respect your elders that’s what we’ve all been told right I’ve heard it
all been told right I’ve heard it
all been told right I’ve heard it throughout my
throughout my
throughout my of life and chances are someone said it
of life and chances are someone said it
of life and chances are someone said it to you at some point as well because
to you at some point as well because
to you at some point as well because just about every generation of humans
just about every generation of humans
just about every generation of humans since the beginning of history has held
since the beginning of history has held
since the beginning of history has held their elders in high regard valuing age
their elders in high regard valuing age
their elders in high regard valuing age and the wisdom that comes with it so
and the wisdom that comes with it so
and the wisdom that comes with it so respect for our elders is something
respect for our elders is something
respect for our elders is something that’s become quite deeply ingrained in
that’s become quite deeply ingrained in
that’s become quite deeply ingrained in our culture but in my three years
our culture but in my three years
our culture but in my three years working as a youth advocate with various
working as a youth advocate with various
working as a youth advocate with various youth organizations facilitating
youth organizations facilitating
youth organizations facilitating discussions between young and old on a
discussions between young and old on a
discussions between young and old on a regular basis I’ve seen a reality far
regular basis I’ve seen a reality far
regular basis I’ve seen a reality far different to the solder – many young
different to the solder – many young
different to the solder – many young people don’t respect their elders
people don’t respect their elders
people don’t respect their elders surprise surprise
surprise surprise
surprise surprise but equally a lot of older people
but equally a lot of older people
but equally a lot of older people especially those in positions of
especially those in positions of
especially those in positions of authority feel the same way towards
authority feel the same way towards
authority feel the same way towards young people so if someone who’s
young people so if someone who’s
young people so if someone who’s passionate about helping to give young
passionate about helping to give young
passionate about helping to give young people a voice at the table this poses a
people a voice at the table this poses a
people a voice at the table this poses a real challenge see our society is made
real challenge see our society is made
real challenge see our society is made up or can be made up of two large
up or can be made up of two large
up or can be made up of two large intergenerational groups divided by the
intergenerational groups divided by the
intergenerational groups divided by the birth year 1984 now the reason this year
birth year 1984 now the reason this year
birth year 1984 now the reason this year was selected as the sort of center point
was selected as the sort of center point
was selected as the sort of center point as a complex mix of cultural political
as a complex mix of cultural political
as a complex mix of cultural political and technological factors but the main
and technological factors but the main
and technological factors but the main one being that those born after 1984
one being that those born after 1984
one being that those born after 1984 generally grew up in a much more
generally grew up in a much more
generally grew up in a much more digitally augmented society than those
digitally augmented society than those
digitally augmented society than those born before so let’s do a quick show of
born before so let’s do a quick show of
born before so let’s do a quick show of hands raise your hand if you’re born
hands raise your hand if you’re born
hands raise your hand if you’re born before 1984 and be honest with me
before 1984 and be honest with me
before 1984 and be honest with me because this is where I decide what
because this is where I decide what
because this is where I decide what jokes I’m not going to tell okay so you
jokes I’m not going to tell okay so you
jokes I’m not going to tell okay so you guys are mostly going to be Gen Xers and
guys are mostly going to be Gen Xers and
guys are mostly going to be Gen Xers and baby boomers there may be some of that
baby boomers there may be some of that
baby boomers there may be some of that Silent Generation before baby boomers
Silent Generation before baby boomers
Silent Generation before baby boomers with us as well
with us as well
with us as well now raise your hand if you’re born after
now raise your hand if you’re born after
now raise your hand if you’re born after 1994 okay so you guys are gonna be
1994 okay so you guys are gonna be
1994 okay so you guys are gonna be Millennials and what we call post
Millennials and what we call post
Millennials and what we call post Millennials so post Millennials are
Millennials so post Millennials are
Millennials so post Millennials are people like me born after 2000 it’s kind
people like me born after 2000 it’s kind
people like me born after 2000 it’s kind of scary right they’re letting us do Ted
