Generation Gap | INFJ Forum

Generation Gap

B

barbad0s

Banned
Apr 18, 2011
8,222
3,785
889
MBTI
POOP
How do you feel towards differences in experiences, culture, thinking, and ways of communication between your generation and the generations that are decades apart from you?

I'm in my 20s, and I'm particularly interested in how people in their teens and in their 30s have been viewing their interactions with people in their early 20s lately.

I'm also interested in the perspectives of those who are in their 40s, 50s, or over, and how people from within each of these generations view one another.

Along with your answer, please also state which generation you are from if it's not displayed with your user info on the side.
 
Hey there, niffer--

I'm in my 50s and have five children--one in his 30s and the rest in their 20s. I was in a meeting Friday with a group of 20-somethings and totally enjoyed the experience. Here's what I've observed: there's a big difference between the 30-somethings and the 20-somethings. I think people in their 30s and 40s have more in common with the "boomers." People in their 20s seem to be different.

First, they are more "social." I find 20-somethings are more prone to work and play in groups rather than “go it alone.” I wonder if this is due to changes in educational approaches in public schools that stress collaboration rather than competition.

They are more inclined to help others and be more altruistic. All of my kids have a strong desire to help others, particularly the ones in their 20s. They learned some of that at home, but I think it goes beyond that.

They are less naïve—they’ve been raised on the internet and have seen more than older generations, both good and bad, and have had to “process” that in their own lives.

They can be more jaded. They don’t take things at face value and are suspicious of being manipulated. I believe that they have accepted that their lives may not be as materially rich as their parents and while not giving up "the dream," are finding other ways to enrich their lives.

They are more open and accepting of people who differ from them. Again, this may be a response to social life in public schools and their need to assimilate immigrants with wide ranging backgrounds and languages. The same goes for attitudes on same sex relationships. People in their 20s really do want to get along.

Over all, I believe that the 20-something generation will make this a better, less conflicted world. I'm also aware that my own generation had lofty ideals in their 20s and have largely set those aside to chase material things. We're apparently not giving those up any time soon, so I believe the younger generations will focus on creating a more socially peaceful place to live.
 
[video=youtube;P-enHH-r_FM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-enHH-r_FM[/video]

[video=youtube;M4IjTUxZORE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4IjTUxZORE[/video]

Mind you, I'm on the end cusp of being a millennial- but generally this sums up how I feel about the younger generation.

It's interesting to observe the generation as a whole, and understand the societal, cultural and historical influences on why they're the way they are. It's a much different generation than others.
 
I dont think this is flattering but its not directed at anyone. I think younger folks have grown up in a school system that has gone insane. It seems to me your are being force fed "Opinion" rather than fact. All with an agenda attached.

Beyond that, I personally see younger folks being LESS social primarily I think having to do with constantly attached to tech that allows you to not be in the same room. Not that I care about it but there does seem to be a disconnect in social situations. I personally love being behind someone going through a door and the person not even making an attempt to hold the door partially open so that I can grab it and move through it easier. Literally a couple steps behind and its almost like they are deliberately closing it after themselves. Things like that. Parents in recent years seem to disregard basic social skills like this as being a necessary part of societal integration.
 
Gen-X here...
I tend to view the older generation as self-serving....especially the Boomers.
Not all of them mind you...but if we are making generalizations about generations then...
They have dismantled the college education system in order to make a profit.
They have dismantled the retirement and pension systems in order to make a profit.
They have dismantled the unions in order to make a profit.
They have dismantled an affordable employer-based healthcare system in order to make a profit.
They have deregulated the banks in order to make a profit.
They have started wars in the middle east for oil and war profits.
They have said that corporations are “people” and have ultimately dismantled any hope of having a real democracy.
They have fought tooth and nail against basic human rights, namely for homosexuals.
They have taught their children (yes I would be in that group) through example that making money is your key to happiness.
They have put money before everything else, which I find disgusting, appalling, and perverse.
They continue these policies even today through legislation that in so many words, takes food from the mouths of children in order to feed themselves.

My own generation has grown up to be selfish and spoiled as a result of their teachings and examples.

Those in the generation after me are even more spoiled, aloof, and incredibly entitled....and why shouldn’t they be? Who created them and taught them?

Of course these broad generalizations...no one take personal offense please!

Edit- I forgot to add that the Boomers have destroyed the single-family income as well, all in the name of profits.
 
I turned 45 at the end of February.

I find that I have less in common with 20 something's than I imagined. There is a level of entitlement and lack of individualization that I find disturbing. The social side has it's drawbacks as you see the emergence of overtly judgmental behavior before all the facts and protocols have been followed and distinct lack of faith in the system. There is a bit of "hammering down the outlier"with the emphasis being on "controlling" the group. They seem less likely to want to take the initiative and would rather have someone tell them what to do so they can then argue about it. They seem to have more trouble making decisions and fall to the default of "not doing anything" and when that lands them in trouble, they cry about how "it isn't fair" and want other's to fix their lives. They want to be recognized for their own special butterflyness as long as they don't have to make decision and take responsibility for them (I didn't know).

