Over 50? You Probably Prefer Negative Stories About Young People

[HuckleB]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100830094930.htm

"When given a choice, older people prefer to read negative news, rather than positive news, about young adults, a new study suggests. In fact, older readers who chose to read negative stories about young individuals actually get a small boost in their self-esteem, according to the results.

And what about younger people? Well, they just prefer not to read about older people.

These results come from a study of 276 Germans who were asked to read what they thought was a test version of an online magazine featuring carefully selected stories about younger and older people.

"Our results bolster the argument that people use the media to enhance their social identity," said Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, lead author of the study and associate professor of communication at Ohio State University.

..."


------------------


Yeah, the title is misleading, er only tells half the story, but....

:hi:

[brewens]

1. Yup. The country has always been going to hell and the kids

were good for nothing. I bet the WWI guys thought that about the WWII vets when they were growing up in the 30's. Ya know with their cigarettes, wild music and crazy clothes and all.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Well, call me an exception to the rule.

I feel pity for the younger generations, given the way our generation has left matters of the environment, consumerism, politics, and values.

I love positive stories, I have hope for the next generations who might just be successful despite the poor job our generation has done.

:patriot:

[Skittles]

5. same here

[dflprincess]

9. Gee and my cousin and I were just talking about how we thinks

kids (and by "kids" we mean everyone up to at least 30) have it so much harder than we did. Especially when we could get by on minimum wage when we were starting out & pay state college tuition with a part time job.

Ungrateful little rats, thinking we enjoy hearing negative things about them. Why can't they be like we were, perfect in everyway - what's the matter with kids today? :evilgrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wCXr_6wgns (song starts about 1:20)

[BeFree]

10. Yeah

The good stories that the youngsters are making are quite impressive.

It actually gives one hope.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[juajen]

4. Broad brush baby!

[HuckleB]

6. YUP!

[petronius]

7. So those damn selfish ungrateful punk kids "just prefer not to read about older people", do they?

Egotistical little snots, that confirms everything I ever thought about them...

Hey, I feel better! ;)

[HuckleB]

8. I do too!

Beautiful response!

:toast:

[Fumesucker]

11. I argued with a DU poster today who was ten years younger than I..

The poster was quite nasty in suggesting that they didn't want to pay for "other people's kids" when "they had no say in how the kids were raised" and the local school board "sent a nasty letter to all the taxpayers ordering them to support the school bond issue".

With Democrats like that, who needs Republicans?

[Ron Green]

12. What? Young people read?

:P

[Canuckistanian]

13. And they're always trying to get on my lawn

With their goldurned iPods blaring out the latest "Rip songs" and text-ing and "FaceSpace" nonsense.

Why can't they listen to GOOD music, like the Cowsills or Three Dog Night?

Ah, the memories. I would go down to Shermanville (which was called Darkie's Corners back in the day), listening to Leapy Lee with an onion tied to my belt......

Where were we?

[Art_from_Ark]

14. Leapy Lee! Cowsills!

Little Arrows! Indian Lake! My top two songs from 1968! :bounce:

[Chipper Chat]

15. How about "How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?"

No 1 in 1950.

[Art_from_Ark]

16. That was my mom's favorite song

A few years before my time, though

[Canuckistanian]

20. Whoa, too far back

You old guys and your Gregorian Chants.

[Chipper Chat]

21. Yeah, I must confess I still adore

"When I Think About the Maidens" by Michael Head.. I think it was no 1 on Billboard in 1919 or so.

When I think upon the maidens
Language: English



When I think upon the maidens
Whom I swore to love for aye,
Cynthia, Doris and her cousin,
There are still another dozen
Debts my heart can never pay.

Do they scorn me now I wonder,
Did they take it as a game?
Flora, Olive and the others,
How I hated all their brothers!
Fickle Cupid you're to blame!

Years have passed and yet I'm single,
Torn and undecided still,
Clara, Mabel, what a vision!
I can't come to a decision,
And I hope I never will!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn6zVxleDMs

[Steely_Dan]

17. I Guess I'm An Exception....

I'm not sure who learned more from my parenting...me or my kids.

-P

[MiniMe]

18. I'm over 50, and I'd rather read bad news about republicans

:hide:

[mbee]

19. Feel sorry for young people today as when I first went out

to work healthcare was available. All you had to do is ask and the employer gave it to you no problem. Now in a lot of cases it is a luxury and many young persons have not coverage even if they have a full time job.

[DailyGrind51]

22. Actually it's "our" fault for "dumbing down" their education!

[Regret My New Name]

23. I'm an exception too... I love reading obituaries

argh, I make myself sick.

[calico1]

24. Well, I am 52 so that makes me "older"

though I still hate to think of myself as "middle aged." :crazy:

Yes, I think a lot of young people are clueless and can't express themselves intelligently or carry on a conversation of any substance.
But then, the same can be said of many in my generation.

I have made up my mind to NOT become like people who are a generation or two older than me and use the same broad brush to judge people with.

The fact is, a lot of young people today are more open minded with regard to race and religious acceptance, they tend to be very involved about keeping the planet in good shape. And the fact is a lot of them are very well mannered and gracious. I make a point of pointing that out whenever I am with people my age or older and the conversation drifts to talking about those damn young people of today. :-)

[RFKHumphreyObama]

25. Whenever I hear complaints about young people being too interested in technology

And modern fads and not interested enough in politics, my mind flashes back to a book I was reading about an election in the 1920s when one 100-year old man turned up to vote and, explaining that he felt it was his civic duty, he then went on to criticize young people by saying something to the effect that "nowadays they don't take their responsibilities seriously -they're too wrapped up in their jazz and dancing to care about the future of the nation". I reflect on that statement and observe that, while the forms of technology may have changed, the basic complaint about young people hasn't

[HuckleB]

28. Indeed.

[LWolf]

26. I like young people.

If I'm reading the news, I'm looking for reality, not spin. Good news is great, bad news is not, and staying well-informed is important.

I don't prefer to read that the next generation doesn't respect my generation, or our values or accomplishments. I don't prefer to read about generational divides at all. I'd rather bridge them.

[surrealAmerican]

27. This may only apply to Germans.

I don't see why anyone should assume it's some sort of universal human trait based on this study.