Generation 'Y'

[drunk_medic]

My brother is 4 1/2 years younger than me, but the generation gap has never been more evident than in a study of us two.
At age 18, I enlisted in the Air Force. I delayed the enlistment to help my family move cross-country, from Florida to California. Nine years later, I come home to find my "millennial" brother has had a good hand in ruining my family. Savannah Ashley brought up a few terms that relate directly to my experience, and these are terms or phrases that I have used.
"Think They Know-It-Alls": My little brother, the car mechanic who killed a meticulously maintained [Dad owned it from day 1] commuter Saturn by running it out of oil. He also insisted that they didn't make 10-shot revolvers, and didn't even admit he was wrong after he was showed my Mom's 10-shot .22. When he wanted to spend his tax return on an Alienware computer instead of paying off some debt, I advised him to upgrade what he has with the best parts his motherboard could handle, which would be cheap. His way of telling me that he didn't want to follow my advice was by saying that his motherboard was bad. It's bad and yet it still runs and he spends hours on his computer every day.
Sociopaths: My parents used a wide variety and a decent amount of drugs when we were small children. By the time I was a teenager they had stopped. Our quality of life went up. I learned a lesson from this: the rumors are true that drug abuse can do bad things. I learned from the mistakes that my parents made. My brother did not, and ended up with a methamphetamine addiction. Apparently it is not his fault, you see, as he was doing it so that he could work two jobs and still have enough energy and time to spend with his daughter.
He and his daughter live with my parents, and he has lived with them for most of the period of his life where he should be considered an adult. He is obese and won't do anything about it. His first excuse was that the machines at some of the gyms couldn't handle his weight, and made his knees hurt. Then when you find a gym that has a heavy-duty elliptical machine, he doesn't want to because other people working out at the gym will look and laugh at him. Mind you, he will be the first to tell you that he doesn't care what other people think. These small stories are just the tip of the iceberg. Me and my mother have fought about him, and because of all of what has rotted over the past 10 years [and this last year in particular], I do not visit or speak with my family. They live less than 15 miles from me but I refuse to make that drive. My advice and anger have not, and will not change them.

 

[lagged]

My brother is 4 1/2 years younger than me, but the generation gap has never been more evident than in a study of us two.
At age 18, I enlisted in the Air Force. I delayed the enlistment to help my family move cross-country, from Florida to California. Nine years later, I come home to find my "millennial" brother has had a good hand in ruining my family. Savannah Ashley brought up a few terms that relate directly to my experience, and these are terms or phrases that I have used.
"Think They Know-It-Alls": My little brother, the car mechanic who killed a meticulously maintained [Dad owned it from day 1] commuter Saturn by running it out of oil. He also insisted that they didn't make 10-shot revolvers, and didn't even admit he was wrong after he was showed my Mom's 10-shot .22. When he wanted to spend his tax return on an Alienware computer instead of paying off some debt, I advised him to upgrade what he has with the best parts his motherboard could handle, which would be cheap. His way of telling me that he didn't want to follow my advice was by saying that his motherboard was bad. It's bad and yet it still runs and he spends hours on his computer every day.
Sociopaths: My parents used a wide variety and a decent amount of drugs when we were small children. By the time I was a teenager they had stopped. Our quality of life went up. I learned a lesson from this: the rumors are true that drug abuse can do bad things. I learned from the mistakes that my parents made. My brother did not, and ended up with a methamphetamine addiction. Apparently it is not his fault, you see, as he was doing it so that he could work two jobs and still have enough energy and time to spend with his daughter.
He and his daughter live with my parents, and he has lived with them for most of the period of his life where he should be considered an adult. He is obese and won't do anything about it. His first excuse was that the machines at some of the gyms couldn't handle his weight, and made his knees hurt. Then when you find a gym that has a heavy-duty elliptical machine, he doesn't want to because other people working out at the gym will look and laugh at him. Mind you, he will be the first to tell you that he doesn't care what other people think. These small stories are just the tip of the iceberg. Me and my mother have fought about him, and because of all of what has rotted over the past 10 years [and this last year in particular], I do not visit or speak with my family. They live less than 15 miles from me but I refuse to make that drive. My advice and anger have not, and will not change them.

there comes a time where your brother is at fault for his problems, but it sounds like your parents sent him on a straight course to this outcome.

generation Y has nothing to do with ANYTHING. its simply another buzzword to label and generalize. to make sense of something that is IMPOSSIBLE to explain, simply because there are way too many variables at play to make any kind of generalization.

it sounds like your parents led him to his fate. thats how he got there. not because his is a member of "generation y".

