What is a millennial, boomer etc.

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  • Litebow

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    Always wondered about these generation names. Being a 67 year old boomer myself, I copied them so I don't forget. Thanks for posting.
     

    K_W

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    The kids I went to school with (born 1982-1986) are nothing like "millennials"... true millennials seem to be from 1988 to 2001.

    We have nothing in common with people who were either not born, or in diapers when Waco, OKC, Y2K, 9/11, GWOT happened. I was 17.5 on 9/11... they know nothing or only faintly remember of the days before 9/11, a world with wires, scheduled entertainment, and face-to-face human interaction.
     

    BehindBlueI's

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    The kids I went to school with (born 1982-1986) are nothing like "millennials"... true millennials seem to be from 1988 to 2001.

    We have nothing in common with people who were either not born, or in diapers when Waco, OKC, Y2K, 9/11, GWOT happened. I was 17.5 on 9/11... they know nothing of pre-9/11 and so know nothing or only faintly remember of the days before 9/11, a world with wires, scheduled entertainment, and face-to-face human interaction.

    Modern society changes too fast for 25 year "generations" to have any real meaning. It's just a catchy way to pigeonhole people and simplify presentations for marketers and the media.
     

    BugI02

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    Modern society changes too fast for 25 year "generations" to have any real meaning. It's just a catchy way to pigeonhole people and simplify presentations for marketers and the media.


    If you look at the chart in the OP's link, the Silent is a 17 yr generation, the boomers 18 and GenX and the Millenials are 15 yrs. 25 yrs? :dunno:
     

    BehindBlueI's

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    If you look at the chart in the OP's link, the Silent is a 17 yr generation, the boomers 18 and GenX and the Millenials are 15 yrs. 25 yrs? :dunno:

    25 years/4-per-century was an "easy figuring" standard back when I took statistics/demographics classes. Current "generations" are shortened to attempt to deal with the faster evolution of society, but still leaves large blocks of disparate experiences lumped together. I recall the professor talking about as technology and the rate of social change accelerated, we'd eventually get to 5 year "generations" and the concept of a generation as "one below your parent's generation" would disappear.

    *edit*

    This explains it better than I did: How long is a human generation? - Greg Laden's Blog

    How long is a generation, you ask?

    [FONT=&amp]Short Answer: 25 years, but a generation ago it was 20 years.[/FONT]
    [FONT=&amp]Long answer: It depends on what you mean by generation....[/FONT]
     

    rhino

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    It's going to be tough to agree on the defining years ranges.

    The US Census Bureau's definition of the baby boom is based solely on birth rates. I think it makes sense to group people based on the sub-culture that defined them. People born in 1961-64 may be defined as baby boomers by Pew and others who use that standard, but most of those people have more in common with older Gen Xers than they do with baby boomers. I think the original definition of Generation X back in the early 1990s as 1960-1980 works the best for my group.

    I don't know what do about a logical cutoff for millennials. It's probably not enough to group them by how irritating they are to us old people. We probably need to specify how they are irritating and then group them based on that.
     

    Ingomike

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    The kids I went to school with (born 1982-1986) are nothing like "millennials"... true millennials seem to be from 1988 to 2001.

    We have nothing in common with people who were either not born, or in diapers when Waco, OKC, Y2K, 9/11, GWOT happened. I was 17.5 on 9/11... they know nothing or only faintly remember of the days before 9/11, a world with wires, scheduled entertainment, and face-to-face human interaction.

    My take would be that your point would have large variances based on where they lived, which may not apply to today. People from major metro areas of NY, NJ, MA, CA, etc would be closer to the report than rural and smaller cities like central Indiana.

    An an anecdotal story recently in the news, KY small town, likely thug wanna-be, age 23, arrested for selling dozens of guns to Chicago gangs. Not implying it could not have happened in the past, but social media makes it easier for a KY country boy to be part of big city gangs they once would have thought of as the enemy.

    M
     

    rob63

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    It's going to be tough to agree on the defining years ranges.

    The US Census Bureau's definition of the baby boom is based solely on birth rates. I think it makes sense to group people based on the sub-culture that defined them. People born in 1961-64 may be defined as baby boomers by Pew and others who use that standard, but most of those people have more in common with older Gen Xers than they do with baby boomers. I think the original definition of Generation X back in the early 1990s as 1960-1980 works the best for my group.

    I'm right there with you. Technically a Boomer, but without a doubt I fit more as a Gen X.

    FWIW, it all seems a bit silly when you consider how different a hippie was from a Vietnam Vet. Generations really only define the events that you experienced, not what you learned from them.

    I don't know what do about a logical cutoff for millennials. It's probably not enough to group them by how irritating they are to us old people. We probably need to specify how they are irritating and then group them based on that.

    In the case of my nephew I can be very specific regarding how he irritates me.

    Advocates for Bernie Sanders.
    Advocates for socialism.
    Advocates for Democrats.
    Advocates for gun control.

    Asks me to give him my gun collection when I am ready to let go of them. Emphasis on give.
    Seriously! Ummm... not a ****ing chance!
     

    churchmouse

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    I'm right there with you. Technically a Boomer, but without a doubt I fit more as a Gen X.

    FWIW, it all seems a bit silly when you consider how different a hippie was from a Vietnam Vet. Generations really only define the events that you experienced, not what you learned from them.



    In the case of my nephew I can be very specific regarding how he irritates me.

