The rising rift between Gen X and Gen Y

Thanks for an eye-opening post. The tendency to generalize is itself not a barrier to understanding. It’s only when it blurs important nuances that you have a problem. As a (albeit fringe) Boomer, my earnest attempts at understanding the emerging workforce had me grouping X and Y too tidily. This has helped me see some major frictions between the two.

I posted myself last week about another “Gen” label that was new to me. What are your thoughts on the extremely broad term “Gen C?”

I fancy myself an Idealist Bourgeoisie. As in, I’d like things to be fair all the time, and I’d like to be a world-changer…but I collect air miles (so that when I travel the third world, I won’t have to fly second class).

That’s actually a song lyric, but you probably get the idea.

I think it’s interesting that I’ve captured my folks’ idealism, or at least what I’ve found to be ideal of their lifestyle, and tried to make it meaningful and work for ME.

Perhaps we’re giving ourselves as a Generation too much credit for trying to change things…it’s possible that by trying too hard to change the workplace, Gen-X merely became the background cynic. I work with several 30 something’s…and boy can they be miserable when they get into ranting.

We’re just good at incorporating ourselves into the ‘times’ to get more out of it. Better at being self-centred perhaps?

Hi Rebecca,

Great post indeed! I’m also really happy to have found you via Penelope’s blog today and been able to subscribe & look forward to more!

I’m A Gen X-er coming to terms with not being in Gen Y- it would be nice to be honorary, but basically I’m not as young as I was and have 4 children now! So I’m asking what does Gen X have to offer that’s unique, that we can actually still use.

And I think our achievements are mostly outside the workplace, and that we need to follow through by applying them to work as well as the rest of our lives. Casual Fridays isn’t an earth-shattering achievement, but we also did a lot of emotional, psychological, political, environmental, artistic, even spiritual discovery, that laid the ground work for the improvements Gen Y is now making real.

But Gen X can’t just go to yoga on weekends, drink organic pomegranate juice for breakfast etc and then go to work and be cynical and jaded! Now is our chance to either wake up to the good news that the stuff we visualised and wanted is really coming true (!) at last, and figure out how, as individuals, we can link up with other people (at last, it’s satisfying and fun to do!) and have a role in the future.

40-ish is too old to give up and put all our old idealism down to silly youth, for sure. It’s just that people don’t realise they’re doing that when they’re doing it.

(Um, sorry for the blog-length comment- such an interesting subject…)

One thing to keep in mind is that GenX in middle age (and midcareer) is becoming a different animal than it was in its early 20s. Historically, generations that follow idealists tend to mature into very effective managers and executives, because we are so focused on getting stuff done and stripping layers of needless crap out of organizational cultures.

I agree that Millennials will ascend into management roles more quickly than Xers did, but that’s partly a function of pure numbers – not enough Xers to fill the seats of retiring Boomers, so employers have to go younger and younger – rather than the innate virtues of Millennial traits. The future organizational culture will necessarily be a blend of Millennial and GenX values and workstyles because there aren’t enough Xers to dominate the workplace the way the Boomers have done. That’s probably a good thing, for some of the reasons you suggest.

“A Gen Xer is often found at the office…blocking out the world with their iPod.” Oh, give me a break! That remark more than adequately describes the hyperconnected, always online, always yakking on a cell phone, look-at-me Gen Y stereotype I see at work every day. Gen Y goes to a business lunch with you and, in the middle of a conversation, flips open her cell phone to text message her friend. Oh yeah, that’s real world-saving behavior all right! Despite that, you’ve written a thought-provoking post. It’s true that our experiences with bad job markets, entrenched rules and lost idealism do tend to make us Gen X folks a tad bitter. Gen Y comes into the workforce when things are in their favor and they’re twentysomething and idealistic. (Just like the Boomers, I might add.) Yes, generations must work together, but I hope that Gen Y understands why Gen X doesn’t share their rosy, anything-goes outlook. When you hit your 30s, your priorities often shift. You might have to compromise on career, family and your dreams because you run short on time or money. Then you get to work next to someone who’s never had a rough day in their life and you want to strangle them. Sigh. Clearly I fit the Gen X stereotype. ;-)

@ Jeff Larche – Thanks for your kind comment. I’ve briefly heard about “Generation C” in the marketing world, and I think it makes sense in terms of how to sell products. Generations are increasingly hands on. And I think it’s exciting to think of the possibilities of consumers creating products that are important to them.

