It seems like it was ages ago. But it was only last November that the hottest item in everyone's inbox was the story of an intern called Kevin who emailed his bosses about needing to take a day off work in October to take care of some family business in New York City. His bosses, however, discovered a picture of him at a party in Worcester, Massachusetts, uncovering his duplicity. Worse, his boss attached the picture to a response email to him and BCC'd the entire North American staff of the bank. And, even worse, in the picture the intern--a young man named Kevin--is dressed a fairy--complete with green wings, eye makeup and a star-tipped wand. "Nice wand," the boss adds in his email.
Now Robert Lanham, the author of the Hipster Handbook, has revived the story in Radar because he views it as reflective of an entire generation of young Americans. Not only did Kevin deserve the humiliation, he should have been fired, Langham says.
My lack of empathy for Kevin comes from my sense of loyalty to the generation born between the years of 1961 and 1981. Generation X. Kevin is part of the generation born between 1982 and 2002--a Millennial, formerly known as Generation Y. (They got renamed after whining too much.) They're younger. They're healthier. They got to do anal in high school. They think updating a spreadsheet while simultaneously posting to a Twitter account about the latest gossip on perezhilton.com is an essential corporate skill. And, like Kevin, they're always doing stupid shit, but rarely getting called on it.
We're sure you can think of a few other dangerous Millennials. Aleksey Vayner and Lucy Gao spring immediately to mind.
Generation Slap [Radar]
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 1:26PM
"Not only did Kevin deserve the humiliation, he should have been fired, Langham says."
He wasn't? Seriously?
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 1:29PM
So we were handed everything our entire lives, continue to be coddled and now we are going to pass their entire generation politically, socially and professionally.
What are they so upset about?
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 1:40PM
Don't know what you mean about passing their entire generation. I think what's happening is that America is loosing its exceptionalism. Which will lead to a much diminished role in the world and in general much less in the way of goodies. And you all are a good part of the reason.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 1:41PM
If he's partying in Worcester, the boy needs a raise. That city is beyond dreadful
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 1:45PM
i think the author is just bittter that he's 30+ and hasn't amounted to a bag of smashed assholes
it shouldn't be an argument of generation vs. generation, but rather a divide between those with common sense and a strong work ethic vs. morons who think appearing on TRL live is the most important thing they can do in a given day
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 1:48PM
@1:40: Blah, blah, blah.
Which goodies? The houses and swimming pools? The I-Pods? Facebook? Orange and Fairfield counties? Where are these things going exactly?
Posted by HAM05 , May 15, 2008 1:50PM
robert lanwhateverthefuckhisname is an ahole. he forgets that most of the comfortable middle management jobs he and his generation enjoyed are fucking gone. if you wanna live in nyc and maintain a good lifestyle, barring inheritance, you are forced to do soul crushing work all day long. if throwing on a cute skirt and a star tipped wand gets kevins rocks off then bless his little fairy soul. truthfully id much rather spend all day jumping from tree to tree all willy nilly or whatever the fuck robert does all day long, but i cant. so instead i, akin to what kevin did, get blackout instead.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 1:52PM
@1:48 Wrong choice of words. I meant bigger things. Like quality health care, good infrastructure, old people living in a dignified way and not on dog food. Now dont jump all over me saying, for example that infrastructure is bad. America is in general a rich and prosperous nation and can maintain a strong military, decent social programs and run defecits without worry. I don't think thats gonna last.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 1:55PM
kudos HAM05, kudos
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 1:56PM
"bag of smashed assholes". THIS IS WHY I READ DB!
it has so many applications -
funny as ....
smells like ....
not worth ...
feels like ....
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 2:00PM
point is that you kids are basically the product of coddling, helicopter parenting. I know, some exceptions, but can you write, reason, solve problems? Ever read books? Prosperity has skewed your view of the world. Your parents have given you a far higher opinion of yourselves than you are entitled too. Iraq's not hanging over your heads like Vietnam was ours.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 2:01PM
Oh bullshit. Every generation has a percentage of assholes who flame out early in the career. Too bad the smart ass, new, know-it-all generation in IB didn't stress test their career risks for Facebook and MySpace faux pas. In the old days you made a pass at the boss's wife and you were effed. These days you do something stupid and someone with a cell phone photographs it and puts it on the web forever.
