I just saw these two new canned drinks being advertised :

Anything and Whatever

My, my....is this a reflection of this generation?
Because they can't decide on what they want, ANYTHING will do --- the advertisement promises a surprise in every can.
Because they will not choose, WHATEVER flavor is found in the can becomes their choice.

I know it really bugs me when I ask my kids: "Would you like this or that?" And their answer comes swiftly...."Anything!"
It may sound like they are easy to please. Yet it implies a lack of concern or a cop-out ---- in case the consequence of their choice is regrettable, they can blame me!

OR if I propose some activity or plan to my kids, and they express no preference and say: "Whatever!", I consider it a rude response. I may sound like a stick-in-the-mud, but the attitude and tone behind this word is indifference --- they are not going to take responsibility for it.

Is this the message on these cans?
Do the young people nowadays prefer to make no decision rather than a poor choice and learn from the consequence of it?
Perhaps parents have taken away their ability to make decisions. Parents have been bailing kids out, nagging them to pursue perfection, and putting fear (of making wrong moves, etc) into them, instead of assuring their kids that it's better to make a decision --- good or bad --- rather than no decision!

So I say: What happened to drinks like 7UP, 100plus, Sprite, Pepsi?
Theirs is a message of positive thinking, forward looking and zealous hope.
Anything and Whatever is a message of emptiness, care-lessness, helplessness.