by Lucius Trae

Created on: May 03, 2010   Last Updated: May 04, 2010

As a member of "Generation Y," I encounter criticism about how we are ill mannered and have no sense of right and wrong. Of course, it's unfair to generalize to individuals based on an entire group. But if we are talking about an average, I still disagree that my generation is somehow worse than all the others. The world has always had problems. However, there is one criticism I see more than any. It's that we have a sense of "entitlement."

To be honest, my generation does have a sense of entitlement. However, I think there are a variety of reasons for this. Modern society continues to stress the importance of hard work and achieving your goals.

When people want something, they might ask politely to receive a raise, a new toy, or a day off. However, this reinforces their position as "lesser," and it establishes a lifestyle where you rely entirely on whether someone will accept your request.

We grew up being taught we should do what it takes to succeed. When you want a raise, you explain that you've increased profits by 35% and are entitled to one. If you don't get it, you leave. As long as your work will make an employer profit, they will usually be willing to accept your terms.

Of course, it will vary from place to place. When employers want to maintain low wages, they can't risk giving a single person more without risking major losses. They want workers to know they will fire them whenever they want.

This attitude of "entitlement" is responsible for the establishment of minimum wages, pension plans, and a variety of other benefits people accumulate while working.

If I am a millionaire because hundreds of employees work long hours for low wages, I should be ashamed of myself. These employees need me more than I need them, but they are still doing the work. We know all about this with the recent bailouts and CEO raises.

When someone works hard, they are entitled to a decent quality of life. When someone is respectful to others, they are entitled to receive respect in return.

In my experience, this concept of "entitlement" has been incredibly effective. It's helped me with career advancement, for example. I've refused to apply for certain jobs and, as a result, got both more enjoyable and better paying jobs. I actually am inclined to jump at every job I see.

I have to force myself to feel stuck-up and "entitled" because with my background and skills, I should make sure I get the most of them.

The unfortunate reality, of course, is that certain areas are more

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>