I said I was done with this thread, but you guys just won't stop...
It's really frustrating to hear everyone complain about "young people today". You can say you're not attacking younger generations all you want, but it doesn't really match up with what you're posting. Don't act like I'm the one demonizing old people - I was jokingly responding to the onslaught of attacks and assertions being made about young generations. I usually get along with older people, but maybe that's because the people I meet are polite enough to think that I'm a smart, well-behaved, mature adult not some punk-ass brat. It was the older people on this forum who started this generations war - I'm just trying to make the best of it. And really, we're going to bring up young celebrities? I certainly didn't go to high school with anyone that dressed like a stripper. Hollywood has always been filled with people a little more nuts than the average citizen.
But more anectodally, since clearly everyone who has passed their 20s loooves the anecdotes, I ride the TTC to and from work every day and I can honestly say that the rudest people are middle aged. Just today a middle aged women cut in front of a crowd of people patiently and politely waiting to get on the escalator out of a busy rush hour College station. And some middle aged person drove through a puddle, splashing me with water. Nice. But mostly, I don't see this social decline. I see people politely riding the TTC, saying 'excuse me' when they need to get off a busy train. People appologizing if they accidentally step on a foot. People giving up seats to older people, and pregant women, and people with young children. Every now and then, yes, there is a jerk. But don't let one bad apple make you think everyone is like that - riding the TTC every day has certainly made me believe that there are more good people in this city than bad.
And furthermore, it was the baby boomers who were raised thinking that robot buttlers are going to do everything for them. And it was the baby boomers who grew up in the new, exciting suburbs, and didn't want to deal with dirty city living. Its the 20 and 30 -somethings who are driving the condo boom and moving back into the conveniences of city living.
But one of my favourite comments has got to be this story about the women from "small town Alberta" - my Mom is from small town Alberta and she escaped to Toronto ASAP. She couldn't deal with the redneck attitudes and ultra-conservative values anymore. People are more outgoing now, but that's because they can be, because they're not afraid of being themselves. I think that's a much better place to be than somewhere where you have to hide who you really are for fear of society hunting you down and running you out of town.
But I think, really, the most important thing to remember is: if you don't like it, you can leave.