Comments on: The rising rift between Gen X and Gen Y http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/ Kontrary is a different take on careers, tech, marketing, start-ups, and life for creatives and professionals by Rebecca Thorman. Sat, 19 May 2012 14:40:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Guest http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-7146 Guest Sat, 05 May 2012 08:55:00 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-7146 THIS! Now THIS is what happens when you don't keep score at the kiddie's soccer games... I can't believe I actually laughed in disbelief when I originally heard that Generation Y was going to be the most enabled generation ever to walk the Earth. Man, was I wrong... Yes Rebecca, you have limitless abilities, you're special, and you CAN be whatever you want... Sound familiar? Seriously, you all make the Boomers look humble, and that's quite a feat. THIS! Now THIS is what happens when you don’t keep score at the kiddie’s soccer games…

I can’t believe I actually laughed in disbelief when I originally heard that Generation Y was going to be the most enabled generation ever to walk the Earth. Man, was I wrong… Yes Rebecca, you have limitless abilities, you’re special, and you CAN be whatever you want… Sound familiar?

Seriously, you all make the Boomers look humble, and that’s quite a feat.

]]> By: Wachawant1 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-6824 Wachawant1 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:13:00 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-6824 The xers cannot work as a team  as they are totally self absorbed as the single most coddled and spoiled generation in history. They are hateful,hostile and only see things from the perspective of the ~image'  they have fabricated for themseves. But as a hostile group and an island of themmselves they hate the generations between whom they are `sandwiched'. One should neither need nor want their acceptance as their very culture was built on a foundation of generational bigotry. The xers cannot work as a team  as they are totally self absorbed as the single most coddled and spoiled generation in history. They are hateful,hostile and only see things from the perspective of the ~image’  they have fabricated for themseves. But as a hostile group and an island of themmselves they hate the generations between whom they are `sandwiched’.
One should neither need nor want their acceptance as their very culture was built on a foundation of generational bigotry.

]]> By: slacker http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1648 slacker Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:30:32 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1648 Great column , I'm going to spend more time researching this topic Great column , I’m going to spend more time researching this topic

]]> By: JMBS68 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1647 JMBS68 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 02:28:23 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1647 I was born in 68. I guess that makes me an early Gen X. I think our group is stuck between two worlds; the 60s culture of our parents and the modern technology world. I like some 60s music but I can't relate with the era much. I absolutely loved my Atari 2600 and Rubik's cube. I was a geek (still am). I'm proud of it. I remember the days before the internet and the days after too. Most of us can remember rotary phones but, we prefer the cel phones and digital technology of today. Another big difference is , we Xers question just about everything but, we don't picket and carry banners like our parents did. GenY kids seem to be more accepting and less questioning . I think they give everything in their world though only, they see it as pointless to argue unless then think they can win. GenX and GenY are similar that way. Both groups need to have instant gratification. I think another thing our groups share in common is our distrust of empty speech and promises. Both are keenly aware of the many problems in the world. Likewise, both are also aware that vast majority of leaders do little to solve these problems. Our generations will have to solve our nations debt problems, pollution and real suffering that will occur because of food and water shortages coming with overpopulation. My parents generation talked about these problems and, then indulged in the most lavish lifestyles in history. I don't blame them in a way. There was no big pressure to actually DO anything while they were growing up. We have real problems staring us in the face now. GenY in particular will grow up accustomed to having less. God bless their good souls, they will find contentment with life despite it. GenX (including myself) is a little more selfish. We remember the lazy days of the 70s. Everyone spent - nobody worried. We we will do our part to solve the modern problems but, our hearts and minds will long for the old days to return. GenY was born into the modern worlds rapid pace. We would all do well to follow them. They will know how to navigate out of the technical maze which is becoming increasingly global and multicultural. I was born in 68. I guess that makes me an early Gen X. I think our group is stuck between two worlds; the 60s culture of our parents and the modern technology world. I like some 60s music but I can’t relate with the era much. I absolutely loved my Atari 2600 and Rubik’s cube. I was a geek (still am). I’m proud of it. I remember the days before the internet and the days after too. Most of us can remember rotary phones but, we prefer the cel phones and digital technology of today. Another big difference is , we Xers question just about everything but, we don’t picket and carry banners like our parents did. GenY kids seem to be more accepting and less questioning . I think they give everything in their world though only, they see it as pointless to argue unless then think they can win. GenX and GenY are similar that way. Both groups need to have instant gratification. I think another thing our groups share in common is our distrust of empty speech and promises. Both are keenly aware of the many problems in the world. Likewise, both are also aware that vast majority of leaders do little to solve these problems. Our generations will have to solve our nations debt problems, pollution and real suffering that will occur because of food and water shortages coming with overpopulation. My parents generation talked about these problems and, then indulged in the most lavish lifestyles in history. I don’t blame them in a way. There was no big pressure to actually DO anything while they were growing up. We have real problems staring us in the face now. GenY in particular will grow up accustomed to having less. God bless their good souls, they will find contentment with life despite it. GenX (including myself) is a little more selfish. We remember the lazy days of the 70s. Everyone spent – nobody worried. We we will do our part to solve the modern problems but, our hearts and minds will long for the old days to return. GenY was born into the modern worlds rapid pace. We would all do well to follow them. They will know how to navigate out of the technical maze which is becoming increasingly global and multicultural.

