I really don't think it's their age, or what they grew up under, or even Television. I am the age that many of them are likely close to, grew up under the same system, and watch TV regularly. It's something much deeper than that I believe. It's a sense of being powerless, and falling into a dark hole of depression because of it. That is covered up with layers of substance abuse, violence, and being empowered by others going through the same thing. Misery loves company.

In my opinion, the absolute worst feeling you can experience as a human being is the feeling that something terrible is happening in your world that you just have absolutely no control over. There is no solution, there is no answer, there is no way to keep it from being the truth. That feeling causes people to sink deeper, and resort to extreme measures, no matter the cost to themselves or others in the long run. It's an very self centered view of the world. Maturity is generally what we used to call it when people got over those things and started to think of others more positively and how to solve issues rather than dwell on the things they cannot change. We are so far off the path that was laid before us that it looks to some like burning down the whole forest is the only way to see where you're going, when that really only leads to being lost in a landscape that is even more obscured by the enormous realm of nothingness.