What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generation?
- Thread starter Dryson
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Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
Well a generations is about 20-25 years anyway.
But you basically have the Baby Boomer Generation i.e. those born circa 1946-1965
Generation X circa 1965-1985
Generation Y circa 1985-2005
So it seems as if each new generation starts roughly when those of a certain generation start having children. So those towards the end of a particualr generation might have more in common with the following generation.
Well a generations is about 20-25 years anyway.
But you basically have the Baby Boomer Generation i.e. those born circa 1946-1965
Generation X circa 1965-1985
Generation Y circa 1985-2005
So it seems as if each new generation starts roughly when those of a certain generation start having children. So those towards the end of a particualr generation might have more in common with the following generation.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
Don't forget "Millenials." They hate that.
Don't forget "Millenials." They hate that.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
Guilty. So very very guilty!
I'm one year younger and have always been told I'm Gen X. I think we fall firmly in the Gen X camp, though at the older end of it. If you had a bad perm and shoulder pads during your teenaged years you're Gen X.
Guilty. So very very guilty!
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
Like RJD I'm Hippie generation (born in the early 60s). It still shows strongly in my political attitude: live and let live, make love not war, swords to ploughshares etc. I fiercely battle anything right-wing and racist and am a pacifist to the core. That doesn't mean I won't defend my friends tooth and claw, but I rarely fight for myself.
I've experienced war firsthand (the civil war between ZA and Namibia and the Yugoslavian wars) and wouldn't wish my worst enemy a similar experience. I still automatically take cover when a helicopter flies over me. Any Google drone hovering over me will mercilessly be shot down with a hot potato dumpling!
I'm a computer kid: dad was a computer pioneer and I've been using these machines ever since they ran with magnet tape
RJD, you forgot to mention that our time was not only the sexual liberation era but Aids had not been invented yet. You could experiment as much as you liked and the only thing you had to fear was getting pregnant or catching lice. Those were the days!
Like RJD I'm Hippie generation (born in the early 60s). It still shows strongly in my political attitude: live and let live, make love not war, swords to ploughshares etc. I fiercely battle anything right-wing and racist and am a pacifist to the core. That doesn't mean I won't defend my friends tooth and claw, but I rarely fight for myself.
I've experienced war firsthand (the civil war between ZA and Namibia and the Yugoslavian wars) and wouldn't wish my worst enemy a similar experience. I still automatically take cover when a helicopter flies over me. Any Google drone hovering over me will mercilessly be shot down with a hot potato dumpling!
I'm a computer kid: dad was a computer pioneer and I've been using these machines ever since they ran with magnet tape
RJD, you forgot to mention that our time was not only the sexual liberation era but Aids had not been invented yet. You could experiment as much as you liked and the only thing you had to fear was getting pregnant or catching lice. Those were the days!
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
^^ That's true. AIDS had a huge effect on 80s and post-80s sexual ideology. And it was actually the introduction of the contraceptive pill-- reducing the fear of pregnancy-- that helped fuel the Sexual Revolution.
I love the slogan "Make Love, Not War." I wish I had remembered to work it into my little mini essay up there.
^^ That's true. AIDS had a huge effect on 80s and post-80s sexual ideology. And it was actually the introduction of the contraceptive pill-- reducing the fear of pregnancy-- that helped fuel the Sexual Revolution.
I love the slogan "Make Love, Not War." I wish I had remembered to work it into my little mini essay up there.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
well, for lack of a decent male (the local ones are all either married or gay or simply perfect to populate a haunted house) my motto has rather been "make lunch, not war" lately
Gotta rummage through my old this-and-that box at home. I think I must still have a button somewhere with "make love, not war.... with me" written on it
well, for lack of a decent male (the local ones are all either married or gay or simply perfect to populate a haunted house) my motto has rather been "make lunch, not war" lately
Gotta rummage through my old this-and-that box at home. I think I must still have a button somewhere with "make love, not war.... with me" written on it
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
I'm part of the late Generation X. I'm old enough to remember a world before the Internet, I know what a phone book is and I see the positives and pitfalls of an emphasis on online media. I prefer physical media.
I'm part of the late Generation X. I'm old enough to remember a world before the Internet, I know what a phone book is and I see the positives and pitfalls of an emphasis on online media. I prefer physical media.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
Me too. Although I concede that online media makes for easier storage (and less mess), I'd much rather have my books on paper, and my movies and TV shows on DVD.
Me too. Although I concede that online media makes for easier storage (and less mess), I'd much rather have my books on paper, and my movies and TV shows on DVD.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
In the age of AIDS, there was a twist on that slogan: "Make War, Not Love -- It's Safer!"