]]> By: GenYerwithacause http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1646 GenYerwithacause Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:29:37 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1646 Rebecca, I found this post surfing the net and found it quite interesting. Although I don't know why there is so much bad vibe toward the Gen Y-ers! There seems to be some confusion as to the definition of the "success" our generation is in search of. A lot of Gen Y idealism doesn't come from the expectation of a super high paying job or being the CEO of a company, but making enough to support him or herself while being happy in his or her work environment! I would know, I am a Gen Y-er. We were raised to have strong self-images and values, and in no way is that a bad thing! Yes, we tend to have sunnier dispositions about our futures, but we're certainly not delusional. Hell, how could we be? We have lived in economic, political, and social unrest OUR ENTIRE LIVES. It's becoming harder and harder to obtain jobs- and we Gen Y-ers especially don't want jobs that consist merely of grunt work that we'll dedicate time and effort to, only to be laid off. We've seen that firsthand with our parents, and it's terrifying. So, no, we will not settle for grunt work. The workplace is tangible, so we want to make the absolute most of it while we're there! We want to have fun WHILE we're working hard, and we want to work as a team so that one person or group isn't stuck doing the grunt work while the other reaps the rewards- we want to make work more of a team effort. And it should be! The point of working for a company is to work for the betterment of the company, not to get ahead by stepping on toes and pushing people aside (and the company should, of course, be working on the betterment of the community- not its own profit) . Interesting enough, my generation is so used to chaos that it almost seems like human nature- and yet we possess an idealism (that, admittedly, comes from the fact that we were always told we were talented and capable individuals who can do anything) that is necessary to make innovations. It seems that the mixture of being coddled while we were raised with our environment in shambles has given us the perfect cocktail characteristic: Cynical Idealism. The acceptance that we live in a corrupt world while being self-absorbed enough (in a good way!) to believe that we can change it! It also helps that we grew up in such a technologically savvy era, because it has given us the ability to accept change and adapt easily in an ever changing world. Life is a constant up and down for me. What will I do after community college and don't have money to go anywhere else? What am I even going to do with my life? It's so scary! And yet there's something in me, I know that the I AM special and unique, and the way I was raised has given me the ability to succeed! And, of course, by succeed I don't by any means mean get rich and retire young... I mean I am going to find a niche and I will make the world a better place, whether it be small step or a giant leap- and I will be working with others (not against them or for myself) and I'll be happy doing it. Rebecca, I found this post surfing the net and found it quite interesting. Although I don’t know why there is so much bad vibe toward the Gen Y-ers! There seems to be some confusion as to the definition of the “success” our generation is in search of.

