Some colleges are now offering an interesting new major called generational studies, which obviously looks at the differences between generations. Frankly, it strikes me more as an amusement than anything of serious study.
The generation before me and the one after me have different tastes in music and style, which is fine. They also have different approaches to religion and, to some extent, politics, which is also fine. But normally, values are more constant, i.e., parents love their kids, life is better than death, kicking puppies is not cute, etc.
I thought privacy was such a value, but I was wrong. Having privacy is no more important than not having privacy. It is not a value. The primary users of Facebook are young people intent on sharing the minute details of their life. They shrug their shoulders over the NSA scandal. (Have you noticed how few people with gray hair insist on using their cell phones to broadcast a personal conversation?)
If the loss of my privacy is not important, then why makes kicking a puppy important? Maybe, one is a value and one is not. And, aren't values supposed to be taught by parents anyway?
The generation before me and the one after me have different tastes in music and style, which is fine. They also have different approaches to religion and, to some extent, politics, which is also fine. But normally, values are more constant, i.e., parents love their kids, life is better than death, kicking puppies is not cute, etc.
I thought privacy was such a value, but I was wrong. Having privacy is no more important than not having privacy. It is not a value. The primary users of Facebook are young people intent on sharing the minute details of their life. They shrug their shoulders over the NSA scandal. (Have you noticed how few people with gray hair insist on using their cell phones to broadcast a personal conversation?)
If the loss of my privacy is not important, then why makes kicking a puppy important? Maybe, one is a value and one is not. And, aren't values supposed to be taught by parents anyway?
