The “Let’s categorize everyone younger than us because it makes me feel better about myself” generation.
There was an article in the P-I last week about how people in their young twenties are being called the “Entitlement Generation.” You don’t want to read the article, so lemmee sum up: these little whippersnappers don’t want to work hard paying their dues, settle for low pay, or remain loyal to any one company. Today, there was a rebuttal written by someone from that generation.
I couldn’t give a shit either way, but I am a little confused about something. I was born in January of 1976, which puts me at the ass end of Generation X. My sister, a mere two years younger than me, is a member of Gen Y. Remember them? So now they’re saying that someone a year or two younger than that is a member of a whole other generation? Seriously?
I always thought we counted generations based on cycles of offspring. So when Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation” had kids, they were Baby Boomers. When the babyboomers had kids, those kids would belong to one generation. When those people, people my age, start procreating, that will be a new generation. Isn’t that pretty logical?
I’m more annoyed than upset about this, but I think there’s something wrong with putting me, my sister, and the last three guys I’ve had sex with in THREE different generations. Call it whatever the fuck you want, but, as far as I’m concerned, it’s still one generation. Am I the only one who thinks this is dumb?
OK, you do want to read the rebuttal:
July 9th, 2005 at 2:59 pm
I think the “entitlement generation” is actually a phase- you know the “entitlement years” — age 16-25, give or take a few years. Most of my (college) students act this way (very few ESL students do, though, so this phase most likly applies to those engulged by the capitalistic, middle-class negative aspect of American society), many of my husbands (high school) students do, and I’m SURE we did (what, I won’t get PAID for the internship?!!**?). I wonder if “generations” get named based on the perceived attitudes of the majority. Or, like anything related with the media- somebody just wants to create the next great catch phrase.
July 9th, 2005 at 5:56 pm
The idea that a generation is defined every 10 years is pretty stupid, but I like this op-ed piece anyway. Sounds like the “Entitlement Generation” is actually just asking HR departments to pony up on the promise of a better work/life balance and more fulfilling job prospects. Good for them, I say. Besides, the supposedly lazy and arrogant “Generation X” can just use our superior work ethic to beat these young punks into the ground. Don’t call me grandpa you young whippersnaper! Get off my lawn…er I mean job.