of scary right they’re letting us do Ted
of scary right they’re letting us do Ted talks now
talks now
talks now now we’ve got a pretty even split so
now we’ve got a pretty even split so
now we’ve got a pretty even split so most of my jokes are gone but that’s
most of my jokes are gone but that’s
most of my jokes are gone but that’s alright we’ll move on anyway these two
alright we’ll move on anyway these two
alright we’ll move on anyway these two groups seem increasingly at odds with
groups seem increasingly at odds with
groups seem increasingly at odds with one another and I believe that this
one another and I believe that this
one another and I believe that this compromises our ability to work together
compromises our ability to work together
compromises our ability to work together to make a difference see most of us can
to make a difference see most of us can
to make a difference see most of us can agree that when we’re trying to make a
agree that when we’re trying to make a
agree that when we’re trying to make a difference we have to be able to work a
difference we have to be able to work a
difference we have to be able to work a core across a wide range of demographics
core across a wide range of demographics
core across a wide range of demographics and find that common ground that allows
and find that common ground that allows
and find that common ground that allows incredible things to happen and in most
incredible things to happen and in most
incredible things to happen and in most cases that includes a wide range of Ages
cases that includes a wide range of Ages
cases that includes a wide range of Ages but as young people in a world where the
but as young people in a world where the
but as young people in a world where the majority of big decision makers are
majority of big decision makers are
majority of big decision makers are older than us it can be difficult to
older than us it can be difficult to
older than us it can be difficult to reach that common ground and equally for
reach that common ground and equally for
reach that common ground and equally for a lot of older people in these positions
a lot of older people in these positions
a lot of older people in these positions it can be hard to bridge that gap with a
it can be hard to bridge that gap with a
it can be hard to bridge that gap with a the younger generation who seem more fun
the younger generation who seem more fun
the younger generation who seem more fun than ever now I’ve seen this many times
than ever now I’ve seen this many times
than ever now I’ve seen this many times descend into a kind of intergenerational
descend into a kind of intergenerational
descend into a kind of intergenerational mudslinging match which is very much
mudslinging match which is very much
mudslinging match which is very much spurred on by the media with their kind
spurred on by the media with their kind
spurred on by the media with their kind of sensationalized hyperbole around
of sensationalized hyperbole around
of sensationalized hyperbole around people with different generations but
people with different generations but
people with different generations but the reason I’m here is that
the reason I’m here is that
the reason I’m here is that unfortunately we’re all at risk of
unfortunately we’re all at risk of
unfortunately we’re all at risk of buying into that so let’s got me
buying into that so let’s got me
buying into that so let’s got me thinking what is it about these
thinking what is it about these
thinking what is it about these generations or is this something about
generations or is this something about
generations or is this something about these generations it makes it so hard
these generations it makes it so hard
these generations it makes it so hard for them to work together was there some
for them to work together was there some
for them to work together was there some explanation for this phenomenon that I’d
explanation for this phenomenon that I’d
explanation for this phenomenon that I’d seen occur on so many occasions
seen occur on so many occasions
seen occur on so many occasions firsthand and most importantly how could
firsthand and most importantly how could
firsthand and most importantly how could we overcome this in order to make a
we overcome this in order to make a
we overcome this in order to make a difference so I started searching for
difference so I started searching for
difference so I started searching for answers this was a fun part I did as any
answers this was a fun part I did as any
answers this was a fun part I did as any self-respecting researcher would and I
self-respecting researcher would and I
self-respecting researcher would and I started with the New York Post they had
started with the New York Post they had
started with the New York Post they had an incredibly interesting and evidently
an incredibly interesting and evidently
an incredibly interesting and evidently unbiased article entitled I’m a
unbiased article entitled I’m a
unbiased article entitled I’m a millennial and my generation sucks I was
millennial and my generation sucks I was
millennial and my generation sucks I was in for a treat what followed was more or
in for a treat what followed was more or
