So we stand finished with the term's blogging. Whether this page will now fall into oblivion as many blogs do, or be revived by a new generation with different intentions remains to be seen, and there is little benefit in speculation. One thing remains certain, it's tough times for econoblogging. The news we hear from the mainstream media regarding our economic fortitude remains endlessly southward, and keeping youthful optimism and originality in relating our lives to the desperate economy proved, as notable from the staggering 9 posts here on the last day of deadline, more a chore than a creative joy. It's difficult - so difficult - to sit down and create a pithy, irreverent and bright post that could keep with our recurrent off-the-wall theme. We are a group of young adults that continually looks for the sunny, hilarious or bizarre effects of this recession, not because we think we're funny but simply as a matter of how we were raised. Maybe as a generation we're not yet willing to accept the incredible burden being placed on us, or rather we refuse to admit it in spite of it's glaring omniprecence. So we joke, hold in reverence the satirical and cynical, and wonder if that extra year or two before graduation will give us any lee-way. We are a generation raised by the likes of Jon Stewart, Jay Leno, and Conan O'Brien - even the worst news has a silver lining to help us cope, and if it doesn't we try our damndest to create one. Our parents grew up on paternal nightly news anchors and a relentless, fear inducing 30 minute broadcast for daily digestion. We do not accept that, and having grown up with "the fear" we choose not to get spooked - we've moved past shock and awe, even with the economy. This is our gift and our curse, we simultaneously disallow panicking while remaining (perhaps dangerously) detached from the situation at hand.
I don't hear enough from people our age about the economy. Where are the other bloggers out in that blogosphere (or is it blogiverse?) our age that have relevent opinions? Because even with Lord Obama flooding money into the market on a semi-daily basis, we are, in fact, the ones that will have (and excuse the cliche) to eventually fix it. I wish I saw smart ideas for ten years down the road in our generation's blogs, as opposed to silly woeful looks at the economy as an indicator of one thing or another. This stands true for journalists of all ages: What about the economy as a problem in need of solving as opposed to a problem in need of further explication? Is it possible to say the story's been reported to death, and if so does saying that make me a failed journalist? We know the recession is here, we know people are hurting, we DO NOT NEED another story about so-and-so's mortgage going under, or what colors/designs/logos people are wearing in times of need. I'd rather read another story about the Obama dog hunt than what the stars are doing to show sympathy for the recession. Maybe I'm just frustrated.
Conversely, I should note that I do have undying faith in our generation, especially regarding an economic fix. We hear pundits such as the ever frightening Glenn Beck and just about everyone else that still uses the word whipper-snapper refer to us as the entitlement generation... this seems peculiar. Where were the 20-something hippies when election day came about in the 1960s... not in the voting both, that's for certain. We are there, in record numbers. Where was your Mark Zuckerberg or Biz Stone or even Paris Hilton for that matter? We are incredibly innovative and creative, in a world where it's all been done we can still find ways to capitolize on everything and constnatly reintroduce the wheel. I can't wait to see our generation in charge of reinvigorating the newspaper industry, assuming one still exists by the time we're editors-in-chiefs.
So maybe someone, some company, some government oversight or lack there of, has left us a tremendous problem. I think we can solve it. Crossing my fingers, it may be presumable that Gen Y never has a test of mettle on foriegn battle fields, such as the greatest generation. We may not accumulate massive wealth like the babyboomers. But we've been delivered a singular mission to reemerge from generations of compounding problems always put off for another day. That day is now ours to squander. I know I'm totally up for the challenge, economy and all. You with me?
-Mike White
2010
I don't hear enough from people our age about the economy. Where are the other bloggers out in that blogosphere (or is it blogiverse?) our age that have relevent opinions? Because even with Lord Obama flooding money into the market on a semi-daily basis, we are, in fact, the ones that will have (and excuse the cliche) to eventually fix it. I wish I saw smart ideas for ten years down the road in our generation's blogs, as opposed to silly woeful looks at the economy as an indicator of one thing or another. This stands true for journalists of all ages: What about the economy as a problem in need of solving as opposed to a problem in need of further explication? Is it possible to say the story's been reported to death, and if so does saying that make me a failed journalist? We know the recession is here, we know people are hurting, we DO NOT NEED another story about so-and-so's mortgage going under, or what colors/designs/logos people are wearing in times of need. I'd rather read another story about the Obama dog hunt than what the stars are doing to show sympathy for the recession. Maybe I'm just frustrated.
Conversely, I should note that I do have undying faith in our generation, especially regarding an economic fix. We hear pundits such as the ever frightening Glenn Beck and just about everyone else that still uses the word whipper-snapper refer to us as the entitlement generation... this seems peculiar. Where were the 20-something hippies when election day came about in the 1960s... not in the voting both, that's for certain. We are there, in record numbers. Where was your Mark Zuckerberg or Biz Stone or even Paris Hilton for that matter? We are incredibly innovative and creative, in a world where it's all been done we can still find ways to capitolize on everything and constnatly reintroduce the wheel. I can't wait to see our generation in charge of reinvigorating the newspaper industry, assuming one still exists by the time we're editors-in-chiefs.
So maybe someone, some company, some government oversight or lack there of, has left us a tremendous problem. I think we can solve it. Crossing my fingers, it may be presumable that Gen Y never has a test of mettle on foriegn battle fields, such as the greatest generation. We may not accumulate massive wealth like the babyboomers. But we've been delivered a singular mission to reemerge from generations of compounding problems always put off for another day. That day is now ours to squander. I know I'm totally up for the challenge, economy and all. You with me?
-Mike White
2010
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