Current Events > Why Gen-X escaped the "Generation Wars"

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https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/life-moves-pretty-fast-why-gen-x-got-it-before-the-rest-of-you-kpkn/? fbclid=IwAR0VWUuztbKCOMbmmGc2peSN5rz1toKVUQC2Uma9-1I2C0ZrGgYlTJrasU8

TL:DR

We were the first generation to widely experience:

a high volume of moms working outside the home.

divorced parents

friends coming safely out of the closet.

the diversity of Sesame Street, the lessons in community from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and the brilliant bonkers of Electric Company.

taught about environmental sustainability from a young age thats recycling and land management to global warming

American generation who have not improved on our parents financial situation because wages stagnated while inflation skyrocketed.

saw men and women enrolled in college in equal numbers.

We were the last generation to:

have a technology free childhood.

live though a time when a missed call was a missed call.

spent a largely unsupervised childhood on dangerous playground equipment

We were the last generation to graduate from high school before the escalation of school shootings began and the first generation to send our children into schools with this threat hanging over us as the norm.

When 9/11 happened, we were most of the boots on the ground. We were many of the victims. Our unique positioning in history gave us a perspective that some of you are still struggling to understandand this spans ALL generations, not just those older than us. Because some of you who are younger than we are just dont get what it was like BEFORE we came along and some of you who are older than us refuse to process new information, So let me break this down for youwe did a LOT of heavy lifting so you all didnt have to.

Why they escaped?

Their parents weren't Baby Boomers
They are a relatively small demographic
They have almost no representation in government

No to that circle jerk article
The Karens that we spent all that time ridiculing are predominantly gen x at this point. They're just as much caught up in this shit as any other generation

bigblu89 posted...

When 9/11 happened, we were most of the boots on the ground.

Man I remember almost joining the military before 9/11 happened. Things were so peaceful under Clinton that I was like "military would be a great way to get some world experience and probably won't ever have to do anything dangerous"

DarkRoast posted...

Why they escaped?

Their parents weren't Baby Boomers
They are a relatively small demographic
They have almost no representation in government

Basically this.

We are basically the forgotten middle child of the Generation Wars. We all just go to work, mostly minding our own business, hoping that the statement of "we'll be the last generation to actually be able to afford to retire at 65" rings true.

We're the "Do whatever you want. Marry whoever you want. Just get out of my way so I can get to work."

Gen X is like, whatever. *eye roll*

Jiek_Fafn posted...

No to that circle jerk article
The Karens that we spent all that time ridiculing are predominantly gen x at this point. They're just as much caught up in this shit as any other generation

Not rally. Just the loud ones, which every generation has.

The "Karens" are mostly in their 60's. Gen-X is people currently 40-55 years old.

Most are worrying about their teenage/early 20 year old kids getting on their feet.

Gen x are boomers with less sexism/racism.

polopili posted...

Gen x are boomers with less sexism/racism.

In what way? In what way are the boomers, that is.

bigblu89 posted...

have a technology free childhood.

bullshit.

We got to play videogames from the very beginning of consoles.

Gen X is the last generation that will retire in a better condition than their parents. Millennials and Gen Z are basically screwed. Millennials in particular have had two separate economic disasters - one right at the end of college and one right in the prime of their earning potential.

Gen-X did heavy lifting? That's laughable. Like what?

Questionmarktarius posted...

bullshit.

We got to play videogames from the very beginning of consoles.

Yeah? You had an Atari 2600 and a Commodore 64?

bigblu89 posted...

Yeah? You had an Atari 2600 and a Commodore 64?

2600, yes.

I never got it when some Gen X'ers say they were the last gen to play outside and not have technology all around them. Plenty of us millennials were the same way. Sure, some of us had internet in our homes, but it was vastly different than how it is now and we weren't on it as much.

Southernfatman posted...

I never got it when some Gen X'ers say they were the last gen to play outside and not have technology all around them. Plenty of us millennials were the same way. Sure, some of us had internet in our homes, but it was vastly different than how it is now and we weren't on it as much.