Just don't ever do anything you wouldn't want to see posted on Dealbreaker.
Posted by golden girl , May 15, 2008 2:10PM
2:00: Yes, in 1982 people stopped being able to read and write. You're correct.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 2:11PM
So your saying I can make a pass at my bosses wife now?
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 2:11PM
I know this kids family, and he was in fact let go from his analyst internship. Hes a good kid, just made a pretty stupid error in judgement is all, it happens
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 2:14PM
It's LOSING, not LOOSING.
What the fuck is with loosing and REDICULOUS.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 2:20PM
To 1:29 pm, and the other Millenials... Remember your fellow Millenial, Bess Levin doesn't run the show around here... Its Gen X'er Carney who remains the boss.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 2:23PM
Yes, but Bess, like most Millenials, is there to bring charm, wit and beauty to the party. Just don't expect any heavy lifting.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:28PM
Perhaps all the @ss kissing by the boomers is because they realize they need all those Gen Y kids to work like dogs in order to keep Social Security propped up.
Posted by Anal_yst , May 15, 2008 3:31PM
Yea, comparing kids born in 1982 to kids born in 2002 is really apples to apples. One didn't have high-speed internet until they were in middle/highschool/college, the other had it when they popped out of the womb.
Combined with steadily decreasing parenting, educational, etc. standards over that time period, thats like comparing apples to moosh.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:31PM
Saw this posted somewhere else re kevin: As an employer, I would rather have this young healthy guy working for me, who occasionally calls in sick to party, than a mom who takes afternoons off to take her kid with an earache to the doctor all the time, or some old guy taking afternoons off for rehabilitation after knee surgery. Chances are I'll still squeeze more work out of this guy in the long term.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:33PM
@2:20-- that's an interesting interpretation of what goes on at DB.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:35PM
@3:29 Gen Y working away isn't going to be nearly enough. On top of that, we'll need around half of Mexico to sneak across the border and work for close to nothing. Thay's why you're not going to see that border fence anytime soon.
Posted by girl , May 15, 2008 3:38PM
@ 2pm, bullshit, the pressures faced by our generation to compete are in my opinion unrivaled. I recall being on vacation abroad with my parents in 6th grade, studying for the SAT's that would come 5 years later. It simply wasn't an option not to be the best, and still isn't. It makes the temptation to go off the deep end that much more compelling- a stress that I sincerely doubt your generation faced given that, as Ham noted, it was still possible to live in a city like new york or send your children to school on a piddly salary.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:40PM
So kids are really hitting it anal in high school? I mean on a wide spread basis?
For Christ sakes, we didn't even have thongs when I was coming up....
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:41PM
@3:38 I have one word for you: Vietnam
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:41PM
@3:35, and a limitless supply of oil, not going to see that anytime soon either.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:43PM
@3.38--so, how'd you do on the sats?
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:46PM
@3:41 Your parents had about the same chance of having to go to Vietnam as I have of going to Irag, none. Nobody with money had to go to Vietnam, maybe Canada at the absolute worst.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:46PM
@3:38 "unrivaled pressures to compete". That is the funniest thing I have heard in months. For what? A shitty job. Shitty thin walled apartment on the UES? A hot boyfriend? A share in the right house in EH? You created the pressures yourself to fulfill the ego trip you've been on since your parents failed to slap you in sixth grade, instead of having you study for the SATs.
Posted by girl , May 15, 2008 3:48PM
@ 3:43 really well, not surprisingly considering aforementioned nerd behavior
@ 3:41- spoiled/coddled is one thing, apathetic to certain topics is another. We may not be marching in the streets practicing free love and getting high but that doesn't justify your prior statement either.
