You joke, but one of the big Greek philosophers (Socrates maybe? I dunno) had a big rant about how relying on written texts instead of memorizing everything would make people stupid.
The specifics have changed, but “those damn kids” type complaints are truly timeless.
The joke was taking it literally instead of acknowledging the changing reason for the youth spending too much time doing something (music/books/movie/tv/games/phones).
“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and chatter in the place of exercise.”
- Socrates Kenneth John Freeman, for his Cambridge dissertation published in 1907, summarizing complaints directed against young people in ancient times.
It was crafted by a student, Kenneth John Freeman, for his Cambridge dissertation published in 1907. Freeman did not claim that the passage under analysis was a direct quotation of anyone; instead, he was presenting his own summary of the complaints directed against young people in ancient times.
Ah yes, the ancient Egyptian complaint about ‘this generation’ spending too much time on their phones.
Timeless!
Edit: I love that that this one keeps getting down voted and my explanation comment keeps getting upvoted. Never change fediverse.
You joke, but one of the big Greek philosophers (Socrates maybe? I dunno) had a big rant about how relying on written texts instead of memorizing everything would make people stupid.
The specifics have changed, but “those damn kids” type complaints are truly timeless.
And Seneca (I think) complained of “these kids going partying until the early morning lights” and dressing “inappropriately”
“Those damn kids!”
Children today are tyrants!
The joke was taking it literally instead of acknowledging the changing reason for the youth spending too much time doing something (music/books/movie/tv/games/phones).
Kids using the written word and polyphonics really get my goat
“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and chatter in the place of exercise.”
-
SocratesKenneth John Freeman, for his Cambridge dissertation published in 1907, summarizing complaints directed against young people in ancient times.Not a real Socrates quote. It’s very popular to make up this genre of quote.
Oh damn, TIL.
From Quote investigator
See also: Pliny the young complaining about how chariots getting bigger and bigger made the streets unsafe for Roman pedestrians.
Knowing Pliny’s disdain for chariot races, I actually looked for this one, going “no way, no way.” I wanted it to be real so bad.