Do you believe millennials are lazy and self-absorbed? Or that millennials are an exciting generation full with hope and opportunities? Either way, in “The New Greatest Generation” by Joel Stein is showing evidence on how the current generation are lazy, entitled, selfish, and shallow, and how millenials are very smart and ahead of other generation. He believes that millennials born from 1980 to 2000 is a “Me Me Me Generation” (566). Older generations believe millennials are ungrateful and self-involved, but Stein has facts showing that Generation X are the “most threatening and exciting generation” (566).
Joel Stein’s use of humorous tones, combined with logos and pathos effectively shows older generations that millennials are productive members of society. He starts the article by stating he has facts on why older generation believe millennials are lazy and narcissistic. He uses logos to show facts and evidence, while showing why millenials are different, helpful, exciting, and threatening. “What millennials are most famous for besides narcissism is its effect: entitlement” (Stein 567) for what Stein is right, millennials may seem self-centered and ignorante, but if they want something they have to work for it and earn it, eventually getting want they (millennials) deserve. Stein quotes many professors, older generations, and writers from magazines to support what he and others think about millenials.
Stein continues to use logos throughout the entire article. Stein believes that self-esteem came from when parents “accidentally boost narcissism instead” (Stein 567) He also quotes Jean Twenge, a psychology professor in San Diego State University, writer of “Generation Me and The Narcissism Epidemic”, he said ” When they’re little it seems cute to tell them they’re special or a princess or a rock star or whatever their T-shirt says. When they’re 14 it’s no longer cute.” (567).
For another part of Stein’s article, he uses pathos to encourage the readers to read further. In the beginning of the article, Stein is stating millennials weaknesses and after reading more, Stein is listing why millennials are actually useful. He goes not by saying “they can move into a city, start a business, read and form organizations.” “Millenials don’t need us. That’s why we’re scared of them.” (Stein 566). He is stating facts on how millennials are more important than any individual and are brilliant thinkers, ahead of another generation. He also shows that millenials are not always great, they can actually be a problem as well.
“Poor millennials have even higher rates of narcissism, materialism and technology addiction in their ghetto-fabulous lives.” (Stein 566), rich millennials can get what they want easily so when poor millennials finally get something new they might feel “bigger” than anyone else. Throughout the article, there is a repetition on his facts, studies and evidence clearly showing that he knows what he is talking about.