Posted by Lowly Assistant , May 15, 2008 3:48PM
HAHAHA
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:49PM
@3:36 You are just so so wrong there. Which doesn't surprise me. And actually supports the rest of the thesis here.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:49PM
The self absorbed Boomers are the ones who raised Gen X & Y. They are clearly to blame.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:50PM
Ward, I think you were a little hard on the beaver
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:50PM
3:38 That's some funny stuff. Oooooh there's too much pressure. Oooooh there's too much homework. Shut your crybaby mouth and get me a Fresca before I give you a noogy you never worked a hard day in your life mama's boy.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:50PM
Studying for the SAT in 6th grade?? Studying wouldn't even help on that test.
Posted by Pro_Forma , May 15, 2008 3:51PM
All this "back in my day" ranting is ridiculous. As it was pointed out way up this page, every generation has its groups of jackasses, its diligent workers, and everything in between.
Sweeping generalizations based on an N of 1 (i.e., the fairy kid) just make you sound senile.
Posted by girl , May 15, 2008 3:55PM
@ 3:51, you're right, but i do think the environment has changed and certain schools/industries/whatever just weren't as oversatured as they are now- just my 2 cents.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:55PM
@3:36 Why do you think people were demonstrating in the streets in Chicago in 68. There was a draft lottery. You could luck out with the number you pulled or, failing that, defer things and maybe put off the pain for a few years, but totally escaping was far from easy. That's why, to this day, when I come across a "Young Republican" I want to puke.
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 3:56PM
@1:45pm - Made my whole afternoon.
@3:41pm - We may not have had Vietnam but we have come of age during the new age of terrorism, widespread nuclear development, etc. in addition to what girl said about the ridiculous amount of pressure for everything from getting grades to keeping up with/outshining the Joneses. I'm not saying we necessarily have it harder than the generations before us, but that doesn't mean we're a bunch of whiny slackers either.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:57PM
The good thing about wars is they get the crappy genes out of the pool. We need a good war to weed out the idiots, the do nothings and unemployed.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 3:57PM
My generation did not have as loose sexual morals as today, and I think that's unfair.
Everyone can still get a job and make a lot of money, but I will never have group sex with a bunch of 18y/o girls (without some major complications).
And I'm seriously pissed off about it.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:01PM
3:55:
Perhaps a little refresher will help your nausea.
A Democrat got us into Vietnam.
A Democrat escalated it.
A Republican ended it.
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 4:01PM
@3:57pm - Haha. See that's a valid gripe.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:03PM
BB: Admit it: terrorism and nuclear development are just thrown in there for effect - you don't really stay up at night worrying about that do you? Its the consumer-oriented pressures that are getting to you. I think a nice six month tour in Iraq would do you and others like you a lot of good.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:06PM
Baby Boomers are the greatest generation, just ask one of them!
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:06PM
@3:55 Please, those were mostly rich or middle class white college kids protesting for ideological reasons.
"Young Republicans" like George W. were using their connections to get out of the war and join the Teas Air National guard, or get out of the war in some other way. I would have used every connection I have and taken any special treatment I could get to get out of that war too. I'm no fan of Bush, but you can't blame him for self preservation.
Posted by Pro_Forma , May 15, 2008 4:06PM
Isn't today's grade inflation a product of draft-dodging - i.e., letting students attain "B" averages (or something similar) in order to avoid the draft all-together?
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:07PM
@4.03--dont pick on girls, I think a nice night of washing out used condoms in a massage parlor would do you good
Posted by girl , May 15, 2008 4:07PM
geez there are alot of bitter a-holes on this threaad...even more than the usual I've grown to love!
-sigh-
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:08PM
Baby Boomers are the greatest generation, just ask one of them!
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:08PM
Why in the hell is anyone making their kid study for the SAT in 6th grade?
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:09PM
Baby Boomers are the greatest generation, just ask one of them!
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:09PM
@4:01 "Young Republican" = someone who supports a war like Iraq but, while able bodied,contributes nothing to the effort. I.e. a chickenhawk. Sort of like GWB's new son-in-law.
