"I Object!" Rebuttal To "60 Minutes" Segment On Millennials (CBS)
by Scott Degraffenreid
It's no exaggeration to say that I grew up with 60 minutes. Off and on since 1968 I’ve followed their particular brand of ambush journalism with varying degrees of enthusiasm and bemusement. I was unimpressed with their first piece last fall on Millennials but I reasoned at least the issue is getting attention. Their follow-up piece on May 25 left me far less sanguine. I realize of course that no one watches programs like this with an expectation of objectivity or balance. They are infotainment and therefore must pander to popular opinion and prevailing assumptions. That said, I honestly felt their take on Millennials the second time around was one of the more egregious hatchet jobs I have witnessed in some time.
The grounding assumption that Millennials are self-absorbed, self-indulgent and generally hedonistic was supported only by the subjective observations of older generations who work with them. The limited conversation with two Millennials was clearly designed and edited to support the premise that they are arrogant and unrealistic. While this may make for good copy, indulging the smug sense of superiority so dear to 60 Minutes largely geriatric audience, it is far from the truth.
60 Minutes Segment - May 27, 2008
Aside from neglecting almost every fundamental journalistic principle the segment neglected to suggest even one plausible reason an entire generation could diverge so completely from their predecessors. The almost jocular assertion that an excess of praise and acceptance along with playing games where both sides can win and Mr. Rogers(?!?) would hardly account for the enormous shift in behaviors and attitudes readily visible throughout the Millennial demographic.
While all generations are to one degree or another an adaptive response to their environment Millennials have been confronted by an unprecedented confluence of technological advancements and cultural upheaval. All of this is compounded by immersion in a rate of change inconceivable to any previous generation. This cataclysmic environment they are continually adapting to is our legacy to them and all we have to offer is criticism for how brilliantly they’ve adapted?
Look just a little more closely, try to be over there in their world and see things from their perspectives. Far from selfish, spoiled brats you will quickly recognize a subculture operating on entirely new imperatives. Their emphasis on relationships and experiences rather than money and status make them confusing and even threatening to those operating on conventional wisdom. They do not want gold stars and false praise. They both need and value trust, respect and challenges.
The Pygmalion Effect, the notion that people live up to the expectations we create for them, is an almost universally accepted psychological premise. Why would we ever want to create such deplorable judgments for a generation with such promise?
In my work I show business leaders how to relate to them as collaborative, innovative and committed to positive change. Guess what? They always step up! They're waiting desperately to show us what they can accomplish with the skills and aptitudes their environment has required of them. They don't want certificates or celebrations. They want success on terms that are meaningful to them and without compromising their principles.
If that 60 Minutes segment had made such sweeping and derisive generalizations about people of a particular race, ethnicity, gender, handicap or sexual orientation would anyone have accepted it so matter-of-factly? Why then are we so readily prejudiced against what may be the most promising future our species has seen in quite some time?
Please join us in advocating for these exceptional and powerful young people. Their promise cannot be lost but it may be delayed. Let them know we’re counting on them.
Please recommend our newsletter, books and courses to anyone who deals with Millennials in any capacity. We want to help everyone, especially Millennials themselves, recognize and leverage their full and amazing potential.
(As a side note the nearly unique and totally unjustifiable decision by 60 Minutes to place the boundaries of the Millennial generation between 1980 and 1995 underscores their bias. In addition to diverging from any accepted norm or authority, it artificially shortens their generation (16 years vs the typical 19-20) and reduces their numbers by nearly 20 million, compared to the more commonly accepted 1982-2001 endpoints.)
Scott Degraffenreid, Social Network Architect
Scott Degraffenreid is a Social Network Analyst who brings a wealth of knowledge in the areas of business referrals, employee retention and recruiting.
As a Behavioral Statistician and Social Network Analyst, he has participated in projects for over one hundred organizations with accountabilities ranging from survey research, database analysis and field studies to research design and statistical modeling of group behaviors.
Scott’s ability to assimilate and grasp intricate organizational issues as they relate to corporate and market dynamics allows him to bring a unique mathematical perspective to complex environments.
To contact Scott's office: 1.360.830.6692
