Although not an optimistic nor favorable view, it seems my generation’s main problems revolve around the concept of respect or lack thereof. We’re seen as having no respect for authority figures, no respect for our peers and no respect for the environment. There is even a visible lack of respect for our own selves as body-shaming has become increasingly prominent.
Our generation can be characterized as the kids who are too busy on their phones to look up and notice the world around them. It’s likely that this technology we believe, which helps and benefits us, has caused this disconnect from others. As face-to-face confrontation and expressing our true feelings have taken a back seat, the complete disregard of others is on the rise.
Not a day goes by that I don’t observe someone’s behavior and think to myself, "Where the F*** were they raised? Did no one teach them that spitting on the sidewalk while they walk is disrespectful and just plain gross?" Things that should be so easy for people to understand, like holding the door open and letting people exit an elevator before rushing in, aren’t common nature. I mean, really, how hard is it to just look behind you before letting a door smack one of your classmates in the face? Every man for himself seems to be an ever-present theme amongst our generation.
I cringe every time I’m in a lecture and students start packing their stuff up while the professor is still talking and class doesn’t end for three minutes. I’m sure it’s not easy to stand in front of 200 college students for an hour-and-a-half every day trying to get them to understand and appreciate linear regressions and neural processes (this might not be a real thing, but you get my point).
Can’t you just wait those three minutes to let your professor wrap up instead of bolting out of the class like you would rather be anywhere but here, even if that is the case? And what is up with the kids who come to class when they're hacking and snotting on the back of everyone’s heads the whole time? Learn to cover your mouth when you cough, or better yet just stay home and ask a friend for notes because I can guarantee you’re on Facebook watching Tasty videos the entire time anyways.
Respect should be a much simpler concept for us to grasp. When you’re doing something around people, whether they are sleeping, studying, or just hanging out, think to yourself: How will this affect them? Am I going to disrupt their sleep at 2 am? Will this make it difficult for them to focus? If the answers don’t seem positive, maybe don’t smack on your gum while people are trying to take a midterm, or tell your boyfriend you’ll call him back after lunch with your friends.
Respect, however, is a two-way street; it must be given in order to be received. Therefore, we must respect each other if we desire this same respect in return. This also goes for respecting our own selves and our own bodies. How can we expect to be treated with respect if we don’t show that respect to ourselves in the first place? No one is perfect and sometimes you have to be a little selfish or you just genuinely don't see what you're doing wrong. But, we can try to do better as a whole. We can try to listen to others and really think rather than simply acting.