@ theo – It’s wonderful to hear of your efforts to redefine the workplace, and your optimism of what the future holds. This type of story makes me want to work harder myself! ;)

@ t h rive – Interesting. I’ve thought a lot about giving ourselves too much credit. It might backfire, but what if this constant idealism was what got us through the hard bits? I’ve been through a lot of politicking in the last couple months, and if I weren’t so idealistic, I’m not sure I would still be good at my job…

@ David B. Bohl at SlowDownFAST.com – I actually think that the Boomers and Gen Y have more in common than Gen X and Gen Y. Your sentiments echo that point. Thanks for the comment!

@ Alice Bachini-Smith – I absolutely agree. Gen X made possible what Gen Y is taking advantage of. I don’t believe that Gen X is done changing and doing by any means. My sister is Gen X and is proof of that point. I take a lot of my advice from her. ;)

@ Daylle Deanna Schwartz – I think you are perfect example of the fact that sometimes it’s not the generation, but the mindset. Everyone has the power to be who they want to be and create change. Thank you for sharing your great story!

@ Rob Salkowitz – Those are great points, and part of the reason I wrote the post in the first place. We’ll all be working together soon, and so it’s good to realize the similarities/differences so we can do that effectively. Thank you!

@ Biff – WordPress glitch. I think it should be working now – thanks!

@ Karen – I think Gen Y and Gen X are very similar in their uses of technology. It’s the mindset that’s different. And you’re right, I want to understand why Gen Xers are a certain way, and I think your point about shifting priorities is a good one. It’ll be interesting to see what happens to Gen Y as we move forward.

@ Rob – I’ve always maintained that Gen Y is special, but no more special than any other generation. Generational idealism is probably consistent, but what we want to change shifts. I appreciate your encouragement to hold onto idealism. :)

Thanks everyone for adding to the conversation!

I find it interesting that you say we need to work together as Gen X and Gen Y, but then disparage us as a bitter, cynical generation.

I look at my Gen Y daughter, and see some of the great characteristics of millenials and think “Wow, I helped create that.”

What that means is that by entering the workforce at 14 and working my hiney off for the last 22 years means that my daugther doesn’t have to work right now. She can focus on being a 16 year old who is extremely involved in high school.

Please remember that our hard work helped to create the easier life you enjoy…

Also, don’t stereotype us. There are many Gen X’ers who are enjoying their management jobs AND are enjoying working with the Gen Y’ers who are entering the workforce, AND are working well with the Boomers who are still in management. We can all get along!

This post was an introduction for me to Rebecca and her site Modite. I think many of Rebecca’s postings on her site are very thoughtful and inspirational. However, I agree with several others that this posting contains some very broad generalizations that imply nothing short of a lack of experience in diverse settings. Rebecca’s other postings seem to show a little more careful thought and research. However, I’ve worked in three different organizations in the past 6 years (private company, public company, and government), and I’ve seen countless examples that completely rebut Rebecca’s statements about Gen Y. I worked with a team of “Gen Y’s,” only a little younger than myself that spent their office days listening to iPods, sometimes in full view of clients while working as consultants on-site. Some of my “Gen Y” teammates worried about flextime more than project deadlines and fully embraced casual Friday by wearing flip-flops. If you want to talk about working together, we saw a whole stream of “Gen Y”s leave our firm within their first two years because they saw their counterparts making more money at our firms (and openly said this was the only reason — a little reminiscent of the dot com era for Gen Xs). These are only examples, and many of these issues (such as being cynical, solitary, etc.) can apply across generations. Full disclosure — I am “Gen X.” I also never thought of the examples I’ve listed as generational issues — just cases of people who wanted something different for their own individual reasons. Why would we want to continue to define people in terms of generations?

