My books are my best friends.They transport me to places I’ve long wanted to see and make me meet various interesting people.Most importantly, they somehow ease my loneliness.
![theatlantic:
Millennials: The Greatest Generation or the Most Narcissistic?
In my 2006 book Generation Me, I presented data showing generational increases in self-esteem, assertiveness, self-importance, narcissism, and high expectations, based on surveys of 1.2 million young people, some dating back to the 1920s. These analyses indicated a clear cultural shift toward individualism and focusing on the self. But perhaps both views were correct — maybe Millennials’ greater self-importance found expression in helping others and caring about larger social causes.
My co-authors and I decided to find out. Two large datasets — the Monitoring the Future survey of high school students and the American Freshman survey of entering college students — had many questions on community feeling, concern for others, and civic engagement that had been asked since the Boomers were young in the 1960s and 1970s. Both datasets are nationally representative and both are huge — half a million high school respondents and 9 million college respondents.
With representative samples comparing three generations at the same age, this was the best data available to settle the Me vs. We question - and these items had never been analyzed in their entirety before.
So we dug into the data. The results for civic engagement were clear: Millennials were less likely than Boomers and even GenXers to say they thought about social problems, to be interested in politics and government, to contact public officials, or to work for a political campaign. They were less likely to say they trusted the government to do what’s right, and less likely to say they were interested in government and current events. It was a far cry from Howe and Strauss’ prediction of Millennials as “The Next Great Generation” in civic involvement.
Millennials were also less likely to say they did things in their daily lives to conserve energy and help the environment, and less likely to agree that government should take action on environmental issues. With all of the talk about Millennials being “green,” I expected these items to be the exception. Instead, they showed some of the largest declines. Three times as many Millennials as Boomers said they made no personal effort to help the environment.
Millennials were slightly less likely to say they wanted a job that was helpful to others or was worthwhile to society. This is directly counter to the Generation We view predicting that Millennials would be much more concerned for others. Volunteering rates did increase, the only item out of 30 measuring concern for others that did. However, this rise occurred at the same time that high schools increasingly required volunteer service to graduate.
So where did Howe and Strauss, and others who championed the “Generation We” view, go wrong? They developed an idea of the generation first and then went looking for data to support it.
Read more. [Image: Shutterstock]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3emdo5eHt1qcokc4o1_500.jpg)
Millennials: The Greatest Generation or the Most Narcissistic?
In my 2006 book Generation Me, I presented data showing generational increases in self-esteem, assertiveness, self-importance, narcissism, and high expectations, based on surveys of 1.2 million young people, some dating back to the 1920s. These analyses indicated a clear cultural shift toward individualism and focusing on the self. But perhaps both views were correct — maybe Millennials’ greater self-importance found expression in helping others and caring about larger social causes.
My co-authors and I decided to find out. Two large datasets — the Monitoring the Future survey of high school students and the American Freshman survey of entering college students — had many questions on community feeling, concern for others, and civic engagement that had been asked since the Boomers were young in the 1960s and 1970s. Both datasets are nationally representative and both are huge — half a million high school respondents and 9 million college respondents.
With representative samples comparing three generations at the same age, this was the best data available to settle the Me vs. We question - and these items had never been analyzed in their entirety before.
So we dug into the data. The results for civic engagement were clear: Millennials were less likely than Boomers and even GenXers to say they thought about social problems, to be interested in politics and government, to contact public officials, or to work for a political campaign. They were less likely to say they trusted the government to do what’s right, and less likely to say they were interested in government and current events. It was a far cry from Howe and Strauss’ prediction of Millennials as “The Next Great Generation” in civic involvement.
Millennials were also less likely to say they did things in their daily lives to conserve energy and help the environment, and less likely to agree that government should take action on environmental issues. With all of the talk about Millennials being “green,” I expected these items to be the exception. Instead, they showed some of the largest declines. Three times as many Millennials as Boomers said they made no personal effort to help the environment.
Millennials were slightly less likely to say they wanted a job that was helpful to others or was worthwhile to society. This is directly counter to the Generation We view predicting that Millennials would be much more concerned for others. Volunteering rates did increase, the only item out of 30 measuring concern for others that did. However, this rise occurred at the same time that high schools increasingly required volunteer service to graduate.
