Blame It on Mr. Rogers: Why Young Adults Feel So Entitled - WSJ.com

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Blame It on Mr. Rogers: Why Young Adults Feel So Entitled - WSJ.com (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB118358476840657463.html)

Don Chance, a finance professor at Louisiana State University, says it dawned on him last spring. The semester was ending, and as usual, students were making a pilgrimage to his office, asking for the extra points needed to lift their grades to A's.

"They felt so entitled," he recalls, "and it just hit me. We can blame Mr. Rogers."

Fred Rogers, the late TV icon, told several generations of children that they were "special" just for being whoever they were. He meant well, and he was a sterling role model in many ways. But what often got lost in his self-esteem-building patter was the idea that being special comes from working hard and having high expectations for yourself.

[Rhino]

A new generation of liberals.

[Madbomber]

I totally agree with this article. There is nothing more important than teaching your kids that not everyone in this world is going to kiss thier asses. It is vitally important to teach them that they have to work for what they want in life. That life is hard sometimes and there are times when there arent any easy solutions. Its not always easy to be a parent but if you truly love your kids you have to prepare them to actually live in the real world. Codling children is not only a disservice to them but it is a disservise to yourself and society as a whole. Our country needs well adjusted adults capable of being productive not little kids that only go off to college just to return to live in thier parents basement for the next 30 years doing just enough work to keep them supplied in thier dope.

Feel sorry for my kids? You shouldnt Ive got 5 and only 2 of them have told me they hated me so far. :biggrin: Luckily I know they will respect me for it later.

[Wyatt_Junker]

Mr. Rogers was strange. He never got mad. Kids notice that shit. Same with Barney or the Wiggles. They don't ever get mad. Its like they're always high, or possibly... gay.

I don't necessarily like strange smiling people. Even as a kid I wondered 'what are they trying to sell?' Knock that shit off.

But Mr. Rogers was worse than the rest. Why was he so happy taking off his shoes? The guy is smiling like Charles Manson as he slowly doffs his penny loafers. Was this some kind of sick ritual? Feet and children?

And the button down sweater. What was that? Who wears those? Really. Who wears red button down sweaters? Nobody in my world.

If you're gonna smile, smile for a reason. A punchline or maybe cracking open a beer.

I watched the fireworks on TV a couple days ago in Manhatten. It was wierd. When the camera panned over the 'crowd', a lot of the people were smiling like zombies. I have never smiled when I watched fireworks. I just stare with my mouth hanging open. But these people were smiling. Something seemed staged. Especially when you consider the fact that those are your taxes exploding over your head, now turned to ash. Independence Day??? Really?

Just keep smiling. In the end, maybe that's all some people have left. Not me.

[PrezLeefun]

Hey hey hey no one should pick on my sweet Mr. Rogers. Blame the parents.

[Gonzo67]

Hey hey hey no one should pick on my sweet Mr. Rogers. Blame the parents.


Yes, I agree! Blame the parents! Blame the Parents for LETTING their kid's watch Mr. Rodgers! ;)

[pinqy]

Mr. Rogers was strange. He never got mad.
Yes he did. He had an episode and a song (http://pbskids.org/rogers/songlist/song7.html) about what to do when you got angry. He talked about things that made him mad.
There is nothing more important than teaching your kids that not everyone in this world is going to kiss thier asses.Mr. Rogers never taught that. The opposite, in fact. It is vitally important to teach them that they have to work for what they want in life. That life is hard sometimes and there are times when there arent any easy solutions. Its not always easy to be a parent but if you truly love your kids you have to prepare them to actually live in the real world.And he did teach that...often.

Mr. Rogers in now way encouraged coddling or catering to childrens' whims. When he taught that everyone was special he did not mean anyone was more special or innately more deserving of things than other people. "You're a special person and I like you just the way you are" was about self-respect and individualism, not entitlement.

There shall be no blasphemy against the Reverend Frederick McFeely Rogers!

[Madbomber]

Well you are welcome to your opinion. Quite frankly, his show was so sugary sweet that I and my kids couldnt stomach more than a few episodes. My comments were about the article, which you may or may not have read, The article was about more than just Mr Roberts show, although naming it a contributing factor which I believe it (as well as a lot of public television kiddie shows) is.

Sure they may talk about the consequnces of ones actions but the punishments were ALWAYS watered down. You do your kids a diservice if you teach them that they can always "talk" thier ways out of problems, (in this case asking for better grades that they dont merit) of course Im sure someone will teach them after a few trips to the local bar tho.

[DoctorDoom]

There shall be no blasphemy against the Reverend Frederick McFeely Rogers!... Reverend Rogers, ordained (1962) Presbyterian minister. He was a good man. He spoke to kids at their level, never talking down to them. He discussed family events that affect kids, such as divorce and death. IMO, the shoes and sweater told the kids that he was putting aside his real life and making himself comfortable for the time that he'd spend with them.

Mr. R was a class act. The world is a lonelier place for his loss.

[Wolfcounsel]

Only an "it's somebody else's fault" type of mentality would try to shift the blame away from the parents. The on/off switch and the channel selector switch are amazing little things with which every TV set is equipped. Being a parent is a 25 hour a day job.

Also, I watched Mr. Rogers with my kids. We need more shows like his.