Re the Republican ending it: but not until lying and dragging his foot for 8 years, during which tens of thousands were killed.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:12PM
@3:57 - True, but 35y/o women are still available...
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 4:13PM
@4:03pm - No actually it isn't. I will admit that I don't literally sit up worrying about it. But I do remember being a kid when Oklahoma City got bombed and thinking it was literally the end of the world. Or when 9/11 happened and it felt like it we were going to go to nuclear war. So I'd have to say, you're wrong.
Make no mistake, I am extremely fortunate and blessed to be where I am. But I've also worked my ass off to get here so I resent the implication that my entire generation had everything handed to it without having to work for anything.
And not for nothing, but isn't it the hope and duty of every generation that the one to come after it would be a little better off? That's what my parents always told me.
Posted by Lowly Assistant , May 15, 2008 4:13PM
This "pressure to compete" argument is far too fucking funny. Ahh...the troubles in life: cyclones, earthquakes, studying Kaplan SAT materials while traversing the countryside of Europe during the Summer between 6th and 7th grade.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:15PM
A lot of pressure comes from the apartment situation in Manhattan. If the subway was faster and better, especially late at night, and it was cooler to live in Astoria say, everyone would be a lot less angry.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:17PM
4:12,
Is that an offer?
3:57
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:23PM
D-Generation X has two words for you
SUCK IT!
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 4:24PM
@4:08, 4:13, etc - Girl is right. I was doing the same thing and I actually took them in the 7th grade along with another 20+ kids in my class that year. At 10, I had 4+ hours of homework. The pressures to be the best and the brightest start a lot earlier these days. My sister's 4 month old is on the 3 year waitlist to get into the most "academically prestigious" PRESCHOOL in her town. Mock it if you like but to a child/adolescent, that's a lot of pressure.
Posted by counterclockwise , May 15, 2008 4:25PM
From what I've seen, Gen Y has had a pretty tough time. Pressure was put on the kids from first grade on up through the system. The competition for entrance into college came from a much more crowded field. Gen Y has benefited from some social progress, like less repressive sexual mores, but don't we favor progress? As far as I can tell, Gen Y works just as hard as the generations before them. I wish I had been as focused in my early 20s.
Btw -- money and privilege didn't necessarily always work to keep people out of the draft during the Vietnam War. The Vietnam effort was far more extensive than Iraq. Compare: 75,000+ died in Vietnam, versus 4,000+ dead in Iraq. And I don't think either war -- Vietnam or Iraq -- has a beneficial effect on the gene pool.
Posted by Investorcluzo , May 15, 2008 4:27PM
lots of introspection, people going back to their undeniably spoiled youths! let's just all agree on one thing. we all were probably slightly better off than 1/2 the people in the schools we attended. whether you watched fat albert and the smurfs or the powerpuff girls and teenage mutant ninja turtles, you watched something because you were fortunate enough to have a tv. c'mon people, there are children starving in africa! either you want to work hard and make lots of money or you want to work a little and just get by. take your pick, just don't be bitter at the guy/girl who doesn't choose the same route you took. I believe it was hilary who said "it takes a village"...perhaps the villagers will take her quietly back the chappaqua.
Posted by Lowly Assistant , May 15, 2008 4:33PM
@4:24,
So that's why the majority of people I work with are pale, socially inept, and not allowed to come near clients? Apparently we only hire feral children that grew up in a basement with excel and no sun light.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:35PM
@4:27 I would hope so. I went to private school and the bottom 50% were still borderline retarded.
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 4:38PM
@Lowly - Hahaha. It's entirely possible. I def know a few of those.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:43PM
girl said "unrivaled pressures to compete" at 3:38. An hour later and I'm still waiting to hear, WTF are you competing for? Put in in words and look at it and you're going to see how silly it all is. A house in Greenwich? A Marquis card? A hot wife or handsome hedgie husband? Aspen in March? A Bentley with a garage space in Manhattan? How many people really have those things. Unless, you're not really competing for anything. But just getting an emotional high from the self-importance being displayed in what you believe to be competition.
