need some perspective from a young 'un, please

[ChazzMo]

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

 

[freddietee511]

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

I am not much older than these recruits. 6 years. Not sure how I feel because I've never been in that situation but to each his own. I do think my generation is more flash than substance though. Tough doesn't exist.

 

[ncyajleel]

People crave attention, they always have and always will.

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

media whores..

I would like to see the Head Coaches with the helmets of each of these players when deciding the two deep before the start of the season and the disappointment if applicable... I'd pay my 3 bucks for that !

 

[joeydavid]

It's the parent's fault. That happens in every generation just now everyone sees your ass when you show it.

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

 

[PA_Panther]

As a 21 year old I kind of get it. I get the press conference and the choosing of your ball caps. For example most of these 17-18 year olds already spend there football career in front of the camera whether it's doing interviews for television or the games being aired on root sports. Let's be honest they believe it should be on television because their whole football career is already on television.

I don't know if you guys have seen the bleacher report commitment videos on twitter but they are crazy cool to watch and it's added exposure to the kid in his mind. The whole commitment party to me seems crazy but whatever if a kid wants it whatever have a blast.

Most of these kids doing this have been a big fish in a small pound and this is their last hurrah.

 

[NTOP]

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

I can't remember my idiosyncrasies, but traditions aren't important....just selfies. 63??? Youngster.

 

[Chescat]

[QUOTE = Chazmo.....want's to "understand young people better, But this one has me buffaloed""

With all due respect to your age...( BTW, I'm older than your 63 yrs. ) to me it's rather simple. Over time and through generations things tend to change, sometimes drastically. Anytime I see things through my "older guy"lens, I remind myself that my parents often thought what I was doing along with my generation was wrong, ridiculous, naïve, etc. etc. You're old enough to remember the Viet Nam War, the difference between generations then was IMO, similar to what you're questioning today. How about burning draft cards, protest marches, not wanting to be labeled "the establishment"...I could go on and on, but I think you see the point. We related to those things, the
older generation couldn't grasp what we were all about. Of course many of that older generation were World War 11 vets... I've learned to REALLY respect that generation .
Anyway, that's just my viewpoint...but it helps me understand what today's young generation is
al about. I might not agree with what I see today, in fact I question the very thing you mentioned in your post, but I feel like I have an understanding of it even though I don't necessarily agree with it.

 

[Chaos]

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

social media seems to be cultivating a narcissistic generation, unfortunately.

 

[melwood]

media whores..

I would like to see the Head Coaches with the helmets of each of these players when deciding the two deep before the start of the season and the disappointment if applicable... I'd pay my 3 bucks for that !

If they are "media whores", then we are definitely the "pimps." We have created the monsters, now we curse the monsters.
Don't get me wrong, I hate it too. But, it is what it is....

 

[Jpripper88]

Why do they do it? Because there are entire sites devoted to their recruitment and commitments. Everyone on here plays into it. Plus, many of these kids are very stupid, told they are amazing (by your generation) and can do no wrong, and have eyes all over them.

 

[Jpripper88]

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

Your generation, or at least the generation you raised, raised these kids. I really do laugh at the 45-65 year olds who complain about millennials, and the like, being self absorbed and getting participation trophies. You know who set that standard? Your generation did.

 

[ChazzMo]

Your generation, or at least the generation you raised, raised these kids. I really do laugh at the 45-65 year olds who complain about millennials, and the like, being self absorbed and getting participation trophies. You know who set that standard? Your generation did.

I guess it wasn't clear when I said I was wasn't being critical that I wasn't being critical.

 

[Jpripper88]

I guess it wasn't clear when I said I was wasn't being critical that I wasn't being critical.

You said you weren't being critical, but...you were being critical. And I have no problem with that. I just think it is funny when it is looked at as a generational thing and the ones complaining are the ones who created the very problem they complain about. I am 30 and I think it is stupid, but I recognize most of our society is attention seeking morons of all ages. My generation just knows how to use social media to make it known.

 

[Pitt79]

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

It's consumer culture, they've brainwashed people into buying this as a product.

 

[CentPaPittFan]

People crave attention, they always have and always will.

I am a little younger than the original poster, but a lot younger than you. I don't think people always crave attention..some just go about their business, do their job, knowing it s the right thing to do. I go through this on my job now, dealing with late 20s and mid 30s employees who "pump themselves" and promote themselves constantly, while I do 3 times what they do. Part of it is supervisors and administrators who fall for this crap......anyway.. I can go back to my high school days and think of a 2-4 year period in which guys I knew, had played with in Jr High/9th grade, and in baseball leagues, guys who I watched play, guys who I played against, were big time recruits. If Rivals or ESPN 100 had existed then, many of these guys would have been on it and they did go to big time schools. I can't remember ANY of them having a press conference, a big show, or some signing ceremony at their high school or anything like that. Some of them were Pitt Panthers, some went elsewhere. John Frank - Ohio State/49ers, Craig Dunaway - Michigan, Ceaser Aldisert - Pitt, Richard Aldisert - Stanford, Chris Jelic - Pitt, Bob Schilken - Pitt, as well as guys who went to Va Tech, Purdue, Heck I saw Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, and many many more play in high school..... I never remember any big hoopla about a signing with any of them. Times of changed of course, no internet then.

