Saturday, January 05, 2008

even the Times Style section knows I shouldn't take the bar

The Times has a piece on how much it is starting to suck to be a doctor or lawyer. Those professions offer less autonomy than others, relatively shrinking pay, and the substantive work is becoming more rote. The article argues all of these points persuasively. Then for its conclusion it shifts into generational warfare mode:

This star-system mentality is particularly attractive to college students, many of whom were reared with the ’80s philosophy that every child was a potential superstar, Mr. Coleman said. And they want immediate rewards — not exactly the mentality that will fuel a student through years of medical school, a residency and additional training for a specialty.

“Their attention span, everything, is instant feedback: quick, quick, quick,” Mr. Coleman said. “Apprenticeship, these kids don’t want to do it.”

It sounds like he is talking about the young's proclivity for heroin but in fact it is just banking. Wanting rewards is unique to Kids Today? I don't think so, motherfucker. Law and medicine used to be better, not the human race. Sorry old guy.

I'm just picturing how my next job interviewer will react to my explanation for why I am leaving the legal profession. "Ah, yes, you adhere to the 80s philosophy that you are a superstar."

2 comments:

eve said...

This summer I attended some workshop at my firm about generational differences in the workplace. It was as crappy as that sounds: First, everyone in the room was like, "Well, I was technically born in Gen X, but I like to think of myself as more of a Baby Boomer type," or "I was born in Gen Y, but I like to think of myself as more of a Gen X type" or "I'm a Baby Boomer but I'm not telling what year I was born." And then the woman was like, "Okay! Here is your personality, on these three sheets of paper" or whatever, and then all the older people got all pissed off about how much damned feedback young people want all the time, and they're like "Yeah, all you want is a trophy for trying hard in a basketball tournament when you're 8 years old and you really actually suck." (and I'm like, "What basketball tournament?") and they're like, "Back in the day, we didn't need feedback because we only handed in perfect work. Who would have handed in less than perfect work under any circumstances? Not me. So why would I need feedback?" And then all the young people are like, "I want negative feedback! Not positive feedback! Beat me!" and then the older people are like, "I can't get my own work done anymore. All I do all day long is fill in forms about feedback." And then the young people look like they're going to cry. And the woman running the thing is like, "You see! We're really getting somewhere!"

That was the best day of the summer.

Glenna said...

Conversation about generational differences in my summer workplace:

F: You and I are the same generation.
G: Yes sir.

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