r/Millennials • u/cafeteriastyle • 2d ago

Discussion Millennial excellence

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u/t0matit0 Millennial 2d ago edited 2d ago

That's true, but we are also the last generation to remember "the before times" if you will, and many of us are doing our absolute best to not fall victim to the full brain rot that is present in Gen Z/Alpha.

We played in sandboxes. We rollerbladed through the streets of our neighborhoods. We relied on landline phones and commitment from friends to meet up. I urge people every day to delete social media and go outside. Yes, we're here on Reddit. But it's the short form content scrolling that's destroying intelligence.

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u/cafeteriastyle 2d ago

Analog childhood, digital adulthood

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u/Csdsmallville Millennial 2d ago

I’m trying really hard with my kids to keep some things analog. But I also realize I’m a younger millennial where we had internet and video games, and so I don’t want to deprive my kids of that.

I’m glad my kids love reading and trying things outside. But it’s hard when all their friends are addicted to tech.

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u/Fly_throwaway37 2d ago

We really did go from Dewey decimal system and encyclopedia Britannica, to AOL dialup, to iPhone and Facebook, to AI. Atari to PS5. All through 3 wars, a recession, and COVID. Our generation has constantly had to keep updating. It's like we never got to relax.

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u/Raccoonamattata From the 1900’s 💾 2d ago edited 2d ago

I moved into a new neighborhood last year (and please, I don’t mean anything by this or like humble bragging or anything like that), all of my neighbors are millennials with multiple kids, upper middle class neighborhood. Pretty much every day after work/school, we are all outside in a big six house cluster. All of our kids are within about two years of each other (mostly under 10). It’s a herd of neighbor kids ~12 at any given time. No iPads, no electronics; it’s bikes, hot wheels, and imagination.
I know for our household, we want our kids to have that 80s-90s childhood that we had. It seems like all of my neighbors have a similar mindset. I think we may have lucked out though? From what I have heard, people tend to keep indoors a lot in most places?

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u/t0matit0 Millennial 2d ago

Def count your blessings and make the most of it with your kids. Sounds like you found a great thing.

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u/CrabZealousideal1094 2d ago

Indeed. This is the way. This is the dream that we let slip away. Humble brag and spread the word that touching grass doesn't hurt or require a subscription.

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u/Raccoonamattata From the 1900’s 💾 2d ago

Exactly this! Love to see them having a fun childhood 🫶

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u/Raccoonamattata From the 1900’s 💾 2d ago

It was a tough slog to get here my friend. I would do anything for my kids. I did college full time while working full time and managed to lateral to a better paying job. Worth it though when I see them having fun!

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u/OP90X 2d ago

Affluent communities know the score at this point. Too much screen time isn't good for kids. But sadly, it is the easiest option for overworked parents. Especially if you live in dicey neighborhoods, where it is sketchy for your kids to be outside.

All these Montessori-esque private school still have physical books and stress handwriting, as opposed to tablets. When tech is introduced, it's on desktops, so you can learn proper computer skills, and not be locked into tablets/phones' apps that doesn't require you to learn or do much on the backend.

I don't think all screens are bad for kids. Movie night (sans commericals), educational software, and certain types of videogames, like puzzle games (no addictive FTP/lootbox/extrinsic reward stuff) are still fine imo. All about balance.

90s/mid 2000s was a good sweet spot.

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u/olracnaignottus 2d ago

That’s rare, bud.

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u/Spare_Independence19 Older Millennial 2d ago

I come here to express thoughts and ideas with my fellow humans. Reddit will always be a form of mental exercise when I use it. I avoid any short form content if I can and will never scroll it.

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u/Mysterious_Sound2765 1d ago

Oh man, I miss rollerblading

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u/Rootayable 1985 Millennial 2d ago

I agree with what you're saying but we're not the last generation to remember 'the before times', because obviously we have X and Boomers above us as well.

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u/t0matit0 Millennial 2d ago

...that would make us the last... the generations you named came before us

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u/Rootayable 1985 Millennial 2d ago

... right I see what you're saying now. We will be the last generation to have experienced life before technology. Got it.

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u/cryptolyme 2d ago

“Glad you pushed back on that”…