Thought provoking post as usual.

I never knew these things about Generation X. I figured a hallmark of my generation was that we didn’t particularly want to be pigeonholed as anything- but just all coincidentally ended up with ostentatious glasses and subpar footwear.

I never felt like these labels did much besides draw the distinction between people that were older and younger. Now Gen X is older and have to accept the younger generation wanting to identify themselves in terms of the mistakes the generation before them made while they develop their own identity.

Be nice to the Thumb Generation. They’ll be marginalizing Gen Y’s contributions before too long.

Let us not forget that Generation Y only got (strong>its name because it was the generation that came after Generation X. Without Generation X to have paved the way (or tried and failed) Generation Y wouldn’t have so much to improve upon.

Maybe it is time for a new name for Gen Y that doesn’t make it sound like a sub categorization of Generation X-which is what I always assumed it was since generations are typically 25 years in span.

As long as we are putting labels on things it might be time to create something a little more distinct than just the letter after “X”.

You’ve created one meme, you can think of another.

@ Styrofeen – Thanks for your comment. As part of Gen Y, I’m not surprised that my article seems lopsided towards that direction. :)

I think some millenials have certainly decided they will just wait and see what happens. But the majority of young people I meet are creating their own success. Certainly, I may have a biased view since I run a yp organization and they’re all young leaders, but those that seek rewards right away are giving a lot back to their community to deserve such rewards.

Thanks again!

Hi, great article. As a gen x’r myself I’ve sinced for many years that we were a “stepping stone” generation, and it bothered me but I’ve come to realize now as I’ve aged that though we were brought up on a lot of old ways with new toys we’re by in large putting a lot of our baggage behind us and jumping in finally where we ought to be.

It’s just that we’ve been in a really long generational transistion at a time of great changes made in our world, we grew up fast in some ways but still had to take a little longer in other ways simply because of the massive changes that were taking place in our world. Remember when we were growing up and were still worried about getting nuked, but then as we came of age, the year before I got married as a matter of fact, the USSR broke up? Would have never imagined it even two years before it happed, and two years before that happened the Berlin wall fell! My family was the 2nd family on my block to get divorced, the 1st happened almost 10 years before ours. So I guess some of our X ways seem strange to Y but I think we are more alike than either side have realized in the past, we know where our world should end up, so it’s now up to us to stop thinking much in terms of x and y start doing what is right for our families, towns, states, provinces and anywhere else we find ourselves. The boomers really did a bang up job starting all of this change, now it’s up to us and our little brothers and sisters to take it on to the next level and hopefully we might leave it all a bit better for our kids and grandkids when we move on to the really big level………..I’m with you.

I found this to be a very odd post. It certainly does discuss the rift between Gen X and Gen Y but from a totally Gen Y biased viewpoint, even to the point of using the terms “I” and “we”, but WE Gen X are used to such drivel…

I work for a large Fortune 100 company as an IT consultant and get the opportunity to work with Boomers, Gen X and young Gen Y daily.

This is an example of what I see/hear (and I will likewise us “I” and “we” etc.):

The Boomers, generally, are often described as political, name-dropping, meeting calling, face-time idealists who are concerned with process and base entitlement on experience or longevity as opposed to merit.

The Gen Xers are quite reserved, BUSY, producing, yet trying to balance keeping a family and other obligations/interests as well as performing high-quality work. Different than the Boomers they often do not try to make work into part of their lives other than it just being WORK (i.e. work is not often a place to make close friends or join into political games). You go to work and you go home to your life (or to a bar for me often…). Boomers live to work Xers work to live.

Now for you Gen Yers (whiners) — what I see from Gen Y is they come into the companies with a look and attitude of entitlement that even the Boomers balk at.

