LOL, Gen X here. We saw a lot of that kind hand-wringing about how we were a “slacker generation” that was not taking up ad campaigns in expected ways and/or playing video games too much and not being career-minded enough, etc. and how we thought there was “no future” because of things like the Cold War and nuclear annihilation, kids of broken homes and latchkey kids, homes needing to have two incomes to get by, and the dystopian movies we grew up on.
Then they mostly skipped over us because Gen X is not as large of a group as Gen Y.
That’s why when I see articles like this about Gen Y/Z/A, I just lauuuuuugh. It’s all so very unimaginative, but the people writing these galaxy-brained things seemingly have no fucking idea how recycled it all is.
ikr TFA says “…Gen X might have been taught to be overly friendly and polite in customer service settings…” and I was like: wat? Maybe they TRIED, but our stereotypical response was always “…meh.”
And then there’s the look. If we were in public and I got out of line I’d get the warning look. I never needed another warning from my dad and was grateful to have a warning. My mom’s second warning was the subtle pinch. The odds were about 50/50 that dad would hear about it, if it got to the pinch. Not falling in line after the pinch, well that was just unfathomable. I guess in my mind I felt like I would not survive the resulting punishment for that transgression so it always ended there.
As long as the line wasn’t crossed, they were a blast to be around and were very engaged, especially dad. But being a latchkey kid meant a lot of unsupervised time where I could get into trouble.
LOL, right? Have any of these people even met Gen X or watched some of the media aimed at Gen X?
It’s not like we invented disaffected youth, but it’s like plenty of music and movies captured that and made it an aesthetic for us. I recommend anyone thinking otherwise watch something like Repo Man.
I’m sure plenty of boomers in their youth had some of the same fuck you attitudes. They were the people that said “don’t trust anyone over 30” and “hope I die before I get old”?
Does anyone really think they were super bubbly in their teens and twenties while carrying out McJobs for The Man?
That’s a good one for sure. I would submit that Repo Man is an overlooked gem that may have done one of the best jobs in capturing the zeitgeist of its time into one movie. Disaffected youth, working McJobs? Repo Man has got you.
LOL, Gen X here. We saw a lot of that kind hand-wringing about how we were a “slacker generation” that was not taking up ad campaigns in expected ways and/or playing video games too much and not being career-minded enough, etc. and how we thought there was “no future” because of things like the Cold War and nuclear annihilation, kids of broken homes and latchkey kids, homes needing to have two incomes to get by, and the dystopian movies we grew up on.
Then they mostly skipped over us because Gen X is not as large of a group as Gen Y.
That’s why when I see articles like this about Gen Y/Z/A, I just lauuuuuugh. It’s all so very unimaginative, but the people writing these galaxy-brained things seemingly have no fucking idea how recycled it all is.
ikr TFA says “…Gen X might have been taught to be overly friendly and polite in customer service settings…” and I was like: wat? Maybe they TRIED, but our stereotypical response was always “…meh.”
Oh no, I was taught to be polite, or there would likely be violence. The threat of Dad’s punishment was always on the table.
Greetings, fellow child of working-class parents!
:)
And then there’s the look. If we were in public and I got out of line I’d get the warning look. I never needed another warning from my dad and was grateful to have a warning. My mom’s second warning was the subtle pinch. The odds were about 50/50 that dad would hear about it, if it got to the pinch. Not falling in line after the pinch, well that was just unfathomable. I guess in my mind I felt like I would not survive the resulting punishment for that transgression so it always ended there.
As long as the line wasn’t crossed, they were a blast to be around and were very engaged, especially dad. But being a latchkey kid meant a lot of unsupervised time where I could get into trouble.
LOL, right? Have any of these people even met Gen X or watched some of the media aimed at Gen X?
It’s not like we invented disaffected youth, but it’s like plenty of music and movies captured that and made it an aesthetic for us. I recommend anyone thinking otherwise watch something like Repo Man.
I’m sure plenty of boomers in their youth had some of the same fuck you attitudes. They were the people that said “don’t trust anyone over 30” and “hope I die before I get old”?
Does anyone really think they were super bubbly in their teens and twenties while carrying out McJobs for The Man?
The Breakfast Club comes to mind.
That’s a good one for sure. I would submit that Repo Man is an overlooked gem that may have done one of the best jobs in capturing the zeitgeist of its time into one movie. Disaffected youth, working McJobs? Repo Man has got you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9k09WPpNeo
It also was skewering boomers back in 1984…put it on a plate, son, you’ll enjoy it more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAO0owc4xeY