Comments on: Just How Radical Are We?

By: ajlovesya

ajlovesya — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:39:56 +0000

@ Monica and Vanessa: You both make great points. Change is mainstream so the idea of being radical means we are on the fringe, which we arent. At the same time, the method in which we are able to bring about change (social media) can be seen as revolutionary in and of itself.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:10:46 +0000

I think that great risk is not required for change to occur. For me, being radical means being the opposite of being conservative; you are trying to effect change rather than working to maintain the status quo. The means to achieve change can vary, but the goal is to bring about change.

Boomers had social protest and civil disobedience as their means. In this sense, Gen Y is radical, working to bring about change within the system and through grassroots efforts. Social media is a powerful tool in working for change, facilitating distribution of information, increasing participation, and building communities.

By: monicarolevans

monicarolevans — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:33:24 +0000

I had a conversation yesterday with a co-worker about who my (our) generation wants to change the world. She was worried that we would be saddled with low paying government and non-profit jobs, as they were.

I explained to her that where our generation differs from her’s is that we understand that you you don’t have to be poor to make a difference. We want to do GOOD and do WELL.

I don’t think we (or I don’t, at least) see the point in marching or protesting things that are wrong. I’d rather spend my time learning the system so that I can change it from the inside, rather than “blow it up”. Or just find ways to circumvent the system entirely.

I think our generation can change the world without being radical….to me, being radical means that we are on the fringe, and we aren’t. For us, being a world changer is very mainstream.