The mass-wussification of our youth

[sordid]

I got bullied a lot because i was tiny in middle school...that all ended when i joined wrestling.

[RamblerGambler]

Lets take this in a new direction, if anyone feels up to it. We've been talking about the govt. and The State influence and what not.

So, how about the role of pop culture in this so called "wussification?" I'm talking anywhere from the damnable EMO trend to the the birth of the "metrosexual." Listening to commercial radio these days is enough to drive me to the point of insanity, Rock replaced with the pointless whining lyrics of whatever generic pop/punk band the record companies have foisted on us now.

Whatever happened to hardcore teenage angst?

[Psycho4Bud]

to the the birth of the "metrosexual."

LMAO! If I would have come home dressed up like that crap the ol' man would have changed that shit up RIGHT NOW! Amazing on how acting/looking gay turned into a fad..........great episode on South Park about it.

Have a good one!:s4:

[Hardcore Newbie]

:P Emo sucks, I don't listen to commercial radio anymore, so all music I listen to comes from online services.

Yeah, I don't really buy the metrosexual thing, I do wear a pink shirt, but the colour looks good on me. I still look like a friggin guy :P

[mrdevious]

Ugh, yes the emo thing has been growing and growing, they infest the town I live in as is. I wouldn't fault the kids for it though, I wouldn't fault them for any of their trends. Pop culture, pc culture, and just social/authorative culture have conditioned their poor minds to a point where personal identity is established by rebellion through mass conformity. Depression, angst, the general shit teenagers go through, should NOT be a style. It should not be a culture and attitude to indulge your mind in. The whole point of going through the tough times growing up is to learn how to cope, learn how to surpass these problems, and learn how to help each other grow into respectable and strong adults. Indulging in it and making it a fad only inhibits such growth in my opinion.

Conversely, I don't condone these assholes who scream "fuckin' emo!" at kids, or who beat on those weaker than them just because they want to establish their dominance, or do it just for kicks. The answer to the "mass wussification" isn't the opposite, becoming a total prick to makes life a living hell for the weaker. The answer, IMO, is to instil a sense of honor and desency in kids and teach them to defend those who are weaker, and show REAL strength by standing up to the strong that abuse their power. Yet nowadays ganging up on the weak is seen as an attribute; when did that stop being seen as cowardice?

[Psycho4Bud]

Yet nowadays ganging up on the weak is seen as an attribute; when did that stop being seen as cowardice?

Had the same shit years back when a group of jocks would stop off to beat up a hippy/grub. Just a different hate.............

Have a good one!:s4:

[delusionsofNORMALity]

So, how about the role of pop culture in this so called "wussification?"

i've never seen that pop-culture ever really led to anything, it has always seemed to be nothing more than a mirror with a slight delay. nothing really becomes popular culture until it has become wide spread enough to be safe to mass market. pop music is a perfect example, a watered down version of what the retailers think was cutting edge last year. there is always an army of followers willing to trail in the shadow of true innovators and an army of businessmen attempting to convince some twit that he is a true innovator.

[Matt the Funk]

It's not the kids. It's the parents and goverment.

[aardvark]

It's not the kids. It's the parents and goverment.

In alot of ways that simple statement is correct. The litigenous society has made schools and parents overly cautious for the fear of lawsuits. Elementary schools are banning games like "tag" for the fear of lawsuits. Hell, when I was a kid the most popular game was Smear the Queer or in todays vocabulary...Smear the non-hetero. It was like tag, except the person with the ball would be gang tackled without rules. The only retribution was to smear the next guy with the ball even harder. Kids and parents in my day (70's) didn't run whining to school officials if someone got hurt...it was accepted that it was part of being a kid.

Furthermore, I had a last name that people could easily make fun of, plus I was Polish (even though my name didn't refect it) during the height of Polish jokes. Guess what...I learned to...now get this...laugh at myself and have a sense of humor. Everything is so personalized and internalized these days that I fear almost every kid has the potential to go Columbine if something goes bad for them.