We were the first generation to have computers in the classroom, at a time when the average person didnt have one at home.

CommonStar posted...

Gen-X did heavy lifting? That's laughable. Like what?

They were the first generation that was "forced" (in the eyes of conservatives) to accept "alternative lifestyles" as something more than people to ridicule and push into the closet. And instead of rejecting them, we embraced them. We lived through "black television shows" being a new thing, and instead of rejecting them, we embraced them.

Gen X was the last generation to live without widespread handheld tech, the internet, computers, etc. But was also the generation that had to learn it all on the fly, as it was brand new. And unlike the generations before it, we were young enough to fully embrace the change, as opposed to rejecting it.

The younger half of GenX were the generation that were graduating college and trying to have families during the Bush Jr. economic collapse. Many GenXers had the rug pulled out from under them by losing their jobs less than 3-5 into their mortgages.

"Women in the workforce" was the norm by the time we were children, as many of us were raised in two income households. And our generation saw the rise of children, because of divorce or abandonment, living in single-parent households. Raised by generation of strong women the showed us you can get by on your own, and the idea of the "family" having multiple definitions.

I can keep going, but the article sums it up a lot better than I do.

Questionmarktarius posted...

2600, yes.

That wasn't a hand me down?

I hate these circlejerk "last generation to..." posts whenever I see them. All that's missing is them claiming they are the last generation to drink out of the garden hose which literally every single one of these do.

bigblu89 posted...

That wasn't a hand me down?

Well... my parents bought it in the early 80s.
It's in a box in my basement. Needs a power supply.

Southernfatman posted...

I never got it when some Gen X'ers say they were the last gen to play outside and not have technology all around them. Plenty of us millennials were the same way. Sure, some of us had internet in our homes, but it was vastly different than how it is now and we weren't on it as much.

Because we didn't.

I didn't have internet in my house until I was 19.

We had "computer class" in high school, that basically was a typewriting class, because it's really the only thing we used it for before the internet was mainstream.

Now, my kids are given a chromebook on the fist day of school, and 90% of their classwork and homework are done on a computer and emailed to the teacher. I didn't even have an email address till I was 20.

WrkHrdPlayHrdr posted...

I hate these circlejerk "last generation to..." posts whenever I see them. All that's missing is them claiming they are the last generation to drink out of the garden hose which literally every single one of these do.

Let me ask you a simple question. How old were you when you got your first cell phone, and what year was it?

bigblu89 posted...

They were the first generation that was "forced" (in the eyes of conservatives) to accept "alternative lifestyles" as something more than people to ridicule and push into the closet. And instead of rejecting them, we embraced them. We lived through "black television shows" being a new thing, and instead of rejecting them, we embraced them.

Gen X was the last generation to live without widespread handheld tech, the internet, computers, etc. But was also the generation that had to learn it all on the fly, as it was brand new. And unlike the generations before it, we were young enough to fully embrace the change, as opposed to rejecting it.

The younger half of GenX were the generation that were graduating college and trying to have families during the Bush Jr. economic collapse. Many GenXers had the rug pulled out from under them by losing their jobs less than 3-5 into their mortgages.

"Women in the workforce" was the norm by the time we were children, as many of us were raised in two income households. And our generation saw the rise of children, because of divorce or abandonment, living in single-parent households. Raised by generation of strong women the showed us you can get by on your own, and the idea of the "family" having multiple definitions.

I can keep going, but the article sums it up a lot better than I do.

And with all those experiences, what did Gen-X do with it?

CommonStar posted...

And with all those experiences, what did Gen-X do with it?

Normalization of all of the above.

Most of that applies to the millennials that are in their late 30s and early 40s too.

CommonStar posted...

And with all those experiences, what did Gen-X do with it?

Created a new generation of Girls, who are now young women, that know they don't need anyone but themselves to succeed.

Created a new generation of people that fully embrace alternative lifestyles as the norm.

