Favourite national sport- Gen Y bashing.

" If you've seen one, you've seen them all, almost !" is the assessment of the Gen Y by a not so young, 50 something. Let me do a recap on what i have heard and read - not very flattering for the 20- somethings.

-- They have such attitude, Gosh !

-- I guess not only yours, all kids have this attitude problem.

-- Oh, try and talk to them. I asked my daughter out for a family do. She wrote back on my wall on the Facebook, declining the invite.

-- How on earth do you communicate with them? Oh, it's easy, he is always "logged on."

-- Baby, can't wear such hideous stuff. There will be people there !

-- Empathy? Ask them to spell it! Zyxsp..?

The list is endless.Each 40, 50 or 60 somethings have a quip or two to add and spice it up.

Scientists and researchers have categorically declared that 60-somethings are more sensitive and empathetic than 20-somethings and 40-somethings. In short, their ''emotional intelligence'' is greater.There always is the place for the " rogue minority", which could be my grumpy grand dad or your picky grand mom.

The psychologist Robert Levenson concluded that ''increasingly, it appears that the meaning of late life centres on social relationships and caring for and being cared for by others." Mark " LATE " life.

Has the Gen Y got accustomed to being accused of having too little patience, concentration, focus and humility - among their myriad flaws? Must they now add "too little empathy" to this burgeoning list?

I suspect there is this inherent flaw in such assumptions/ beliefs/ interpretations.It is getting increasingly tough to bridge the chasm that exists. The 50 - somethings need to learn. They need to comprehend the " reality " of the young. It is almost akin to a situation, where a "certified normal" is baffled and at his wit's end, trying to comprehend the behavioral pattern of a "schizophrenic". Now, before jumping to conclusions about who is what, let us list some home truths.

These 20 - somethings carry less baggage and shall carry on living seemingly unruffled existence. Either they are sans empathy or concede that they are smarter in managing their emotions and feelings. They could be better at being almost minimalistic or optimise their energy in dealing with sticky situations, better? Ain't they smarter? Is it that the 50 - somethings have a superfluous, overzealous attitude to the same challenges? It is likely that they discharge their emotions differently and to an older individual, this may seem ludicrous or even downright reprehensible.

While talking to a bubbly 19 year old, i got to learn the following. She said: ''We empathise, we just channel our empathy in a different way. Instead of writing a letter of condolences, we post on Facebook or write a text message. Instead of baking a cake, we go down to the local pub and have a drink to celebrate someone's life.''

A mother of one said: ''Twenty-somethings have Facebook 'friends' they have never met, they sign off phone calls with I love you and end text messages with a x [kiss]. Some say it's not real emotion but it is. Their communications are exaggerated but hey, give the devils their due. They do understand loyalty - and empathy''.

Older people are the sum total of their experiences. They would react differently.The bashing of Gen Y is now a national sport but we need to restrain ourselves. This is not really about the insensitivity of the young. It's about the benefits of experience. You have to have lived a life in order to really understand that there is always more going on than meets the eye. The deep lessons of life cannot come quickly.

The young give an air that they live an idea that happiness is their birthright. Nothing wrong with that. The issue gets murky when the old feel that the young live the right with gay abandon and seemingly reckless attitude. The feeling is that probably the God's own children, will never get ready to take the rough with the smooth, recognise the sadness, sorrows and suffering of life. They may harbour a grudge against life and fail to read the story of human life in its entirety.

The story of life must involve lots of darkness and disappointments. Anticipating these would be a smart idea. Experiencing them is almost non- negotiable. Getting scarred because of them is always optional.Young seem to be immune to scarring while the old, a sitting duck.As the ride gets bumpier in the second half of life, which is why we become more compassionate, more thoughtful, more sensitive and capable of more empathy.

" The life surely begins at 40." Doesn't it? All those nodding their heads in affirmation, try asking this to a 20 - something !