Teens aren't doing drugs, smoking, drinking, or having sex. And the suicide rate has never been higher.
replies(4):
https://wisqars.cdc.gov/fatal-injury-trends/
That chart shows the rate has hovered around 4000 per month for years. That's 4000 too many, but at least it's not increasing.
Since the spread of social media, suicide rates are up for children, significantly: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db471.pdf
> The suicide rate for people aged 15–19 did not change significantly from 2001 through 2009, then increased 57% from 2009 through 2017
> For people aged 10–14, the suicide rate tripled from 2007 through 2018
That was back in the 50's/60's I think he was spot on why this generation can't see past the last scroll or click. They don't have perspective because they have not been bred to have it. It's very sad.
Nor are people in their 20s (that is, both groups are having much less sex). That is the most worrying thing to me. People are not even engaging in the most fundamental, unavoidable, pleasurable human drive.
They seem very much like traumatized people, on a massive scale, just trying to survive.
If you have kids, do you see them as less mature than how you perceived yourself at their age ?
TBH I feel the opposite: current kids have a lot more to deal with, and are expected to be much much more down to earth than a few decades ago. The most basic things: a single post on an SNS can stick with them for the rest of their life, yet we moved half of our social life online.
If the rate has gone and population as well, how come the total number is about the same?
Many people just get hungry and inhale the most convenient thing they can to scratch the hunger itch. McDonald's is always busy. People would be there on Christmas day if it was open. These people aren't into food as pleasure, they just don't want to be hungry. Of course with meal replacements bottles etc McDonald's isn't even the bottom of that particular barrel.
It's the same with sex. I've met people who define themselves by their sexuality. They consider it a primary pursuit in life. But for others it's just scratching an itch. I've realised I'm basically that way. It doesn't mean that much to me, it's just something my body makes me do. Porn is now everywhere and more easily accessible than drugs. People are now able to reach for McDonald's or the meal replacement, but for sex.
Did 'bred' once include upbringing? I thought it began and ended with mate selection, pairing, and procreation.
For sure not. They are pushed to play in a stage and fake drama. Decades ago, many 13 years old kids worked for 10-16 hours a day.
Every few years I like to leave the world for a bit and do something else to reset a bit. For example I just finished walking 779km on the Camino in Spain.
What you said is essentially true for the vast majority of people in our modern world. What we have built is terrible for us, and we’re all suffering and very sick.
Not picking on your personal experience, but if you see it as a mistake, wouldn't it be a sign you weren't mature enough to take the right decision ?
Now, having a kid definitely accelerate that maturing process. But without a solid parental environment (which was common at some point, especially with the grand parents being around) it's a recipe for disaster, I wouldn't see it as an appropriate path for most in this day and age.
I see your point on much of a change it makes to have fewer young adults already being parents. That's definitely impacting.