I enjoyed the article. Hit close to home. was raised by a father who was a fulbright scholar who ended up digging ditches ( eventually got government job). So raised in both a working class community but having a scholarly father ( not toxic ) who appreciated and encouraged education. I definitely fit into the angry male category, but also the " anti-ambition" crowd. the poem about working class life in oregon was profoundly depressing for me, framing a simple blue collar life in such a terrible light, which, for one who yearned to be a creative writing professor, could very well be. But for many of the men who I grew up with, the union construction jobs that they have are life savers... many blue collar types have absolutely no desire to get a master's degree... but to the recent drop out in college... although i think you have identified two forces that are at work, I think the pandemic and the shutdown coupled with the massive indulgence in social media and internet leisure activities has somehow fundamentally altered ambition drives in some of our youths. The drive to focus mental energies so acutely has been blunted easy-going gratifications of the internet. I myself am guilty. the pandemic changed us in more ways than we understand... hahaha maybe this an untenable position but nevertheless some things that one believes aren't tenable.
I enjoyed the article. Hit close to home. was raised by a father who was a fulbright scholar who ended up digging ditches ( eventually got government job). So raised in both a working class community but having a scholarly father ( not toxic ) who appreciated and encouraged education. I definitely fit into the angry male category, but also the " anti-ambition" crowd. the poem about working class life in oregon was profoundly depressing for me, framing a simple blue collar life in such a terrible light, which, for one who yearned to be a creative writing professor, could very well be. But for many of the men who I grew up with, the union construction jobs that they have are life savers... many blue collar types have absolutely no desire to get a master's degree... but to the recent drop out in college... although i think you have identified two forces that are at work, I think the pandemic and the shutdown coupled with the massive indulgence in social media and internet leisure activities has somehow fundamentally altered ambition drives in some of our youths. The drive to focus mental energies so acutely has been blunted easy-going gratifications of the internet. I myself am guilty. the pandemic changed us in more ways than we understand... hahaha maybe this an untenable position but nevertheless some things that one believes aren't tenable.
I am grateful you are a thoughtful and reflective and observant male.