 

[CentPaPittFan]

I am not much older than these recruits. 6 years. Not sure how I feel because I've never been in that situation but to each his own. I do think my generation is more flash than substance though. Tough doesn't exist.

I agree with your comment, I am mid 50's, work with a bunch of 25-35 years olds. Flash over substance says it very well. They are constantly promoting and pumping themselves while I just go to work and do my job - the right way, and I do about 3 or 4 times more than they do. Quite frankly, many of them are a joke.
They are the last ones to work every morning and the first ones to leave.

 

[freddietee511]

I agree with your comment, I am mid 50's, work with a bunch of 25-35 years olds. Flash over substance says it very well. They are constantly promoting and pumping themselves while I just go to work and do my job - the right way, and I do about 3 or 4 times more than they do. Quite frankly, many of them are a joke.
They are the last ones to work every morning and the first ones to leave.

I pride myself on being raised correctly and being smart enough to know I am an exception to my generation. We suck. I promise all of you.

 

[OmarLittle]

People crave attention, they always have and always will.

nah i don't believe thats true at all.

hey guys can you give me some likes on this post?

 

[PhPanther1]

People have engagement parties, parties to announce the sex of their child, all kinds of stupid shit. It's just the way life is.

I'll add another one. When did people start drinking beer for taste? Now young kids drink all these fruity beers and act like snobs. What happened to drinking as much cheap beer as possible, firing down some shots and getting shot faced. The person that said tough is gone has it correct.

 

[Pittx9]

When ESPN starting covering signing day religiously, it suddenly became "how do I get the most air time?" I don't think it's so much the kids like all that stuff personally, it's that the cameras like it...and they like the cameras.

 

[ncyajleel]

I know where you are coming from, I feel the same as you. I try to always be fair, consistent and do the right thing and sometimes it is not the popular thing. I do my job and don't promote myself and there is nothing I hate more than trash talk. I have also noticed that people like you are the minority, most of the people I come across just crave attention and with technology it is much easier to get attention these days and the media does not help at all. In my day it was much harder, no computers, no internet, no mobile phones with cameras, limited media, it was much harder. Now anyone can get attention any way they want for the whole world to see. What bothers me is the bad attention that kids seem to crave, anything for attention. Like said, its not all but it seems like the majority. They don't practice things like humility or courtesy or respect, how many people pull over for funerals these days, and people lack sympathy. Again, just my observations.

I am a little younger than the original poster, but a lot younger than you. I don't think people always crave attention..some just go about their business, do their job, knowing it s the right thing to do. I go through this on my job now, dealing with late 20s and mid 30s employees who "pump themselves" and promote themselves constantly, while I do 3 times what they do. Part of it is supervisors and administrators who fall for this crap......anyway.. I can go back to my high school days and think of a 2-4 year period in which guys I knew, had played with in Jr High/9th grade, and in baseball leagues, guys who I watched play, guys who I played against, were big time recruits. If Rivals or ESPN 100 had existed then, many of these guys would have been on it and they did go to big time schools. I can't remember ANY of them having a press conference, a big show, or some signing ceremony at their high school or anything like that. Some of them were Pitt Panthers, some went elsewhere. John Frank - Ohio State/49ers, Craig Dunaway - Michigan, Ceaser Aldisert - Pitt, Richard Aldisert - Stanford, Chris Jelic - Pitt, Bob Schilken - Pitt, as well as guys who went to Va Tech, Purdue, Heck I saw Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, and many many more play in high school..... I never remember any big hoopla about a signing with any of them. Times of changed of course, no internet then.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

If they are "media whores", then we are definitely the "pimps." We have created the monsters, now we curse the monsters.
Don't get me wrong, I hate it too. But, it is what it is....

Melwood, we all soak it up and when it goes our way... Wonderful.

Just like Antonio Brown doing his thing after a TD.. Everyone talks about it and if Tom Brady did it... We would dislike him more..

 

[wbrpanther]

the whole "build suspense for school committment" thing.

Is this the same impulse that leads to the big splashy prom party invitations, or the big splashy marriage proposals that seems to be such a popular thing with young folks? The "make it special" impulse that leads to no one being named for a family member anymore?

My problem, as a 63 year old, is - I don't get it. I'm NOT being critical - hell, my generation had their own set of cultural idiosyncrasies. I'm just trying to understand the impulse to make a big public suspenseful deal out of choosing where you're going to play football. The press conference with the 3 ball caps, the "announcement date" extravaganza. All of that. What's that all about, psychologically? Or am I overthinking it and it's just an excuse to have some fun and be the prom king for a day?

I don't want to be that grumpy old guy who lives in the good old days. Actually, I want to understand young people better. But this one has me buffaloed.

The media shows it. People watch. And the more the media shows it the more people watch.

Not every kid does it. We've seen how our current commits announced, mostly on twitter and with great respect towards not only Pitt but to the other schools that recruited them.

I'm 2 years grumpier than you but I understand that all people are different and unique in their ways.

As long as Wade is respectful in his decision let him have his party. To each his own.