Generational Failure

20 years ago George Carlin noticed that people were getting wimpier. Today I would say that wimpiness has reached epidemic levels. Nerds are cool. Dressing like Mr. Rodgers is fashionable. Heros in movies have become wimpy underdogs, rather than smooth talking leading men. People can't drink worth a shit. 

I don't understand people who order water at bars unless they're the DD, and in that case you shouldn't be drinking. For some reason people I see out drinking feel the need to chase their light beer with a glass of water. Beer is almost entirely made of water, and drinking both at the same time is redundant. 

The curent culture of cool is what people call "hipster." I'm not saying it's cool. I'm just saying it beats out Yuppie, or anyone is hanging out to old fashion (hippies, punks, grungers... it's over). I hate the term hipster, and use it only for the original hipsters, the beats, who were actually very hip and probably the pinnacle of American counterculture. What people call "hipsters," I call what they actually are, wimps. 

They are too wimpy to learn how to use gears on a bicycle. Their music is whiney. The fashion is based on straight men looking gay and straight women looking like cartoon characters. They don't do any job that requires manual labor; have you ever seen a "hipster" fireman? They aren't exactly known as being straight shooters. The rhetoric of the day has become one full of sarcasm and passive criticism. The idea, of being too cool to stoop to certain levels. I've never bought that line about "stooping too low." I'll stoop to any level and fight any battle that I feel passionate about. I may be many, things, but I'm no wimp. 

I think a combination of failed parenting strategies (affirmation, sparing of the rod etc...) and the abundance of technology have led to an unprecedented ease of life for my generation. Having such an easy time has led to a great generation of wussies. Now I'm not saying that absolutely everyone is a wuss. What I am saying is that wussiness is cool and is the main point of view from which contemporary arts and culture are seen and created.

I don't suspect that the next generation will be much better, as they are already more used to touching screens than themselves, but I hold out hope for the next generation after them. Being raised by wimps should inspire future generations to rebel and show some backbone. Maybe we'll actually see a movement for social change that doesn't revolve around emulating transients. 

Just to clarify, I don't hate wimps. I don't wish to pick on them. I do feel that they have a place in society and as a socialist, I'd be happy to help wimps who needed help. I just don't think we should idolize or emulate them. We're given balls at birth. It's our job to make the most of them, not tuck them between our legs and watch reality TV competitions to satisfy our darwinian instincts.