Being diplomatic the Boomers notice but tend to just let it pass while Gen X, being blunt and direct, sees right through it and usually is obviously annoyed by it.

Gen X is already having to deal with this attitude from Boomers who have the attitude, at least sometimes, for a reason — they actually have been around for while, know something, and make more money then the Gen Y bunch will seen in the next two decades or maybe more.

I hear Gen Y on the phone asking when they will be promoted, what they can do to advance etc. It never seems to occur to them that maybe doing/learning SOMETHING will help. They actually believe that right out of college they should be these successful big earners with little-to-no actually real world experience.

Note to you Gen Yers we Gen Xers are LAUGHING at you. I can’t speak for Boomers but I suspect they are too. Actually, in a case-or-two I know this to be a fact as well.

But now let’s take your points into account (for fun):
1. Different job markets
Generation Y is a demographic powerhouse entering into our choice of jobs. With the world conspiring in our favor, we’ve already pushed the limits of the foundation Generation X laid.
You are simply enjoying what the MIGHTY Gen X has laid down for ourselves. True you outnumber us but you have a LONG way to go to show that you will amount to anything in the long run.
Generation X tried to change the status quo while entering into one of the worst job markets since the Great Depression. They scorned the good ole boys, but had to play by their rules anyway, while millenials are able to create our own rules.

Actually we DID change the status quo. I know this was before your time, but do think the Boomers with their need for face-time came up with working from home? The concept still seems to terrify them, although they want to do it, they are afraid that even taking a sick day might set them back politically somehow (and I have seen this first hand).
The fact that Gen Xers worked hard with little success beyond casual Fridays means that they are “only mentioned to be polite” in generational discussions. This is aggravated by Generation Y’s readiness to assume all the leadership positions when the Boomer generation retires. Gen X can’t seem to win and Gen Y reaps the rewards.
You Gen Y “tools” can’t believe this, Oh I forgot with that smug look and unwarranted sense of entitlement and self worth you probably do… I feel for you when reality sets in.
2. Cynicism vs. Idealism
Since the Gen Xers weren’t able to create the workplace change they desired, it’s no wonder that I get the feeling that Generation X is inherently skeptical of who I am. They’re weary of how easy success comes to me, of my desire to bring them into the mix, and of my idealism.
Can’t create the workspace we desire? Did it occur to Gen Y that we are still working on it? The Boomers didn’t wreck everything in a decade and it often takes longer to fix something then to break it.
Also, I question how “successful” you actually are, in addition to how successful Gen X would consider you or even the Boomers.
Unlike our older co-workers, Generation Y doesn’t operate out of fear or distrust, but the possibility of what can be done. I realize that Generation Y is new to the workplace. To Gen X, I just don’t get how the world works. And while it’s quite possible that we won’t change the world like we anticipate, why shoot for just the possible? Idealism is what changes the world.
Have you even done any research on the Internet before spewing this post? One of the main traits of Gen X is they are FEARLESS. I am also sure that 20-year-olds almost always have a better concept of how the world works then anyone older then them. It just stands to reason less wisdom more understanding right (sic.)? Idealism is a trait Gen Y shares with the Boomers. I guess that’s why we shouldn’t worry about Global Warming because everything is going to be just fine… Right? Groovy Man!
3. You vs. Us
The Gen X focus on distrust makes them solitary workers, preferring to rely solely on their selves to see a project through, while Generation Y tends to want to support and work together. A Gen Xer is often found at the office, squeezing by on their flextime, and blocking out the world with their iPod.
True we do tend to work more on our own but we grew up differently. We learned to be self-reliant and to get things done alone. Gen Y always was taught to work together and no one is left out. Gen Y relies on others to “help” them. “Who can help me do this all by myself” is a Gen Y idea.

Boomers, on the other hand, work together to be able to blame others when things go wrong. There is strength in numbers for them and they know it.

