3 Things Millennials Teach Us About Human Nature

Goal

Today, I discuss Millennials and what they teach individualists about human nature.

Table of Contents

• The Unique Position Of Millennials
• The Three Things Millennials Teach Us About Human Nature
  • 1) Most people are externally obsessed instead of internally disciplined
  • 2) Access to knowledge and technology does not produce virtue
  • 3) Men crave “free” things, not virtue
• Virtue Is More Powerful Than Human Weakness
• Actionables

The Unique Position Of Millennials

Millennials had access to comfort, technology, and opportunity. And we wasted it.

Millennials are the generation of people born from 1981 to 1996.

This is my generation. We were born when the internet became widespread and efficient. We hated dial-up and defined social media.

We’ve defined ourselves by our openness to and embracing of diversity. Often we needlessly challenge the status quo. We scorned tradition to uplift what is novel and fleeting.

Additionally, we have suffered through and committed immense social upheaval. Violent riots, a pandemic, housing crises, crippling college debt, etc., are hallmarks of our generation.

I would conclude we are a self-absorbed generation. We are also cynical, but I believe that cynicism has been earned.

The Three Things Millennials Teach Us About Human Nature

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” Carl Gustav Jung

Each generation, through its vices, teaches us something.

Boomers taught us the unsustainability of intergenerational theft. Gen Xers showed happy marriages are non-negotiable if you want a functioning society.

But, Millennials teach us three main things about human nature:

• Most people are externally obsessed instead of internally disciplined
• Access to knowledge does not produce virtue
• Men crave “free” things, not virtue

I’ll explore what these lessons are, the value of understanding them, and how to respond as an individualist.

1) Most people are externally obsessed instead of internally disciplined

Millennials support movements such as Black Lives Matter, transgenderism, feminism, etc. With each movement, Millennials discover new and innovative ways to worship victimhood and reject personal responsibility.

Externalizing responsibility to avoid self-improvement is a tale as old as time. Of course, we all know the result of externalizing responsibility is chaos. Millennials love to riot and complain on social media. But we never want to self-improve or become their own tyrant. They are no different than previous generations in this regard. However, social media, intoxicating comfort, and unearned arrogance ensure Millennials’ avoidance of responsibility is more dangerous than in previous eras.

“Systems” have very little power over us. When a person complains about systemic “injustices,” ignore them. You already know that person abuses his friends, isn’t reliable, and refuses to help the poor with his own time, energy, and resources.

Therefore, remember there is no path to a better society except through personal responsibility. Everything else is a distraction.

2) Access to knowledge and technology does not produce virtue

Millennials fought nothing, changed nothing; we bucked no systems or trends. All of our conclusions give more power to the government; all our actions give more support to the elites. And our society’s most productive, virtuous, and innocent suffer without end.

Millennials are unique because we were the first generation to grow up with the internet. We have wide access to running water, refrigeration, fast food, and other miracles. We are a consumer generation that has experienced comforts no other group has ever known.

Yet, Millennials have wasted this technology. Despite access to countless books, we are ignorant of the past. Technology is used to distract, not grow our skills. Our generation is full of addicts, gleefully consuming propaganda from the ruling classes.

So, what is your response? You must understand you cannot reason people into virtue. Most people are doomed to mediocrity at best and brutality at worst. You must plan accordingly and take steps to defend yourself.

Additionally, don’t waste technology on mindless fun. Use technology to grow food, learn about history, increase income, avoid unjust authorities, etc.

3) Men crave “free” things, not virtue

Millennials complain about the Boomers but still do the same foolish things. The Boomers worshipped authority, and so do we. They had unrealistic, predatory economic views. So do we. They had no plan for the future; we lack that as well.

Millennials will complain about never seeing a dime from social security. Then, we support universal healthcare and other equally unsustainable government programs to get our turn at the “free” stuff.

As an individualist, you must remember addicts will pursue what they want, no matter the cost. Millennials, like all humans, are addicted to “free” things: we want the government to fund our blood lust for wars, our “compassion” for the poor, and our want for healthcare, housing, and other amenities. We wrap such greed in flowery language.

But our greed is pathetic, evil, and unsustainable.

As always, when you deal with addicts, seek to reduce their influence in your life. Push them out and protect yourself. Start by reducing your time watching the news or associating with weak individuals. Then, satisfy your creature comforts with backup food supplies and other amenities. From there, look to expand your resources so you have more opportunities and resources for when times worsen.

Virtue Is More Powerful Than Human Weakness

“Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.” – Euripides

Millennials’ access to the internet should have educated us on society’s predatory practices, such as national debt. Society’s injustices should have propelled us to restructure society to benefit the virtuous, innocent, and productive.

But we are human. Our vices proved too strong for a generation too addicted to comfort.

Now we flounder, enjoying our corporate comforts while railing against corporations. We complain about power imbalances but cheer on the state. We desire true change but won’t even change ourselves.

In the face of all this, remember one thing: you are an individual. Regardless of your generation, you can choose to be someone completely different. You can be virtuous. You can be a hero. You can be more than another addict.

Actionables

1. What is your generation? What flaws do you note within your generation? What do these flaws teach you about human nature?
2. How well do you use technology? Does it control you, or do you use it effectively to improve your well-being?
3. What do you think the outcome will be of people’s obsession with “free” things? Do you believe man can ever overcome his desire for something he hasn’t earned?

Please remember that it’s important to do the actionables. You’re not on this earth to simply read but to do. To become an individual, you must act more than you consume.

*Image credit to Unsplash.