 

[RazoE]

The majority of our generation still think they're owed shit. It's plain fucking stupid, and they feel as if they'll be carried through life. The sad part is this is true to a certain extent. There is help everywhere. We as a society reward intelligence, but rarely do we punish stupidity. We need to let kids know, sometimes you're just fucking stupid, none of this "he just hasn't had the opportunity to learn like some of the other kids." The problem with that is stupid kids become stupid adults, and have stupid kids; it's a vicious cycle. We need to stop letting kids think it's okay to fail. I went to my sister's baseball game, and they have a mercy rule. If your team sucks enough, they stop playing and everyone wins. WHAT THE FUCK!? That's not life! In life sometimes you win, sometimes you fail, and sometimes it's YOUR fault and no one else's.

 

[Setheroo]

I went to my sister's baseball game, and they have a mercy rule. If your team sucks enough, they stop playing and everyone wins. WHAT THE FUCK!?

^ WTF mate. Never underestimate the power of stupid...

That is just plain ridiculous.

 

[Quin]

My niece has that rule too, I think it's bullshit. Nine years ago I played baseball and we routinely decimated teams. Two years after that, I was on the receiving end of it, but they had implemented the "if you suck, everyone wins!" rule. I thought it was completely ridiculous. It's hard to motivate a shitty team to get better when they aren't really feeling the effects of their failure.

I consider myself an exception to this generation, but I do match some of the description provided. I'm one of the people that has to know why, not just that it needs to be done. "Because I said so" gets a "Do it yourself"

BTW, Theresa is right about the political aspect, we're all fucked. I'm in classes with the "best and brightest"... I'll just say it's not pretty and leave it at that.

 

[IJ.]

I think we Generation "Y" are going to make huge effect on this world, We're going to make crazy inventions in the next 20 years that our parents could've never imagined.

Yeah SURE you are.... :nono:

There aren't that many "new" things left to invent it's just now we have the technology/materials to make them reality.

 

[lagged]

Yeah SURE you are.... :nono:

There aren't that many "new" things left to invent it's just now we have the technology/materials to make them reality.

not true. the upcoming quantum computers will be unbelievable, however not discovered nor implemented by people of this generation to a noticeable degree.

theres lots of new things left to invent. if the higgs particle is discovered many researchers believe it will change our world entirely.

 

[drunk_medic]

not true. the upcoming quantum computers will be unbelievable, however not discovered nor implemented by people of this generation to a noticeable degree.

theres lots of new things left to invent. if the higgs particle is discovered many researchers believe it will change our world entirely.

I don't think many will do one of the most amazing things ever, which is in the works right now.
How do you kill God?

If the LHC project is a success and proves with concrete evidence that the Big Bang could actually have happened, there might be a bit of outcry and criticism from the public and clergy.

 

[lagged]

there might be a bit of outcry and criticism from the public and clergy.

i respectfully disagree. science can not disprove religion, nor can religion disprove science.

that is (in my opinion) a close minded point of view that as far as i am aware, most scientists disagree with.

 

[MKIIINA]

Yeah SURE you are.... :nono:

There aren't that many "new" things left to invent it's just now we have the technology/materials to make them reality.

I also respectfully disagree IJ (not something I do often). Look back 20 years and would you have imagined that the internet would have grown up like it has? How about cell phone and VoIP? Hybrids were reserved mostly for plants (mainstream production, prototypes don't count). Accurate GPS for everyday use, the list goes on.

45's -> 8-track -> cassette -> cd -> mp3 -> ?

As far as my grammar and punctuation I will admit that my previous post was a less than stellar example and I also loathe short hand unless I am in a hurry. The nuns where I attended grade and middle school would be less than pleased. That said I still manage to read a novel a week (currently on Atlas Shrugged which will be a bit longer time frame wise), use cursive on a daily basis (a dying art it seems), and even still send the occasional letter.