in for a treat what followed was more or less a template for virtually every
less a template for virtually every
less a template for virtually every other article about Millennials that
other article about Millennials that
other article about Millennials that I’ve read since using up every available
I’ve read since using up every available
I’ve read since using up every available word and the anti Generation Y lexicon
word and the anti Generation Y lexicon
word and the anti Generation Y lexicon some of my favorites were lazy
some of my favorites were lazy
some of my favorites were lazy narcissistic dependent and the crown
narcissistic dependent and the crown
narcissistic dependent and the crown jewel entitled
jewel entitled
jewel entitled now after a few more weeks of filling my
now after a few more weeks of filling my
now after a few more weeks of filling my brain up with the literature of the
brain up with the literature of the
brain up with the literature of the crusade against the young I was just
crusade against the young I was just
crusade against the young I was just about ready to jump ship and join my
about ready to jump ship and join my
about ready to jump ship and join my parents generation because what I’ve
parents generation because what I’ve
parents generation because what I’ve learned so far was that Millennials are
learned so far was that Millennials are
learned so far was that Millennials are the laziest generation in history that
the laziest generation in history that
the laziest generation in history that they all live with their parents and
they all live with their parents and
they all live with their parents and houses stacked to the ceiling with
houses stacked to the ceiling with
houses stacked to the ceiling with participation trophies and that the
participation trophies and that the
participation trophies and that the reason they can’t afford their own
reason they can’t afford their own
reason they can’t afford their own houses is that they spend all of their
houses is that they spend all of their
houses is that they spend all of their money on avvocato on toast I finally
money on avvocato on toast I finally
money on avvocato on toast I finally understood why older people don’t like
understood why older people don’t like
understood why older people don’t like young people Millennials suck but it was
young people Millennials suck but it was
young people Millennials suck but it was time to look at the other side what are
time to look at the other side what are
time to look at the other side what are these
these
these avocado loving selfie taking snowflakes
avocado loving selfie taking snowflakes
avocado loving selfie taking snowflakes have against their hard-working and
have against their hard-working and
have against their hard-working and long-suffering parents and grandparents
long-suffering parents and grandparents
long-suffering parents and grandparents well my first stop was the Huffington
well my first stop was the Huffington
well my first stop was the Huffington Post who had an insightful piece which
Post who had an insightful piece which
Post who had an insightful piece which asked the question our boomers a
asked the question our boomers a
asked the question our boomers a generation of sociopaths and this is
generation of sociopaths and this is
generation of sociopaths and this is where I really had to eat my words right
where I really had to eat my words right
where I really had to eat my words right because sure they acknowledge
because sure they acknowledge
because sure they acknowledge Millennials might be lazy self-obsessed
Millennials might be lazy self-obsessed
Millennials might be lazy self-obsessed and financially illiterate but they
and financially illiterate but they
and financially illiterate but they claimed it was the Boomers who taught it
claimed it was the Boomers who taught it
claimed it was the Boomers who taught it to them these guys racked up debts
to them these guys racked up debts
to them these guys racked up debts started wars burned through resources
started wars burned through resources
started wars burned through resources created climate change on the side and
created climate change on the side and
created climate change on the side and then offloaded this whole flaming mess
then offloaded this whole flaming mess
then offloaded this whole flaming mess of a planet to their kids in a hospital
of a planet to their kids in a hospital
of a planet to their kids in a hospital pass of selfishness and difference and
pass of selfishness and difference and
pass of selfishness and difference and greed whew I finally understood why
greed whew I finally understood why
greed whew I finally understood why young people don’t like older people
young people don’t like older people
young people don’t like older people boomers suck so at this point I was
boomers suck so at this point I was
boomers suck so at this point I was thoroughly deflated how can we work
thoroughly deflated how can we work
thoroughly deflated how can we work together to make a difference when we
together to make a difference when we
together to make a difference when we all just suck as much so I decided to
all just suck as much so I decided to
all just suck as much so I decided to find out where we went wrong to locate
