Watch out for the pitfalls<\/p>\n
By David Gordon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Brilliant, daring and assertively intelligent,
\nhigher education (frequently education abroad), bank checking and
\nsaving accounts, business ventures, stock market investments,
\nreal estate investments and speculations, BMW's and Blazers,
\ncomputers, cell phones and e-mail, hair and beauty salons, golf
\nand tennis clubs, gyms and aerobics for healthy mind and body,
\nfancy people - fancy weddings, Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood,
\nJazz Club, staying in the best Hotels, Plazas, designer clothes.<\/p>\n
That sums up Indonesia's newest up-and-comers. This is the
\nnext generation striving to become individuals of recognition,
\nimportance and fame.<\/p>\n
These are days cast into demanded change and amplified visions
\nof growth for Indonesia, and this is also the time period for the
\nemergence of the Indonesian Yuppies.<\/p>\n
You can plainly spot today's "Yuppies" cruising in and out of
\nhigh-rise buildings, in their tailored and custom-fitted business
\nsuits and dresses, driving their cars along the streets and toll
\nways -- hurrying in, out, around, and about the entire Jabotabek
\n(Greater Jakarta) area. You can easily glimpse Yuppies gathering
\ntheir delights at the local shopping malls, eating and drinking
\nin the finest restaurants, playing and scamming at the most
\nhappening discos and nightspots. They talk Yuppie Talk, they walk
\nYuppie Walk, they play Yuppie Play, and live as Yuppies Live.<\/p>\n
Yuppies are a new variety, an unusual and unfamiliar brand of
\n"Indonesian Individuals", that are materializing within an age-
\nold Indonesian familiar society and culture. Yuppies are a
\nmerging-sign of modern times, rapidly and radically changing
\ntimes, cross-cultural and bi-lingual times, mixed marriages
\ntimes, Internet - Networking - Website and - WebPage times.<\/p>\n
And, many Yuppies drink alcohol and use drugs, for this also
\nis part of the Yuppie Culture, Persona, and Life Style. These are
\nyoung individuals -- some are still in their 20s -- who are
\nsuccess-oriented and success-driven, living in a now-happening-
\nworld of business, lofty pursuits, and pleasure-propelled frills
\nand thrills. This is a world of fast, faster, and fastest. If a
\nperson is left behind, they stay behind. This is a corporate-
\ncreated idea and generated world, where the Games of Monopoly and
\nDungeons and Dragons are played for real. This is a stage and
\nsetting where a player's turn, and turn over, is based on a
\nseven-year make it or brake it cycle. Make it in seven years,
\nmove ahead, or get left in yesterdays dust, past over and
\nforgotten forever.<\/p>\n
Many, who will strive to become future Yuppies, begin using
\nalcohol and drugs while attending university (some begin in
\njunior high or high school). Many of these young individuals
\ncontinue using alcohol and drugs when they enter the business
\nworld. Part of the initiation price one has to pay when aspiring
\nto become a Yuppie, is being part of an In-crowd. A Yuppie must
\nbe part of some Yuppie In-group. "Connections" in the Yuppie
\nWorld cannot be side-stepped or avoided, if one wants to move
\nforward in the Yuppie World. The 'Game' must be played, the
\nconnections must be made, the person must show up at the right
\nplaces at the right times, the "personal showing\/act" must be in-
\nline and correct with the upper-echelon (and their families)
\nviews, opinions, purposes, and goals.... A good Yuppie, on the
\nway up the Yuppie Ladder, is "I Must and I Should - Oriented"....
