Comments on: Kids These Days… http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/ The world according to a hula hooping, TKD black-belt wearing, radio show producing physiologist with aspirations to science journalism Tue, 22 May 2012 03:32:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Jon Klement http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3706 Jon Klement Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:55:14 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3706 "The article suggests that the extreme satisfaction might be too much of a good thing. Over-confidence can lead to attitudes of entitlement and laziness." As a public school teacher with 8 years experience, I can tell you that it's real and it's getting worse. “The article suggests that the extreme satisfaction might be too much of a good thing. Over-confidence can lead to attitudes of entitlement and laziness.”

As a public school teacher with 8 years experience, I can tell you that it’s real and it’s getting worse.

]]> By: Magnifico Giganticus http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3648 Magnifico Giganticus Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:45:17 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3648 Young Americans feeling entitled and being lazy!? Why I never! Young Americans feeling entitled and being lazy!? Why I never!

]]> By: logan http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3632 logan Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:34:06 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3632 Is there also a corresponding downward trend in the rates of teens taking anti-depressants, teen-suicide, and other personal disorders (body-image, anorexia, etc) and social disorders (criminal activity, non-relational sexual promiscuity, violent behaviour)? One would hope "feel better about myself" lead to better self-care and care for others. Is this reality? Is there also a corresponding downward trend in the rates of teens taking anti-depressants, teen-suicide, and other personal disorders (body-image, anorexia, etc) and social disorders (criminal activity, non-relational sexual promiscuity, violent behaviour)? One would hope “feel better about myself” lead to better self-care and care for others. Is this reality?

]]> By: Eric http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3629 Eric Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:40:06 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3629 Off the top of my head I could see two reasons for the 93% figure. Either they used a very small sample size and asked the questions just before a holiday or break or they asked the same questions to the 2006 teens as they did the 1975 kids without updating the language used to phrase the questions. I agree with you that the result seems statistically improbable. Off the top of my head I could see two reasons for the 93% figure. Either they used a very small sample size and asked the questions just before a holiday or break or they asked the same questions to the 2006 teens as they did the 1975 kids without updating the language used to phrase the questions.

I agree with you that the result seems statistically improbable.

]]> By: MadScientist http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3614 MadScientist Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:59:28 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3614 Do people get awards for stating the obvious these days? Being a natural born skeptic I remember cringing at unsubstantiated phrases like "we're number one!" at least since my early teens. "Number one in what"? I would ask, and "why are you number one?" I do not see this phenomenon as a matter of overconfidence but a matter of ignorance and arrogance. If it is any more widespread now than it was during my teens in the 1980's I suspect it is because society may be tolerating more nonsense these days. This arrogance is dangerous though. I used to spend my weekends as a volunteer at a 'Science Center' which, like many, was inspired by the San Francisco Exploratorium. I would create exhibits and spend hours, if not days, thinking about concise words to explain the phenomenon being demonstrated. I took great pride in the fact that all my gadgets actually demonstrated the phenomenon which they claimed to demonstrate. Some people have asked me why I don't take any 'shortcuts' and fake some demonstrations - after all, who would know? My response has always been that there is absolutely no reason to lie about anything in science and that only the feebleminded would attempt to fool people and claim that they are engaged in science education. This sort of attitude that it is somehow OK to fool people in the name of education is what I believe is bred and commonly accepted by ignorant people who have an unearned self-confidence. [As to 'who would know' - why, any educated person would know. On the increasingly rare occasions that I wander through a 'science center' I often walk up to a faked exhibit and explain the scam in detail to anyone interested and also try to explain what was meant to be demonstrated and how it can actually be done with little effort - or at least with just as much effort as perpetrating the scam.] Do people get awards for stating the obvious these days?

Being a natural born skeptic I remember cringing at unsubstantiated phrases like “we’re number one!” at least since my early teens. “Number one in what”? I would ask, and “why are you number one?”

I do not see this phenomenon as a matter of overconfidence but a matter of ignorance and arrogance. If it is any more widespread now than it was during my teens in the 1980’s I suspect it is because society may be tolerating more nonsense these days.