I do find that they are capable of a great deal of compassion and sympathy toward making the world a better place when they can get past the idea of "fairness". When they become dedicated to a cause they can be very tenacious about trying to bring about change. They are willing to band together for a common cause (even if it isn't necessarily a good cause) and show their support. They are better connected but sometimes they overuse technology to the detriment of actual human interaction. They are more optimistic about changing the world and aren't afraid of change.
 
When we deplete our planet's resources to the point where the wealth we live in is but a distant memory to future generations, individualization will become less prominent as people will have to rely on friends, family, and community while have to face life's adversities.
 
As per [MENTION=5045]Skarekrow[/MENTION]

Toward the Boomers. I find that they forced a lot of people in my age bracket to learn to serve. Service to family, country and whatnot was really instilled at young ages. I think that it was a result of the changes which saw women leaving their traditional roles as housewives (who do you think took care of the house? First generation of latchkey kids) and the backlash of the Vietnam war (anger at the establishment). While they taught Gen X to serve as their parents did (WWII babies are Boomers), it was laced with a lot more social consciousness than just blindly following the edicts of mainstream society.

So I find that the result of the increased political consciousness and being forced to grow up early, our generation raised children with even less oversight and connection to family (fend for yourself!) but an increased understanding of political/social issues.
 
Interesting topic, but I hate that threads like this too often paint groups with a wide brush. The traits considered less than desirable are often the exception to the rule.
Every generation seems to look at the generations following them and proclaim the world is going to hell in a hand basket.

I will be 53 this coming April, but do not consider myself a boomer. Honestly, what does someone like myself born in 1961 have in common socially with someone born in 1946? Just because the surge in births after WWII continued on into the 60's doesn't mean we are all of the same generation and of one mind. A 19 year spread? Really?
We are an age group caught in the gray wasteland between the Boomers and Gen X'ers. 1954 - 1965.

Someone mentioned in an earlier post about being upset when 50 somethings don't take them seriously and discount them because they haven't paid their dues. That was true back when I was in my early 20's and is nothing new. I recall having the same feelings of not being taken seriously by those in their 50's, and can almost guarantee that when today's 20 something is 50 they will do the same, because it is a fact of life that you have to pay your dues before you are given any amount of real credibility.

While I have noticed a lack of one on one personal skills in some in their 20's, by contrast they seem very civic minded and want to help others. I see them as being a group that will donate a larger percentage of their lives to things that truly matter. Social causes, helping others less fortunate than themselves. But on the other side of the coin, they seem to be very quick to judge before knowing any real facts. What will ultimately become of them? Who knows.

People in their 30's are coming into their own, and by default are more mature and open to learning from others who have been there. They now see the value in it, and don't take offense when offered an opinion of how they may be able to do something differently the next time around.
They ask questions and want an honest answer. They don't tolerate BS.

Those in their 40's I don't see a huge separation in mindset from myself. Especially those in their late 40's. They are close enough in age to me that we share a closer, more similar social experience.

Now, the generation ahead of me. The true Boomers. I pray the world never sees such a hypocritical bunch ever again!
As a kid I watched them spread the ideal of a world of peace, make love not war, save the environment,The government is not to be trusted. Greed and commercialism is bad.
:hippie:
As they aged, too many, especially those that rose to power and could make changes for the better, did everything possible to contradict those ideals.


Bah!! All I can say is, "Get off my lawn!" lol
old.gif
 
MindYourHead said:
Now, the generation ahead of me. The true Boomers. I pray the world never sees such a hypocritical bunch ever again!
Click to expand...

not to mention self involved, narcissistic and impotent.
 
That's funny, even people that would be considered Baby Boomers don't like Baby Boomers. The 'generations' can be a little wide ranging so they encompass people with very different experiences and there is not unanimous agreement on the years for each "generation", although the Baby Boomers always seem to be listed as 1946-1964.

Here's an interesting chart:
http://www.esds1.pt/site/images/stories/isacosta/secondary_pages/10º_block1/Generations Chart.pdf

I guess it went downhill after the "Greatest Generation" anyways.

I'm a Generation X (1970) so I always blame the Baby Boomers for screwing up everything :)
 
Gen-X rules! What I am not sure though.
 
http://www.generationjones.com/

Stu said:
not to mention self involved, narcissistic and impotent.
Click to expand...

La Sagna said:
That's funny, even people that would be considered Baby Boomers don't like Baby Boomers. The 'generations' can be a little wide ranging so they encompass people with very different experiences and there is not unanimous agreement on the years for each "generation", although the Baby Boomers always seem to be listed as 1946-1964.

Here's an interesting chart:
http://www.esds1.pt/site/images/stories/isacosta/secondary_pages/10º_block1/Generations Chart.pdf

I guess it went downhill after the "Greatest Generation" anyways.

I'm a Generation X (1970) so I always blame the Baby Boomers for screwing up everything :)
Click to expand...