find out where we went wrong to locate
find out where we went wrong to locate that exact point in history when young
that exact point in history when young
that exact point in history when young people suddenly stopped respecting their
people suddenly stopped respecting their
people suddenly stopped respecting their elders and older people got all grumpy
elders and older people got all grumpy
elders and older people got all grumpy so I start I went back to 1990 as a
so I start I went back to 1990 as a
so I start I went back to 1990 as a starting point and when I say went back
starting point and when I say went back
starting point and when I say went back I don’t mean jumped on a time machine or
I don’t mean jumped on a time machine or
I don’t mean jumped on a time machine or though that would have made for a much
though that would have made for a much
though that would have made for a much more interesting talk sorry I went back
more interesting talk sorry I went back
more interesting talk sorry I went back and looked at old magazine and newspaper
and looked at old magazine and newspaper
and looked at old magazine and newspaper articles to try and find the voice of
articles to try and find the voice of
articles to try and find the voice of the time on young people so 1990 what a
the time on young people so 1990 what a
the time on young people so 1990 what a Time magazine have to say about
Time magazine have to say about
Time magazine have to say about 20-somethings back then they crave
20-somethings back then they crave
20-somethings back then they crave entertainment but their attention span
entertainment but their attention span
entertainment but their attention span as short as one set of a TV dial now I
as short as one set of a TV dial now I
as short as one set of a TV dial now I didn’t actually know what a TV dial was
didn’t actually know what a TV dial was
didn’t actually know what a TV dial was or what a zap of one would constitute
or what a zap of one would constitute
or what a zap of one would constitute but it didn’t sound good I had to go
but it didn’t sound good I had to go
but it didn’t sound good I had to go back further
back further
back further I tried 1976 to see what some of those
I tried 1976 to see what some of those
I tried 1976 to see what some of those boomers were getting up to when they
boomers were getting up to when they
boomers were getting up to when they were kids the New York Times said quote
were kids the New York Times said quote
were kids the New York Times said quote the youth of today are too busy
the youth of today are too busy
the youth of today are too busy navel-gazing
navel-gazing
navel-gazing to care about politics the now
to care about politics the now
to care about politics the now generation has become the me generation
generation has become the me generation
generation has become the me generation now sure it was proven difficult to find
now sure it was proven difficult to find
now sure it was proven difficult to find that time before young people were
that time before young people were
that time before young people were selfish and ignorant but I had to push
selfish and ignorant but I had to push
selfish and ignorant but I had to push on
on
on I tried 1968 Life magazine said of young
I tried 1968 Life magazine said of young
I tried 1968 Life magazine said of young people quote the phrase making a living
people quote the phrase making a living
people quote the phrase making a living has absolutely no meaning to these
has absolutely no meaning to these
has absolutely no meaning to these children of the affluent society no
children of the affluent society no
children of the affluent society no still lazy independent now I was
still lazy independent now I was
still lazy independent now I was thinking about giving up at this point
thinking about giving up at this point
thinking about giving up at this point but I decided in one last-ditch effort
but I decided in one last-ditch effort
but I decided in one last-ditch effort to go back to the earliest year I could
to go back to the earliest year I could
to go back to the earliest year I could possibly think of 1907 quote the rock
possibly think of 1907 quote the rock
possibly think of 1907 quote the rock upon which most of the flower bird Act
upon which most of the flower bird Act
upon which most of the flower bird Act marriage barges go to pieces
marriage barges go to pieces
marriage barges go to pieces there’s a latter-day cult of
there’s a latter-day cult of
there’s a latter-day cult of individualism the worship of the brazen
individualism the worship of the brazen
individualism the worship of the brazen calf of the self said the Atlantic of
calf of the self said the Atlantic of
calf of the self said the Atlantic of those young whippersnappers born a few
those young whippersnappers born a few
those young whippersnappers born a few years before the turn of the century who
years before the turn of the century who
years before the turn of the century who were now filing for divorce like there
were now filing for divorce like there
were now filing for divorce like there was no tomorrow to the horror of their
was no tomorrow to the horror of their
was no tomorrow to the horror of their parents now you’ve probably noticed a
