8/26/2016

It's All About The Feelz

I found this by way of Maggie's Farm, and after reading knew I had to share it. See if you agree with this gentleman's observations.

For the age 60 and above, the early Boomers and their parents, facts remain very important and feelings, while important, are thought not very reliable. Emotions are to be controlled and overcome, they are not to be a guide.

For post-Boomers, especially those born after 1980 or so, feelings are predominant, and the younger of that group the more important feelings are. This is also the cohort that was raised in the thick of the self-esteem movement, being told they are special (you know, just like everyone else). They received praise and rewards just for showing up (participation trophies, anyone?).

They are very, very heavily into social signaling by where they live and where they vacation and by what their children do. They absolutely dominate their kids, who typically have little choice in what activities they will do and when.

The younger sets of this group, born after the early 90s, have also learned (having been actually taught) that the cult of victimhood is the most important status of all. They are on high alert for reasons to be offended and when they are, it is for slights, real or imagined, that mystify the 60 cohort.

Victimhood demands recompense so there is no hope of forgiveness unless the offender crawls on his belly like a cold reptile to beg for it. But forgiveness is never unconditional. The hatchet may be buried, but the handle protrudes skyward so it can be easy to recover.

It is very much and honor-shame dynamic where all interactions are zero-sum. Where they are on the totem pole if always of concern and they are acutely aware of who is above or below. And woe betide those whom they think are below.

I think of it as the 'Veruca Salt' generation. They are demand oriented. Their magical thinking is that merely because they want something, it should be granted. They react strongly negatively to being asked for facts and logic to support their contention because in their minds, 'I feel very strongly about this so why are you asking for facts?'

For the last group, it's all about 'feelz'. That might explain why we're seeing the intolerant, close-minded, know-nothing loudmouths demanding all kinds of things on college campuses that are so antithetical to our Constitutional Rights. The decry 'hate' speech, but indulge in it at every turn. They demand tolerance but give none. They want 'free shit' but expect everyone else to pay for it, assuming they don't believe there's a Free Shit Fairy that just gives this stuff to them. Facts, evidcne, and real world experience matter nothing to them. It might also explain why they'll buy any kind of pseudo-scientific crap thrown at them by the 'right' people.

While I have to admit that I do let my emotions sway some of my decisions, in general they don't. I want to know what the facts are and try very hard to let them help me make a decision about one thing or another. I am a member of that first group described above. I know that many of this “'Veruca Salt' generation” would be incapable of doing the jobs I do because they aren't cut out to actually do a job the demands the use of data and unemotional logic to make decisions that affect both my employer and the people of my town. It will be all about the 'feelz' and not abut what needs to be done.

What a sad commentary.