Sensitivity and younger generations

[VoidCat]

Are those of younger generations too sensitive? Why or why not? Tagging as promised @Saint Frankenstein and @Israel Khan
By younger generations I mean born after 1997...yes I know that would include me. I meant younger as in compared to older generations not compared to my age.

 

[epronovost]

I don't think the younger generation is any more sensitive than those who came before them. They might be qualified as more sensitive about certain subjects and behavior, but less about others.

 

[SomeRandom]

You want to talk sensitivity?
How about when all the boomers and Gen Xers whine constantly about PC this and PC that? I have been watching (against my better judgement) the right wing cope on YouTube, as it’s called. My god what a bunch of sensitive snowflakes. And they’re all like 10 years older than I am.


(Please note I recognise that that will just be a concentrated minority. They don’t speak for their entire “side” or generation. I’m just saying, after the literal televised tantrum I saw American boomers have a couple months ago, which actually lasted like weeks, it’s a little rich to me to claim that Zoomers are the sensitive ones.)

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I think they're more likely to get offended over things most people wouldn't understand why they're upset. There is a ton of language policing now that didn't exist, certainly not to this extent, when I was a teen in the 2000s. Apparently just describing someone as "butch" is "problematic" (I hate that word and tend to be irritated when someone says it to me)! It makes it very hard to communicate, especially honestly and clearly. You have to walk on eggshells around people and it's maddening.

 

[VoidCat]

I think they're more likely to get offended over things most people wouldn't understand why they're upset. There is a ton of language policing now that didn't exist, certainly not to this extent, when I was a teen in the 2000s. Apparently just describing someone as "butch" is "problematic" (I hate that word and tend to be irritated when someone says it to me)! It makes it very hard to communicate, especially honestly and clearly. You have to walk on eggshells around people and it's maddening.

Who says butch is problematic? I never met anyone who thinks that. In fact most lesbians I know my age call themselves butch

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Who says butch is problematic? I never met anyone who thinks that. In fact most lesbians I know my age call themselves butch

A coworker. It was bizarre. I looked at her like "wtf?".

 

[VoidCat]

A coworker. It was bizarre. I looked at her like "wtf?".

Was she lgbt herself? If not then that's not an example of being too sensitive that's an example of someone speaking over another group who isn't offended and getting offended on their behalf...I see this all the time happen with abledbodied people and disabled people...that sort of problem exists across all ages from what I can tell.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Was she lgbt herself? If not then that's not an example of being too sensitive that's an example of someone speaking over another group who isn't offended and getting offended on their behalf...I see this all the time happen with abledbodied people and disabled people...that sort of problem exists across all ages from what I can tell.

I guess she's bi because she's had girlfriends in the past. But what she doesn't know is that I'm bi and trans, so that makes it even dumber on her behalf. It was odd. But that was just a recent example.

 

[VoidCat]

I guess she's bi because she's had girlfriends in the past. But what she doesn't know is that I'm bi and trans, so that makes it even dumber on her behalf. It was odd. But that was just a recent example.

Hmm...I don't know why she'd think that...like I said most people my age dont care if you call them butch. From my experience at least. Did she give a reason?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Hmm...I don't know why she'd think that...like I said most people my age dont care if you call them butch. From my experience at least. Did she give a reason?

I didn't ask. The conversation was interrupted since we were supposed to be working, anyway.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I think younger generation is probably more inclined to utilize, and have access to mental health services which were underutilized and frankly scorned by older generations. Talking openly about your feelings I think will continue to be more acceptable, and being sensitive to one's own feelings and those around us as well.

I also think that global anonymous telecommunication makes it easier for younger voices to be heard, when they were largely ignored in earlier generations. Thus, very literal immaturity is more visible. Making it seem like it's an unusual increase when it's just public in a way 8t wasn't before.

Finally, anonymous global telecommunication makes it super easy to be in constant exchanges, positive or negative. That can cause an exhaustion effect where you're just tired of listening to people. And, reflexively, makes it seem like people who want to be listened to are overly sensitive/demanding when it's just normal level of social expectation.

It's a lot more complicated and no generation is a monolith.

 

[Left Coast]

Are those of younger generations too sensitive? Why or why not? Tagging as promised @Saint Frankenstein and @Israel Khan
By younger generations I mean born after 1997...yes I know that would include me. I meant younger as in compared to older generations not compared to my age.

I think it's a combination of things, Ray. In some ways, Gen Z might be too sensitive. But honestly, I think everyone is probably over-sensitive when it comes to certain topics anymore. That includes Boomers and everyone else.

On the other hand, I think what's happening in society is we're becoming more aware of the ways in which our society for so long has been casually racist, sexist, and homophobic without ever even stopping to question it. So as we take steps to correct that and it has become less socially acceptable to be casually racist or misogynistic, the people who benefitted from the prior system feel most loss from the change.

 

[McBell]

Are those of younger generations too sensitive? Why or why not? Tagging as promised @Saint Frankenstein and @Israel Khan
By younger generations I mean born after 1997...yes I know that would include me. I meant younger as in compared to older generations not compared to my age.