Posted by girl , May 15, 2008 4:46PM
@ BB thank you, I wasn't the only one who took them early!
For the record I wasn't forced to study, I did so because I wanted to make the most of what was given to me. No complaints whatsoever about the path I've chosen, but I'm not going to let some ageing hippy tell me I can't read either...
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:48PM
this is not my beautiful house ... this is not my beautiful wife ...
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:49PM
girl: I believe the remark (directed at your generation) was not that you can't read, but that you don't read. The "can't" was with regard to writing. You don't read and can't write. And the two are frankly related.
Posted by girl , May 15, 2008 4:51PM
@ 4:43 I don't comprehend why you think it's silly to want success and a comfortable life. I don't feel the need to qualify them to a total stranger.
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 4:53PM
@ Girl - You're welcome and my sentiments exactly. They're just jealous because they are getting old.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 4:53PM
@girl 4:46 I took the SAT early too, but it doesn't actually count for anything, so why does anybody give a shit? I can at least understand why people go crazy in high school over the SAT.
Posted by Debter , May 15, 2008 4:55PM
I'm Gen X by a couple of years (you figure out which end), but I see this backlash against millenials more with Boomers. I would say it's the fear that millenials are not only healthier, got to do anal etc...,but that they are smarter and encroaching on boomer/ gen x territory. I genuinely believe boomers and gen x'ers are afraid for their jobs, and they should be.
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 4:56PM
@ Girl - You're welcome and my sentiments exactly. They're just jealous because they are getting old.
Posted by Investorcluzo , May 15, 2008 4:58PM
at the risk of sounding dour, life is a competition in which we all lose (not to be confused with loose) in the end. but as long as you're in the game you might as well enjoy it. whether that's the trophy wife and bently or social work with down and out kids, it's not our position to judge someone else. get over it. why must we always have to legitimize our goals to others?
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 5:00PM
ah yes, the "they are just jealous" argument.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 5:00PM
@4:51 For the record, I don't think its silly to want success etc. I'm just questioning the degree of effort you think is required to achieve same ("unrivaled pressures to compete" - that so cracks me up). Hence my laundry list. Marquis card is not something I want. Maybe if I did, I would be dying from the daily pressure of competition. Could be your bar is higher than mine.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 5:06PM
Smarter, what a laugh. Definately bigger kiss @ssers!
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 5:06PM
@5:00pm - Oh my God people can we lighten up a little? It's Thursday and it's almost happy hour. Take a joke!
Posted by girl , May 15, 2008 5:07PM
@ 5pm- maybe it is. Can we all just shake and say good game now? It's almost time for happy hour.
Posted by Investorcluzo , May 15, 2008 5:09PM
@bb - where's happy hour tonight? I've got to go to the CATO Institute dinner at the Waldorf, starts around 7.
Posted by girl , May 15, 2008 5:10PM
whoa...JINX!
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 5:12PM
My favorite is the Oklahoma City -9/11 doozy, that's comedy at its best. Classic. Did Bess write that one?
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 5:15PM
Yeah jinx... or, you're one person using two screenames that just busted since the comment postings are delayed / screwy today.
Posted by guest , May 15, 2008 5:19PM
I feel like going to CATO to meet you cluz. I have a feeling that you and Clarence Thomas are going to be the only blacks there that are not serving food.
Posted by girl , May 15, 2008 5:21PM
@ 5:15
actually we're all figments of Carney's multi personality disorder: bess, ep, golden girl, bldbnkr, muffy, and me. Thanks for playing, come back soon
Posted by Investorcluzo , May 15, 2008 5:22PM
@5:19 - ha, ha! I'm fairly certain, there will be more than just the two of us. but good luck getting in.
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 5:22PM
haha great minds think alike Girl.
Posted by Investorcluzo , May 15, 2008 5:24PM
@girl: when are we going to have our big fat italian dinner with vodka on the side sponsored by onetwo?
Posted by blndebnker , May 15, 2008 5:26PM
@Cluzo - Not sure where we're off to yet. What's good? Girl, any suggestions?