The “millennium bug” referred to a class of computer bugs related to the formatting and storage of calendar data for dates beginning in the year 2000. Problems were anticipated, and arose, because many programs represented four-digit years with only the final two digits — making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900. The assumption of a twentieth-century date in such programs could cause various errors, such as the incorrect display of dates and the inaccurate ordering of automated dated records or real-time events.
Similar, perhaps, to the “millennium bug” there’s an ever-increasing number of discussions on business-related forums about what has been widely referred to, as the “Millennial problem,” or the “Millennial bug” as I like to call it.
My greatest objection in the use of the term “millennials” has mostly to do with the nature of the term itself: It is an overgeneralization, something that I am in principle, against. I am very much offended when people of -usually- older age, are inclined to form an opinion about me on the basis of my age. Conversely, it is equally distasteful when people at my age show complete disrespect to older colleagues and/or members of society in general. This kind of behavior speaks a lot louder about someone than their age.
In that sense, calling someone a “millennial,” is nothing short of ageism.
I grew up, as some claim, like every other millennial, receiving rewards and awards for merely showing up and taking part in events. Perhaps things weren’t like that in the old days, I do not know.
But I do know that none of these mementos are among the things that I have kept from my childhood. They never held any value to me, since I never felt particularly proud about receiving them. But then again, perhaps I was lucky. I grew in a house where my parents made it a point to push me to get better. To not settle. Ever. On anything.
And so, when people are asking me about the “millennial problem” my reply is that there is no such problem. The problem was, is and will continue to always be the same: Lack of principles, resulting from bad parenting. What is now the “millennial problem” will tomorrow be called something else. Bad parents will always find excuses. It is not so much the modern office’s fault (without saying it is perfect either – far from it) than your own, if your millennial kids are having trouble adapting to the workplace, because of their constant need for validation.