• Adderbox76@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    25
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    6 months ago

    Yeah. You’re right that we’ve always been dumb and stupid and would do stupid shit to impress our peer group

    But I firmly believe social media has inflated the definition of “peer group” to include “internet followers”, which jacks the whole stupidity up to 11.

    For example, you’re a nineties kid walking through the mall with your friends in your JNKO jeans and your slap-it watch. One of your friends decides he’s going to be an idiot by balancing on the railing of the second floor and you all have a good laugh. Edit: If his friends hadn’t been there, would he have done it? I doubt it. But now his “friends” don’t have to be there, because they’re just random followers to give him social media points.

    That’s sort of what I meant. Its not the we didn’t do dumb shit as kids, its that social media credit has motivated people to do dumb shit when they normally wouldn’t.

    Edit: also, WE grew out of it. Nowadays they are socially and financially incentivized to NOT grow out of that phase.

    • Ryru Grr@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      edit-2
      6 months ago

      Truth. As an 80s kid / 90s teen, I feel pretty lucky to be alive. I’m grateful for the few times in my life when common sense kicked in, and I said no.

      • Adderbox76@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        6 months ago

        Same. Was thirteen in 89. Graduated in 94. Hit Y2K at 23. Basically peak Clerks/Dazed and Confused generation.

        To make matters worse I grew up in a small town where there was nothing better to do THAN do stupid shit with friends.