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
Interesting. I never heard that one. Perhaps it is because our constitution explicitly forbids us participating in a war.
In the 70s we used to say "better petting than Pershing" - was that one popular in the US as well?
Interesting. I never heard that one. Perhaps it is because our constitution explicitly forbids us participating in a war.
In the 70s we used to say "better petting than Pershing" - was that one popular in the US as well?
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
Never heard that one before. The expression "petting" was pretty much out by the '70s -- unless it meant stroking a doggie or a pussycat.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
I never heard that one either. I think the last time the phrase "heavy petting" was used over here was in Rocky Horror.
I never heard that one either. I think the last time the phrase "heavy petting" was used over here was in Rocky Horror.
Yeah, that sounds very Reagan Era.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
I still prefer reading actual books and buying CDs to digital downloads. I miss VHS tapes... You never had to worry about smudges or scratches. I hate how everything is so technological now. I miss the days when people would call each other, now everybody texts, emails, or uses Facebook. I hate it. Nobody gets together anymore. It's sad. We are becoming mindless drones. Slaves to our computer screens.
I still prefer reading actual books and buying CDs to digital downloads. I miss VHS tapes... You never had to worry about smudges or scratches. I hate how everything is so technological now. I miss the days when people would call each other, now everybody texts, emails, or uses Facebook. I hate it. Nobody gets together anymore. It's sad. We are becoming mindless drones. Slaves to our computer screens.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
^^ I still prefer real books, too, but I have to admit that my Nook has provided me with a cornucopia of obscure, antique literature (much of it free from Gutenberg Project) that I otherwise probably would not have been able to read.
^^ I still prefer real books, too, but I have to admit that my Nook has provided me with a cornucopia of obscure, antique literature (much of it free from Gutenberg Project) that I otherwise probably would not have been able to read.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
I am a Generation Xer. I was born in 1978. I think technology and spirituality defined my Generation.
I remember using the 8 inch floppy disk in elementary school and Zip Drives in high school. I remember pagers in college.
My generation was the last generation to experience teen life before the internet. The technology leap has been tremendous to me at least.
My generation also got less religious over time. I grew up very religious. But now over the years, i realized that the belief in God is actually a tribal primitive instinct of Humans.
I don't know if there is a God or not. I hope he or she exist. If he or she did not exist, Humans would certainly need to invent one in order to control the violent and greedy nature of humans.
I am a Generation Xer. I was born in 1978. I think technology and spirituality defined my Generation.
I remember using the 8 inch floppy disk in elementary school and Zip Drives in high school. I remember pagers in college.
My generation was the last generation to experience teen life before the internet. The technology leap has been tremendous to me at least.
My generation also got less religious over time. I grew up very religious. But now over the years, i realized that the belief in God is actually a tribal primitive instinct of Humans.
I don't know if there is a God or not. I hope he or she exist. If he or she did not exist, Humans would certainly need to invent one in order to control the violent and greedy nature of humans.
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Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
Another Generation Y here. I was born in 84 (See below). To add what was missed, I'm part of the last generation that saved their lunch money to go to the arcade. The home consoles killed them.
Generation Y started in 1982.
I used floppies in elementary school too, but used DVDs in high school. I was also around when pagers were cool, and I too existed before the internet was mainstreamed.
I was also frustrated after learning how to use the card catalog at the library, to have it transition into a PC system.
Another Generation Y here. I was born in 84 (See below). To add what was missed, I'm part of the last generation that saved their lunch money to go to the arcade. The home consoles killed them.
Generation Y started in 1982.
I used floppies in elementary school too, but used DVDs in high school. I was also around when pagers were cool, and I too existed before the internet was mainstreamed.
I was also frustrated after learning how to use the card catalog at the library, to have it transition into a PC system.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
I was born in late 1982...so I suppose I'm kind of on the cusp of X and Y, personally I tend to identify a little more with millennials than Xers though.
Growing up my family had an Apple IIc that I used until I was in about 5th grade (about 1993-94 I think), when we got our first real PC (A Gateway 2000 Windows 3.1 machine) and had our first internet connection thanks to AOL dial up. We had 'computer days' throughout my early elementary years (probably once a month) where the school's Apple II would be brought to our classroom and we'd play number munchers and other educational games like that. The school did a remodel around the same time my family got our computer and a 'computer lab' was installed with a room full of those box Macs. We had computer days where once a week we'd go take keyboarding and other computer lessons. We also a slightly nicer computer installed in our room where we could play some games, I especially liked Oregon Trail.