    Advocates for Bernie Sanders.
    Advocates for socialism.
    Advocates for Democrats.
    Advocates for gun control.

    Asks me to give him my gun collection when I am ready to let go of them. Emphasis on give.
    Seriously! Ummm... not a ****ing chance!

    I have a few nephew's that fit this. They no longer speak to me because they refuse to hear what they know I will say to them.
     

    rhino

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    I'm right there with you. Technically a Boomer, but without a doubt I fit more as a Gen X.

    FWIW, it all seems a bit silly when you consider how different a hippie was from a Vietnam Vet. Generations really only define the events that you experienced, not what you learned from them.



    In the case of my nephew I can be very specific regarding how he irritates me.

    Advocates for Bernie Sanders.
    Advocates for socialism.
    Advocates for Democrats.
    Advocates for gun control.

    Asks me to give him my gun collection when I am ready to let go of them. Emphasis on give.

    Seriously! Ummm... not a ****ing chance!

    Wow. That combination takes some cajones. Is he interested in having the guns, or does he recognize the value and wants to either sell them, or does he want to destroy them?

    The first would make him a hypocrite, the second a greedy scumbag, and the third just a misguided, ignorant *******.
     

    DoggyDaddy

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    Wow. That combination takes some cajones. Is he interested in having the guns, or does he recognize the value and wants to either sell them, or does he want to destroy them?

    The first would make him a hypocrite, the second a greedy scumbag, and the third just a misguided, ignorant *******.
    I don't think those three things are mutually exclusive. ;)
     

    rob63

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    Wow. That combination takes some cajones. Is he interested in having the guns, or does he recognize the value and wants to either sell them, or does he want to destroy them?

    The first would make him a hypocrite, the second a greedy scumbag, and the third just a misguided, ignorant *******.

    He claims he loves history. He may even believe that. However, I am quite certain that if he got his hands on them he would soon sell them to raise funds for music festivals and the pot to smoke at them.

    As DD said, all 3 of your choices apply to some degree or other.
     

    Leadeye

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    I'm going to have an auction of my firearms when I pass on with free bourbon served. Sort of like a wake.;)

    I don't know which generation that make me fit in best with, but technically I'm a boomer.
     

    Cerberus

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    Sep 27, 2011
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    It's going to be tough to agree on the defining years ranges.

    The US Census Bureau's definition of the baby boom is based solely on birth rates. I think it makes sense to group people based on the sub-culture that defined them. People born in 1961-64 may be defined as baby boomers by Pew and others who use that standard, but most of those people have more in common with older Gen Xers than they do with baby boomers. I think the original definition of Generation X back in the early 1990s as 1960-1980 works the best for my group.

    I don't know what do about a logical cutoff for millennials. It's probably not enough to group them by how irritating they are to us old people. We probably need to specify how they are irritating and then group them based on that.

    I'm with you on this. I've said for a few years that those born from 61-73 have a lot more in common than the 65-80 that Gen X is normally listed as. I also think generations are closer to 10-12 year spans.
     

    HoughMade

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    Modern society changes too fast for 25 year "generations" to have any real meaning. It's just a catchy way to pigeonhole people and simplify presentations for marketers and the media.

    That's true and individuals are individuals, but members of a given generation often share characteristics, but it's far from uniform.

    I will note that the millenials I work with, though smart and good people (or else we would not have hired them) have some interesting characteristics that are at odds with my experience (and those of my cohort).

    For instance, the stereotype that the millenials think they know more than they do and wonder why their opinions don't get treated with the same weight as ours, persists. Like I said, good kids, but with 1 to 3 years of practice, many of them think they have it all figured our, and they have not even mastered "next step" thinking, let alone "5 or 6 step ahead" thinking that comes natural after a decade or 2.

    Also, they don't seem all that interested in impressing us with their work ethic. We have billable hour requirements which, despite adequate work to keep them busy, they struggle to attain (that is me being kind). However, they seem to have plenty of time for destination bachelor parties, long weekends and apparently think we release the hounds at 5:30p. Then, a couple have had the nerve to question why, if the partners get to see their production numbers, why they don't get to see ours. One even went so far as to say: "well WE have billable hour requirements, you don't know what that's like." Apparently not realizing that when you have proven yourself capable of being a producer for 15 or 20 years, maybe you've earned the right to be trusted to get the work done.

    ...again, these are the good ones. They are smart. Responsive to requests. Usually get assignments done on time (we have 2 former​ associates who did not), do good work and are trainable.

    As a young, new lawyer, I was concerned enough about making a good impression that I tried to beat the partners in every morning and stay until after they left. I broke down my billable hour requirement in ti daily goals and tracked my progress so that I could assess whether a given week was in the + or - column. Only when I put enough + hours in the bank did I take time off. If something came up where I missed a day or partial day that was unplanned, I would make up the missed hours within 2 weeks. These were all self-imposed rules, but guess who always exceeded the requirements and made bonuses. Several, but not all of my cohort had similar procedures, as far as I can tell the youngest "class" we have now- not a single one does.

    So after many years of practice, I climbed the ladder, made more money and earned more flexibility. Now, I come and go as I please and I don't have a boss. Seems like many young'uns see where I am at and want to skip there instead of figuring out how I got there and replicating it.

    I'm just a "Gen X"er raised by the "Silent Generation", so I've never been exposed to Boomer nonsense in any real way.
     
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