is it admirable?

Plans_all_plans

Again, it does depend on the context.

If the young person comes from a family who've never worked; or has minimal qualifications but has secured a good job through sheer hard graft; or if they're supporting themselves wholly at the age of 17/18 etc then yes I would think it admirable.

If they've had everything handed to them on a plate, have gone through school with no trouble and have got a job...then no, it's not admirable in the slightest! It's what I'd expect too. I'd also be expecting my child to have done well enough at school and have enough gumption about them to be able to get a job. I'm not saying it's easy in the current climate, but there's jobs going round here if people want them.

DVardysShadow

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Why not on Society?

Have we become so used to being supported by the State that if a person, whether that be old or young, supports themselves we see it as odd.

Shouldn't being supported by the State be the rarity not the norm?

Don't confuse 'society' and 'state'. And some of this depends on what is meant by 'young person' - uni leavers are outside my idea of young people for thisquestion.

Generally, I would say that it is best for a young person to start their working life with their family. In my mind it is not desirable that they should finish school and go straight into supporting themselves. If they are fully self supporting away from the family from the outset, this is not something that society should strive for, therefore it is not admirable on society - at best it is neutral.

*max*

I think it would be admirable if they have had to overcome some sort of obstacle - physical (disability or illness for example), or emotional/social (poor parenting, no encouragement, hard environment). Otherwise, no.

victory

What max said, it is just the way life is, leave school, work, pay your way, get out what you put it, save for the future, buy what you need, work to get a mortgage, admirable no, expected and wished for yes

*max*

By the way,just to add, even if it's not admirable in itself, there's nothing wrong with parents being proud of them for it!

MELLA_2

I think its marvellous. Too many people go on and on about university and the pressure for them to go even for 'a laugh' so I think in the current society of people going onto further education with no apparent reason for doing so or not knowing why are they are there. Then for a youngster at 16 to take an individual stance and go out and work should be applauded.

I think to put a negative slant on a positive comment in itself is not very encouraging in the current society we are in.

Welshwoofs

To me it's a neutral. The default position for anyone should be that they pay their way and stand on their own two feet unless there's a bloody good reason why they can't.

The problem is that if you create a society where not working is perfectly acceptable, then the ever-shrinking numbers who do put in hard graft are viewed as something out of the ordinary and to be admired.

Person_one

Welshwoofs wrote: »

To me it's a neutral. The default position for anyone should be that they pay their way and stand on their own two feet unless there's a bloody good reason why they can't.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15755627

Padstow

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Admirable on the young person, yes. Admirable on society, no.

Why ever not in society? That young person is putting money into the system via their taxes.
Those taxes pay toward maternity benefit, right through to state pensions and all benefits in between.
Without people working, the whole SS system will collapse.

babymoo

Yes I think it is admirable when they are surrounded by a society which has no jobs and is happy to sit on benefits. I was brought up to know that if you want something you work damn hard for it, it amazes me that some of my generation are happy to just sit on benefits.