A lot of Gen Y idealism doesn’t come from the expectation of a super high paying job or being the CEO of a company, but making enough to support him or herself while being happy in his or her work environment! I would know, I am a Gen Y-er. We were raised to have strong self-images and values, and in no way is that a bad thing! Yes, we tend to have sunnier dispositions about our futures, but we’re certainly not delusional. Hell, how could we be? We have lived in economic, political, and social unrest OUR ENTIRE LIVES. It’s becoming harder and harder to obtain jobs- and we Gen Y-ers especially don’t want jobs that consist merely of grunt work that we’ll dedicate time and effort to, only to be laid off. We’ve seen that firsthand with our parents, and it’s terrifying.

So, no, we will not settle for grunt work. The workplace is tangible, so we want to make the absolute most of it while we’re there! We want to have fun WHILE we’re working hard, and we want to work as a team so that one person or group isn’t stuck doing the grunt work while the other reaps the rewards- we want to make work more of a team effort. And it should be! The point of working for a company is to work for the betterment of the company, not to get ahead by stepping on toes and pushing people aside (and the company should, of course, be working on the betterment of the community- not its own profit) .

Interesting enough, my generation is so used to chaos that it almost seems like human nature- and yet we possess an idealism (that, admittedly, comes from the fact that we were always told we were talented and capable individuals who can do anything) that is necessary to make innovations. It seems that the mixture of being coddled while we were raised with our environment in shambles has given us the perfect cocktail characteristic: Cynical Idealism. The acceptance that we live in a corrupt world while being self-absorbed enough (in a good way!) to believe that we can change it! It also helps that we grew up in such a technologically savvy era, because it has given us the ability to accept change and adapt easily in an ever changing world.

Life is a constant up and down for me. What will I do after community college and don’t have money to go anywhere else? What am I even going to do with my life? It’s so scary! And yet there’s something in me, I know that the I AM special and unique, and the way I was raised has given me the ability to succeed! And, of course, by succeed I don’t by any means mean get rich and retire young… I mean I am going to find a niche and I will make the world a better place, whether it be small step or a giant leap- and I will be working with others (not against them or for myself) and I’ll be happy doing it.

]]> By: mrfixit123 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1645 mrfixit123 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:22:33 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1645 This article only bolsters how delusional Gen Y is. They actually think they work and can make the world a better place by "action". In reality they are a conformist lazy group who do and will continue to do everything Gen X people tell them to do. That is until Gen X people fire them for being so utterly useless. This article only bolsters how delusional Gen Y is. They actually think they work and can make the world a better place by “action”. In reality they are a conformist lazy group who do and will continue to do everything Gen X people tell them to do. That is until Gen X people fire them for being so utterly useless.

]]> By: mrfixit123 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1644 mrfixit123 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:20:44 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1644 This article would actually make sense if Gen Y actually worked. Fortunately for Gen X'ers they don't! This article would actually make sense if Gen Y actually worked. Fortunately for Gen X’ers they don’t!