As for the iPod thing another reader did well to describe here you are talking about yourselves unless the Gen X is seated beside a Gen Y and just doesn’t want to hear them whine all day on the phone as to why they aren’t CEO yet.

Generation X is no doubt feeling like a stepping stone generation, and many are, in fact, choosing to align themselves with Generation Y rather than fade into the background. The founder of MySpace went so far as to lie about his age.
I say the more the merrier. There is strength and value to realism, and there is strength and value to optimism. That’s why we have to work together. What can I say? I’m a team player.
Gen Y should kiss every Gen Xers butt you see for how good you have it (the workplace) now. It is not some innate greatness that Gen Y possesses that puts them anywhere other then the bottom rung of the corporate latter, but rather that Gen X has, for decades now, while you were still in diapers, attempted to remove the “latter” entirely. And yes, we are still trying…

Amen Jamey.
In a way I think all the positive reinforcement that Gen Y’ers have been brought up with is eventually going to make many of them very bitter. Because not all of them can be CEOs. Not all of them are going to be President of the company, and those that dont rise to the top will eventually feel very bitter about it.
Gen Xers on the other hand, (I know this is a stereotype), were brought up more realistically.. or even negligently. When I was growing up teacher after teacher asked us why we werent as cool as the 60s kids, why we werent idealistic, why we didnt stand for anything. The subtext to all this was that we were losers. I think this is why people of our generation have tended to create characters or find humor in the smartly “stupid” i.e. Beavis and Butthead (created by a Gen Xer) and South Park (created by Gen Xers).
Anyway i digress.
I work in the design field and all of the 2nd level designers where I work went to Yale or Harvard, they were raised to think they’d be a huge success, and so now that they are older and not #1, they are bitter about it. Whereas I was raised to think I wouldn’t amount to anything, I didnt go to Yale (hardly!) and so every step I advance is a hoot to me. Im at their level, and rising quickly, and my attitude is always of wonderment and gratitude that my hard work is actually paying off. I know it might not last forever but I am grateful.
Gen Y’ers, i can’t picture them with this attitude. They will always whine and be bitter and wonder why they aren’t getting what they think they deserve.

“They’re weary of how easy success comes to me…”

I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read this one! Imagine two generations building a road through the wilderness. Then as soon as the road is done and the last stripe is painted on the curb, some Gen Y kid pulls up in the BMW her daddy bought her and says “look how far I’ve come! Congratulate me!” Then when everyone looks at her like they want to shoot her in the face, she pulls the sophomoric “they’re just jealous” routine. NEWSFLASH: What Gen Y has today is not success…it is opportunity paid for by those who came before them. I’m Gen X and the same goes for me. I gripe about boomers, but I sure am glad one of them started my company 48 years ago!

If Isaac Newton was Gen Y, he would have proclaimed that he invented gravity instead of simply discovering that it existed in the universe.

So here’s yet another Xers take on the Y folk. I work in a marketing firm with a couple dozen Ys, a couple dozen Xs and about 50 boomers. WARNING: Brace yourselves for an admittedly gratuitous and oversimplified generalization:

BOOMERS: They are what they are. They are defined by their cars, titles, and brag about working a bazillion hours. They are shocked that I have no interest in becoming CEO and think I’m lazy. In actuality, I’d just as soon head to the beach with my kids on the weekend and keep my comfortable salary without all the bullspit headaches. Before I would even consider a senior management position, I would want the numerous layers of political nonsense and red tape removed from the corporate structure. I’m there to perform and get paid, not waste my life navigating a wasteland of hierarchical roadblocks to success.

Boomers say “look how much I have” and Gen X responds “Good for you. Now you can die with a million dollars and a thousand regrets”.

GEN X: We’ve seen massive layoffs, corporate greed run rampant in the name of capitalism (I’m a conservative and a defender of capitalism, but sheesh). We have seen our parents fired 7 months before retirement, and good people given pink slips so that some CEO’s stock would go up one tenth of a point. We know how entrenched the political games are, and although we despise them we cannot ignore them and must engage in them from time to time in order to keep our jobs. To our bosses we are still “kids”, so they give us important tasks and often micromanage the ever-loving bejesus out of us.

