all fired up
Teenagers across the globe have been accused of being indifferent to all but their own needs. But the accused plead not guilty. And talk about the issues that do fire them up.
By Shibani Phukan
the case
A for apathetic. B for blasé. C for couldn't care less. D for detached... Is this
how we qualify Generation Next? Pretty much so. As would be evident if you happen to
eavesdrop into any of generation stone age's conversation. Sample one. "Oh! This
generation... in our times..." And you go, "Oh no! Not again!" Or sample
this. "These youngsters (said with as much scorn as you'd have for a fly in your
milkshake) care nought for anything that doesn't concern them. And nothing concerns
them." And it goes on and on and on.
But what exactly is the complaint? The complaint or grouse is against the lackadaisical attitude of teenagers. They are preoccupied only with their own selves, their own world and nothing more. Or worse. The extent of a teenager's concerns are limited to just himself or herself. In other words, his or her concerns are 'I', 'me', 'myself'. All else, however grave or important, however big or small, doesn't come under a teenager's purview. But before you get all worked up about all the accusations levelled against teenagers, let us make it clear that this is not what 'we' say, this is what 'they' say. 'They' as in Generation Stone Age. So don't you pelt 'us' with stones!
guilty of...
It is said that teenagers have no concept of duty towards the family. Be it
something as small as getting a glass of water for just themselves when the entire family
has just come back from an exhausting shopping trip and are dying of thirst. Or a matter
as serious as not being bothered by the fact that their mom or dad is unwell and hence the
need to be around. In both the cases, as long as their immediate needs are met, teenagers
are seen as not being concerned about what goes on.
Teenagers are said to be irresponsible. They can't be entrusted with any job essentially because they don't care if the job is done, and if it is done, that it is done well. Unless of course they stand to gain something from it. Especially if it is in the guise of money, then one may rest assured that the job might almost be accomplished with perfection. Also the fact that one may be rewarded otherwise for a good job, meaning that one might land up with a coveted post (like that of being the headgirl or headboy of the school), might egg someone on to do something responsibly. So the obvious inference is that even if a teenager does a job well, it is because of other lucrative reasons. Not because he or she wants to do a good job just like that. Not because he or she cares. Not because he or she is concerned.
Family, school and areas of immediate concern apart, other national and global issues are also said to escape the interest of teenagers. Ask them about the sorry state of affairs in the country, the growing pollution, the lack of basic amenities, the rise in prices... and you are met with a casual shrug of the shoulders, or worse, a smile that seems to be saying, 'I don't know what are you are talking about.' In fact, remember the ad that flashes across the TV screen rather frequently? The one where a girl's stock response to all troubles are, 'I don't care!' Well, that sums up the attitude of teenagers as perceived by non-teens.
the defense
counsel
So generation gap and such apart, is this attitude towards teenagers justified? Is
it based on facts or is it based on mere assumptions and generalizations? Is there any
element of truth in what they say? Teenagers beg to disagree with all of it. In a rather
generous vein, they say that even if there is some truth, it is the truth as the 'others'
see it. And may not be the whole truth. To know the entire truth, the teenagers need to be
heard. So here it is-their side of the story.
But even before the teenagers warm up to do their talking, they want to state something very loud and clear. They do care. Really really care. And there are several reasons why it seems otherwise. The most important being that their voices are simply not heard. There is no platform as such from where they can voice their opinions about all and sundry, or from where they can address issues that concern others and them in particular. "Anyway, are we, what we say, what we think, ever taken seriously?" asks a rather cynical teenager. As if on cue, another says, "When our very existence does not matter to most, do you think what we say matters?" And adds, "Also, whatever we say is always taken as wrong, as insubstancial, as meaningless, of no worth." As far as taking on responsibility is concerned, when no one gives them any, assuming that they can't take any, are teenagers to be blamed?
cross questions
With such disincentives to speak out, is it surprising that most teenagers prefer
keeping shut, not showing concern for fear of ridicule? Not really. And delve a little
deeper. How many of those who criticize the youngsters, ever raise their voices about
anything, show any concern, bother about issues and address them? There is more to this
complacent attitude than meets the eye. Like how is this complacency born? Or are we born
complacent, with a couldn't care less attitude? If not, does it have something to do with
the fact that from a very young age, we are told not to ask too many questions? Or none at
all if it does not concern us directly? A guy or girl who questions is immediately
labelled precocious, 'too smart' and thus someone who means trouble.
Gradually, the spirit of questioning is curbed. You grow up seeing and accepting the fact that the world is not a fair place and you should not question any unfairness. You see corruption, exploitation, degradation all around you and no one talking about it. So you start accepting it as a given, as something you can't do anything about, hence not worth talking about or questioning. Slowly you become no different from a vegetable. Almost. But are you to be blamed, or those who create, sustain and encourage this sense of complaceny?
high five
But now that teenagers have a platform to speak out, let's hear about the issues
that do fire them up. Their list is endless, but let's take some of the most important
ones. In random order.
Prejudices
Teenagers are sick of the world viewing them with a jaundiced
eye. Of treading the prescribed path or facing rebuttal. Of being typecast. Of biases
regarding gender, views, career options...
Careers
Careers are a prime concern amongst teenagers. But not in the
way we understand it. It is not about carving a career, scaling dizzying heights of fame.
This is not an important issue with teens. It is the mounting pressure to be career
oriented, to attach so much importance to it, that is an issue with them.
Counselling
Teenage is a time of transition and a time when you have to make
a lot of changes or ready yourself for them. It is a time when the need for counselling is
most felt and necessary. Counselling to help teenagers cope with the changes and to give
them direction to make them correctly. But counselling, be it career or psychological
counselling, is almost non-existent.
Politics
'They' say that this is one area in which teenagers show no interest as 'it does
not affect them'. Wrong. Once again. The politicians advocate reservations in educational
institutions, not out of any consideration for the down and out but chiefly to gain
political mileage from it. And who suffers? Students. Youngsters. Teenagers. They make and
break laws. But none that would give teenagers any rights or protect whatever little
rights they do have. They do not give teachers their due rights and teachers go on stike
and who suffers? And if they do suffer at the hands of politicians, aren't they foolish
not be concerned about what games politicians are playing this time round?
Pollution
Teenagers shall inherit the Earth. Scream graffiti, and t-shirt
slogans. An Earth that is slowly dying. An Earth on which it is unsafe to breathe. An
Earth that has little to offer except pollution-induced diseases of all kinds. An issue
that once seemed unreal, far removed for most but becoming more real with every passing
day.
And there is more. To fill page after page. To silence all those who say that teens don't care. But is anybody listening? Anybody who cares?
