Are American kids spoiled?

I blame soccer.

 

I was responding to Mark's post, above mine.

And without having finished the Kolbert, I would suggest it's a sophisticated variation on that tried and true theme.

 

No writer has ever convinced a publisher to buy or an editor to print a book or article with the theme "American Parents Trying Hard to Do Their Best, and Most Kids OK as a Result." No commercial potential.

 

"Mom, can I have a Popsicle?"

"What? You think children in other cultures get to enjoy cool treats when it's hot out? No, you can't have a Popsicle, Mr. I Think I'm So Special. And while you're at it, get a job!"

 

There are so many times I'm thisclose to actually saying this to my kids.

 

Socrates (469–399 B.C.)

 

People keep saying this, but the story isn't about American kids today compared to American kids yesterday. It's about American kids compared to kids in other places in the world.

Is that not fair to compare? What is anthropology but this?

 

Socrates was not speaking of American kids of yesterday.

His quote is merely a long-standing example that distain of youth by elders is fairly universal. That universal condemnation of the condition of the youth seems to cross time and geography.

 

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to nail down the point of the article. Isn't it more a condemnation of parents than youth?

 

It seems to me that the article was comparing apples to oranges and trying to oranges sucked because they weren't as good as apples.

Comparing an upper middle class family to a tribe family in the Amazon is inherently silly. Or this passage:

Wow, so life in the 21st century might be a little different than medieval Europe? The hell you say! Besides the longer life spans and the completely different set of generational expectations, what might be different besides most everything.

If you were to compare children from the same socio-economic conditions, you'd get similar situations.

Children from upper middle class families here versus there would come out the same in the wash.

 

Third world countries get room temperature Mr. Freeze pops.

 

That's Poland. They enjoy them after spring training for hockey.