This arrogance is dangerous though. I used to spend my weekends as a volunteer at a ‘Science Center’ which, like many, was inspired by the San Francisco Exploratorium. I would create exhibits and spend hours, if not days, thinking about concise words to explain the phenomenon being demonstrated. I took great pride in the fact that all my gadgets actually demonstrated the phenomenon which they claimed to demonstrate. Some people have asked me why I don’t take any ’shortcuts’ and fake some demonstrations - after all, who would know? My response has always been that there is absolutely no reason to lie about anything in science and that only the feebleminded would attempt to fool people and claim that they are engaged in science education. This sort of attitude that it is somehow OK to fool people in the name of education is what I believe is bred and commonly accepted by ignorant people who have an unearned self-confidence. [As to ‘who would know’ - why, any educated person would know. On the increasingly rare occasions that I wander through a ’science center’ I often walk up to a faked exhibit and explain the scam in detail to anyone interested and also try to explain what was meant to be demonstrated and how it can actually be done with little effort - or at least with just as much effort as perpetrating the scam.]

]]> By: Robin Rane' http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3601 Robin Rane' Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:11:16 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3601 Hi! Found you on twitter, this is a great website~ I think looking at parenting of the 1970's and parenting now may be the answer...I was a teen in the 70's and honestly, I parent in a completely different way than my own parents. More info. out there for me than for them...just a thought Hi! Found you on twitter, this is a great website~
I think looking at parenting of the 1970’s and parenting now may be the answer…I was a teen in the 70’s and honestly, I parent in a completely different way than my own parents. More info. out there for me than for them…just a thought

]]> By: anon http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3539 anon Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:07:11 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3539 Sample size and physical distribution of the sampling are pretty important. In the linked to 'article' no information is given with which one can find out this information. Without this data the conclusions, and discussion, are irrelevant. Sample size and physical distribution of the sampling are pretty important. In the linked to ‘article’ no information is given with which one can find out this information. Without this data the conclusions, and discussion, are irrelevant.

]]> By: excalipoor http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3538 excalipoor Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:58:18 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3538 Isn't self-esteem can be mistaking with ego? I mean they might be detecting their ego instead of real self-esteem? Am I wrong? Isn’t self-esteem can be mistaking with ego? I mean they might be detecting their ego instead of real self-esteem? Am I wrong?

]]> By: Frank Monaldo http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3526 Frank Monaldo Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:12:36 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3526 Dear Kiki, Your post reminds me of a story, perhaps apocryphal. According to the story, American students do not do as well as Korean (or maybe it was Japanese) students in mathematics at the same grade level. However, in the estimation of their own math ability, American students far exceed the foreign ones. Regardless of actual skills, Americans students have won the self-esteem battle. We think well of ourselves. Regards, Frank Frank Dear Kiki,

Your post reminds me of a story, perhaps apocryphal. According to the story, American students do not do as well as Korean (or maybe it was Japanese) students in mathematics at the same grade level. However, in the estimation of their own math ability, American students far exceed the foreign ones. Regardless of actual skills, Americans students have won the self-esteem battle. We think well of ourselves.

Regards,
Frank

Frank

]]> By: DaveFriedel http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3439 DaveFriedel Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:04:43 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/12/05/kids-these-days/#comment-3439 It's definitely different being a teen in the Vietnam era than today. I'm not sure how accurate measuring "happiness" is, even with a poll. Happiness is relative to one's own experience, which 30 years ago was very different. There were far less external stimuli (ok, ok when I was a kid in the 70's) to preoccupy. Preoccupication with work or games or anything else are things that can make a teen happy, but are easy to confuse with "being" happy. So I think in 75, it sucked being a teen and there was nothing to do except hang out and face it. Today there are XBoxes, the Internet, after school activities, and on and on and on to preoccupy. Doesn't mean that teen is truly happier about who they are... but perhaps just in enough denial to think so. It’s definitely different being a teen in the Vietnam era than today. I’m not sure how accurate measuring “happiness” is, even with a poll. Happiness is relative to one’s own experience, which 30 years ago was very different. There were far less external stimuli (ok, ok when I was a kid in the 70’s) to preoccupy. Preoccupication with work or games or anything else are things that can make a teen happy, but are easy to confuse with “being” happy.

So I think in 75, it sucked being a teen and there was nothing to do except hang out and face it. Today there are XBoxes, the Internet, after school activities, and on and on and on to preoccupy. Doesn’t mean that teen is truly happier about who they are… but perhaps just in enough denial to think so.

]]>