How would you describe this generation of18 to 25 year olds?

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I've met some nice Milennials; I've met some idiot Baby Boomers....

I don't like people describing today's generation as "narcissistic". That word gets tossed around way too much. Most young people today are very tolerant of homosexuals and people from other countries like muslims. They weren't when I was a little kid. That shows that they DO have empathy, something a true narcissist lacks.

It's difficult for anybody alive today who hasn't studied social history to appreciate, because this trend began so long ago (the 1960s, before almost anybody active on this site had reached the age of majority), but values like politeness, respect for authority, pride in one's neighbourhood, conscientiousness, stoicism, honesty in business, competence, smartness in dress - all of the values since debunked as "bourgeois" - were once a major force in Britain and America, and they built the civilisations of the same countries. There will be pathological counterexamples, but that doesn't really prove anything.

I am all of those things, by the way....except maybe I don't dress really debonair......

I'm a Baby Boomer, the product of the "decadent" 60s.

For a British interpretation of what I'm trying to say here, read the opening chapter or two of Peter Hitchens' Abolition of Britain. For an American interpretation, read Christopher Lasch's Culture of Narcissism (1978).

I agree! There’s less misogyny in the West as well which I’m thankful for. There’s a much greater acceptance and understanding of various forms of diversity, including neurodiversity.

The present is a good time to be alive.

Throughout history, older people have often complained about the newer generation. The trend continues.

I wonder what I will be complaining about in 40 years...

maybe people get older and stop being idiots and then compare there adult self to younger people

I believe you have some folks like that-----but I also believe there are young folks who are really smart, but who become cynics and idiots later on.

I understood the first time what you were referring to.

At least in my experience, people were a lot better at keeping appearances and adhering to such norms because the consequences were a lot harsher than today if they didn't.

Catch someone in their cups or feeling they can trust you or that you must be as hypocritical as they are and you'll see a completely different side. Many were the (church-going) pillar of community type, with spotless reputations and their good public image helped them a lot in hiding some of the things they did. Young people these days are just more open, sometimes even brazenly so about their lack of morals or bad behaviour.

Of course, not everybody was or is this way. Personally, I haven't noticed any significant change in the percentage.

Young people could be quite brazen in the roaring 20’s. I don’t think that such openness is even a bad thing if it’s properly harnessed while one is in school. One needs to learn how to get along with coworkers and engage in open but respectful debates.

There is objective proof of what I'm saying in the form of crime statistics as well as other readily available data on things such as drug usage, teenage pregnancy, divorce, suicide, juvenile delinquency, single mothers. I don't want to sound rude here, but the answer is staring everyone in the face. I just don't see why people can't see it. I can only conclude there's a willing suspension of disbelief here.

At least in some situations, as strange as it might seem I prefer people who are open about their lack of morals. The other type is a lot more dangerous.

Teen pregnancy is down.

https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm

Speaking as a single mother, it’s better to be a single mother than to raise a child in an unhappy situation. I’m glad that society is more accepting of separation and divorce.

William Wordsworth, the great poet, was an innovator when he was young. When he became older, he became a crusty traditionalist. He was one of the inspirations (if not perhaps a "father") of the Romantic movement.

Same with Igor Stravinsky. He was sort of a modernist early on; but became quite the traditionalist later on.

what about ridiculous class systems? I think were less class orientated

Considered in and of themselves, I'd agree, but it's lot more complicated than that. In particular, a society where people can be open about being immoral without fear of censure is one that encourages immorality. Guile, in comparison, is a small price to pay to avoid the inversion of values and anomie we have today.