I'm not saying that Gen-Y will solve all the world's problems as that is not realistic, but you would be hard pressed to find a person who thinks we are living in a utopia currently and that the current political atmosphere has been prefect (GW's approval rating at a minimum would help back this up). I would prefer to keep this thread out of the political realm as I doubt that was the OP's intention and there have been several monumental leaps forward (Koyoto conference, China hosting the Olympics, Berlin wall falling, dis-solvement of the USSR, etc etc) but it remains to be seen what will happen in the future.

As far as having things handed to me or thinking that I believe we should have the world handed to us because we are entitled to it is absurd and I struggle to see where you came up with that notion. I am a college graduate and the oldest in my family and my generation, meaning that I have had to take on more responsibility and have not had the pleasure, as my younger brother has enjoyed, of having things handed to me. I worked through high school, through college, interned, found a job while still in school, and have been working now for about a year since my graduation. I am an Eagle Scout and have helped those around me to better themselves throughout my life. I have worked for what I have and am proud of my accomplishments. More so I have also taken the time to thank those who have helped to guide and shape my life. I have been fortunate to have 2 loving parents who only expected the best as I was to set the example.

Gen-Y is as diverse as Gen-X, Flower Power generation, the baby boomers, and previous generations so please don't attempt to lump us all together. We have dreamers, inventers, addicts, idealists, psychopaths, politicos, and every other group just like yours. I think that each generation should respect each other and hope that each successive generation improves the life of the next. You evolve or you die.

 

[IJ.]

It was all "imagined" "invented" a long time ago but there was a technology lag until it became reality is all

 

[Slow_Sc3]

well lets all jump on the fail boat to are doom i forsee unemployment increasing

 

[miekedmr]

I think that generation is going to run this country into the ground.

No, we will just screw this country up pretty badly, have kids ourselves, and then say the same thing about them as they start to mature and take control of things.

"get off my lawn! damned kids"

Broad generalizations like the ones about Gen Y usually aren't worth much besides creating prejudice.

 

[lagged]

It was all "imagined" "invented" a long time ago but there was a technology lag until it became reality is all

ahh i think there is a name for that point of view. everything that can exist does or will?

the original point i was trying to make is that any shortcomings of the so called "generation y" are a result of the short comings of a previous generation (their parents).

it always has been this way, and always will be this way.

giving the generation a name and generalizing all members comes from the same desire to label things and to have a sense of understanding (which is impossible IMO) that racism, bigotry and many other conditions
come from.

it comes from a simple failure to understand that there are so many variables as to why something is the way it is that it can not be explained by ANY label.

 

[j3pz]

im def part of the generation "Y": you guys post way too long lol (now im going to write a long one:3d_frown. i read the first post, then skimmed til theresa's, skimmed more till IJ's. im currently texting my friends, reading/typing this, with Star Wars playing on the tv.

I just want to say, most of us are just becoming of age to beable to affect our country. with that being said, who is at fault for the mess we call government now? enough of that, this isnt the political section

And you're the exception to the trend.

i started working for an small mom-and-pop style electric company three years ago not knowing anything about the work. now i can go wire a house by myself and have out lasted probably 10 fellas, all of older generations. i never had any problems with them personally, actually got along with them all.
edit: im working there part time and going to community college full time for engineering. after i get my associates im going to transferr to maryland U.


i respect the older generations much more than my own. i feel mine lack the discipline the older people had. i dont blame anyone though because generations change with time. feel sorry for the next generations, im not planning on bringing any babies in to this fucked up world (if i do want kids, ill adopt). i have more to say but wont seeing as we all have short attention spans and im sure not too many have read all of this... (jp, a lil generation Y humor)

 

[OneJArpus]

jesus.... American Dad is on in the backround while i'm surfing the net =/ sounds like me to an extent. I love work i hate not working. I need money gotta keep a roof over my head mommy n daddy dont do that no more. They live in FL blah!

 

[SupraMario]

Lets spice this up a bit. For you Gen X'ers

Link

I'm worried about Generation X and corporations. As far as I can tell, these two have a tentative relationship at best—and are likely headed for some rocky times ahead.

Corporations really need Gen X—folks in their 30's to early 40's, who should begin to serve as our primary corporate leaders over the next couple years. But I fear many current corporate executives are taking this small and therefore precious group for granted.

Many of you X'ers are not thrilled with corporate life. You tend not to trust institutions in general and deeply resent the Boomers' confident assumptions that you will be motivated by the same things that Boomers have long cared about. Many of you have told me that you are planning to leave corporate life "soon"—to start entrepreneurial ventures or work for smaller companies—options you feel will suite you better than the corporate roles looming ahead.

