That's a good article. I don't know if Millennials even think much about Gen X, or if anyone does, including Generation X. There's some kind of semi-consensus that 1970/2 is when the bottom fell out.
One wish I have is that Generation X had more of a social identity as a group. I'd even take endless complaining over the nothing that has defined Gen X so far.
I'd feel more sorry for her if she had majored in journalism. But I've seen the same thing she has. Gen X is getting overlooked for Millennials. The Boomers love the even more nihilistic, entitled, solipsistic versions of themselves.
totally identify with that article as a gen x-er. in high school and college, the world and usa still was what it had been imo. get a good job after college as I have a stem degree, settle down and have a middle class life like the 2 previous generations of my family had done, but nooo; somewhere in the past 10 or 15 years; everything went nuts. I no have to compete for a job with the world and with every HB1 tech person from the far east that congress and corporate America can usher in and my income like most americans has gone no where, the country has turned into a social nutbag and any attempt to be fiscally or culturally rational is out the window. now,i did my job. was a vet, I went from one side of the country to the other trying to get people to vote for supposedly conservative republicans for years and made efforts to to promote judeo Christian tenants which is the best for structure of a society regarless of if you believe it or not and the country went off the rails anyways because too much of the country could not be bothered to get off their ass to save it. so FU country I once loved, I'm only for myself now and thanks to 'Enjoy the Decline'; I am well prepared.
Scrappy survivors is a good characterization of gen X. That's why so many of them are entrepreneurs. Its too bad that some of Gen X did not rub off on the Millennials.
I think the older Millennials have some of the traits of Gen X. I managed an engineering lab in the early oughts ('03-05) where we hired engineering students from the two local universities. Everyone of these kids I hired was good. Most significantly, they took initiative and did what had to be done, even without being told to do it. They were great. Admittedly this is result of a selection process (they were all engineering students). These guys were all born in the early 80's. So, they would be in their mid 30's today.
I'm hoping that Gen Z will be a lot like Gen X. If not, we're in deep doodoo.
No. No we don't owe anyone. As I write this, I am about a year out from the big five-0. Joined the army out of HS from a rural mid-west town, did my hitch overseas in 3 theaters, got a worthless degree from a Big 10 university and as personal circumstances allowed (European girlfriend) I left the country and never looked back. Got a job, learned a language, went to night school for a better degree and built up skill sets-- 25 years later married, 2 kids, no debts, own property and earn a 6 digit income (yes, taxes are high).
I like you Aaron-- but only because you are like me. Had nothing, got nothing and knew from an early age you are on your own and you have to fight, adapt and overcome -- and that doesn't stop until the grave. I call it the happy warrior mindset. I wish the younger generations well, but the odds are stacked against you and all you will inherit down the pike is mountains of debt left by the boomers.
That's a good article. I don't know if Millennials even think much about Gen X, or if anyone does, including Generation X. There's some kind of semi-consensus that 1970/2 is when the bottom fell out.
ReplyDeleteOne wish I have is that Generation X had more of a social identity as a group. I'd even take endless complaining over the nothing that has defined Gen X so far.
We're kind of scrappy survivors. That's all that comes to mind.
DeleteI'd feel more sorry for her if she had majored in journalism. But I've seen the same thing she has. Gen X is getting overlooked for Millennials. The Boomers love the even more nihilistic, entitled, solipsistic versions of themselves.
ReplyDeletetotally identify with that article as a gen x-er. in high school and college, the world and usa still was what it had been imo. get a good job after college as I have a stem degree, settle down and have a middle class life like the 2 previous generations of my family had done, but nooo; somewhere in the past 10 or 15 years; everything went nuts.
ReplyDeleteI no have to compete for a job with the world and with every HB1 tech person from the far east that congress and corporate America can usher in and my income like most americans has gone no where, the country has turned into a social nutbag and any attempt to be fiscally or culturally rational is out the window.
now,i did my job. was a vet, I went from one side of the country to the other trying to get people to vote for supposedly conservative republicans for years and made efforts to to promote judeo Christian tenants which is the best for structure of a society regarless of if you believe it or not and the country went off the rails anyways because too much of the country could not be bothered to get off their ass to save it.
so FU country I once loved, I'm only for myself now and thanks to 'Enjoy the Decline'; I am well prepared.
Scrappy survivors is a good characterization of gen X. That's why so many of them are entrepreneurs. Its too bad that some of Gen X did not rub off on the Millennials.
ReplyDeleteI think the older Millennials have some of the traits of Gen X. I managed an engineering lab in the early oughts ('03-05) where we hired engineering students from the two local universities. Everyone of these kids I hired was good. Most significantly, they took initiative and did what had to be done, even without being told to do it. They were great. Admittedly this is result of a selection process (they were all engineering students). These guys were all born in the early 80's. So, they would be in their mid 30's today.
I'm hoping that Gen Z will be a lot like Gen X. If not, we're in deep doodoo.
No. No we don't owe anyone. As I write this, I am about a year out from the big five-0. Joined the army out of HS from a rural mid-west town, did my hitch overseas in 3 theaters, got a worthless degree from a Big 10 university and as personal circumstances allowed (European girlfriend) I left the country and never looked back. Got a job, learned a language, went to night school for a better degree and built up skill sets-- 25 years later married, 2 kids, no debts, own property and earn a 6 digit income (yes, taxes are high).
ReplyDeleteI like you Aaron-- but only because you are like me. Had nothing, got nothing and knew from an early age you are on your own and you have to fight, adapt and overcome -- and that doesn't stop until the grave. I call it the happy warrior mindset. I wish the younger generations well, but the odds are stacked against you and all you will inherit down the pike is mountains of debt left by the boomers.