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Subject: Your generation??

Written By: Pablo on 04/16/03 at 08:26 p.m.

What "generation" do you consider yourself and why?? I mean as the A)"Boomers" are generally considered approx.1946-64 born..supposedly liberal, free loving, more cautious as adults..B)Generation X born ~1965-79..very blunt, slackers, pessimistic/realistic..lot of latchkey kids..usually quite liberal..C)Generation Y or millenials..born ~1981-1994..optimistic, tech saavy, more conservative outside (ex. more people "waiting" for sex) but wild inside (but using ecstacy at raves)..or D)Generation Z kids born 95-prsent..kids of the Xers..how will they be??

Just curious here. Most people don't see these set in stone, but there are similarities in the people I know of these generations that seem to fit

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Jason on 04/16/03 at 11:09 p.m.

Quoting:
What "generation" do you consider yourself and why?? I mean as the A)"Boomers" are generally considered approx.1946-64 born..supposedly liberal, free loving, more cautious as adults..B)Generation X born ~1965-79..very blunt, slackers, pessimistic/realistic..lot of latchkey kids..usually quite liberal..C)Generation Y or millenials..born ~1981-1994..optimistic, tech saavy, more conservative outside (ex. more people "waiting" for sex) but wild inside (but using ecstacy at raves)..or D)Generation Z kids born 95-prsent..kids of the Xers..how will they be??

Just curious here. Most people don't see these set in stone, but there are similarities in the people I know of these generations that seem to fit
End Quote



I think those kind of labels are bogus.  They say basically the same thing about every generation.  And how are they determined?  Do they only apply to Americans?  For instance, if you fall into the "Baby Boomer" category, do all of them know or care where they were when JFK was shot in 1963?  What if you are from Nigeria?  There are huge holes with these kind of labels and pigeon holing a group of people as having one set of ideals, or even saying they "tend" to believe a certain thing.

And I REPEAT that for the most part, the same stuff is said over and over again about every generation.  In the 80's and 90's, Gen Xers were said to be slackers who do nothing but watch MTV, listen to loud and raunchy music, play video games, do drugs, and hang out at the mall all the time.  That's not very different from what was said about Baby Boomers back in the 50's and 60's or what is being said now about Gen Y in the 2000's.  Stereotypically, the Boomers were the idiot loserly generation that lost the Vietnam War.  But what if you are from England or Canada?  See what I mean?
 
Sure some stuff from the various decades is different like MTV or the internet, but it's essentially the same critisisms.  Ofcourse, maybey I'm just a cynical Xer still stuck in the ironic 90's.   ::)

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: My_name_is_Kenny on 04/17/03 at 00:16 a.m.

Um... I think it's implied that these labels refer only to Americans.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Sean Gib on 04/17/03 at 09:02 a.m.


Quoting:
Um... I think it's implied that these labels refer only to Americans.
End Quote



They may only refer to Americans, but I've also seen everyone outside of America using them though.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Hairspray on 04/17/03 at 04:03 p.m.

I wish to know why these generations are named the way they are.

Who came-up with these labels?

When did these labels first appear?

What are all the labels of generations thus far?

Thanks in advance for the answers, if there are any.  ;)

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: shazlurking on 04/17/03 at 04:10 p.m.

I think the examples listed are the reason why I don't like labels.  :)

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Chrisrj on 04/17/03 at 04:19 p.m.

Hey, I was born in 1980, what does that make me????  JK

Well anyway, I sorta prefer that 5 years older to 5 years younger is my generation.  If we were talking pop music for example, I too grew up listening to what today's 28-year-olds grew up on in the early 90s; same would go for today's 18-year-olds listening to what I listened to in junior high & high school.
Not that pop music or anything else was ever that important in the grand scheme of life.  It's basically just decorating time.

If I had to choose, I'd be somewhere between GenX and Y... I'm still not sure, lol.

Also, if you think about it, 18-24 year olds are often considered the young adult group, but how old would the 24-y/o be when the 18-y/o turns 24?  So technically, it's redundant.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: jamminoldies on 04/17/03 at 06:41 p.m.

I would say I'm Generation x.

Howard  :)

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: My_name_is_Kenny on 04/17/03 at 11:56 p.m.


Quoting:
I wish to know why these generations are named the way they are.

Who came-up with these labels?

When did these labels first appear?

What are all the labels of generations thus far?

