January 24/ 2011
The readings this week, "The flight of the Millennials in higher education" (Monaco & Martin, 2009), and "Are pro sports growing more altruistic?" (Howe, 2010), seem to be a continuation on last week's reading of the Promise. The Promise (Mills, 1959), emphasized societies' influence on its individuals as a general principle, while these new readings speak specifically to how a generation has been effected by its society. In particular, the Millennial generation and how it has changed compared to the previous generations before it, Generation X and the Boomers.
To me, the most important point that the Millennial article makes is that the Millennial generation is a generation of efficiency. Monaco and Martin reference an article that states the millennial generation is "achievement oriented, confident, conventional, pressured, sheltered, and special and team oriented, "(p. 2) and "overly scheduled" (p. 3). I completely agree and think that this is an accurate description of this generation. I look at all those descriptions and pull out the word "efficient." Millennials know what is important, find out what they have to do to achieve it, and then find a way to make it happen in the most effective way possible. Wasting time doing unnecessary tasks is not something they choose to do. I find myself doing the same thing, and in order to accomplish that, I create lists. Lists are an overly scheduled person's best friend. J
The blog article covers the changes occurring in the professional sport world. "Millennials want to see more about athletes who can be good parents, neighbors, citizens, and good Samaritans" as opposed to previous generations, who craved "fighting, the profanity, the performance drugs, the super-lux seats, and the renting of stadium names" (Howe, 2010, p. 1). It seems that Millennials would like more interaction with theirs sports icons, figures that they can look to as heroes and examples. I was born in November of 1981, and therefore fall right on the boundary of the two generations. As a "boarder lander", I completely agree with this blog and what it is saying. I have noticed this shift in athletics and think that we are excepting fewer excuses from the sports icons of our day. An example of this can be found in "The Decision," when LeBron James left Cleveland for Miami. The amount of negative press that the debacle received goes to show that this generation is fed up with prima-donnas in sport.
So while I may be a "border lander" and could claim either generation, I think that based off these descriptions, I am more of a millennial.
Matt-
ReplyDeleteI think one thing that is very interesting about the study of generations is that we all may come out seeing something completely different about any generation. While I agree that that the Millennial Generation is "achievement oriented, confident, conventional, pressured, sheltered, and special and team oriented, "(p. 2) and "overly scheduled" (p. 3), I wouldn't describe them as "efficient," simply due to the sheer amount of distractions around them (e.g., TV, video games, iPods, Facebook, etc.). But, perhaps they are still efficient in doing what they want to do, but simply have different values in choosing what is important.
Also, while LeBron's "Decision" was certainly met with heavy criticism, isn't the fact that it was allowed on air and so highly rated in the Neilsons evidence that his behavior is accepted? While he is vilified for his ego and lack of self-awareness, he remains among the most popular athletes in the US. Is this really a condemnation of his behavior?
Matt,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog and the reference to Lebron James decision is well noted. However, as Matt mentioned its ratings were outstanding and for an hour this past summer all eyes were on a young man who has been well documented since 8th grade. I would like to think our generation has evolved from violent hungry and selfish to a more refined and upstanding one. Though as Lebron illustrated we are simply a newer generation striving for simple entertainment. A prime example would be the growth of Dana White's Ultimate Fighting Championship Company which has flourished in the past 5 or so years. Further, if that is not enough evidence of our fascination with simple minded entertainment please note the popularity of Jersey Shore. I still feel sport prima-donnas thrive in our society and we are only contributing to their actions with our constant attention.
All of you made some great observations about the Millennials articles, so thanks for the examples you shared. The only one with which I was not as familiar is the growth of Ultimate Fighting, as mentioned by Ian. I wondered if the greater expectations of professional athletes (as Matt mentioned) has anything to do with the greater proximity to them that we have today via things like blogs, facebook, and Twitter. Technology and social networking have really shaped your generation significantly.
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