In Defense of the Younger Generation’s Preoccupation with TV

There are some people that often wonder why the younger generation preoccupies themselves with the the superficial things in life such as TV, video games, getting drunk, and you name it. The same critics also wonder why the youth of today is not spending their time worrying about the starving people of the world and not stopping the wars all over the world.

I would just like to defend the youth and why they’re like this.

In my opinion, it depends on what’s going on in the home. If the teen is a subject of domestic violence, sexual abuse or having serious problems in schools or whatever, they use TV, getting drunk and whatnots as a form of ESCAPE and escape only! People preoccupy themselves, generally speaking, with their immediate problems – even if they don’t admit to one. This is why, even though perhaps unconsciously, the greater picture of the world is not something that interests these people.

Watching MTV: It’s.. yes, very superficial. It’s not going to teach one anything. It’s simply a form of entertainment, and it is this kind of superficial entertainment that is the most popular form of escape or a means to cope with realities these young adults DON’T want to face.

So, this cannot be helped.

One is more capable of being altruistic and concerned about those outside themselves when their needs have been met to some degree. It frees up positive space in the mind allowing other things to be thought of. Although, one can just as soon argue that people are obsessed with helping others as a way of helping themselves. Either way, the *self* is the primary focus.

I will tell you that when I was a kid, I was the same way. I wasn’t curious and I didn’t care about the world. I was inwardly focused. I was strategizing and coping with my own realities. I was “guilty” of escaping too. As an adult now, I can say I’m passed all of that and have done a 180. I am currently VERY curious, concerned, and wanting to LEARN. I am political and trying to best that I can to keep up with the latest.

However, I would also like to mention that being OVERLY political or OVERLY concerned is also not a good thing. There needs to be a HEALTHY balance between the two. To mock these kids is not making ourselves any more superior at all. We are mocking and criticizing without taking any time to understand why the younger generation is as superficial and apathetic as they are. I strongly concur with Aristotle’s position that all things should be in moderation – even if that’s something that I cannot successfully juggle myself.

For example, as I said earlier, I do care about the world that I live in and preoccupy myself with politics and all the deeper things in life. But if that was all I did, I’d be bored out of my mind. I still long for the escape into superficial hobbies such as playing games, going to karaoke, listening to music and dancing, getting drunk on occasion (when my health permits these activities, of course!), watching the stupidest TV shows ever – just because they’re stupid, and I love a good laugh! The world needs to laugh more, and some people are just way too serious.

By the way, in school, I was MORE concerned about the hottie sitting a few rows from me than whatever topic was being discussed by my teacher! Now, I’m making up for it. Because it feels right for me now.

We all deserve to escape. Some people come home from an exhausting and highly stressful day at work. What do they want to do when they come home? Work more? A lot of people want to RELAX. What is relaxing? For some, that means resting the mind into a less cerebral an activity so that they can be alert for the next battling day at work. So, it all depends on what job one may have? How’s their financial situation? Are they in the middle of a divorce? Are they being over-worked? Did someone just die? Do they or a loved one have serious health problems? Do they have children that are consuming all of their sanity and energy? Some people don’t even know where they’re going to get the money for their next bill! People have stuff going on in their lives EVEN if they’re not a kid!

So, all I’m trying to say is to let’s not judge these people. Nobody is holier than another. There’s a valid explanation for everything – even though we may not understand it or agree with it. Once again… all things should be in moderation. Happy play. Happy work. Those are the healthiest people, anyway. Life, as we know it, is too short, and one should start out thinking of the self. Because if YOU’RE happy, well… then you can make another person happy too!