Degenerate
Prefix: "De-"
from Latin, from dē (prep) from, away from, out of, etc.
Therefore a Degenerate is someone who has had taken away some quality that was present in former generations, or their younger self.
It's self-fulfilling because once "Degenerated,"
people often go on to further make poor choices in the preservation of themselves. I don't wanna speak evil of
people's choice of baby-parent (parenting's
hard enough, as it is) but whether through abuse, self-abuse, poor choices or luck; they degenerate into a worse, or simpler condition.
This can affect other
people as well.
Sadly; the ability to retain their own problems diminishes and they become everybody's problem (not that discussing problems is always a
bad thing).
Confessing the fear of Degenerates and Degeneracy might just save yer
ass...