It’s common knowledge that older generations consider younger generations—millennials and Gen Z in particular—as extremely sensitive, delicate, and unable to handle conflicting opinions or difficult situations in life.
The famous Austrian bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, who went on to become an actor and politician, has now expressed his opinions on the subject, rekindling the debate.
Agreeing with the A-lister, one person writes: “Yes we are. These kids get so emotional and need to rest and feel very offended by everything!”
A second adds: “100% agree. Everyone is soft nowadays and takes offense to anything, even with jokes.”
“All they do is watch their tablets and play computer games! God forbid if they have to do chores inside let alone outside!” agrees a third.
Some disagree with Schwarzenegger; one writes, “I think there’s definitely a lack of discipline and courtesy, but I wouldn’t categorize every young person as wimpy.”
“Having big muscles doesn’t equate to toughness, Arnie,” another laughs.
Somebody else ponders: “It’s time someone was raised on love, and not just all tough.”
The 2010s saw a rise in the generational difference between the young and the old, with the word “snowflake” becoming widely used in social and political discourse.
As per The Independent, a “snowflake” is a person who believes that they are special, just like snowflakes, and should be treated as such.
The phrase has come to mean that these people are emotionally fragile or easily offended and are unable to deal with life’s reality.
The emphasis that younger generations have on inclusivity, social justice, and mental health is frequently associated with this notion.
These priorities may be seen as evidence of entitlement or weakness rather than advancement by older generations, who were raised in different socioeconomic environments.
Boomers and Gen X were raised to “tough it out” and not get too worked up about personal matters; in contrast, millennials and Gen Z live in a time when talking about mental health, identity, diversity, and inclusiveness is vital.
When Arnold Schwarzenegger, 77, appeared on The Howard Stern Show, he talked about embracing struggle.
To promote his new book, “Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life,” The Terminator star made an appearance on the program.
In response to a question concerning the well-known weight-loss medication Ozempic, Arnold Schwarzenegger stated that it avoids the crucial component of resistance, which he believes is necessary for both physical and mental development.
He said: “The more resistance you give it, the more pain there is, the more it grows. The same is for us with a human mind. The human mind can only really grow through resistance.”
In addition, Schwarzenegger considered becoming older while laughing at his shifting physical appearance.
“Every day I do look in a mirror and I say, ‘Yep, you suck,'” he admitted, comparing his current physique to his younger, more muscular self.
In another part of the interview, Schwarzenegger berated today’s kids for avoiding the struggles required for success, saying that those who “baby themselves” and don’t feel uncomfortable don’t learn how to be resilient.
He said: “Is it people that slept in? Is it people that were wimping out? This, ‘Oh, I want to feel good. Oh, I want to be comfortable.’ No. This is where ballsy women and men that went out there at five in the morning and got up and they struggled and they fought, and they worked their butts off. That’s what made this country great. And so now let’s continue this way.”
“Don’t start creating a generation of wimps and weak people and stuff like that where we go and we’re concerned about, ‘How are you feeling today? Oh, I don’t want to hurt your feelings,’ and all that.”
He continued: “It’s nice to be considerate, I totally agree with that. But let’s not over-baby the kids, and let’s not over-baby the people.”
Schwarzenegger emphasized that hardship might occasionally help you “grow” and become “tougher,” which implies you can endure more.