Thanks in advance for the answers, if there are any.  ;)
End Quote



Welp... after World War II, most Americans were busy hitting the sack, leading to a whole lot more babies.  The increase in newborns was called the Baby Boom, and hence the generation was known as Baby Boomers.  The term "Generation X" was coined by author Douglas Coupland, who used the term as the title of his 1991 book about the generation which at the time had no name.  Billy Idol also was in a semi-famous band in the late 70's called Generation X, but it probably had nothing to do with Coupland's book.  Generation Y... well, you can probably figure out how that name was invented.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Thunderbolt on 04/18/03 at 06:12 a.m.

I dread to find out what Generation Z will be like.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Pablo on 04/18/03 at 07:35 a.m.

Actually, I think generation Z will have some unfortunate childhoods..The world is a lot scarier place than it was when I was a kid (80s). The supposed cold war era too was supposed to be about fear, but war never happened. Already in young kids lives, war has happened numerous times, the state of the world is pretty blah. As far as pop culture is concerned..kids who turn 18 in the next 15-20 years will look back on Sum41 as "classic oldies". That is disgusting in itself!



Quoting:
I dread to find out what Generation Z will be like.
End Quote

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Tarzan Boy on 04/18/03 at 08:47 a.m.

So what happened to 1980 ???

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Lord Garth on 04/18/03 at 12:05 a.m.


Quoting:
I wish to know why these generations are named the way they are.

Who came-up with these labels?

When did these labels first appear?

What are all the labels of generations thus far?

Thanks in advance for the answers, if there are any.  ;)
End Quote



Gen Xers were originally called "Baby Busters", since there was a decline in American birth rates during the mid 60s to the early 70's. The problem with the frontline of Generation X is that they were named very late in the game.  They only got a name in 1991, and by that time a lot of the upper end or older Xers that were born in 1965 or 1966 were already out of college and well into their 20's.  By the late 90's that crowd had moved into their 30's, but the term "Generation X" was adopted by the media as a marketing tool to target teenagers and anyone they felt was young.  So it was still being used to describe people like Britney Spears and Mandy Moore.  I've even heard the 16 year old Olsen Twins being called "Xers".  I can understand why folks born in the mid and late 60's would justifly be angry about all this.  Since Gen X was and actually still is being used to describe 15 year olds, well then what is someone born in 1965?  They must be like the Baby Boomers who were born in the 40's and grew up on Elvis and the Beatles and fought in the Vietnam War.  Ofcourse they're not, and I've always seen folks in that crowd resent being lumped in with the Boomer crowd.  There are indeed many problems with categorizing people like this with these generation labels.  First of all it's very clear that most people simply don't to want to inherit too much of the pop cultural or political legacy of anyone more then 5 or 6 years older then them.  And if you're honest with yourself, you'll know that you didn't grow up with same pop culture and political issues of anyone more then 5 or 6 years younger then you. The term "Generation Y" simply hasn't caught on with the media, and doesn't have the cool ring to it that Gen X did.  I also think that a lot of Gen Y kids resent that name because it implies them as being nothing but younger Xers.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Lord Garth on 04/18/03 at 12:51 a.m.


Quoting:
Um... I think it's implied that these labels refer only to Americans.
End Quote



Well it's primarily about Americans.  These labels supposedly deal with American birth rates over a course of years, and the political and economic issues that people raised in America would deal with it.  

I think folks outside of the good old USA  like in the U.K. and Germany, may call themsevles a Boomer, Xer or Yer because they are only thinking in terms of pop culture. They're not thinking about all the other factors that go into these labels, they're only thinking about the American music, movies, TV shows and fashion that they grew up with. Since American pop culture is our biggest national export, nearly everyone in the world is exposed to it. Someone born and raised in Japan or India can grow up with Mandy Moore and the Olsen Twins as well.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: jamminoldies on 04/18/03 at 02:34 p.m.

So,I was born in 1974.What would that make me?  ???

Howard

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Lord Garth on 04/18/03 at 03:17 p.m.


Quoting:
So,I was born in 1974.What would that make me?  ???

Howard
End Quote



According to those years that Pablo put up of 1965-1979/'80, then you're a younger Xer.  And I have no idea if those years are right or not, because I always see several different start and end dates for this kind of thing.  Sometimes I've seen it as being 1960 to 1980.  

