7 Harsh Realities Of Life Millennials Need To Understand

Stucky ,

Radiocarbon testing method is still not capable of yielding accurate and reliable results. There are gross discrepancies , the chronology is uneven and relative, and the accepted dates are actually SELECTED DATES .The whole bless thing is nothing but 13 th century ALCHEMY…Dr Robert Lee.

This important. Seems some of you kin folks lived less then 3000 years ago in Egypt. Imagine that ,you could have Egyptian DNA in your blood Stucky.Now watch the NOAH movie.

Couldn’t have said it better myself, as a parent, the hardest thing in the world to do is to see your child about to fall/fail at something and NOT jump in to save them, but let them fall/fail in order to learn how to pick themselves up an try again.

“—– Stop complaining”

Why? We had the American Revolution and Civil rights movement that started off with complaints. If we must quit complaining then you conservative and libertarian fucks must quit complaining about big government and welfare? Can we be consistent please?

“—– Stop blaming”

If someone commits a crime against me, why am I not allowed to blame the criminal? Why is blaming wrong?

“—– Stop believing that your parents, schools, the government, etc etc OWE you anything.”

Why? If one’s parents, schools, government, etc, etc told students as they were growing up half-truths and a whole bunch of horse shit then why isn’t one owed compensation for fraud?

“—- Accept that the world is a harsh mistress.”

I don’t accept that the world is a harsh mistress as absolutely true and here is why. The world is transitory and temporary. Things come and things fade away. Compared to 1000s of years ago and even 100s ago life is a lot better. Why can’t we accept that the world is less shitty but still shitty, let’s change it? Why am I wrong for this belief?

“—- Be self-reliant as quickly as humanly possible.”

Actually, I kind of agree with this.

I’ll address all 7 “Harsh Realities” outlined by the author (who is also a white, middle/upper class man that will most likely never face oppression)

1. We live in a world of hate because many have no regard for others. Even though my boss may not personally care about my coworker gender-bashing me in the workplace, it’s illegal and it’s his job to address it.

2. Though some may not be able to be everything they want to be, most people can. I had a 2nd grade reading level when I was in the 6th grade… you know why? Because I witnessed both of my parents death and was orphaned. I faced trauma that most white middle/upper class people will never face – you know how I know that? Because when I tell people my story they stare at me and say, “you don’t LOOK like you’ve been through all that.” Looks can be deceiving, and I am a testament to fulfilling your dreams regardless of your setbacks. Did I work hard? Yes… but I didn’t get there on my own and I am the positive outcome of government programs that people are trying to take away. Don’t hate on people’s vision, dreams, and drive.

3. My Psychology and Sociology degrees didn’t teach me how to be a professional victim. They showed me how to take my trauma and effectively help my peers, and my country. A few weeks ago I served a woman who was the victim of sex trafficking. She was traumatized, but I listened to hear so she could feel heard. The only reason why good ole Tyler doesn’t endorse gender studies is because he doesn’t like the idea of his own gender privilege being exposed (just like his whiteness).

4. We’re all in the top 1% of the world? Not exactly. In order to be in the top 1% of the world, one must have an income over $34,000 after taxes, meaning a family of four must earn at least $136,000. That’s all considering you have no debt. I’m not ignoring the fact that these other countries could all use development, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have hard working single parents who give up their food ration for their own starving children. I remember my mom sacrificing a few meals for me, especially before we moved into a women’s shelter.

5. I think this one in particular is incredibly hypocritical. Just because you’re here and breathing doesn’t mean society owes you anything? I don’t know many people that are asking for a hand out, but I do know a lot of great people who could use a hand up. This election was never about policy, it was about privilege, and that’s what a large portion of voters expected from it – to keep their privilege and whatever it is that they believe this country still “owes” them.

6. “Government should not be allowed to legislate people’s behavior as long as it doesn’t infringe on someone else’s rights, but that doesn’t mean society isn’t allowed to have an opinion.” The great thing about this country is we do have freedom of speech – but we do not have freedom of action or abuse. I find it incredibly sad that I have friends (who I thought I knew..,.) that are celebrating the persecution of others. The irony in this? No one was trying to infringe on anyone’s rights, rather, promote the rights of others.

