Generation Gap: Does it really exist?

[Editor]

Since times immemorial the old has always been compared with the new. In the context of humans, this comparison has often been talked about and the difference of opinion between the old and the new has been attributed to the generation gap. Here I am not focusing on any particular culture but this is prevalent all across the world. So whether it is the United States of America or Japan the difference between the age groups of the same culture is well known and often talked about.

Any individual's behavior is primarily influenced by two factors. In initial years, the family has a direct influence on the child, which results in formation of a typical set of values. Later as one grows up, the society influences the behavior to a large extent. In addition, as an adult the individual uses his or her own rational thinking for arriving at decisions.

Thus every individual is unique in one-way or the other. The modern science gives a proof of this, as each one of us possesses a unique set of chromosomes. Also, everyone has an exclusive fingerprint.

Now the question is whether the so-called generation gap is really existent or it is only a flimsy topic of discussion. To cite an example, if our views does not match with that of our parents then we put up an excuse that they are of a different generation and hence the difference. However, in my opinion two friends or colleagues of the same age group may also have different views. Every person is in the process of learning new things and unlearning some of the old ones. Though the level of maturity may vary with age and experience, but each individual will continue to think within his or her own parameters. Thus people will continue to different from each other irrespective of the age, culture, geographical location and so on.

What is your gutfeel?

[Urbanangel]

I feel that the issue of generation gap affects us. I have experienced it myself the older people are somewhat rigid in their thoughts and views. We the younger ones are told to adjust. Thus the gap is always there in a family if we think in that way....otherwise i know that everyoneis different...this is my gutfeel...

[Aditi77_k]

My feeling about generation gap is that it does exist. In any society whether it is west or east, u can see a marked difference between any two generations. It may be in terms of thoughts or any other thing such as fashion etc. People who are not willing to change or keep up with the new times are regarded as a different generation.

[Jan]

How many times have we heard older people saying things like "I was just like you at your age" and young people responding with sayings such as "I'm never going to get like you when I'm older"

These kinds of statements have been and still are prevalent throughout countless generations. How many parents have spoken to their children in the same way that their parents spoke to them. And how many of these parents have realised that they sound just like their parents did. I would wager that it is a majority rather than a minority.

A generation gap does and always wil exist. Yes we are all individuals and we all think differently no matter what our age. However, there are some constants that will always be noticable. Young people have a different mindset to older people purely because they have not yet experienced many things that an older person has. Ergo, the generation gap will be there forever. Well, that's my gut feel anyway

[Mellisa]

[Jan]

[Mellisa]

[navin]

We started out with hunting animals with sticks and wearing bearskin and have reached where we are today. This was possible because of new ideas that came to us. We still are evolving though the evolution is not so fast. We make opinions on everything based on our own experiences and external information that we get. We hold on to those opinions for the sake of ease.
With time things change but our opinion does not and the people who are born after us will form their opinion based on their experiences (which will be different than ours) and the result would be two people with different opinions about the same thing. It may happen in the same generation but it is lot more obvious in different geerations. With this in mind, I'd say the generation gap does exist.

[Mellisa]

[Editor]