But if you were born in 1974 then you're leaning towards the backend of Generaton X.  I was born in 1977, so I guess I'm obviously part of the tail end of the Xer run myself as well.  I know this, the older Xers were born in the 60's, and it appears the frontline of Gen Y was born in the early 80's.  Most of us born in the 70's are somewhere in the middle of that.  Gen X-Y perhaps?  ;)  

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Chrisrj on 04/18/03 at 03:26 p.m.


Quoting:

Gen X-Y perhaps?  ;)  
End Quote



Yeah, you're generation male, lol!

...what?

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: CatwomanofV on 04/18/03 at 08:55 p.m.

I am proud to call myself a baby boomer.  ;D



Cat

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Race_Bannon on 04/20/03 at 01:59 a.m.


Quoting:
So,I was born in 1974.What would that make me?  ???

Howard
End Quote

Howard, pure unadulterated Gen X, BABY!

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Race_Bannon on 04/20/03 at 02:09 a.m.

As a 1966 born Gen Xer I can say that it was late in the game before I was ever labled.  But I do want to aknowledge Lors Garths post that it is silly to label a such a broad range of people together.  I agree that generations change every 5 years ago since I can remeber back in the early 70s.  
70-75 Bell bottomhippie folk music joint puffers
76-79 Flared leg, disco listening bong smokers
80-85 Lets forget the fashions please, just tell me where I can do a few lines of coke and listen to Depeche Mode
86-89-Leather pants and high hair, power ballads and lets smoke are cocaine.
90-95-Levis and flannel shirts, grunge is the re-birth of rock-n-roll.  Lets smoke pot again.
96-99-Doensnt matter what you wear, music sucks agian but it's free to download off the internet.  Methamphetamines are local, cheap, and highly effective.
00-05-We'll see.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Pablo on 04/20/03 at 08:56 a.m.

1980, huh?? I guess that could go whichever way you want..I don't know a lot of 1980 born 22-23 year olds now..but most seem to have more in common with the Ys..but I guess it could go either way
The above definitions I guess are for Americans..thee are similar definitions and terms actually used in other countries. "Generation X" has been used by people in many other places. I know specifically in South africa, "Gen X" refers to the group of people at the age too young to do much about apartheid, but are the last who were adolescents or younger adults when it was still in force and can trully remember it..people born aprox 1970-1984..I've seen "Generation X" used in England and a lot of Western Europe too..refers almost directly to the fear of the Eastern Block..and consequently the pop culture that surrounded it..born approx 1966-77...I'm not being exact, but I've seen such definitions in sociology works.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: HurrMark on 04/20/03 at 03:31 p.m.

Well, most demographers begin Generation "Y" or Millennials in 77 and continue it until 1994 or 1995. I find this definition to be a clear joke, because it only takes into account an increase in the birth rate that was inevitable because of the Boomers reaching child-bearing age. Clearly, what does someone born in 77 have in common with someone who probably does not remember much of anything before 2000? The baby boomer definition is pretty dumb too. What does a "flower power" person born in 1946 have in common with someone who was three (or even two) during the Summer of Love back in 1967?

I think generations are twelve or so years long, as a maximum, followed by short subgenerations. Here's my rough estimate...

Boom Leaders 1940-1945
Baby Boomers 1946-1957
Generation Jones (this is a real generation... www.generationjones.com) 1958-1965
Generation "X" 1966-1977
Generation "Y" 1978-1983
Millennials 1984-1995

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: CatwomanofV on 04/20/03 at 04:55 p.m.


Quoting:
What does a "flower power" person born in 1946 have in common with someone who was three (or even two) during the Summer of Love back in 1967?
End Quote




My honey was born in 1946-the beginning of the baby boom. I was born in 1963-the end of the boom. (Yes, I am admitting how old I am) We are very compatable and have a lot in common. We used to have an argument that he didn't think I was part of the baby boom. I told him that my siblings (my oldest one was born in 1951) are deffinately part of the baby boomers and aren't I in the same generation as my siblings?


Cat

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: HurrMark on 04/20/03 at 05:35 p.m.

Quoting:



My honey was born in 1946-the beginning of the baby boom. I was born in 1963-the end of the boom. (Yes, I am admitting how old I am) We are very compatable and have a lot in common. We used to have an argument that he didn't think I was part of the baby boom. I told him that my siblings (my oldest one was born in 1951) are deffinately part of the baby boomers and aren't I in the same generation as my siblings?


