Are the Kids Labeled as Gen Z Hopeless? (My Answer to This Question)

Alex Phillips published an article via Medium.com titled "Gen Z Are Destined To Fail! : Heres How To Break Free From The Gen Z Curse.". It is an excellent read. After reading I left a few comments.  My thoughts shared at the article are also published below.  I would like my comments with my JDV blog visitors, who don't visit the Medium platform.

My granddaughter likes to laugh and say since she's Gen Z, she's hopeless. If it's just a silly joke, no problem. But I do hope she know that she is precious and where there is life, there is always hope.

That being said, I'd also like to say that “every generation blames the one that came before”, per Mike & The Mechanics. Or to borrow words from Billy Joel “We didn't start the fire.”

Every generation faces “something”! Gen Z is no different from any of the other generations. Whatever demons arise they have to take them on! You either learn how to think for yourself and stand on your own two feet … OR __________. I'm not sure how the blank will get filled in for each individual, but it won't be good.

History should be taught AND wisdom acquired from history lessons should be passed down from generation to generation. It's the least that one generation can do for the next generation. That Billy Joel song is PACKED with history lessons.

Original source

In every generation, some people cause problems & sorrow for everybody. The consequences of their acts last for generations. When PAST bad stuff & PRESENT bad stuff combine, it sure makes the FUTURE look bleak. Isn't that why every generation blames the one that came before?

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) June 3, 2024

Best Books of the Year 2023.
Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, & Silents—& What They Mean for America's Future https://t.co/pjYNn9oBoj via @amazon @goshoppingbees#books #reading #readinglist #booksworthreading #gifts for #booklovers pic.twitter.com/PrZuRTcyta

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) June 5, 2024

Questions and Answers About Classic Literature

I have a Tumblr blog. (I have several in fact.) But I don't get much feedback and interaction from my followers other than reblogs and likes, for which I am grateful. I'm not complaining.  However, every once in awhile I come across a really cool Q & A post and have to pluck it from the Tumblr stream to share with the general public. I love questions and answers and I love literature.  This post was reblogged from another blog so I have to mention both blogs to give proper credit. 

• 'tis the fairy (aka somberlily)  reblogged a post from Quelle Surprise(aka chandlers-scrunchie) 

Post title: Classic Novel Themed Asks
The blogger (a teenager named Kate) asks a series of questions (bold print) and my responses follow. I'll give her the link to this post so that she can have my answers. She may be working on a school assignment. IDK.  The post seems to have been reblogged many times.

* * *

Of Mice and Men - What drives/motivates you?

• The title of the book makes me think that men can be such rats!  I am motivated to rise above the silly rat race.

The Phantom of the Opera - What song currently defines your life?

• The theme song. But only if Sarah Brightman sings it.  What can I say?  I'm a huge fan of the lady and listening to her sing defines my life.

1984 - Spill a secret about yourself.

• The secret is I got no secrets.  I would have to make one up but I don't have the energy to do it.

Pride and Prejudice - Got a crush?

• No. But I like the way the story ended and I liked the Bollywood version/remake, "Bride and Prejudice".

The Scarlet Letter - What’s your favorite word and what does that word mean?

• Scarlet. It means red.  Red is my favorite color and you must admit that if you mark somebody with it you can't help but see them!

To Kill a Mockingbird - What’s the last text message you sent and the last song you listened to?

• I don't get text messages.  I don't have a mobile phone and I don't text people.  Whatever!  I'm an old lady.  I won't apologize because part of the tech world left me behind.  The last song I listened to was a love song in a Korean drama. I don't know the name of the song. The series was “Arang and the Magistrate”.  I love the South Korean actor Lee Joon-gi. I like his eyes. They're piercing. 

Wuthering Heights - Define your personal aesthetic.

• Those gloomy moors.

"The Moors - Moors play an important part in establishing the mood of the novel. ..." (REF: Wuthering Heights Symbolism: An Analysis of Symbolism in Wuthering Heights | brighthubeducation.com)

Fahrenheit 451 - What’s your favorite book?

• "Shannah". It's a historical romance by the late Kathleen Woodiwiss.

Moby Dick - What’s your most important goal in life?

• Die and go to heaven. “For what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul.”

Jane Eyre - What’s a fictional character that you believe you are most like/you relate to most?

• Annette Funicello (1942 - 2013). All the goodie two shoes girly characters she played in those beach movies with Frankie Avalon. LOL. Plus she was the most memorable Mouseketeer from the original Mickey Mouse Club. I imagined myself being in that club.
• Shirley Temple (1928 - 2014).  Especially for her role as "The Little Princess".  I totally related.