Created most of the tech improvements that were originally brand new when we were kids and teenagers.

The purpose of one generation is to use their experiences to hopefully raise the next generation to be better than they were.

Many new things that GenX was "forced" to embrace, are all things that are seen as the norm now.

Nobody in gen x should be considered a "young woman" anymore lol

bigblu89 posted...

Many new things that GenX was "forced" to embrace, are all things that are seen as the norm now.

The stereotypical apathy of gen-x somehow helped there.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

Most of that applies to the millennials that are in their late 30s and early 40s too.

Possibly, as GenX technically ends at 1980, so kids born from 80-85ish are probably in the same bubble.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

Nobody in gen x should be considered a "young woman" anymore lol

No, their children are.

Which is why I said that GenX "Created a new generation of Girls, who are now young women, that know they don't need anyone but themselves to succeed."

bigblu89 posted...

Let me ask you a simple question. How old were you when you got your first cell phone, and what year was it?

I was 16. A guy at my job got a new phone and gave me his old Nokia. you know what Nokia I mean. This would have been in like 2001 or something. It was a pre-paid T-mobile phone. For reference I'm a "late millennial" or something I think.

I'll be honest, as much as they like to pretend otherwise, Gen X are basically just Honorary Boomers at this point.

They didn't have QUITE as many benefits and freebies as the Boomers, but they're just as complicit in the ladder-pulling nonsense. And both have the same "fuck you, got mine" attitude toward millennials and zoomers. The biggest difference is that they tend to fall back on "things sucked for me, so they should suck for you" more often than Boomers do.

WrkHrdPlayHrdr posted...

I was 16. A guy at my job got a new phone and gave me his old Nokia. you know what Nokia I mean. This would have been in like 2001 or something. It was a pre-paid T-mobile phone. For reference I'm a "late millennial" or something I think.

OK. I was 21.

DarkBuster22904 posted...

I'll be honest, as much as they like to pretend otherwise, Gen X are basically just Honorary Boomers at this point.

They didn't have QUITE as many benefits and freebies as the Boomers, but they're just as complicit in the ladder-pulling nonsense. And both have the same "fuck you, got mine" attitude toward millennials and zoomers. The biggest difference is that they tend to fall back on "things sucked for me, so they should suck for you" more often than Boomers do.

I feel that just the younger gens attitude towards anyone they see doing better than them.

GenX and Millenials Did it to boomers

GenZ is doing it to GenX

DarkRoast posted...

Their parents weren't Baby Boomers

That is not true.
Though more likely to rely on our Grandparents, then our Boomer Parents.

bigblu89 posted...

Yeah? You had an Atari 2600 and a Commodore 64?

Don't forget the Vic 20
And yes!!

bigblu89 posted...

I feel that just the younger gens attitude towards anyone they see doing better than them.

GenX and Millenials Did it to boomers

GenZ is doing it to GenX

I mean, sure, generational rivalry is always gonna be a thing.

That said, given that millennial and gen z are the first two generations in a VERY long time to actually have quantifiably and verifiably worse prospects than their parents, they arguably have a much stronger leg to stand on.

DarkBuster22904 posted...

I mean, sure, generational rivalry is always gonna be a thing.

That said, given that millennial and gen z are the first two generations in a VERY long time to actually have quantifiably and verifiably worse prospects than their parents, they arguably have a much stronger leg to stand on.

And somehow you don't think GenX wasn't fucked over by the same things?

DarkBuster22904 posted...

I mean, sure, generational rivalry is always gonna be a thing.

That said, given that millennial and gen z are the first two generations in a VERY long time to actually have quantifiably and verifiably worse prospects than their parents, they arguably have a much stronger leg to stand on.

Oh, 100% in agreement there. Which is why I also think when it comes time, GenX will be a lot more compassionate towards their own children when theyre 22, 25, even 30 years old and still living at home.

The idea of youre out of the house or in college at 18, married and in your own place by 25 is a fleeting one.

bigblu89 posted...

