Narcissist, Individualist, Who Me??
After reading a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, that suggests that our generation's ego trip could lead to volatile relationships ahead, I am a little entertained. According to the psychology report, "Egos Inflating Over Time," led by a San Diego State psyhcologist, a rising ego rush could cause problems for Generation Y individuals, in that people with an inflated sense of self tend to have less interest in emotionally intimate bonds and can easily lash out when rejected or insulted. The heightened "sense of self" was attributed to Web sites like Myspace and YouTube.
While I agree that a lot of people, mostly teenagers belonging to the Gen.Y category are somewhat individualistic, it is not just due to Web sites like Myspace and Facebook or reality TV shows. American culture is highly individualistic, as we are based on a democracy of capitalizing in areas that will only be beneficial to the money-makers of America, like large corporations.
Take Starbucks for example. On its Web site, there is a whole section with a bunch of links dedicated to their "sound" business move to offer Fair Trade coffee. And that's just the thing, they offer Fair Trade coffee, and always have it available for the caffeine addicts who love drinking coffee from the cup with the green and black mermaid, but it is not used in their everyday espresso or fresh brewed coffee. One would have to ask for a pot of Fair Trade coffee to be brewed and then wait an additional 4-5 minutes for Fair Trade coffee.
There is nothing in the promotional brochures about Starbucks' dedication to coffee farmers that says that Fair Trade products are available only upon request. Additionally, Fair Trade coffee farmers have to meet specific guidelines set by Starbucks and Conservation International before they and their communities can receive the benefits of being a Fair Trade farmer.
The bottom line here is that Fair Trade farmers have to meet specific guidelines to receive the benefits. What's more is that land in third-world countries that is highly arable is basically taken by large corporations who are capitalizing on America's societal consensus to be environmentally conscious.
It is also ironic in this report that a sociology professor at Cal State Long Beach said, "If you don't have a me-first attitude, you won't succeed." It appears that individualism is the way-to-be down in southern California, which helps contribute to America's stereotype as being an individualist nation.
My sociology professor here at the University of Oregon believes that we are entirely individualistic. He has been a sociology professor for years and was once a leader of a Vietnam student anti-war organization, the Student Democratic Society. He has formed his opinion just by examining student behavior on campus, like walking and talking on cell phones, listening to iPods when walking down the street, and even down to the fact that we are not protesting the war in Iraq. He specifically says that we just "don't care."
While this may be true for some, for others the reason for not protesting the war is that the tactics used by the police force are far more harsh than they were in the 1960s. Instead of fire hoses and batons, we now can look forward to tear gas, tazors, and rubber bullets.
In speaking with my good friend, Becky, whom used to live in apartments in the middle of greek row down at UCLA, individualists roam the streets at all hours. Down there it is okay if one answers his/her cell phone or Blackberry in the middle of a posh dinner. Also, according to Becky, employers will hire and fire without thinking twice. As a well-known photographer's apprentice, Becky was expected to work 15+ days, and if she decided to relax and work the "norm" of nine-hour workdays, she was threatened with termination.
So I guess the bottom line is that our individualistic behavior is not our fault. There are many outside forces that result in Gen. Y's egoist behavior, many of which are out of our control. My advice: live life like honeybees do, that is work together instead of with concern only of oneself.
While I agree that a lot of people, mostly teenagers belonging to the Gen.Y category are somewhat individualistic, it is not just due to Web sites like Myspace and Facebook or reality TV shows. American culture is highly individualistic, as we are based on a democracy of capitalizing in areas that will only be beneficial to the money-makers of America, like large corporations.
Take Starbucks for example. On its Web site, there is a whole section with a bunch of links dedicated to their "sound" business move to offer Fair Trade coffee. And that's just the thing, they offer Fair Trade coffee, and always have it available for the caffeine addicts who love drinking coffee from the cup with the green and black mermaid, but it is not used in their everyday espresso or fresh brewed coffee. One would have to ask for a pot of Fair Trade coffee to be brewed and then wait an additional 4-5 minutes for Fair Trade coffee.
There is nothing in the promotional brochures about Starbucks' dedication to coffee farmers that says that Fair Trade products are available only upon request. Additionally, Fair Trade coffee farmers have to meet specific guidelines set by Starbucks and Conservation International before they and their communities can receive the benefits of being a Fair Trade farmer.
The bottom line here is that Fair Trade farmers have to meet specific guidelines to receive the benefits. What's more is that land in third-world countries that is highly arable is basically taken by large corporations who are capitalizing on America's societal consensus to be environmentally conscious.
It is also ironic in this report that a sociology professor at Cal State Long Beach said, "If you don't have a me-first attitude, you won't succeed." It appears that individualism is the way-to-be down in southern California, which helps contribute to America's stereotype as being an individualist nation.
My sociology professor here at the University of Oregon believes that we are entirely individualistic. He has been a sociology professor for years and was once a leader of a Vietnam student anti-war organization, the Student Democratic Society. He has formed his opinion just by examining student behavior on campus, like walking and talking on cell phones, listening to iPods when walking down the street, and even down to the fact that we are not protesting the war in Iraq. He specifically says that we just "don't care."
While this may be true for some, for others the reason for not protesting the war is that the tactics used by the police force are far more harsh than they were in the 1960s. Instead of fire hoses and batons, we now can look forward to tear gas, tazors, and rubber bullets.
In speaking with my good friend, Becky, whom used to live in apartments in the middle of greek row down at UCLA, individualists roam the streets at all hours. Down there it is okay if one answers his/her cell phone or Blackberry in the middle of a posh dinner. Also, according to Becky, employers will hire and fire without thinking twice. As a well-known photographer's apprentice, Becky was expected to work 15+ days, and if she decided to relax and work the "norm" of nine-hour workdays, she was threatened with termination.
So I guess the bottom line is that our individualistic behavior is not our fault. There are many outside forces that result in Gen. Y's egoist behavior, many of which are out of our control. My advice: live life like honeybees do, that is work together instead of with concern only of oneself.
Labels: Honeybee
posted by Ashley | 6:40 PM
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