(NOTE:  A little entertainment trivia.  Even though I admired Ms. Temple as an actress very much, I am glad she did NOT get the role as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz".  Nobody could sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" like Judy Garland sang that song.)

The Catcher in the Rye - What does your name (first and/or middle) mean?

• I don't know the meaning of my first or middle name. Tried to research but can't find them anywhere. My names are not in any language!

The Lord of the Flies - What’s your friend group like?

• They're saints. No. For real. They're saints.

The Picture of Dorian Grey - Post a photo of yourself posing like your icon.

• You don't want to see me, like an icon or otherwise. I won't even take a picture for the church directory. 

Les Miserables - What do you do when you’re sad?

• Official oppression makes me sad. Evil people in the government are far worse than gangsters. They have a get out of jail free card and they're always playing it.  They believe they will never be punished for their sins; so they do whatever they want to do to anybody.  What do I do?  I PRAY.  "Deliver us from evil."

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - What is one place that you’ve always wanted to go?

• A beautiful tropical island like Polynesia. Inspired by watching the movie South Pacific.

Emma - What was your first kiss like?

• It was disappointing. I thought I liked the guy but I didn't. His kiss was sloppy and I was inexperienced. It took me a long time to decide to kiss another guy. When I finally did, the second kiss was much better.

The Great Gatsby - Describe the most recent dream you can remember having.

In my most recent dream, 3 of my sons called me and said they needed me to come and pick them up right away. They were in trouble.  I set out to go and get them. Like an idiot, I realized that I was walking. I turned around to go back and get the car. My husband says he's going with me because he doesn't trust me. He thinks I just want to get out of the house.  Meaning that he doesn't believe that I'm going to get my sons … uuhh … HIS sons which are also my sons. He says he's coming with me. I'm like “I don't care! Let's go get them.” 

We get to the place, at the back of a building, and some other people try to get in our car. We drive away quickly to the front of the building and we see our sons. We look behind and see some people. Chasing us? Chasing them (our sons)? We don't know. We yell to our sons: “GET IN THE CAR!” One of my sons managed to jump in but the other two are still trying to catch us in a moving vehicle so they can jump in too. I say to my husband “We can't leave them!” My son, who is already in the car says “But what about me?”  (It's something he used to always say when he was ca hild.)  I'm like (my blood boiling at this point): “You're already in the car!”  

We stop the car for a moment. There is some other guy with his face to the wall, he turns around, slumps to the ground and starts crying. My husband says “What about him?” I'm like “HE AIN'T MY SON! His momma need to come and get him!” I turn and yell to my two boys who finally caught up to us, “GET IN THE CAR!” They jump in! They're in sideways like laying on top of the back seat. I don't care. I got all of them! I drive off and then … I wake up! I'm out of breath. I'm annoyed. I feel like I haven't any sleep at all!! I hate dreams like that. LOL.

* * *

What a Horrible Way to Go! : History of Ancient Rome : Executions

There was once a time when things were happening in my life that were overwhelming. There was one thought that kept me going and gave me the fortitude to find my inner strength and rise up to face each day:

“Eh! A lot worse things could be happening. But I'm not going to share those 'things that could be' because I don't want to give anybody any ideas.”

Someone asked a question on Quora which is a question and answer intelligence community. They wanted a description of “the most brutal death”.  Several contributed responses. But after reading the first response, I couldn't read any more.  I did not want to know.

Have you ever heard of the Brazen Bull?

(Look at the image below and use your imagination.)

Invented in ancient Greece.

The person who invented it was killed in it!

See what I mean? Had the inventor kept his thoughts to himself, he might not have died that way.

I'm surprised the Romans didn't copy it. They copied almost everything else from the Greeks. Never heard of this device being used in Roman history. Have you? Crucifixion must have been easier and cheaper. Instead of burning the wood, they could re-use the crosses. When it came to executions (since there were evidently so many to perform), the Roman governors were probably just thinking economically and employing fiscally responsible measures.  👀

Interesting.  (Shocking!)

REF: Thompson, Samuel. "What Is the Most Brutal Death?" Quora.com. Quora, Inc., n.d. Web. 20 May 2017.

Religion and Philosophy: Questions and Answers: TO LIE OR NOT TO LIE

This question was asked in a forum. 

TO LIE OR NOT TO LIE

by ebanreb » 

Sometimes we are in a situation where we are confronted with so many problems which lead to a point to make a decision whether to lie or not to lie.

* * *

This was my response.