7. Abuse is more than a verbal offense or difference of opinion. America should be a safe place, that’s why people love this country and what our service men and women fight for. People shouldn’t have to stay in their homes because they’re worried about being physically assaulted for wearing a hijab in reverence of their religion. Children are sitting at school right now wondering if their parents will be there when they get home because they’ve been told by our leader elect that he’s going to deport them. The handicapped should not be ridiculed or scolded for their disability. The only safe place is your home? America is my home, and I want everyone to feel safe in my home.

1. Yes, people do care about your feelings regardless of their educational status. Whoever wrote this must live a very sad life if that is not the case for them.

If you complain to your boss at work about someone calling something you don’t want to be called, they legally have to do something about it. Every work place has an HR department now, this is not Mad Men.

Calling someone by the correct identifier does not require and tip-toeing. It’s actually ridiculous to equate saying “them” instead of “him” or “her” to any type of hardship.
Being transgender is not about “feelings.” Please educate yourself if you think otherwise.

People who offend you won’t stop to mop up your tears because they don’t have to – sure, no one has to care about the wellbeing of others. It’s just sort of, you know, a tenant of every moralistic belief system except that of lazy entitled boomers who would rather write half-assed think pieces.

Learning to accept – what’s this – alternative viewpoints? I will just let the irony stand for itself there. No, wait, this needs more drawing out: it is okay to have alternative viewpoints like “chocolate is better than vanilla” but it is not okay to have viewpoints like “white people are better than black.” Accept viewpoints that don’t affect you – but challenge ones that deny personhood to victims such as African-Americans and transgender people.

2. Which millennial told you they thought they could be whatever they want to be? What is an example of this phenomenon that is so prevalent you put it at number 2 on your list? What is the epidemic of young people who are trying to be rocket scientists but don’t know how to do long division? Where are these people and how much straw are they made from?

By the way, it is incredibly telling that the second example you can come up with as something to aspire to is being a successful man’s date. No one should have to define themselves by whether or not they date a strong male.
It’s funny how many microaggressions you can fit into one paragraph that basically amounts to “play to your strengths.” And somehow this is put into a list of “harsh realities.” Play to your strength is a harsh reality, ok.

3. I can almost guarantee that whomever wrote this doesn’t know what Gender Studies means. You could replace “Gender Studies” with “Art History” and you’re just re-hashing the oldest knock in the book which is basically just saying academia doesn’t matter. We should all work in all of the manufacturing jobs that still exist and never try to expand our knowledge, got it. Glad you’ve thought of this for us so we don’t have to. God forbid we read anything after this thought provoking listicle again.
By the way, you will end up in debt if you go to study things in school and that is your fault. Never challenge that system, it won’t change. Go to ITT tech and learn how to rebuild a carburetor, you definitely shouldn’t try to accomplish anything more than that (like becoming a blogger).

4. Since you live in America you shouldn’t complain – seems to not include instructions for the poor, gay, trans, Muslims, African-Americans, etc. that are not part of this person’s America.
He says to fly to Uganda and you will appreciate living in America – do you realize Uganda and the rest of Africa are so poor and fucked up because of European colonization? This article is clearly by white men for white men.

It may be “cool” to dump on capitalism – yeah, we just criticize the system of oppression because it’s hip – but fly to Greece (also a country that practices capitalism) and you will notice we are better off here. In fact, Capitalism (the system that is also imposed on Greece) is the only reason we’re better off than Greece!

By the way, let me know how many McDonalds you have to go into before you can find an employee with a gender studies degree. I’ll wait.

5. The beginning of 5 states “You don’t have a right to it just because you exist…” The beginning of the U.S. Constitution (that thing conservatives always talk about but never understand) states “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
So, your basic premise that just because we are here breathing (how droll) doesn’t guarantee you anything, which is the exact opposite premise from what this country was founded on.

Working hard is not a guarantor of wealth or the ability to comfortably take care of yourself if you are black, an immigrant, etc. etc.

“Demanding healthcare be a right, for example, is equivalent to demanding the government force the taxpayer to pay for it.” Here, try substituting healthcare for something more traditional and see how that sounds: “Demanding roadways be a right is equivalent to demanding the government force the taxpayer to pay for it.” See how that just doesn’t sound right? No one thinks roads are a right, what we think instead is that we are a developed nation in the 21st century, if we don’t have roads that’s a joke. Roads are good for everyone and everyone pays for them.