]]> By: BillyR http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1643 BillyR Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:48:21 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1643 The self importance of gen Y is adorable, but not too useful to society as a whole. Your generation is superb at streamlining commerce and marketing through the internet, but there is nothing really created there. Unless you have international clients, it doesn't contribute much to the US economy. Start learning Chinese, gen y, because most of you will end up working for them because of the selfishness and self absorbed nature of your work habits. I continue to hire gen Y types at my software company, but because it is a boring field (information governance) they either quit or I have to let them go for lack of productivity. There is almost no work ethic for mundane tasks THAT HAVE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. Someone has to do mundane research, the same as someone else has to clean the office at night. Generation Y's unwillingness to pay their dues will ultimately ruin our economy as a whole. For smart capable person like yourself, there are five that aren't smart and aren't capable, and are very difficult to employ. And if you think WE are cynical, imagine your generation after a depression. The nice thing about being cynical, is that it makes you resilient when times are tough. You are successful because you are clearly very smart and capable. You are the exception, not the rule. Best of luck Gen y, and please please please stop making music. You have many fine qualities, but creating music is NOT one of them.-Cynical bitter gen Xer The self importance of gen Y is adorable, but not too useful to society as a whole. Your generation is superb at streamlining commerce and marketing through the internet, but there is nothing really created there. Unless you have international clients, it doesn’t contribute much to the US economy. Start learning Chinese, gen y, because most of you will end up working for them because of the selfishness and self absorbed nature of your work habits. I continue to hire gen Y types at my software company, but because it is a boring field (information governance) they either quit or I have to let them go for lack of productivity. There is almost no work ethic for mundane tasks THAT HAVE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. Someone has to do mundane research, the same as someone else has to clean the office at night. Generation Y’s unwillingness to pay their dues will ultimately ruin our economy as a whole. For smart capable person like yourself, there are five that aren’t smart and aren’t capable, and are very difficult to employ. And if you think WE are cynical, imagine your generation after a depression. The nice thing about being cynical, is that it makes you resilient when times are tough. You are successful because you are clearly very smart and capable. You are the exception, not the rule. Best of luck Gen y, and please please please stop making music. You have many fine qualities, but creating music is NOT one of them.-Cynical bitter gen Xer

]]> By: AAX http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1642 AAX Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:03:30 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1642 ARE YOU ALL ALL NUTS!! WORLD CANT BE SAVED BY HAPPY GO LUCKY INGORANT ENTHUSIASM OR WITHOUT CHARACTER THROUHG HARDSHIP, SACRIFICE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TEAMWORK AND GEN X HAS BAGS OF IT ALL BECAUSE IT IS FORCED OUT OF THEM AT MOST TIMES. THE THING THAT MAKE IT NON-GLARING IS THEIR SELF UNDERMINING CYNICISM. WAKE UP!! GEN X DONT HAVE TO WORK WITH GEN Y OR ANYBODY ELSE, GEN X HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHER GEN XS FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR FUTURE AND THEIR CHILDREN. ARE YOU ALL ALL NUTS!! WORLD CANT BE SAVED BY HAPPY GO LUCKY INGORANT ENTHUSIASM OR WITHOUT CHARACTER THROUHG HARDSHIP, SACRIFICE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TEAMWORK AND GEN X HAS BAGS OF IT ALL BECAUSE IT IS FORCED OUT OF THEM AT MOST TIMES. THE THING THAT MAKE IT NON-GLARING IS THEIR SELF UNDERMINING CYNICISM. WAKE UP!! GEN X DONT HAVE TO WORK WITH GEN Y OR ANYBODY ELSE, GEN X HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHER GEN XS FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR FUTURE AND THEIR CHILDREN.

]]> By: Stevo http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1641 Stevo Sun, 24 Jan 2010 02:13:24 +0000 http://kontrary.com/2007/11/06/the-rising-rift-between-gen-x-and-gen-y/#comment-1641 Interesting to see everyone living up to their stereotypes i.e. brutal honesty of Xers vs. youthful folly of Gen Y. In places, the blunt comments were refreshingly funny. Nevertheless, I'm reasonably sure by the time those in Gen Y reach their 40s, their traits would have developed into something of genuine significant value... and they'll be able to legitimately claim kudos. I look forward to that day; the world will be a better place. Interesting to see everyone living up to their stereotypes i.e. brutal honesty of Xers vs. youthful folly of Gen Y. In places, the blunt comments were refreshingly funny.

Nevertheless, I’m reasonably sure by the time those in Gen Y reach their 40s, their traits would have developed into something of genuine significant value… and they’ll be able to legitimately claim kudos.

I look forward to that day; the world will be a better place.

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