We do not care about working long hours; we care about giving an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Our satisfaction comes from a job well done. We are often cynical – and often proven right. We are a bit more isolated and less team oriented because we know that information is power, and familiarity breeds contempt. The more private we are, the less crap we’ll have to deal with in the future.
GEN Y: Surprising bright and full of good ideas – even if you like, have to like, hear the word “like” 1,500 times while they’re like telling you. They are surprisingly proud and vocal of their accomplishments regardless of how insignificant they are, and grossly overestimate their relevance to the company.

They want to lead teams before they even know what the client’s product is; they want to know why they weren’t invited to the executive board meeting, they wear flip flops to client meetings, and they truly believe that everyone just loves them to pieces. These are all actual examples from my office.

Gen Y does not understand that Boomers and Xers honestly do value them as junior associates, but are giving them a HUGE pass on their spoiled-rotten behavior due to their age. We are betting that most of the annoying little habits like entitlement and a vaunted sense of self esteem will succumb to maturity in the future.

And yes, as a poster above stated, we do laugh at you. We remember when we were a lot like you and how much we’ve learned over the past several years. We’re really not all that different…Yers are just more willing to expose their ignorance and trumpet their lack of understanding in a public forum!

…Oh, and about that iPod thing. Were you kidding? That is such a Y trait!

This was a great article to read and enjoy. Being born into this World in 1977 I have trouble identifying with being placed into the stereotype of Gen X’s or Gen Y’s.

All the older people I know seem to be obsessed with social drama (or creating it.) which is also notabley a Gen-X feature.

The characters in ‘Reality Bites’ which is a symbolic movie for Gen-X seemed old and weird to me (I think I was 15 when it appeared in theaters,) yet at the same time I didn’t quite understand why people a year or two younger than I didn’t seem to have the ability to stand out as an individual. I think of Gen-Y as Gen-Neutral. I say I like this or that and they like it too, even if they’ve never even heard of it (Avril Lavigne + David Bowie.)

The point I’m trying to make is that the World is not black and white. You can label a group if that makes you comfy, but you’re just a step away from being a bigot.

Dylan, I think Social Drama was invented and passed on by the Boomers (the Greatest and Silent generations were not self absorbed whiners) and in all honesty, I have bemoaned the fact that for years I was “older” and more mature than people twice my age that I worked with (I am a leading-edge Xer–got nearly 10 years on ya). Found their incessant drama a waste of time and energy. Never identified with the slacker-druggie Reality Bites movie either. It was a fabrication of someone’s ideal of what Gen Xers were like. Back when they had only been adults for about 5 years and had yet to define themselves. Hmm…kind of like the generalities everyone has made about Gen Y although they are still coming of age? Seems history is doomed to repeat…. :)

LISTEN ! Unfortunately I sincerely analyses that the digital (y) generation is the prechosen and preprogrammed generation that will usher the new world orderings. As they are humming silently in a secret smile as their days unfolds, they have missed all the values that the previous generations have and is still fighting for where the power that be fail to repressed. We are waiting the final world peace in the hearts of gen. Z. So those that actually heed this, rethink and learn more of the truthful naturality of the past. That is the true prophecised future as you like it or not. We have no choice.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

i respectfully disagree. as a younger generation-x/cusp of the millennials,  i do not always find the support of the millennials in my office. in fact, my boss is one and acts like a know it all and is pretty much out for herself, when part of her JOB is to support her staff, and she just refused to do it, and doesn’t even seem to see the value in it. maybe she’s one bad apple, but i look around and i see millennials pretty engrossed in their own personal life more than anything-phone/ipod, etc. not that i don’t have those things or use them, but they do not seem community oriented. not that gen-x is or the boomers. i don’t think any of us are, i think that’s more of a personality trait than anything else.