Ask Mike: Generations
Hey Guys,
The term “generation” gets thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? I’m pretty sure I belong to Generation X… or am I part of Gen Y? Is there an official cutoff date? And who the heck names each generation? Lots of questions, so let’s get started…
Best as I can tell, there is no official definition for a generation. The experts at ancestry.com write that the average generation lasts about 25-27 years, “from the birth of a parent to the birth of a child.” In the past, generations were shorter, because the average person didn’t live as long. Also, people know wait longer to have kids.
As for what dates make up a generation, it depends on who you ask. Most online sources agree that the Baby Boomers were born between 1938 and 1960, Generation X was between 1961 and the early 1980s. Gen X is notable for the wide use of TV and increased acceptance of divorce. Following the Xers came Generation Y, also known as the millennials. Researchers peg that generation as people being born between 1982 and 2000. Again, the dates vary by source, but these years seem to be commonly cited.
Less clear is who should get credit for coming up with the names. According to Phrases.org.uk, the term “baby boomer” is a mild mystery. There were reports of newspapers writing “baby boom,” but nobody is sure who added the “-er” and called it a generation. Gen X is more clear. Writer Douglas Coupland popularized the phrase with his 1991 book of the same name. He didn’t exactly coin it, but Coupland helped make it mainstream.
What do you guys think the name of the next generation should be? Some are calling it Generation Z, but I think we can do better — please leave your ideas below.
Thanks for reading,
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Mike, you have a typo in your post.
I’m 99% sure you meant “now” instead of “know”.
In the past, generations were shorter, because the average person didn’t live as long. Also, people know wait longer to have kids.
-Kevin (ex-Yahoo! employee)
The way the government is going, it will either be the Socialized Generation or The Tax Revolt Generation.
Generation “emmo” (same as ‘emo’
this is a great post…..i have often wondered this myself….i was born in 1986, so am i generation “Y”?
Mike, the generation you refer to as being called the baby boom generation also called themselves the Pepsi generation. Started by Pepsi, of course. But you’re too young to remember that.
I always thought it was the “i” Generation. With a lower case i that is.
“i” that symbolises technology such as iPods, PCs etc. and how the world is becoming much more about “me”.
I’d say this generation will be remembered as the “Sparkly Vampire” Generation.
Your definitions are questionable. Not that the research is invalid, just arguable. Generation X can’t cover that long a period of time. Nor can the baby boomer generation. Those time periods cover several generations. The reason for the differences is that the next generation disagrees with the previous. While I was growing up, I wasn’t part of generation X. Now, I am. Not really. It’s just a change of generations with each one thinking it came up with something.
People define generations differently, because it can simply be interpreted in many different ways. I interpret generations by decades (or between 10 and 15 years). For instance, we reflect now back on the 40s-90s (even now until present date), and each decade changed dramtically with a changing culture and flow of ideas. Determining which generation you belong too in my opinion would be which one you lived through that influenced your life the most from your early childhood to young adulthood.
It’s also safe to say that you don’t simply belong to just any “1″ generation if you live through multiple. You can say “I belong with this generation because it impacted me the most, but I’ve also lived through these generations.”
iGen or iGeneration.
Gardner, John William; Bryn Holmes (2006). E-Learning: Concepts and Practice. London: Sage Publications Ltd. pp. 61. ISBN 1-4129-1111-7.
hahaha nice John Doe
and Jack you make no sense.
I personally think that generations are fluid, and you are part of a generation with those 5 or 6 years on either side of you. So, I was born in 1987, so my generation would go to 1981 – 1993. For the most part, these are the people that I would have common pop culture and experiences with.
Generation X – 1965-1982
Generation Y- 1982-1995/96
Note: Gen Y used to be a term for kids born in the late 70′s but that’s no longer in use. Born in late 70′s in Generation X.
If you were an adult or graduated high school before the 9/11 attacks your Generation X.
If you have poor communication skills, if you can’t take risks, if you can’t manage a company, if can’t compose music, if you can’t act, have terrible taste in music and can’t rebel because your parents are always shooting rocks up your ass when you try to have fun your Generation Y.
Discussion over.
And for the record, if your a Gen Y’er born in the 80′s, 1982-1986, you’re Cold Y. Cold Y is used for Gen Y’ers old enough to have memory of the Cold War.
Cold Y. Just thought you should know.
And the Baby Boomers weren’t born in 38, never, those are Silents. Silents were born before WWII and were to young to be drafted. Silents are mostly the grandparents of Gen Y. They’re called Silents but ironically most of them were leaders in the 60′s evolution.
The Baby Boomer generation started after WWII in 1945 when soldiers returned from the war.
Thanks Mike. I haven’t read your blog in a long time (partly my fault) and I’m glad to see that you now have a picture of yourself. You are quite an attractive man and I’m relieved your avatar accurately protrays your real-life stubble, which is how I have always pictured you in my dreams. In answer to your question, I believe the next generation should be called the Vampire Generation as vampires are getting a lot of favourable press recently. Contrary to what I initally thought, most vampires appear to be attractive young people and quite articulate. Could you please make your next blog about vampires? Thanks.
I agree with the I Generation or as I refer to a majority as the entitlement generation. Those born 1988 – 1998. Now this is just my opinion, but on many instances these young people have had many things given to them and there for they expect throughout life. Some demand respect but have no intention of giving it. If they are challenged in the work force, rather than manning up they simply say they don’t have to put up with this and quit. Ten jobs, and six months later they come back and nothing has changed. Somewhere they are missing the message..