A lie is willful and deliberate intent to deceive. That's how someone explained or defined a LIE to me. They told me to use that as my guide. Another guide that I use? Jesus called Satan the father of lies. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”   (John 8:44) I don't know much, but I do know if there is deception or deceit involved in something you're doing, then it's not good. If it's not good then it must be bad or evil. Also, I don't like the idea of being one of Satan's children. So the answer is NO.

* * *

A lie is even far more grave and serious than a fairy tale like Pinocchio would lead you to believe. I appreciated the question as it gave me a chance for some and serious thought and reflection.

How would you have answered this question?

: Would you be interested in joining ForumCoin and responding to more questions like this?  Every once in a while we like to put on our philosopher's hat and discuss the meaning of life.  However, the mood at the site is not always so somber and serious.  Sometimes we play games, chit chat with each other about miscellaneous things, share ideas and tips on how to make money online, and just hang out!  It's a social site that pays. 

Come join us at ForumCoin.

  

Related articles:

• My Worry-Free Philosophy

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• Quotes and Notes : Philosophy : Confucius Wisdom and Quotes

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• Philosophy : Patience and Happiness Are Not the Same

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You're So Old! Must Be Time for You to Die.

When I was a child I heard a man utter what he said was an old Irish proverb. "You begin to die the moment you're born."  While there is truth in that proverb it seems morbid to view the precious gift of life in that manner.  Don't you think so?

There are so many interesting weird and strange questions people ask when it comes to life and death. Questions that I would never think to ask. Here's an example.

Whendo you know you're old enough to die?

Considering that death does not discriminate. Considering that the good die young, the unborn die, and anyone who is living knows that one day they will die … why would you ask that question? As if death and old age are inextricably connected and when you reach a certain age YOU NEED TO DECIDE that's it's time to die.

Amanda Jones was 109 when she voted in the presidential election that resulted in Barack Obama becoming POTUS (President of the United States). Imagine if when she reached age 108 that she decided it was time for her to die. She died one year later, after the election, at the age of 110.

♦ Amanda Jones' life touched three centuries, during which she worked as a maid and a stay-at-home mother of 10 with deep religious faith, Baker said. Jones had voted actively for more than 70 years, even when it meant picking cotton to save money to pay a poll tax. ~ Source

Reports of her death indicate that Ms. Jones passed away peacefully in her sleep.

* * *

Barbara Ehrenreich, is a woman who holds a PhD in cellular immunology and who decided when she was in her 70s that she was old enough to die. She was interviewed by Lucy Rock and the article was published in The Guardian. As of the date of this short post, she is still alive. Ms. Ehrenreich thinks that "there’s an age at which death no longer requires much explanation". Based on her research, she advises not to bother visiting doctors who recommend medical tests, treatments or preventative medicine, etc. as if they can do anything that will prolong your life. My understanding of what Doctor Ehrenreich is advising that it is likely that many doctors are just making merchandise out of you.

I do have to say that I agree with her about her research leading her to the conclusion that the US health and wellness industry generates billions of dollars. I have always thought and said "Healthcare is Big Business."

But I should also say that Ms. Ehrenreich was diagnosed with breast cancer. Some may feel it's a material or relevant fact and not to mention it would be a significant omission.

At first, I thought the question was odd ~ "When do you know you're old enough to die?" ~ but in the end, after reading the interview where she expressed her thoughts and views, I agree with her advice.

Do you agree with Ms. Ehrenreich?

* * *

REFERENCES:

Rock, Lucy. "When Do You Know You're Old Enough to Die? Barbara Ehrenreich Has Some Answers. ~ The Guardian", Guardian News and Media, 7 Apr. 2018, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/07/barbara-ehrenreich-natural-causes-book-old-enough-to-die.

Gardner, Geoffrey. "109-Year-Old Daughter of Slave Votes Obama. ~ NPR", National Public Radio, Inc., 31 Oct. 2008, www.npr.org/sections/newsandviews/2008/10/109yearold_daughter_of_slave_v.html.

"Slave's Daughter Who Voted for Barack Obama Dies Aged 110. ~ The Telegraph", Telegraph Media Group, 19 Dec. 2008, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/3853793/Slaves-daughter-who-voted-for-Barack-Obama-dies-aged-110.html.

On Voting, Amanda Jones & What We Owe Our Ancestors

♦ You’re So Old! Must Be Time for You to Die. https://t.co/elDA4hELXM #aging #healthcare #lifestyle #choices #lifeanddeath #questionsandanswers #healthandwellness @Rx4Wellness2018

— Treathyl Fox (@cmoneyspinner) June 5, 2019