We all have that one friend. You know the one I'm talking about; the one who's so opinionated about everything and loves to share it. No matter what their views are politically, socially, and even when it comes to entertainment, they love to argue about what they thought. Sure sometimes you might even agree with them, but most of the time they're so insistent that their opinion of the world is right that you're too busy being annoyed by their declaration to even consider how you feel about the matter.

This same exact thing happened to me last week when, inevitably, that very friend I mentioned above shared an article and tacked on some of their own thoughts. The article in question, which has since been deleted from my friends page, was about how the millennial generation is going soft. It brought up several different examples of millennials going "hysterical" over opinions they don't agree with. Now the friend who shared this stated that they agreed with everything in the article, and it was met with varying degrees of responses, both in agreement and against the idea. I however, held my tongue, or rather my fingers from typing a response.

This isn't the first time I've encountered such ideas, or even an article that makes these kind of accusations against my own generation. The idea that millennials are all just a "whiny bunch of brats who have no respect" has been circulating around the internet for some time. In fact, this idea is even responsible for the millennials now famous nickname, "the me me me generation." In late May, TIME Magazine even did an article on the idea, in which the writer cited actual statistical data that attempts to prove that the generation is self-absorbed. This article comes nearly one month after Alexis Bloomer released her Video on YouTube, entitled "Dear Elders, I'm Sorry," during which she explains that she wanted examine why the older generation is so mad at the younger one. She points out a bunch of generalizations about faults in the millennial generation's behavior. I remember that video circulating around through my Facebook friends, being shared with both positive and negative remarks. I remember both agreeing and disagreeing with the things she says in that video.

Then last week, after my friend posted that article, I had a revelation about all these idea's being spread about my generation. Personally, I do agree with a lot of what's been said in these and other examples of those opinions. While Alexis Bloomer made a lot of generalizations, I too have noticed that a lot of millennials seem to lack basic manners, listen to degrading music, or unnecessarily cuss to prove a point. I also can't argue with the statistical data pointed out in the TIME Magazine article. However, despite all this, I can't help but wonder why my generation is like this. Why does it seem like everyone is complaining? Why can no one agree with anything? Why is my generation so self-absorbed?

And then that last question gave me my answer.

The thing about millennials is that not only do we outnumber the generation's before us, but the population of the world has also grown to its highest numbers ever. That, coupled with our generation's constant access to the rest of the world through the internet and social media, results in making the individuals of the millennial generation feel like nothing more than a number, or like a small fish in a sea of bigger fish. There's more pressure than ever for the individual to make a difference; for someone to discover something new, invent a cure for the incurable, or make a name for themselves, but because of the increase of people it's much harder to actually accomplish this. So instead, the members of the millennial generation are doing what they can. They're standing up for something (anything) they can, no matter how insignificant or ridiculous. They're trying to get noticed by calling (no, demanding) attention from the world. They've been born into a society where it's simultaneously harder and easier than ever before for them to leave their mark on the world.

I'm not saying that this excuses the overall attitude of entitlement of the millennial generation and their actions, but it does explain it. We aren't the first generation to be criticized by the ones before us, and we certainly won't be the last. We also aren't the worst generation to ever walk the earth, either. And while I don't agree with everything my generation does or has become known for, I refuse to apologize for my generation. We're just trying to find our way in the world, like every other generation has before us. There's no shame in that. I have no doubt that we will be better, do better as time goes on. I have faith in my generation, and you should too.

And as for that crazy opinionated friend of mine, I'm sure they'll keep their belief that they're right, no matter what I say. But hey! What can you do? Despite their love of arguing and desire to be right no matter what, they're still my friend, and I still care about them.