[pinqy]

Well you are welcome to your opinion. Quite frankly, his show was so sugary sweet that I and my kids couldnt stomach more than a few episodes.hmmm Mr. Rogers wasn't sweet. He was nice. Quiet. Calm. A huge antidote to the frantic pace of most kid's programs. I have to wonder what children's programs you consider to be good. Sure, Mr. Rogers is a little boring for adults, but children need consistancy, predictibility, order. And Mr. Rogers did all that...every episode followed the same routine. There were no surprises. You knew who was at the door before it was answered. That's all good for young children.

My comments were about the article, which you may or may not have read, The article was about more than just Mr Roberts show, although naming it a contributing factor which I believe it (as well as a lot of public television kiddie shows) is.I read it, and the Professor is wrong. There's a huge difference between being told that every one is special in that they are individuals with their own qualities and abilities (which Mr. Rogers did) and being told that you are special and no one else is and that you because of your specialness should be treated better and differently than others (which Mr. Rogers did not). Oh, and it's "Rogers." Mr. Roberts was Henry Fonda.

Sure they may talk about the consequnces of ones actions but the punishments were ALWAYS watered down.Who is "they?" And the article didn't talk about actions and consequences anyway. You do your kids a diservice if you teach them that they can always "talk" thier ways out of problems, (in this case asking for better grades that they dont merit) of course Im sure someone will teach them after a few trips to the local bar tho.So if they think they deserve a better grade they should hit the teacher? Besides, who do you think is teaching kids that they can always talk their way out of problems? The article was talking about kids thinking that, because they are special, they deserve better grades even though they didn't earn them. That's not the same thing teaching you can always get what you want by talking. And seriously, you think that childrens programs should teach kids that they shouldn't try to talk about problems/concerns?

[Madbomber]

hmmm Mr. Rogers wasn't sweet. He was nice. Quiet. Calm. A huge antidote to the frantic pace of most kid's programs. I have to wonder what children's programs you consider to be good. Sure, Mr. Rogers is a little boring for adults, but children need consistancy, predictibility, order. And Mr. Rogers did all that...every episode followed the same routine. There were no surprises. You knew who was at the door before it was answered. That's all good for young children.

The background music was like listening to an icecream truck, sweet. Ok a time or two but just plain annoying after several shows. Yes Ill conceed that the pace was very slow, great for a parent that is looking for a break and needing the TV to occupy your kids for you. As far as consistancy, predictability and order, Kids need that from parents for sure, but in a TV show it just makes it dull.

I read it, and the Professor is wrong. There's a huge difference between being told that every one is special in that they are individuals with their own qualities and abilities (which Mr. Rogers did) and being told that you are special and no one else is and that you because of your specialness should be treated better and differently than others (which Mr. Rogers did not). Oh, and it's "Rogers." Mr. Roberts was Henry Fonda.

There IS a huge difference, but the only way a child would know is if that is how it is explained. You explain this in a mature matter of fact manner. Do you think if you explained it that way to a 3 year old that they would understand or would they simply hear that they are special and leave it at that?

Who is "they?"

A multitude of kiddies shows including Mr Rogers

And the article didn't talk about actions and consequences anyway. So if they think they deserve a better grade they should hit the teacher?

Unless there is some kind of bias from the teacher then maybe, just maybe they should learn that they got the grade that they really deserved.

Besides, who do you think is teaching kids that they can always talk their way out of problems?

Shows that dont actually show real world consequences to bad behavior.

The article was talking about kids thinking that, because they are special, they deserve better grades even though they didn't earn them.

And that sort of attitude is something that is being taught at an early age by shows that gloss over problems in an attempt to make kids feel better about themselves even when they are wrong.

That's not the same thing teaching you can always get what you want by talking. And seriously, you think that childrens programs should teach kids that they shouldn't try to talk about problems/concerns?

I think that the teaching should be left up to parents and that kids shows should be entertainment. And If kids are getting too much entertaining TV... god forbid that they be sent outside to play.


Look I understand that the person Mr. Rogers is was a good guy. I dont have a problem with him. I just dont think that its nessaccery to prop up children's self-esteems. You know your kids are special. I know my kids are special. We dont need some TV show telling them that, what we need is to tell them ourselves and at the same time tell them that they arent so special that thier shit doesnt stink.

[DoctorDoom]

If "Professor" Chance wants to see the causes of the mindset that he's lamenting, let him look to multiculturalism, diversity, "fairness", entitlements, affirmative action and the rest of that touchy-feel bullshit. He might grasp why his students are whiny punks if he looks at how political correctness has infected his campus.

The dumb son of a bitch obviously never watched an episode of Mr. Rogers. He just assumed. My kids grew up on Fred Rogers. None of them fit Chance's mold.

The world is full of problems involving kids. Laying them on the shoulders of Rev. Rogers demands that the offenders be brushed off like gnats.

[PrezLeefun]

... Reverend Rogers, ordained (1962) Presbyterian minister. He was a good man. He spoke to kids at their level, never talking down to them. He discussed family events that affect kids, such as divorce and death. IMO, the shoes and sweater told the kids that he was putting aside his real life and making himself comfortable for the time that he'd spend with them.

Mr. R was a class act. The world is a lonelier place for his loss.

Bravo!!! Mr. Rogers was a good man who was wonderful for young kids. I loved him.

[DoctorDoom]

BTW #1: compared to the raw sewage that passes for kids' programming these days, Mister Rogers was utterly benign.

BTW #2: are the asswarts who are ululating about the negative effects of MR on children the same ones who tell us that violence on TV, in movies and in video games has no effect on children?