When I was a kid there was a phrase kicking around: "generation gap." It generally referred to the folks older than me and the folks much older than me. It would be raised by the WWI era vets in our early 1970s church tisking when looking at long haired college kids wearing tie-dye and jeans, that sort of thing. Now that I am in the early forties and not eight that oldest generation is all gone and the tie-dyer boomers are wearing the suits. I do see that me and mine in Gen X are sort of a bridge with a bit of a difference between those boomers and those in their twenties but I wonder if that is just conceit?
Is there a new gap between those still in school and out in the workplace? Or has the destruction of any concept of counter-culture through the usurpation by industry of all things pop done away with it? Has the same grey glob of technology at home, work or play standardized western life that we no longer deviate in interests to a critical degree according to age?
Update: In a freaky moment, I just checked Ian and he posted this similar post but with a position - that there is a gap at least between Gen X and Gen Y. I'd really be freaked except that Ian references the idea fairly regularly. If not - freak out. I do not necessarily agree with his theory as I think that web based activity (oxymoron?) is simply a new thing added to the range of activities Gen Xers would have been interested in.
You know, now that I think of it maybe there is a gap but one based solely on the use of the word "freak" and its derivatives. I recall this George Carlin 1970s joke from when doing phoney news reports was a part of stand-up:
...and in other news...there was a freak accident out of highway 31 last night. Three freaks in a van were injured when they were struck by another van driven by two freaks...Boomer humour. I think freak means something different now, not endearing. You have to have watched Cheech and Chong movies, though, to know the difference.
Comments
cm - November 10, 2005 11:07 am
I read somewhere once that my father's childhood was more similar to his grandfather's than mine was to his. I was saddened by that. I was cheered by the child at the Royal Winter Fair on Sunday who stood on the top row of the bleachers and declared himself King of the Castle.
Hans - November 10, 2005 11:29 am
I think there is now more commonality between the boomer generation and the generation after generation x (whatever you want to call it). the boomers are generally self-absorbed, generation x have been too poor to be self-absorbed and the next generation (i.e. the boomers kids) have benefitted from the self-absorption of their parents and are materialistic narcisistic know-nothings... generally speaking.
GR - November 10, 2005 11:40 am
Hans is right on. I like to think that boomers grew up wanting to revolutionize the world, make it a better place, and we Gen xers grew up in that environment. Gen Y seem to be a bunch of morons with highly materialistic values, and they are impolite too.
Alan - November 10, 2005 11:44 am
WOW - I had no idea! <p>And these last two comments is from a Maritimer and a New Englander...I have yet to truly figure out who and where "cm" is but the GX40 Gen Y security forces are on the question. I am quite content in the label for me and mine in Gen X as slackers, dreamy thinkers, unmaterialistic, travellers and job-shifting slobs with high standards in consumables and pop art but little else. Second-hand car drivers. Corduroy wearers.
Hans - November 10, 2005 11:54 am
Don't get too freaked out about it, Al....
GR - November 10, 2005 12:53 pm
I don't have much corduroy left, but my jeans and flannel shirt are vintage early 90s....
hey, Gen X revolutionized COFFEE!!!!!! Go US!
Alan - November 10, 2005 12:58 pm
<small>I <i>am</i> a little freaked over this...</small>
cm - November 10, 2005 2:10 pm
Allow me to introduce myself: I'm almost 40, grew up in Saint John, went to school in Montreal, now reside in Toronto. My folks moved back home to northern NB while I was at uni and live midway up a mountain. My job is finished the end of this month and I now have to figure out what to do with my life. My jean jacket is vintage 1985, bought in Paramus, New Jersey.
Alan - November 10, 2005 2:16 pm
Ahhh...the Paramus Mall. Wasn't that a <i>Saturday Night Live</i> joke around 1986?<p>We can help you with your life. I think portland and Gary and Hans should take part in the "Committee on the Life Prospects of CM". We need office space and a reasonable revenue stream of some sort. Sofas in a lobby, too.
GR - November 10, 2005 2:53 pm
Um, sorta in a transitional state myself, as in: wife, dogs and cats may soon need to crash on above mentioned office couches. But it will be a great party if CM is living in the lobby and Alan is giving us a revenue stream.
My Converse low top sneakers are so old they were actually MADE IN AMERICA. Top that for old clothes, boys.
Alan - November 10, 2005 2:55 pm
I got no frikking revenue stream. We need someone making ceramic GX40 ale pots and have a sale on eBay to fund the sofa procurements.
cm - November 10, 2005 3:25 pm
Would you settle for crocheted beer mats?
Arthur - November 10, 2005 6:59 pm
You have to have watched Cheech and Chong movies, though, to know the difference.
Hmmm... Chong... that name sounds so familiar...