The Relationship Between Elder Generation And Youth Generation Essay Example for Free

The Relationship Between Elder Generation And Youth Generation Essay â€Å"I can’t understand this newfangled doohickey†, is a phrase oft heard from the older generation nowadays.   The phrase that comes soon after is always, â€Å"It’s the new thing grandpa!†Ã‚   While it has been theorized that these new fangled doohickeys can easily be transformed into ipods or playstations with enough patience to explain how the gadgets function, the problem however is not simply the communication gap but other things as well such as the experiences and economics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The older generation has a different approach to many things in life that the younger generation simply cannot understand or if they do, cannot accept.    That the old or even middle aged person looking down on the youth was once a part of the younger generation is a concept that is pretty difficult to deal with.   The older generation on the other hand has a hard time teaching the youth how to avoid the same mistakes that they made when they were young because all they see is wasted and reckless youth.   This is the experience gap that separates the older generation from the younger generation.   The older generation has a lot experience but has a difficulty teaching the younger generation what they have learned from those experiences while the younger generation has a difficult time appreciating and respecting that experience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another problem which is increasing or perhaps highlighting the gap between the older generation and the younger generation has to do with economics.   Money is power in today’s world and he who has money is often right or worth the time to be listened to in any case. This creates a certain level of competition between the younger generation and the older generation in the sense that the younger generation wants to surpass the economic achievements of the previous generation while the older generation is not quite ready to hand over the reigns to the younger generation yet.   This creates the gap that separates the younger generation from the older generation and is further widened by other factors such as early success and the development of the youth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While these two factors may not be the only factors, they certainly play a big role in determining the gap between the younger generation and the older generation.   The solution to this problem is more simply suggested than implemented.   The key to solving this issue is for the youth to acknowledge the achievements of the older generation and respecting their experience and for the older generation to realize the fact that there is a reason why they are called the older generation.   Life is too short to be spent quarrelling and arguing about these trivial matters of pride.   Learning how to acknowledge and accept others, be they young or old is the way to bridge this gap.    References: Barnes, James (1991), Age-old Strife: Its Been Years since the Generation Gap Was a Topical American Phrase National Journal, 23 (Jan. 26, 1991), 216-219. Payne, Eleanor Howe, Study of a Generation Gap: The Effects of Age, Race, and Sex on Values, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Colorado, 1973.