Cat
End Quote



Well, you are in the same generation when it comes to family structure, but I don't think you are when culturally. First of all, you were an infant (or maybe not even born) when JFK was shot, while your 1951 born sibling was 12 and your husband was nearly out of high school. During the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam era you were barely starting kindergarten, while older Boomers were coming of age. The earliest boomers graduated college at the time of Hippiemania, while you would have graduated (class of 85) in Yuppiemania. So there is quite a contrast.

But with the quirkiness of how demographers define generations (46-64, 65-76, 77-95), it is very possible for children of a particular family to be part of three generations...a boomer born in 64, a "Y"er born in 77 and and an "Xer" born in between (although as I mentioned before, 77 is NOT in my opinion Generation "Y", but rather the last of the last "Xers").

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Tv on 04/20/03 at 08:20 p.m.


Quoting:
Generation "X" 1966-1977
Generation "Y" 1978-1983

End Quote


I was born in 79. I'm generation X. Generation Y likes Reality Shows, and all that ear candy pop. I don't like that stuff. I grew up on alternative rock(94-96) and the urban pop era(97-98) when I was in high school. I associate with the 94-98 era for me not the 99+ era. Most of Generation Y associates with stuff that happened in the 99+ era. Not that I don't acknowledge recent world events like WTC, and the recent war we had but I don't feel like part of today's era pop culture wise(Tv, and music.) Its just not me at all. As a matter of fact I can associate with the decade of the 80's than today's decade.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Helpinghand on 04/21/03 at 01:17 a.m.

So they've moved 77 up to Y now, huh?? Gee..anything to market to the youth..soon 40-year-olds will be Gen Y. I have little in common with those born in the mid 80s..I've never seen 77 as a gen Y year..as someone being born in 77, I consider myself much more X..must be new..I've heard Gen X go all the way up to 83 in some definitions though..but I can't see how. In America, probably more like 66-78 for X..though those born in late 77 (96 h.s. grads) seem a lil different in culture and memories of the 80s than early 77s (or late 76s..class of 1995 like me). Elvis's death was 8/77..coincidence maybe?

Subject: Born in 1975, proud tail end Gen Xer

Written By: Chris_MegatronTHX on 04/21/03 at 01:58 p.m.

I was born in 1975 and I graduated high school in 1993.  Me personally, since I was born in 1975, I have always considered my generation as being anyone born from 1970 to 1980.  Anyone within 5 years of my age is what I considered my generation.  I don't mind in the least bit about being part of the tail end of the Generation Xer run.  I'm a tail end Xer and proud of it.  Better to be a Younger Xer then an Older Yer.  ;)

HurrMarks,

Dude I'm starting to think you take this issue WAY too seriously.  You had a fun and interesting discussion on the 80's board, but now that I see this topic here, I've realized that it seems to be all you talk about.  It's very clear that you being born in 1978 are very uncomfortable about being labeled a "Generation Xer", or even having the 80's forced on you.  Though in another post I saw you say you thought the 80's were better then the 90's.   That has me a bit confused.  The Gen Xer legacy is both the 80's and 90's anyway.  And why is your listing of Gen Y only 5 years?  1978 to 1983?  Every other generation is much longer.  You were born in 1978 and graduated in 1996, and in another post you say you finished college on time in 2000,......so maybey you probably are Generation Y.  I don't know.  Generation Y is about the 00's, so perhaps you are Gen Y.  But either way you will always be an Older Gen Yer.  The older members of these generations usually get stiffed and forgotten.  The middle part of the generations are usually the ones that the focus is on.  Look at what happened to the Older Xers born in 1965, they're always swept under the rug and I know those guys are mortified at the thought of being called a "Baby Boomer".
 

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Helpinghand on 04/21/03 at 02:55 p.m.

I've always considered myself a younger gen X, now that even the mid-younger Yers start to graduate h.s. Within any demo group, there are subgroups. The "older" xers are probably those 32-38 and the "younger" xers 25-31..and if you wanna keep subdividing then keep going, lol. (Remember that the book defined them as twentysomethings in 1991..so they'd all be born between 1962 and 1971 using his definition!) Most of my friends and people I associate with are within 5 or so years of my age, though I think I probably have more in common wth the older set..so I don't mind being a "tail end" Xer, since I fit very little of what Gen Y is supposed to be about. Even older gen Ys are quite a bit different from the younger, 84, 85 born Yers now graduating h.s. The younger Gen Yers seem to want to be like todays Xers but not be politically active at all

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Spike on 04/22/03 at 10:45 a.m.