Possibly, as GenX technically ends at 1980, so kids born from 80-85ish are probably in the same bubble.

All depends on the source, but '80-'84 seems to be very overlapping with the generations. Some say those born in '84 are the very last gen x.

Whatever.

voldothegr8 posted...

All depends on the source, but '80-'84 seems to be very overlapping with the generations. Some say those born in '84 are the very last gen x.

I would agree with that.

I don't know anyone in their mid to late 30's that come off as GenXer's

SiO4 posted...

And somehow you don't think GenX wasn't fucked over by the same things?

They were, albeit to a lesser extent. The Reaganomics nonsense was young enough in their time that they were able to slip past with far less damage. They escaped the brunt of the student loan crisis. They were able to establish careers well enough in advance to have far better survival odds against the numerous economic crashes. They were absolutely iced out of politics, just the same as us. They're in the same situation, but spared the worst by time.

The difference is that by and large they tend to side with boomers in blaming millennials and zoomers for this shit; they play apathetic but, atvleast in my experience, are far more likely to cast blame downstream than up. Hence, "honorary boomer." They've elected to be part of the problem.

voldothegr8 posted...

All depends on the source, but '80-'84 seems to be very overlapping with the generations. Some say those born in '84 are the very last gen x.

A generation is supposed to be 18 years.

WW2 ends in 1945 so the first boomers are born in 1946.

1946 - 1964 Boomers
1965 - 1983 X
1984 - 2002 Y
2003 - 2021 Zoomers

You can kind of +/- a year in either direction.

DarkBuster22904 posted...

The difference is that by and large they tend to side with boomers in blaming millennials and zoomers for this shit; they play apathetic but, atvleast in my experience, are far more likely to cast blame downstream than up. Hence, "honorary boomer." They've elected to be part of the problem.

I find the opposite to be true, but that may just be my circle of friends and colleagues, as Millennials and GenZ were either young teens or not even alive when we started feeling the economic crunch of Bush Jr.

DarkBuster22904 posted...

They were, albeit to a lesser extent. The Reaganomics nonsense was young enough in their time that they were able to slip past with far less damage. They escaped the brunt of the student loan crisis. They were able to establish careers well enough in advance to have far better survival odds against the numerous economic crashes. They were absolutely iced out of politics, just the same as us. They're in the same situation, but spared the worst by time.

The difference is that by and large they tend to side with boomers in blaming millennials and zoomers for this shit; they play apathetic but, atvleast in my experience, are far more likely to cast blame downstream than up. Hence, "honorary boomer." They've elected to be part of the problem.

No, if anything we are disappointed with Millenials.
But it does all stem from The Boomers.

GenX straight-up invented, Okay Boomer.

bigblu89 posted...

I find the opposite to be true, but that may just be my circle of friends and colleagues, as Millennials and GenZ were either young teens or not even alive when we started feeling the economic crunch of Bush Jr.

Are we going to leave out the Lingering effects of possible Nuclear Annihilation and ADDs?
Let alone the Latch Key effects?

SiO4 posted...

Are we going to leave out the Lingering effects of possible Nuclear Annihilation and ADDs?
Let alone the Latch Key effects?

Was all mentioned in the article. I didnt want to be redundant.

Even sex. Imagine having your sexual awakening run parallel to This is AIDS. You get it by having sex. It will kill you. Enjoy.

bigblu89 posted...

Was all mentioned in the article. I didnt want to be redundant.

Even sex. Imagine having your sexual awakening run parallel to This is AIDS. You get it by having sex. It will kill you. Enjoy.

Sex and drugs are so fucking weird for gen x.

"Don't have sex you'll get AIDS. Also don't do drugs, crack will make you not want to have sex."

Tyranthraxus posted...

Sex and drugs are so fucking weird for gen x.

"Don't have sex you'll get AIDS. Also don't do drugs, crack will make you not want to have sex."

But thats exactly how the generation before us explained what AIDS and drugs were when we were kids/teens.