what's this thread about again? Alt Focus: How dreamy is Chad Chazzington??!
When he smiles, you see spots for ten minutes afterwards. He has a sweater tied around his neck, wears Dockers and always stands with one foot up on something to look dominant and confident. He owns a surf board but lives in Ontario and one glance would make the Virgin Mary cum in her golden panties.
"What is worse, ignorance or indifference?" "I don't know and I don't care." I'd really like to go on a long, loud, poorly-informed rant about a subject I only became aware of after reading the initial thread post, but I just don't care enough. My hot pocket just dinged and there's porn to watch! Oh the cheesy goodness.
Actually the ladies call me Chad JIZZington long story Edit: Veeeery looooong. And hard.... The story is my PENIS! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO I'M SO FUNNY AND ORIGINAL
It probably has something to do with the fact that feelings are gay. Edit: I just realized that what I wrote just expresses exactly what the title of the thread states. I didn't notice because I only pay attention to myself, especially when I'm putting on lots of make-up and neon plaid shirts to go to the mall.
I think that assholes on the 'nets make us better people. The school yard bully forces you to be stronger or smarter. With the internet you're confronted with an equivalent bully at every turn. You have to either thicken your skin or get a whole lot wittier.
I didn't give a rat's ass about fuck-all in college, other than what new beerpong tricks my frat bros could do while dosing the sororstitutes with roofie-coladas. Totally serious.
I think a general lack of empathy is a byproduct and/or symptom of a messed up society where inequality is silently advocated and materialism rules.
Lack of repercussion and lack of fear of consequence are to blame! Adults are just children with more life experience, and children are the greediest, most self-centered spawn on the planet. Pure altruism is a rare and dying quality, and common altruism is subject to the law of diminishing returns. So, why should anyone give a fuck about anyone else's feelings if there's nothing in it for them? It's an easy fix. Every year from pre-school onwards, one child from each class gets executed. Students are told that this will happen every year unless every student shows complete regard for the feelings and situation of all of their classmates; and that is the only way to stop that year's killing. If there's one steadfast maverick; they're the one that gets popped. Once they reach adulthood and finish school, it's members of their family. Sure, it won't engender real empathy and anything they do will only be out of fear of reprisal, but you've got to fake it until you make it.
Who are you calling individualistic, bitch!? Wanna fight about it? I'm so awesome I guarantee I could take your ass.
Oh no! The children of the hippie generation are rebelling against their parents by being complete assholes, what'll we do!? ...Interesting, since 2000 was the greatest year in PC Gaming history EVER!!!! That glorious year gave us Diablo 2, the Sims, and Counter Strike. Excuse me while I go play Modern Warfare and laugh at 12 year olds while they cry. Sara Konrath from the article. ALT ALT focus: Would you hit it? Would you respect her feelings? My main issue with these types of studies is a lack of offered solutions. Ok, I get it I'm an asshole, but what can we do to correct our assholishness(sp?) ? As an aside, I own three "bright" plaid flannel shirts and two pairs of ray-bans, should I be worried?
The book Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman is well worth a read and discusses empathy. In this article he elabotates on empathy. http://www.danielgoleman.info/2007/06/12/three-kinds-of-empathy-cognitive-emotional-compassionate/
Yawn. Just another article about how the younger generation is lazier, greedier, more self-centered, more materialistic, more selfish, less charitable, less aware... need I go on? Generation Me is going to be saying the same things about Generation Future in 20 years, just like every generation before.
How very Malthusian of you. And equally flawed. I'm sure your 18th century understanding of society will ring true, despite the fact that it's just chicken little shouting terrified warnings about the zero sum game crushing us all. Oooooooo! Next are you going to suggest a little eugenics to clean up the detriments of society? I feel like I've seen this all before somewhere...
Sara Konrath from the article. ALT ALT focus: Would you hit it? Would you respect her feelings? Ginger (I think) with glasses? Fuck yes, and If tapping her on the shoulder when I'm about to blow counts, then no, I wont respect shit. I too good for that.