I think there is obviously a generalization here. Now, are ALL teens in America spoiled, oblivious, naive, and self centered brats… nope. However, can they be…sure.
The thing is, I do believe that many teens are oblivious to what most would consider “real” problems, because the fact is, compared to most other countries in the world, teens in America don’t have any “real problems”. The teens in America “for the most part” do not have to worry about things like starvation, bombings, terror attacks, being forced from their homes , separated from their families, or human rights violations in regards to sex, religion, freedom of speech etc… In America, children have more rights than in any other country that I can think of off the top of my head. I think American Teens are extremely lucky compared to most other places on earth, and its really hard for them to comprehend why teens from other countries might think teens here are “spoiled” and “naive.” and “complain to much.”
On the flip-side, American Teens DO have problems, its just hard for Teens from other countries to understand why Teens in American complain at all when they compare their problems to the average American Teens problems. Does this give them a right to dismiss an American Teens problems, just because the problem is not as “severe as yours?” Not really.
A great example of a conversation Teens might have to display the lack of perspective:
American Teen: Ugh! I hate school!
Teen From Country A: How can you complain about school?! I don’t even have a school in my town! If I wanted to go to school I would have to walk 2 miles and pay for it!! I would LOVE to go to school!
Teen From Country B: Americans have great schools! Why are you complaining?! Our schools are crap compared to yours! If I lived in America I wouldn’t be complaining about the schools!
(Notice that Teen from Country A and Teen From Country B didn’t even bother to ask the American Teen WHY they hated school, and automatically dismissed them? Maybe The American Teen does have a genuine problem, but no one was willing to listen. Rather, they automatically assumed they were just “complaining” because they would only see their own perspective. Notice how American Teen ALSO did not take the other teens sensitive matters ito consideration either? Perhaps, if they had worded their “complaint” in a more sensitive way, the other teens would have been more open to listening.)
I think this is all just a matter of perspective and lack of understanding from either side of the fence. Perhaps, American Teens could be more thankful and recognize that they do actually have a much better life (in general) than most others their age in other parts of the world rather than complain about every minuscule detail and make sure that when they do complain, its actually worth complaining about. American Teens have SO MUCH to be thankful for! Also, perhaps teens from other countries should stop assuming that teens in America are “spoiled thankless brats” and stop dismissing every problem they do have just because their problems are not as severe in comparison and be happy for them rather than use it as a reason to lash out at them or despise them.