Whoa, confusing!  I'm guessing that I'm a Gen Y or a Millenial (according to Hurrmark).  However, I was born in '84 and would have graduated 2001, and I totally don't agree with the stereotype of Millenial....esp. since just about everyone in my year at school was born in '83, which would make them Yers ??? ??? ???  Arrgh, foncused!!!!

Subject: Re: Born in 1975, proud tail end Gen Xer

Written By: HurrMark on 04/22/03 at 07:20 p.m.

Quoting:
I was born in 1975 and I graduated high school in 1993.  Me personally, since I was born in 1975, I have always considered my generation as being anyone born from 1970 to 1980.  Anyone within 5 years of my age is what I considered my generation.  I don't mind in the least bit about being part of the tail end of the Generation Xer run.  I'm a tail end Xer and proud of it.  Better to be a Younger Xer then an Older Yer.  ;)

HurrMarks,

Dude I'm starting to think you take this issue WAY too seriously.  You had a fun and interesting discussion on the 80's board, but now that I see this topic here, I've realized that it seems to be all you talk about.  It's very clear that you being born in 1978 are very uncomfortable about being labeled a "Generation Xer", or even having the 80's forced on you.  Though in another post I saw you say you thought the 80's were better then the 90's.   That has me a bit confused.  The Gen Xer legacy is both the 80's and 90's anyway.  And why is your listing of Gen Y only 5 years?  1978 to 1983?  Every other generation is much longer.  You were born in 1978 and graduated in 1996, and in another post you say you finished college on time in 2000,......so maybey you probably are Generation Y.  I don't know.  Generation Y is about the 00's, so perhaps you are Gen Y.  But either way you will always be an Older Gen Yer.  The older members of these generations usually get stiffed and forgotten.  The middle part of the generations are usually the ones that the focus is on.  Look at what happened to the Older Xers born in 1965, they're always swept under the rug and I know those guys are mortified at the thought of being called a "Baby Boomer".
 

End Quote



Wait a second here...who said I'm taking this way too seriously? This topic is regarding generations, right? So I'm just giving my say on what years fit with what generations. That's all I'm doing. And with regard to me feeling uncomfortable with being part of the "child of the 80s", it's not that I don't want to. It's just that I feel I am a bit too late.

And Generation "Y" is not the shortest generation...Boom Leaders is the same length (6 years). And these are subgenerations in between two generations.

Sorry if you are getting the wrong impression.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: 1992thousand on 04/22/03 at 11:26 p.m.

being born in 84, i should have more in common with a kid born in 95 than a young adult in 83. yea...ok...lots of people born in 83 graduated with me! well in 2005 i think im gonna have a lot more to talk about with that 25 year old across the room than that 10 year old who's gonna say "Clinton who? impeachment what? MC Hammer, is that a company? Nirvana? thats a big word mister! Michael Jordan? hes an old man!" etc..etc...Oh well, these groups are silly anyways.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Brian Dybzinski on 03/13/04 at 11:24 p.m.

I was born in 1987 and I consider myself a child of the 90s and i had all the cool stuff in the 90s. I would say that my generation would be those born between 1980-1991. Give or take a couple of years, i just don't consider 10 year olds in my generation because they don't really remember much at all of what I remember of the 90s. I have more in common with my 24 year old cousin then my 10 year old cousin. I definitely consider myself a child of the 90s and a teen of the 00s. I liked the 90s and i miss the 90s.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: toowec on 03/14/04 at 08:48 a.m.

I was born in 1989, so according to Pablo, I should be optimistic and quite conservative. That isn't me. I fit the description of Generation X far better.

But then I'm from England, so I suppose the labels don't quite apply to me, although saying that, a lot of my friends fit the catagory of millenials pretty well. I am a bit of an outcast when it comes to people my age.

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: Howard on 03/14/04 at 01:56 p.m.

I'm a Generation X. ;D


Howard

Subject: Re: Your generation??

Written By: prodigy on 03/14/04 at 02:52 p.m.

ITS ALL THE SAME...they just used these labels to classify ppl...geez