What do you believe is true?

Gen Me is a good read for anyone who has an open mind and isn’t scared to accept different views on the way we live and view our lives. I would have to say that I only like this book to a certain extent, and would more than likely never read it again. On the other hand, it’s a good “one time read.” I was amazed by some of her facts, and found myself stuck thinking where in the world did she find this stuff on others. Some of her information corresponded right on dial with my life, but I found myself disagreeing with her more than I had generally expected. Do Twenge’s views make her opinions correct? Possibly, due to her factual research, but then again, you have to remind yourself that Twenge is only one person.

I feel like self-esteem is something that really effects Gen Me, but I don’t feel like it plays a role in everyone’s life that is in Gen Me. I would like to write more on the self-esteem issue because I do agree with her on the fact that we are all hand fed and set up for disappointment, but at the same time, it comes down to the fact of who you really believe you are as a person. I personally like to set goals that I cannot reach, just so I can work my hardest to try and reach those goals, potentially coming up just short, or even possibly reaching them. Does that mean that I am setting myself up for disappointment? No. I am setting myself up for success. How does that saying go, “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars?” If I don’t reach my goal, I work twice as hard to accomplish my task at hand, so that’s where I disagree with Twenge on self-esteem. Being born into a generation doesn’t mean that you are going to fit its stereotypical definition. That’s like saying, “you’re rich, so you must be a good, successful person.” That person may be rich, but in all reality, they could easily be a cruel, con artist.

I really want to write a paper, and discover reasonable information, that goes against Twenge’s views of self-esteem and her generalization of generations. I wholeheartedly believe that Twenge’s views are nothing but an over processed, sewn together stereotype. Just the simple statement of being born between certain dates means you are linked to a group of people, is like saying, “you wear skinny jeans, so you must be gay.” That’s just my opinion though, and even if it isn’t bound together in a book, could you accept my views? Or would you automatically assume that Twenge is correct because it actually is bound together and distributed to millions of people and accepted by many? That’s another question I would like to answer.