Volconvo is a debate forum for the discussion of political, religious, and news-based topics.

SoylentGreen · May 13, 2008, 06:33 pm

I am not sure what the distribution of age is here on volconvo but I think there is a good mix of young and old.
And though we have debated many things I don't remember a debate about the age old generation gap.
This is an argument that has been going on ever since man grew smart enough to grow old enough so that the elders can point out the folly of youth and the youth can complain about the lies their parents told about the world.

So from :

Quote:

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin’. - Bob Dylan [Robert Allen Zimmerman]

to

Quote:

The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.
~SOCRATES (469–399 B.C.)

Who do you think is right?
Those with age and experience or those who see the world from new eyes?

JaneDoe321 · May 13, 2008, 06:36 pm

I don't think either group, as a whole and viewed as sort of a macroview, is right. I think it's just a different perspective on the same thing, repeated with every single generation.

SoylentGreen · May 13, 2008, 06:40 pm

Quote:

Quote by: JaneDoe321

I don't think either group, as a whole and viewed as sort of a macroview, is right. I think it's just a different perspective on the same thing, repeated with every single generation.

I actually agree but considering that people bring these arguments up in every generation then is there some validity to it?

JaneDoe321 · May 13, 2008, 09:36 pm

I tend to think it just means we humans have a desire to be original, to the point of blocking out the blatantly obvious similarities.

I see this in religions, too. Very little *truly* different in most religions, aside from the window dressing, and yet zillions have been killed in wars over these "differences".

Maybe we just are most content when we have something to gripe about.

Darebirth · May 13, 2008, 09:42 pm

I have always been of the opinion that wisdom cannot be determined according to age. Yes, over a year you can learn many new things and you can grow substantially, but people learn and grow at different rates. So you can see how judging people at the same rate doesn't make much sense.

However, I am of course going to be biased toward the views of those darn kids because I just so happen to be one. Inotice how older folk tend to cling to their religion to help make decisions about how they feel about the world, while a kid will tend to take a neutral look at the world and decide for his or her self which choices are right.

**Jack** · May 13, 2008, 10:29 pm

Every generation starts out with some input from their parents/significant adults, some from their peers and some from the society they grow up in. As they age, their opinions and perceptions are changing, but they're still based on those early inputs.

So each generation views the world through the bias of the opinions and attitudes formed in their youth. They tend to disdain the opinions and perceptions of those in the next generation who formed theirs based on different input.

Ask someone born in the 50s what they consider the ideal marriage. You generally won't get the same answer when you ask someone born in the 70s.

I should add that the vast majority of people I hear saying that age does not infer wisdom are young. They don't want to believe that they'll ever change their opinions as they get older and experience more of life. Some don't, and they're the truly impoverished humans. Those who are always learning, always listening, do learn more and adapt to new information. They do gather more wisdom as they age, and tend to find life exciting and worth living.

Milton Bradley · May 13, 2008, 10:36 pm

I think everybody is obligated to learn the cold harsh truth history teaches us.

Humans are inherently bad company to keep, and it is wise to be suspicious of all humans who are not you.

P.S. I also think generation gaps are artificially created by government to divide, and conquer their constituents. All the better to control them.

May 13, 2008, 09:42 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
Darebirth BEEEEEEES! Location: Philadelphia Posts: 71	I have always been of the opinion that wisdom cannot be determined according to age. Yes, over a year you can learn many new things and you can grow substantially, but people learn and grow at different rates. So you can see how judging people at the same rate doesn't make much sense. However, I am of course going to be biased toward the views of those darn kids because I just so happen to be one. Inotice how older folk tend to cling to their religion to help make decisions about how they feel about the world, while a kid will tend to take a neutral look at the world and decide for his or her self which choices are right. Debate died with chivalry. - Darebirth

May 13, 2008, 10:29 pm	#6 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 12,869	Every generation starts out with some input from their parents/significant adults, some from their peers and some from the society they grow up in. As they age, their opinions and perceptions are changing, but they're still based on those early inputs. So each generation views the world through the bias of the opinions and attitudes formed in their youth. They tend to disdain the opinions and perceptions of those in the next generation who formed theirs based on different input. Ask someone born in the 50s what they consider the ideal marriage. You generally won't get the same answer when you ask someone born in the 70s. I should add that the vast majority of people I hear saying that age does not infer wisdom are young. They don't want to believe that they'll ever change their opinions as they get older and experience more of life. Some don't, and they're the truly impoverished humans. Those who are always learning, always listening, do learn more and adapt to new information. They do gather more wisdom as they age, and tend to find life exciting and worth living. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

May 13, 2008, 06:36 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
JaneDoe321 Igneous Magma Posts: 298	I don't think either group, as a whole and viewed as sort of a macroview, is right. I think it's just a different perspective on the same thing, repeated with every single generation.

May 13, 2008, 09:36 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
JaneDoe321 Igneous Magma Posts: 298	I tend to think it just means we humans have a desire to be original, to the point of blocking out the blatantly obvious similarities. I see this in religions, too. Very little truly different in most religions, aside from the window dressing, and yet zillions have been killed in wars over these "differences". Maybe we just are most content when we have something to gripe about.

May 13, 2008, 10:36 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
Milton Bradley BANNED Location: Ohio Province, Rep. of Comerica Posts: 7,320	I think everybody is obligated to learn the cold harsh truth history teaches us. Humans are inherently bad company to keep, and it is wise to be suspicious of all humans who are not you. P.S. I also think generation gaps are artificially created by government to divide, and conquer their constituents. All the better to control them.