Recently in the news section we had a Boston Globe piece about how the majority of people born after 1970 are  part of what has been called the "Entitlement Generation."  There also was a story out of Australia not long ago about something quite stupidly dubbed "beach rage"; the article dealt with the fact that lifeguards’ jobs are harder nowadays because bathers don’t want to follow rules.  So now lifeguards are starting to receive training in dealing with the recalcitrant.

Quite plainly, these two stories both involve what is the result of
the errant, permissive parenting paradigm that has swept the western
world.  In the first piece, journalist Jake Halpern cites a
psychologist (I’m always a bit amazed when a psychologist grasps the
obvious) who gets it right:

Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, says
that this [the brats] includes virtually everyone born after 1970. According to
Twenge, these young people were raised on a daily regimen of praise and
flattery from their baby boomer parents and from teachers who embraced
a self-esteem-boosting curriculum that included activities like the
Magic Circle game. Never heard of it? In this game, one child a day is
given a badge that says "I’m great." The other children then take turns
praising the "great" child, and eventually these compliments are
written up and given to the child for posterity. This constant
reinforcement, argues Twenge, is largely responsible for those young
co-workers who drive you nuts.

In a nutshell, we’re raising spoiled brats.  This is what happens when
you don’t leave Dr. Spock in space and you dispense with spanking.  The
Magic Circle game?  Are you kidding me?  I’d give these snot-nosed kids
a magic circle on their derrieres. 

In the Boston Globe piece, Halpern mentions a 31-year-old brat who has "no problem knocking on the door and walking into the CEO’s office or
the CTO’s office on a whim – interrupting their schedule – and saying,
‘I need to talk to you.’"

Let’s get something straight: There is nothing to be admired about
someone who can’t follow rules and has no respect for authority; it is
no virtue.  We are born that way.  But if we are parented correctly, the Deadly Sin of pride that causes this is purged from us.  This is important because you cannot perpetuate a civilization if
people will not abide by the dictates of just authority and operate
within legitimate hierarchies.  As G.K. Chesterton said,

"I listen to the general not because he is a good man, but because he is the general."

Oh, one more thing.  If I was a CEO and an employee brazenly barged
into my office after being informed of protocol, he would be fired on the spot.

I bet they never role-played that scenario in the Magic Circle game.