Why are many X'ers uncomfortable in corporate life?

1. X'ers' corporate careers got off to a slow start and many are still feeling the pain. You graduated when the economy was slow and the huge bulge of Boomers had already grabbed most of the key jobs. As an article in the May, 1985 issue of Fortune said: "[T]hese pioneers of the baby-bust generation are finding life on the career frontier harsher than ever…they're snarled in a demographic traffic jam…stuck behind all those surplus graduates of the past decade."

2. When you were teens, X'ers witnessed adults in your lives being laid off from large corporations, as re-engineering swept through the business lexicon. This engendered in most X'ers a lack of trust in large institutions and a strong desire for a life filled with back-up plans, just in case. Many of the adults you saw laid off and then struggling to reintegrate were in their 40's—about the age X'ers are reaching today.

3. Most corporate career paths "narrow" at the top —the perceived range of options diminishes as individuals become increasingly specialized in specific functions or roles. X'ers crave options, which assuage your concerns about being backed into a corner, laid off from one path. The sense of narrowing career paths and increased vulnerability is often most palpable at the transition from middle to upper management—just where many of you are today. This step also often brings demands for relocation and separation from established social networks—an additional assault on your sense of self-reliance.

4. Just your luck—the economy was slow when you entered the workforce and now its slowing once again—just as you are standing at the threshold of senior management. Stepping into leadership roles right now looks more difficult and the roles themselves, more vulnerable than they have at any point in the past decade.

5. And then there are those pesky Gen Y's. Many X'ers are charged with "managing" Y's which—let's face it—is an impossible task, at least if you define "manage" as controlling their channels of communication. While vying for promotions and trying to look good, many of you feel that Y's are doing an end run around.

6. X'ers are, in fact, surrounded by a love fest—and not feeling the love. As I wrote in last week's post, Boomers and Y's are learning from each other—and enjoying their interactions. It's easy to feel left out.

7. X'ers are the most conservative cohort in today's workforce—and you're surrounded by "shake ‘em up" types on both sides. In your personal lives, X'ers are not particularly keen on rules, but you had to follow them in the workplace—and you resent it when others now don't. It seems unfair to be rewriting corporate etiquette when you've had to toe the line for so long.

8. Many X'ers' are guarding a closely held secret: you're not all as comfortable with the technology that is changing the way things are done as everyone seems to think you are. While it's perfectly acceptable for Boomers to feign ignorance and ask for help, it's embarrassing for X'ers to do so.

9. And if Boomer colleagues are annoying, the Boomer parents of your Y reports are down-right over-the-top. X'ers can't believe the frequency of Y-parent interactions and are deeply turned off by parents who make their presence felt in the workplace.

10. Finally, your own parenting pressures are at a peak. You're deeply committed to spending more time with your kids than your parents did or were able to spend with you, but juggling is getting more and more difficult.

Is it time to jump off the corporate train?

I hope not—at least not for most of you. Corporations really need your leadership. But I understand that we need to create corporate environments that are more conducive to your needs and preferences.

I'm in the middle of my latest writing project—a book on career options and strategies for Gen X'ers. I'd love to hear from you about your experiences, frustrations, and success. What works? What doesn't? What do you worry about? What would you most like to know?

 

[7MGTEsup]

I'm just sick of people not taking responability for how they are and what they have done. I see it in people evey day, kids feel they are owed respect right off the bat even though they have done squat. They can't do anything for themself and when asked to do something, make sure they do such a crap job that you wont ask them again. They want money for doing things that should be done without question let alone putting out their hand and asking for cash or they wont do it. They feel that alot of things are beneath them, what ever happened to working your way up from the bottom?

 

[mkIIIman089]

I'm willing to bet that if anyone from "gen X" actually met all you guys who say "Not me! I work hard, school, blah, blah" their opinion of you would not be changed, and you would not be exempt from the stereotype.

 

[j3pz]

I'm willing to bet that if anyone from "gen X" actually met all you guys who say "Not me! I work hard, school, blah, blah" their opinion of you would not be changed, and you would not be exempt from the stereotype.

thats a ignorant remark one of us "gen Y's" would make :3d_frown: you know that phrase you hear your older counterparts say, something like "dont judge a book by its cover?"