parents now you’ve probably noticed a
parents now you’ve probably noticed a theme here and it’s true every
theme here and it’s true every
theme here and it’s true every generation of young people has been the
generation of young people has been the
generation of young people has been the worst generation the laziest generation
worst generation the laziest generation
worst generation the laziest generation the me me me generation even Plato was
the me me me generation even Plato was
the me me me generation even Plato was moaning about young people in 400 BC so
moaning about young people in 400 BC so
moaning about young people in 400 BC so the problem with young people today is
the problem with young people today is
the problem with young people today is not a new one and it’s got oh there’s
not a new one and it’s got oh there’s
not a new one and it’s got oh there’s Plato and it’s got nothing to do with
Plato and it’s got nothing to do with
Plato and it’s got nothing to do with participation trophies or selfie sticks
participation trophies or selfie sticks
participation trophies or selfie sticks or even avocado on toast it’s the same
or even avocado on toast it’s the same
or even avocado on toast it’s the same problem that every generation before
problem that every generation before
problem that every generation before them had their young we know that young
them had their young we know that young
them had their young we know that young people can be naive and selfish and
people can be naive and selfish and
people can be naive and selfish and spiteful towards their elders are not
spiteful towards their elders are not
spiteful towards their elders are not very kind to long-standing social norms
very kind to long-standing social norms
very kind to long-standing social norms but they also compassionate innovative
but they also compassionate innovative
but they also compassionate innovative and
and
and Howard and engaged so for those of you
Howard and engaged so for those of you
Howard and engaged so for those of you born before 1984 and I know who you are
born before 1984 and I know who you are
born before 1984 and I know who you are now think back to what you were really
now think back to what you were really
now think back to what you were really like back in the day take a moment to
like back in the day take a moment to
like back in the day take a moment to ignore the apparent lack of interest or
ignore the apparent lack of interest or
ignore the apparent lack of interest or motivation amongst the young and pretty
motivation amongst the young and pretty
motivation amongst the young and pretty appreciate us for what we can offer a
appreciate us for what we can offer a
appreciate us for what we can offer a first perspective creative ideas and
first perspective creative ideas and
first perspective creative ideas and in-depth understanding of why your
in-depth understanding of why your
in-depth understanding of why your computer’s not working but for those
computer’s not working but for those
computer’s not working but for those young people out there who are looking a
young people out there who are looking a
young people out there who are looking a little too smug at this point I’ve got a
little too smug at this point I’ve got a
little too smug at this point I’ve got a message for you as well
message for you as well
message for you as well you still have to respect your elders
you still have to respect your elders
you still have to respect your elders respect their wisdom and experience
respect their wisdom and experience
respect their wisdom and experience their constructive feedback and most
their constructive feedback and most
their constructive feedback and most importantly their input on what you
importantly their input on what you
importantly their input on what you probably shouldn’t put on Facebook for
probably shouldn’t put on Facebook for
probably shouldn’t put on Facebook for future employers to see and here’s some
future employers to see and here’s some
future employers to see and here’s some interesting food for thought for
interesting food for thought for
interesting food for thought for everyone in the room every generation in
everyone in the room every generation in
everyone in the room every generation in here whether that over 65s or under 30s
here whether that over 65s or under 30s
here whether that over 65s or under 30s despite their differences have something
despite their differences have something
despite their differences have something big and common and that is a deep-seated
big and common and that is a deep-seated
big and common and that is a deep-seated hatred of bureaucracy all of these
hatred of bureaucracy all of these
hatred of bureaucracy all of these generations have demonstrated at some
generations have demonstrated at some
generations have demonstrated at some point in history their preference for
point in history their preference for
point in history their preference for leading with action hands on boots on
leading with action hands on boots on
leading with action hands on boots on the ground rather than via the ballot
the ground rather than via the ballot
the ground rather than via the ballot box so whilst this missing million might
