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Man Sparks Debate After Saying This Generation Isn't 'Weak' For Quitting Jobs

Published December 20, 2021

If there's a subject that inspires more online debate than parenting, politics, or pop culture, it probably has to do with the jobs and careers we find ourselves in.

And sure, that fact is heavily influenced by the times we live in as we are finding that a seemingly unprecedented number of people are quitting their jobs right now. But even before that became a hot button issue, it wasn't too hard to find people argue about what are and aren't acceptable working conditions and business practices.

And since circumstances have made the old wisdom of hanging in there with a company and waiting for the pension give way to the strategy of changing jobs every five years to secure better pay, those debates tend to happen along generational lines.

It seems that one Twitter user has noticed that too, since his now-viral tweet is taking aim precisely at that divide.

On December 6, a man who goes by Yugopnik made a statement expressing how "hilarious" he found it that millennials and members of Gen Z are called "soft" and "weak" for quitting toxic jobs.

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As he put it, "How is staying and licking your boss's boots every day for the rest of your life a show of courage exactly?"

That said, he quickly followed up this statement to make it clear that what he was saying isn't universally true.

In his words, "Unless you have no other choice and have to work whatever you can to feed yourself or your family. That Is pure unadulterated courage."

That meant his main point was that people shouldn't feel beholden to their employers when a better opportunity arises.

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Nonetheless, this amendment didn't seem to dissuade some from thinking his main point had an unrealistic and spoiled perspective.

As one user wrote, "Wel I mean, gainful employment? Sometimes life isn't all gumdrops and lollipops, you need to learn how to abide."

Still, at seemed that even more commenters agreed with Yugopnik and many among them theorized why so many considered sticking it out in a crappy job such an admirable feat of strength.

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In the words of one person, "They can't wrap their brains around the fact that we have no loyalty to employers because most employers have no loyalty or respect for their workers."

They also spoke to this implied undercurrent that people typically measure how much someone is "earning" their pay by how miserable and exhausted their work makes them.

As far as another user saw it, those who paint younger generations as soft and weak for leaving their jobs are doing so to avoid facing some unpleasant existential questions.

Namely, whether they've been wasting their lives by buying into the idea that they're strong and courageous for not looking for better opportunities.

And as this person noted, whether it was their bosses or just others with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, someone saw clear value in making them believe that.

In any case, it was an interesting debate that's getting more and more relevant as time goes on.

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