The point is...I didn't really have 'internet' until I was about 11, and cell phones until I was in high school (17 or 18) and I didn't get my own until I was off to college at 18 almost 19. At college despite WSU being touted as one of the 'most wired' campuses WiFi wasn't really a thing until my last year, about 2005. Now you can't go to a campus without it providing WiFi service all around.
I find it a little hard to identify with most Millennials in the whole 'look at me, look at my selfie' aspect of social media. I don't understand the point of Snapchat and most other social media outside of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook honestly.
I do get the whole can't live without my tablet/smartphone thing though. I always hated hauling my heavy laptop around campus when I was younger. A tablet would have been a back saver for sure.
I also understand the Millennials problems with student debt and the job market. When I graduated in 2005 it took me a good 8 or 9 months to find a job and I ended up living with my parents for a while (having a BA in History and only McDonalds and a paper route on my resume didn't really help my case much, if I'm honest).
When I think about it I think I've spent almost the whole of my adult life living under the threat of terrorism and the gloom of the aftermath of 9/11. I was 18 when it happened, and I think it's probably one of the defining moments for people around my age. I know so many boys who were in my high school class went off to sign up for the military after that. It's an issue that has deeply scarred my generation.
I was born in late 1982...so I suppose I'm kind of on the cusp of X and Y, personally I tend to identify a little more with millennials than Xers though.
Growing up my family had an Apple IIc that I used until I was in about 5th grade (about 1993-94 I think), when we got our first real PC (A Gateway 2000 Windows 3.1 machine) and had our first internet connection thanks to AOL dial up. We had 'computer days' throughout my early elementary years (probably once a month) where the school's Apple II would be brought to our classroom and we'd play number munchers and other educational games like that. The school did a remodel around the same time my family got our computer and a 'computer lab' was installed with a room full of those box Macs. We had computer days where once a week we'd go take keyboarding and other computer lessons. We also a slightly nicer computer installed in our room where we could play some games, I especially liked Oregon Trail.
The point is...I didn't really have 'internet' until I was about 11, and cell phones until I was in high school (17 or 18) and I didn't get my own until I was off to college at 18 almost 19. At college despite WSU being touted as one of the 'most wired' campuses WiFi wasn't really a thing until my last year, about 2005. Now you can't go to a campus without it providing WiFi service all around.
I find it a little hard to identify with most Millennials in the whole 'look at me, look at my selfie' aspect of social media. I don't understand the point of Snapchat and most other social media outside of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook honestly.
I do get the whole can't live without my tablet/smartphone thing though. I always hated hauling my heavy laptop around campus when I was younger. A tablet would have been a back saver for sure.
I also understand the Millennials problems with student debt and the job market. When I graduated in 2005 it took me a good 8 or 9 months to find a job and I ended up living with my parents for a while (having a BA in History and only McDonalds and a paper route on my resume didn't really help my case much, if I'm honest).
When I think about it I think I've spent almost the whole of my adult life living under the threat of terrorism and the gloom of the aftermath of 9/11. I was 18 when it happened, and I think it's probably one of the defining moments for people around my age. I know so many boys who were in my high school class went off to sign up for the military after that. It's an issue that has deeply scarred my generation.
Re: What Generation are You From and What Issues Defined Your Generati
I agree re books. But I disagree that we are becoming mindless drones, just because we use the computer more. In my experience, email and Facebook replace or supplement phone calls (I do all three, depending on the situation), not in-person contact. I get together with friends just as much as I used to. And several of the friends whom I see in person are women whom I originally met online. I think communicating by more modern technology has broadened my horizons.
To answer the original question... Baby Boomer, born 1950. Computers were the size of rooms, and most people had never seen one; televisions were black and white; and telephones were attached to the wall. The first three issues that come to mind are the Cold War, JFK's assassination (and then MLK's and RFK's), and Vietnam.
ETA: By the way, a couple of those friends with whom I get together in person are much younger than I, so it's not just an age thing.
I agree re books. But I disagree that we are becoming mindless drones, just because we use the computer more. In my experience, email and Facebook replace or supplement phone calls (I do all three, depending on the situation), not in-person contact. I get together with friends just as much as I used to. And several of the friends whom I see in person are women whom I originally met online. I think communicating by more modern technology has broadened my horizons.
To answer the original question... Baby Boomer, born 1950. Computers were the size of rooms, and most people had never seen one; televisions were black and white; and telephones were attached to the wall. The first three issues that come to mind are the Cold War, JFK's assassination (and then MLK's and RFK's), and Vietnam.
ETA: By the way, a couple of those friends with whom I get together in person are much younger than I, so it's not just an age thing.
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