box so whilst this missing million might
box so whilst this missing million might be a massive problem for the political
be a massive problem for the political
be a massive problem for the political establishment it’s an equally huge
establishment it’s an equally huge
establishment it’s an equally huge opportunity for community groups and
opportunity for community groups and
opportunity for community groups and service organizations who have
service organizations who have
service organizations who have traditionally struggled to engage with
traditionally struggled to engage with
traditionally struggled to engage with younger people now of course making a
younger people now of course making a
younger people now of course making a difference is easier said than done but
difference is easier said than done but
difference is easier said than done but what I’m trying to get across is that
what I’m trying to get across is that
what I’m trying to get across is that dividing ourselves by something as
dividing ourselves by something as
dividing ourselves by something as trivial as age by these arbitrary lines
trivial as age by these arbitrary lines
trivial as age by these arbitrary lines in the sand drawn up by God knows who
in the sand drawn up by God knows who
in the sand drawn up by God knows who really puts us on the back foot every
really puts us on the back foot every
really puts us on the back foot every distracted glance at a phone screen
distracted glance at a phone screen
distracted glance at a phone screen during a meeting or condescending not of
during a meeting or condescending not of
during a meeting or condescending not of the head represents two steps backwards
the head represents two steps backwards
the head represents two steps backwards for each one that we might manage to
for each one that we might manage to
for each one that we might manage to take forward so we don’t have a
take forward so we don’t have a
take forward so we don’t have a generational problem we just have
generational problem we just have
generational problem we just have generations
generations
generations because for as long as humans inhabit
because for as long as humans inhabit
because for as long as humans inhabit the earth will have rolling of eyes and
the earth will have rolling of eyes and
the earth will have rolling of eyes and reminiscing about the good old days and
reminiscing about the good old days and
reminiscing about the good old days and spiteful articles in the media trying to
spiteful articles in the media trying to
spiteful articles in the media trying to get us at each other’s throats but we’ll
get us at each other’s throats but we’ll
get us at each other’s throats but we’ll also have discoveries made and lives
also have discoveries made and lives
also have discoveries made and lives saved and bridges built and sorry
saved and bridges built and sorry
saved and bridges built and sorry missing million I’ve misspelled the
missing million I’ve misspelled the
missing million I’ve misspelled the slide and unlikely collaborations
slide and unlikely collaborations
slide and unlikely collaborations between Paul McCartney and Lady gaga
between Paul McCartney and Lady gaga
between Paul McCartney and Lady gaga these are all things that involve young
these are all things that involve young
these are all things that involve young people and older people working together
people and older people working together
people and older people working together and there are also the things that
and there are also the things that
and there are also the things that really make a difference so the next
really make a difference so the next
really make a difference so the next time you find yourself tearing your hair
time you find yourself tearing your hair
time you find yourself tearing your hair out over a younger co-workers apparent
out over a younger co-workers apparent
out over a younger co-workers apparent inability to perform very basic tasks or
inability to perform very basic tasks or
inability to perform very basic tasks or you see an older person using their
you see an older person using their
you see an older person using their phone like this before you write an
phone like this before you write an
phone like this before you write an angry blogpost about it or a letter to
angry blogpost about it or a letter to
angry blogpost about it or a letter to the editor or depending on what
the editor or depending on what
the editor or depending on what generation you’re from take a moment to
generation you’re from take a moment to
generation you’re from take a moment to step back forget your age for a moment
step back forget your age for a moment
step back forget your age for a moment maybe even remind yourself of something
maybe even remind yourself of something
maybe even remind yourself of something good that the other person’s generation
good that the other person’s generation
good that the other person’s generation has done for you thanks and then just
has done for you thanks and then just
has done for you thanks and then just quietly remind yourself that every
quietly remind yourself that every
quietly remind yourself that every generation sucks thank you
”
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