There's a good chance that many of you have seen a video throughout your Facebook and Twitter feeds over the past few weeks entitled, "Dear Elders, I'm Sorry." The video was made by Texas journalist Alexis Bloomer who posted the argument against her generation of millennials after seeing a young man fail to open the door for an elder. The purpose of this article is not to criticize Bloomer or the statements she made in her video that has gone viral and received over 350,000 views on Youtube since it was originally posted last month. Instead, I'm here to defend my generation and debunk many of the negative opinions society typically has concerning millennials.
As stated previously, the primary cause behind Bloomer's video was seeing a millennial being rude to an older adult. However, I certainly believe in treating those older than myself with respect, and the actions of one young man do not define all of us as a whole. Yes, I'm sure there are many millennials out there who could use a lesson in manners, but there are many elders who could also benefit from the same. Society generally tends to perceive millennials as shallow narcissists who have no idea about what it means to be caring or polite, but take a few minutes to step away from that cliche and actually interact with some of us before you make judgments. You may just have your mind changed.
Another common assumption regarding millennials is that many of us are lazy and feel entitled to freely acquire what the world has to offer us. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where most of our beliefs and perceptions are formed. I was raised in a home where my siblings and I were taught to work hard for what we wanted, whether that be a college degree, a job, or anything else, and I know many others within my age range that can identify with this as well. If you know a millennial who thinks they're entitled to whatever they want, take a look at their roots and the foundation they were brought up on. Don't blame all millennials for something likely influenced by a small number of elders.
And lastly, a stereotype that I feel is more commonly associated with millennials than any of the others: that we are controlled by technology and ruining our lives because of it. If you step outside of your home for no more than five minutes, it's easy to see that technology does indeed play a large role in society today, but it plays that role in everyone from toddlers to the elderly, not just millennials alone. Millennials are bashed quite a bit for "always being online" and "never connecting" with those around them. However, we were raised in a world where technology was nowhere near as prevalent as it is today. Therefore, most of us probably grew up finding entertainment in something besides a gadget and having conversations with peers that didn't take place on the other side of a screen. And when we do spend time online or using technology, there's a good chance that it's to do something besides watch Netflix or take selfies. According to Campus Technology, the number of students who take college courses online jumped 96 percent within 2008-2013, and is still growing today. This is just one of many examples showing how millennials can use technology to further better themselves and their education instead of forgetting what it's like to communicate with the outside world.
Overall, I am completely aware that it's possible to find a millennial that matches the stereotypes given to them, but it's also possible to find those from both older and younger generations that share the same qualities. And for every not-so-great millennial, I guarantee there are many positives to make up for it. Our society today is so prejudiced and judgmental as it is. Please don't throw my generation of millennials in the mix without knowing the truth behind the claims you make about us.