Is it that they are really that "sensitive" or is it they are merely pushing the envelope to see how far it will go?

 

[VoidCat]

Is it that they are really that "sensitive" or is it they are merely pushing the envelope to see how far it will go?

*Shurgs* Darn if I know.

 

[Stevicus]

You want to talk sensitivity?
How about when all the boomers and Gen Xers whine constantly about PC this and PC that? I have been watching (against my better judgement) the right wing cope on YouTube, as it’s called. My god what a bunch of sensitive snowflakes. And they’re all like 10 years older than I am.


(Please note I recognise that that will just be a concentrated minority. They don’t speak for their entire “side” or generation. I’m just saying, after the literal televised tantrum I saw American boomers have a couple months ago, which actually lasted like weeks, it’s a little rich to me to claim that Zoomers are the sensitive ones.)

Well, I guess it depends on how one looks at it. I think people naturally get a thicker skin as they get older. The same things that might bother a person at a younger age might not matter much in later years.

As far as being "sensitive snowflakes," I guess that can be more individualized where not everyone would fall into that category. One can find examples in every generation and among every political faction, so it seems more a human personality trait than anything else.

For what it's worth, I remember that the subject of "sensitivity" was viewed different back in the 70s and the so-called era of the "Sensitive Male" as some called it. It wasn't considered a bad thing to be sensitive, as it somehow seems to be now. How did we come to that?

 

[SomeRandom]

Well, I guess it depends on how one looks at it. I think people naturally get a thicker skin as they get older. The same things that might bother a person at a younger age might not matter much in later years.

I used to assume this happened to everyone naturally. Things that once bothered younger me I could care less about now.
But again, the absolute tantrum that was the aftermath of the 2020 US election. It was....weird to watch. And I saw it both on “mainstream media coverage” and online. I was surprised at how little the media had to sensationalise a lot of it. All of them were far older than I am.
Even the newscasters covering the story were like, are you guys okay over there?

As far as being "sensitive snowflakes," I guess that can be more individualized where not everyone would fall into that category. One can find examples in every generation and among every political faction, so it seems more a human personality trait than anything else.

Very true. I just find it a tad hypocritical of older gens to accuse younger gens of X or Y.
I mean they were the people who raised us

For what it's worth, I remember that the subject of "sensitivity" was viewed different back in the 70s and the so-called era of the "Sensitive Male" as some called it. It wasn't considered a bad thing to be sensitive, as it somehow seems to be now. How did we come to that?

Huh, that’s a bit sad. We’ve actually regressed as a society

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I grew up when parents (of a Conservative slant) complained about the Simpsons, Mortal Kombat, Magic the Gathering, Judas Priest, and Twisted Sister. Those were my parents, going on about a Satanic Panic.
Their parents complained about the Beatles and Elvis, so as far ad I'm concerned it's not generational. It's being dogmatic amd rigid in your views.

 

[Stevicus]

I used to assume this happened to everyone naturally. Things that once bothered younger me I could care less about now.
But again, the absolute tantrum that was the aftermath of the 2020 US election. It was....weird to watch. And I saw it both on “mainstream media coverage” and online. I was surprised at how little the media had to sensationalise a lot of it. All of them were far older than I am.
Even the newscasters covering the story were like, are you guys okay over there?

Well, even then, at least among the people I know and the general public, most people took it in stride. At least during my own lifetime, I've seen plenty of tantrums by people of all ages. These things happen, but most people have far more important things to worry about, such as the struggle to survive, pay bills, feed their families. Many people just don't have the time or energy to throw a tantrum - or worry about the tantrums of others.

Very true. I just find it a tad hypocritical of older gens to accuse younger gens of X or Y.
I mean they were the people who raised us

Well, we're all human beings with many of the same faults and shortcomings. One can discern the same kind of generation gaps which existed in every era. Most of the time, it just seems tongue-in-cheek, light-hearted ribbing each other. But there are times when it comes across more serious.

Huh, that’s a bit sad. We’ve actually regressed as a society

Yes, I think we have. We've wavered and lost our way. This is just as true for the Boomers as much as anyone.

 

[Quagmire]

All I have to go on these days is the internet, but that said; no I don't think younger people are more sensitive these days (that's sensitive as in touchy, as opposed to sensitive as in empathic. I think the former is pride-based where as the latter is compassion-based).

If anything, dealing with members off camera, I see more people my age completely losing it over some trifling moderation action, whereas younger people seem to just be able to shrug it off often as not.

 

[Stevicus]

I grew up when parents (of a Conservative slant) complained about the Simpsons, Mortal Kombat, Magic the Gathering, Judas Priest, and Twisted Sister. Those were my parents, going on about a Satanic Panic.
Their parents complained about the Beatles and Elvis, so as far ad I'm concerned it's not generational. It's being dogmatic amd rigid in your views.

"A Twisted Sister pin? ON YOUR UNIFORM??!?"