many eons ago here at the zone, Mary Anne posted a link about the cyclic generationional personalities that come about always in the same order. I wish I still had the link because it was very interesting. There were about 5 phases that get recycled over and over.

This is something I often think about. Especially when it comes to parenting. My brothers and I did stuff that there is no way I would ever let my kids do alone. For instance we built a treehouse in a willow tree that had a 4' diameter trunk which easily had 500 square feet of floor space about 25' in the air built entirely out of boards from an old barn we took down. I can't imagine ever allowing my kids near such a structure, let alone let them build one.

Part of the changes come from the times we live in. My kids are barely allowed to play in the front yard, and we encourage them to stay in the backyard which is padlocked. When i was a kid the neighborhood was far worse and yet we had the run of the whole town with our bikes.

As far as the workplace goes, My observation is more in line with Fox's below. But then I work for one of those companies as well, and they have continued buying my loyalty from the start. I do notice a difference in some of the new hires. Those who get it, and work hard stick around, those who don't, usually quit in search of something else. The only time anybody gets 'fired' is from gross incompetance after months of trying to train them. Its happened 3 times now, and each time I've agreed completely that the company gave them more chances than they deserved.