\nIf the In-group drinks and uses drugs the Yuppie must follow,
\nthey must show the same likes, patterns and habits.... This is
\nhow one moves ahead in the Yuppie World....<\/p>\n
'Truth'<\/p>\n
Alcohol and drugs both dominate extensive periods of time,
\nwith general public approval, and are accepted themes within the
\nbusiness world, and both enjoy a leading role of popularity in
\nthis game of chasing success, manners of socialization, and style
\nof livelihood. Alcohol and drugs are often viewed as part of the
\nmost necessary tools of the trade for conducting business,
\nessential entertainment stimulants and enhancers for client and
\ncustomer treats, a definite must for certain types of business
\nclients and associates, and social lubricants -- when striving to
\nfind out the "truth" of what is happening within organizations\/
\ninstitutions, or getting on with certain people, or groups.<\/p>\n
Also, we must not forget that both alcohol and drugs
\n(including pills) are used by many Yuppies (directors,
\nexecutives, bosses, managers, supervisors, foremen,
\nadministrators, etc.) as "stress, tension, anxiety, nerve, pain,
\nworry, pressure, and distress reducers". Many individuals who are
\nin "managerial positions use alcohol and drugs to relieve their
\ndaily aches and pains, stresses and worries". Many of these
\npeople use "tranquilizers and barbiturates" (often these
\nmedications are medically prescribed) to ease their daily pangs,
\nwoe's, and afflictions.<\/p>\n
Also, many Yuppies are drawn and firmly attracted to the
\namphetamine family of drugs, such as shabu-shabu
\n(methamphetamine), and forms of cocaine (speed). The
\n"amphetamines" can help keep these individuals moving at an
\n"incredible pace" for many, many months, even years. In
\nIndonesia, currently, the Yuppie's favorite drugs of choice are
\nshabu-shabu and alcohol. Many Yuppies also smoke marijuana and
\ntake Ecstasy recreationally, and regularly.<\/p>\n
Many female Yuppies have a passion for the amphetamines,
\nbecause amphetamines also act as the "finest diet medicine on the
\nmarket today". Any person using shabu-shabu regularly will
\nabsolutely have a tremendous amount of increased energy, and a
\neuphoric sensation of extra brain power and vitality, plus, as a
\nside benefit, the shabu will definitely take weight off, and keep
\nthe weight off. Women in the business world, or those who are
\npart of the In-crowd, and are also into the drug scene are often
\nvery attracted to amphetamines.<\/p>\n
Burn-out<\/p>\n
Yuppies psychologically and emotionally often verge on the
\nedge of "burn-out", because of the accelerated tempo at which
\ntheir lives are paced, and alcohol and drugs take the edge off
\nbefore the burn-out occurs (at least for a period of time).<\/p>\n
Of course, not all Yuppies drink alcohol or use drugs. That
\nwould be highly erroneous to imply. Most Yuppies are extremely
\nstable and solid individuals, they are genuinely responsible in
\nboth their personal and business lives. They are loyal and
\ncreative employees, and many make outstanding executives. And
\n"they" thoroughly enjoy the world and benefits of Yuppie-dom....!
\nYet, alcohol and drugs are a definite and constant factor within
\nthe Yuppie Community, and must be understood to be a "selected
\nelement within their social structure".<\/p>\n
An emerging Yuppie Community has been developing in Indonesia
\nover this last decade, and this Community will rapidly grow as
\nIndonesia stabilizes after the krismon (monetary crisis), our
\npolitical leadership steadies, and the International Business
\nCommunity re-invests, once again, in Indonesia. And, many Yuppies
\nwill have problems with alcohol, drug abuse and addiction in the
\nfuture. Plus, the Yuppie Community will also be severely affected
\nby both HIV\/AIDS and Hepatitis 'C'.<\/p>\n
Again, many Yuppies like alcohol and drugs, also Yuppies are a
\n"very sexually active group of people". Sex also plays a large
\nrole in the entertainment portion of the Yuppie Business
\nCommunity. Both viruses will travel rapidly into, and around, the
\nYuppie Community unless individuals learn about how the viruses
\nare transmitted, how and why the viruses spread the way they
\nspread, and how to protect themselves by changing their patterns
\nand habits of behavior, and behavior-ism.<\/p>\n
The World of Yuppies and Yuppie-dom is very rapid and
\ntenacious, very exhilarating and exciting, and very, very
\nrewarding for many. But, this Yuppie World also has its own set
\nof politics, authorities, games, and rules. And, the Yuppie World
\nis not a place for the weak of heart and mind, or amateurs. This
\n"game" is played fast, and played for real, and many get
\nswallowed alive, and are broken in the process. Many begin using
\nalcohol and drugs, at first because of the fun, frills and
\nthrills, and the follow-the-leader factor early in the game. But
\nmany also get caught in the game, and the fame, and lose their
\nway and direction, many become alcoholics and drug abusers.<\/p>\n
Being a Yuppie is often a wonderful and adventurous life, and
\nlife style. But losing ones way and direction is anything but
\nwonderful. Yuppies should be aware, and careful, about the
\n"pitfalls" they may encounter on the Road to Yuppie-dom and
\nsuccess.<\/p>\n
The writer, a psychologist, is Program Director, Yayasan
\nHarapan Permata Hati Kita in Bogor.<\/p>",
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