“It only leads to rationing of care when costs become unsustainable” – what? Please provide evidence. It seems to me that costs now are unsustainable which has caused care to be rationed only for the rich and most privileged. How can universal health coverage only create problems? Suddenly poor people might be able to go to the doctor, I don’t see that as a problem but I do see it as one very tangible outcome of socialized medicine.

6. “You are not a special snowflake and your opinion doesn’t matter to other people,” I said at the end of my multiple paragraph treatise on my feelings. I think what this section is trying to say is it’s okay to have your goofy opinions as long as they don’t become law. The author’s point is that he should be allowed to comment on it if he has a different opinion – literally no one said you can’t. This is the type of thing that society dictates, not law. You’re allowed to say your dumb opinion and we’re allowed to tell you that they’re dumb. Us telling you that you’re dumb is not taking away your freedom of speech. The logic of 6 is so circular that it really doesn’t say anything.

7. “The only safe space is in your home.” That’s not true, do you know what a safe space is? Have you heard of AA? While I think AA itself is pretty fucked up, this is an example of a safe space – you can go to an AA meeting and talk about whatever you want and it doesn’t leave that room and no one judges you. Basically the same idea as any other group therapy. Why are you trying to take things away from people who need therapy? Why create a stigma around getting help for mental health? It’s not like that’s a big issue in our country, we haven’t had a mass shooting in a couple of days!

No one is trying to make it illegal to tell off colored jokes. We are trying to create a society where no one tells off colored jokes because they actually realize the damage those jokes cause but this is social action not legal action. Thanks for getting that, if you stop defending people who tell such jokes maybe our progress will go a little faster. Reminder: we are not taking away freedom of speech. We just want everyone to stop hating each other. They are mutually exclusive.

“If you cannot handle [jokes/spats/differences of opinion] without losing control of your emotions and reverting back to your ‘safe space’…stay put at home.” Again, what do you think a safe space is? Again, why are you defending the people who are saying negative things under the guise of protecting free speech instead of trying to create an environment where the negative things aren’t said in the first place? Free speech will still exist in the latter scenario. How do you “revert” to a safe space? I’m so perplexed as to what you think a safe space is. You use language to infantilize and idea you don’t fully understand to make it seem unimportant rather than try to understand what it is.

There is another notion of what a safe space is, where there are Trigger Warnings [TW] or Content Warnings [CW]. This is to protect people with PTSD. People with PTSD have a medical condition that may cause them to lose control of their emotions and feel that they are best off staying put at home. They are not able to, as you suggest, “just accept these harsh realities of life and go out into the world prepared to confront them.” So, some people out there think maybe it would be nice for people with PTSD to still be able to get an education.
For example: there is soldier who serves in Iraq for 8 years. He comes home and has PTSD and things that remind him of his traumatic experience in Iraq trigger his PTSD. He comes home and uses his military benefits to try to receive an education. One of the classes the soldier is taking requires the class to read a book that includes scenes of violence, war, and other imagery that might trigger the soldier into having a breakdown. Putting a “TW: war/violence” on the syllabus next to that book’s title is a courtesy to those suffering from this medically diagnosed condition, it is not a hardship on the school or its faculty, and to argue against it would be ghoulish. So, I don’t know, maybe that’s the type of safe space to which you were referring – although it’s not a place that you hide in, it’s an atmosphere of inclusion and belonging. I will never understand why someone would not want to foster this atmosphere in their community, especially since it requires almost no work on your part. Just the acceptance you seem to espouse in 6.

In summary: you advocate for acceptance of other viewpoints and for people to read your opinions while at the same time attempting to bash people who go to schools to read other opinions and work for societal acceptance of all people. Perhaps you could use a few more years in school to understand how to write a coherent argument.

I have a lot of problems with this piece and I’m not Millennial. Besides being poorly written and utterly pointless, it’s also misogynistic. “If you’re overweight and unattractive, you’re not going to be the quarterback’s prom date. . .” What a great message. Yes, let’s tell women that we only value their physical characteristics and your success is gauged by the man you date. What is this 1950? That’s the most outdated thing I have ever heard. Going to the prom with the quarterback is meaningless, and using it as an example of you can’t be whatever you want is laughable. Are you afraid of smart women who can go out and achieve success and don’t need a man to define themselves? How about we strive to better the world and teach our children not to judge each other by our physical appearances and instead value people for who they are and what they contribute to society. Be better!