I think I have a good perspective as I am a child of Greatest Generation parents. They were 42 when I was born in 1961 and my Sister is 14 years older than me having been born in 1947.
Her age group sucked up everything around them and left a vacuum the rest of us had to live in. The whole world revolved around them growing up, so is it any surprise they became what they did?
 
Well to be fair, the years after WWII saw the US being one of the few superpowers that did not suffer much actual combat and destruction, unlike the rest of the world. Economically this meant that the US enjoyed a huge advantage over the rest of the world. Things WERE easier in a lot of ways because there was basically guaranteed financial security.

The advent of global competition had changed the economic landscape. Additionally the refusal to work harder at improving goods coupled with higher wage costs (the only advantage to being a third world country..wages) meant that the manufacturing arm has virtually disappeared. As such, all those wonderful jobs that were virtually guaranteed after WWII have evaporated.
 
Yes I do see the paralysis that you speak off. The need for direction. I think that the world has become more uncertain for your generation all the way around. You deal with things I never did. It would never have crossed my mind that another student would bring a gun to school and kill people. I was never afraid that I would be abducted and ran all over my neighborhood like a hooligan.

I think that my generation went farther than "latchkey" in a lot of ways. Like I said, Fend For Yourself kinda mentality. Couple that with uncertainty and you certainly get paralysis.

I just wonder who taught you that failure was a bad thing. I often blame the "everyone gets a prize" mentality. Losing at stuff as a child teaches you about disappointment which prepares you for failure. We all fail. Sometimes more than once at the same thing. It is part of the human condition.
 
Nixie said:
Well to be fair, the years after WWII saw the US being one of the few superpowers that did not suffer much actual combat and destruction, unlike the rest of the world. Economically this meant that the US enjoyed a huge advantage over the rest of the world. Things WERE easier in a lot of ways because there was basically guaranteed financial security.

The advent of global competition had changed the economic landscape. Additionally the refusal to work harder at improving goods coupled with higher wage costs (the only advantage to being a third world country..wages) meant that the manufacturing arm has virtually disappeared. As such, all those wonderful jobs that were virtually guaranteed after WWII have evaporated.
Click to expand...

If we ever see a FAIR progressive tax again...we can go back to those times of prosperity.
 
Nixie said:
As per @Skarekrow

Toward the Boomers. I find that they forced a lot of people in my age bracket to learn to serve. Service to family, country and whatnot was really instilled at young ages. I think that it was a result of the changes which saw women leaving their traditional roles as housewives (who do you think took care of the house? First generation of latchkey kids) and the backlash of the Vietnam war (anger at the establishment). While they taught Gen X to serve as their parents did (WWII babies are Boomers), it was laced with a lot more social consciousness than just blindly following the edicts of mainstream society.

So I find that the result of the increased political consciousness and being forced to grow up early, our generation raised children with even less oversight and connection to family (fend for yourself!) but an increased understanding of political/social issues.
Click to expand...

It was as if once they got to party they wanted to eat the cake too....and they did...all the peace and free love bullshit turned into GREED and more GREED.
 
I was looking at the chart I posted, looking up the years my sons were born, 1989 and 1993, and apparently 1991 to 1994 is a void, no wonder that one's so screwed up :)
 
MindYourHead said:
Someone mentioned in an earlier post about being upset when 50 somethings don't take them seriously and discount them because they haven't paid their dues. That was true back when I was in my early 20's and is nothing new. I recall having the same feelings of not being taken seriously by those in their 50's, and can almost guarantee that when today's 20 something is 50 they will do the same, because it is a fact of life that you have to pay your dues before you are given any amount of real credibility.
Click to expand...

Although I deleted the post, the point I wanted to make was that it would be good if we listened more, and not discount someone's view or perspective simply because they were younger. And I don't think it's fair to say that someone doesn't have credibility if they don't pay their dues. Who gets to decide whose paid their dues? If someone has wisdom, knowledge, and insight that someone can benefit from, I don't think should be told to suppress their views because they haven't gone through or done as much as others who're older or more experienced. Regardless of age, you can learn things from anyone in this world if you're observant and pay attention. I've seen too many experienced and worldly older adults interested only in highlight their knowledge and experience rather than taking the time to listen and learn from others. The "pay your dues" argument is too often used to simply discount someone's opinion because they feel threatened by what they have to say or want to feel better about themselves so they find something to say to make them feel superior. And if someone does pay their "dues", there's always someone else to say it's still not good enough and find some reason to discredit.
 
Last edited:
Seraphim said:
"Not doing anything" in this sense is not due to laziness, but paralysis. An overwhelming feeling of incompetence, and fear of doing something wrong in a way that backlashes astronomically. Rather than do nothing, I always try to turn to someone for direction. But if there is no one to turn to, I'd rather do nothing than make an irreversible mistake.
Click to expand...

What is your job? What type of a mistake could you be responsible for and where could it lead? How bad could it get? Do you hold peoples lives in your hands?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back