Comments on: What’s Your Opinion of Gen Y?

By: Jane Foster

Jane Foster — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:18:07 +0000

I think that making generalizations about a group like bodybuilders is always problematic. As a 24-year old, I am obviously smack in the middle of Gen Y, however, I don’t consider myself entitled or arrogant. I believe in hard work, dedication, and taking your lumps / working your way up, which I think are the same values associated with generations before me.

By: Mark Munro

Mark Munro — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:16:13 +0000

Whats wrong with bodybuilder accountants anyway.
Yeah because they didnt see what was around the corner. They thought they could take on the responsibility of buying a house out of there budget not thinking about the future.

By: SavingDiva

SavingDiva — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:36:19 +0000

I just finished reading Generation ME; and I think my generation is getting a bad wrap. Sure, there are some ridiculous, pompous body builder accountants; but what about the boomers who bought a $1million home when they make $50k/year and are pissed they were foreclosed on?

By: jonny

jonny — Mon, 28 May 2007 03:26:55 +0000

While this article is certainly an exaggeration, it’s not too far off–I’m a Gen Yer myself, and I see a lot of my fellow graduates continue using the parents to keep themselves together. On the other hand, I see it this way–if the rest of my generation is too ignorant or lazy to get the job done, well, I’m young and hungry and dedicated, and I’m more than happy to step in where the spoiled children won’t cut it.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:09:21 +0000

Corporate America has helped bring this on themselves. In the “free agent economy” we can’t expect long-term loyalty from anyone anymore – it’s a year or two at this company and then parlay that into a bigger title and more money somewhere else.

As an employee, if you’re very good and very smart, this can be a beautiful thing, but as a manager, I hate to lose good people simply because they hit a certain milestone with my company and feel they must move on to continue building their resume.

By: KMC

KMC — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:17:35 +0000

I agreed with Flexo and BD. The article was clearly written to attract (sensational) interest from its readership. Fortune isn’t a magazine for twentysomethings. It’s for older people (sorry – I read it sometimes, too). Just like an Ann Coulter or Imus comment – it’s meant to sell [magazines].

By: Flexo

Flexo — Wed, 23 May 2007 06:42:11 +0000

It is insane to make any broad-brush-stroke generalization about any large group whether it’s a generation, race, or religion. Just because Fortune makes generalizations (using anecdotal evidence) doesn’t make it in the least bit accurate on a large scale.

By: Miguel

Miguel — Wed, 23 May 2007 01:54:45 +0000

Seriously – do we really need to pander to these stereotypes?

Like J&W, I also work in a field where the 20 and 30-somethings works their tales off, just as I did before them. Proof that if you set up a competitive, survival of the fittest, meritocracy, where the spoils are worth it, gen Y and gen X ers are more than capable of rising to the task.

I think what has changed is that our society (work, parents, etc.) simply more often than not asks less of them – which is a shame for all.

I’m a tail-boomer – born at the very end of the baby boom – yuck. Basically, following immediately after the bulge is like arriving to the party late – but for the rest of your life!

Anyhow, I can identify with the arrogance of today’s youngsters because I was just as arrogant in my day (some would say that hasn’t chg’d with age). I was always eying older people, thinking yeh I could do it better, faster, and cooler, so why don’t you oldies just get out of the way already. Sometimes I was right, sometimes I was wrong.

So, now, when I encounter that youthful know-it-all arrogance, sometimes I have to beat it out of them, but I also try to preserve a bit of that too – it helps to be at least a little cocky.

By: Minimum Wage

Minimum Wage — Tue, 22 May 2007 20:56:45 +0000

According to the article, 22-year-old Joshua Butler “chose accounting” AFTER college graduation? How the heck did he do that?

I have a college degree; I even took a year of undergraduate accounting. How can I “choose accounting” now? Where do I sign up?

By: JLP

JLP — Tue, 22 May 2007 20:36:11 +0000

Wanda,

Thanks for the comment. Sadly, that “when-I-was-your-age…” stuff was a LONG time ago (or at least it seems that way).

I don’t have any regrets for the comments I made. I’m just giving my impression of the article.