So where did Howe and Strauss, and others who championed the “Generation We” view, go wrong? They developed an idea of the generation first and then went looking for data to support it.
Read more. [Image: Shutterstock]
tumblrbot asked: ROBOTS OR DINOSAURS?
Robots.They are more innovative.Dinosaurs are so prehistoric and outdated.
Until then <3
It was Wednesday morning. I woke up from the never ending ringing of my phone. It was a long distance call from my aunt in Singapore. She already made 2 missed calls beforehand. I wonder what had her calling me first thing in the morning. She might just be checking on my allergy which broke out for a week and had me feeling unwell or maybe… I dismissed the thought. However, when I finally answered the phone on her third call, I realized that the day I’ve long feared has finally come, the news that I would never want to hear has arrived…”Wala na si tatay,shine”. It was the only thing she said while sobbing on the other line. My world stopped spinning for a moment.I felt nothing but emptiness. There was no pain, just numbness. The thought didn’t sink in. I told her okay, exchanged some few words and put down my phone.
No, it couldn’t be true. It was just this January that Tatay and I watched the Prince of Persia and Friday the 13th on HBO. It was just recently that he asked for my power kiss to alleviate his body pain and a soothing massage to relax his strained muscles.It is impossible. A man like tatay wouldn’t give up that easily.He couldn’t die. He is just there, sitting at the backyard, waiting for me to come home. We would then sit together, eat merienda and he would start listening to my stories. He would be proud of me, as he always were. He would then sit on his rocking chair while I comb my hair in front of the mirror. He would look at me with those loving eyes and tell me that it’s not me he sees, but a beautiful barbie doll. He never fails to remind me that I’m the most beautiful girl in the world. On some days, he would sit and play the organ while smiling at me.He still hasn’t taught me how to play it yet, so he couldn’t go. He’s still there, feeding the fish in the pond until they grow bigger.I believe that he is just there, waiting for my return.
But I know that I can’t trust what I believe in. My heart yearns for him. Gone were the days when I was just a little girl and he would surprise me with chocolates every time he comes home.We would stroll around the plaza after mass to buy ice cream and pancakes. During afternoons,we would just sit in front of the house and eat barbecues while I share to him what transpired in the latest novel I’ve read.I was just in grade school then. He would always be there to support me during my performances, whether it would be a spelling competition,a quiz bee or a dance recital. He would take me to ballet class and bring me energy drink to boost my system.We would then go home together, hand in hand. He would help me in my assignments and I would try to understand what he’s trying to say even though how complex his thoughts are.He would lift my spirit up whenever I’m down with his wise words. Though I’ve been a spoiled brat and a hard headed girl, there was never a time that he shouted at me. He would just talk to me and everything would be alright. There were so many times I’ve disappointed him and yet at the end of the day, he could still smile and be proud that he has a granddaughter like me.
He is a brilliant and very intelligent man. He is an inventor.I remember the time when our house almost turned into a factory of soap,slippers,chocolates and peanut butter and a bakery. He himself creates the machines he uses for making these products. I watch him with awe while doing these things and of course, at the end of the day, he would always make special products for me. He left us a legacy of a man who could make anything possible. He is a man of principle. Though many hate him for that, I admire him. He told me that I must not allow other people to make use of my resources for their own benefits. He said that even though you don’t get rich, what’s important is that you keep your dignity and integrity as a person.During times of suffering, he would refer me to the book of Job and he would tell me that God has greater things in store for us after we suffer.
Losing him is painful,it left nothing but memories that would forever haunt me.With the values that he has instilled in me and memories that inspired me, I vowed to myself that I am going to be a lawyer and a great one at that. I would never fail him. I would make him proud in everything that I would do.
In his last few years, I know that I failed to show him how special he is to me.It just hurts to see him suffering and no longer being the strong person I was used to, so I preferred to stay away. And this, I strongly regret. But my love for him never wavered.
He never left for he would always remain alive in my heart. He is just there, waiting for me, for the stories I would share. We would talk all day without him getting tired.And I would tell him how lucky I am to have a grandfather like him.
Someday,somewhere,in someplace unknown.Until then, Tatay. I love you so much.:(
