Does "Instant Gratification" Qualify as a Virtue?

Patience used to be known as a virtue, but is virtuallyunheard of in the present-day culture of immediacy. Today's children don't evenknow the meaning of the word. People want everything, and they want it now.
Investorsexpect instant wealth from their financial ventures. Customers expect they'll look skinny after spending a week at the health club. Students expect perfect scores on tests for which they study the night before. Short-termrewards, short-term gain, instant messaging, instant...