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I've removed the "Comments by Generation X Writers" section, as it simply mirrored text from an article in The Independent, and thus a copyright infringement. -- Gyrofrog (talk) 13:38, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
I do not think that people born during the time MTV first aired would be in the MTV generation. Actually if I recall that was a slang used to describe teens that were watching MTV when it first came on. Also, becasue of that, Pepsi tried to coin the Pepsi Generation thing. No The MTV Generation was created by the media and should be removed.
YES"....Your right, MTV Generation is in fact to describe the core of the Gen X, in that if you were in the school system k-12 and College aged then you are the MTV generation. In Summer 1981 MTV started those children are theat generation I'm 38 and I was in seventh grade. So I know this term and it is quite acurate as any one who in in their mid to late thirties can tell you we say it's birth just like we saw the birth of the home computer. So I think it means to speak to those most core X-ers who were the actual teens of the 80's. I think some have just included (right or wrong) those younger Xers who may have always had' Mtv on the tube. Not sure but you are correct in your notation, still in this designation one can in fact can include the younger sibs...of x-ers. I define it in general terms that it can be a designation for all' those school aged children & youth ages 5-18 who only grew up with it's inception in the eighties. Which in reality is itself a pretty selective group now ages 30-45. As far as the flop of the Pepsi generation;...they tried to make very generation the the Pepsi generation..it was a marketing ploy they used from the 50's on to the 90's it just did not work with us because we were the target of the the cola wars...remember Old Coke was the New Coke...arrgg (ha). This commentary is pretty right on, even though it is my opinion. From Martin WA State.
I couldn't help but notice that in the generation succession at the end of the article, 1974 is omitted! I probably wouldn't have noticed, except that's the year I was born (lol). I have always considered myself a Gen X-er even though the beginings/ends of generations are definitely blurry (when does the "Baby Boomer" generation really end and when does "Generation Y" really begin?). From what I have learned, '74 is far to young to be a Baby Boomer, yet far too old to be Gen Y. Who really knows what the generation "boundaries" are anyway? There probably isn't a strict boundary really. They seem to phase from one to the next over the course of several (three? five? seven?) years. And then there's all the "sub-generations" (MTV Generation, etc) filling in the "gaps" maybe? I've always been taught that I'm either middle or late Gen X. Anyway, just wanted to bring up the 1974 omission. No big deal really, just something interesting to think about... J —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikicali00 ( talk • contribs) 03:22, 31 August 2007 (UTC)
Due you are and Xer' anyon in their 30's is a gimme'..anyway 74 is always included most often especially when most historians go to 1981'. There is no doubt you are all X.' 76 is when the birth rates began to rise again so even at a conservative assesment you wouls be X. Sometimes years are not listed but it does not mean it was not pivitol, I have nieces and nephews born then or near and they remember much of what I do growing up they were just the younger tikes. So you are in the heart of X, just think of it this way you are only a year older than another X-er Drew Barrymore born Feb 22, 1975. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 02:54, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
First came the "Boomers," those who benefitted from the post-war (World War II) economic boom. Author Douglas Coupland describes, as best as I can recall, Genertion X as those who came after the Boomers — those born in the shadow of the baby boom generation. I think the usual mistake made in defining generations is that a line is drawn at the beginning and end of a birth bell curve. From an economic impact perspective, the real impact occurs when a generation enters the workforce at age 18.
In other words, if we accept that Boomers enjoyed the fruits of the post-World War II economic boom (cheap higher education, affordable housing, and abundant quality jobs) then we're really talking about those born between 1945 and 1954, with those on the leading eddge of the curve (1945-1950) enjoying the greatest advantage. I would propose that Generation X (those born in the shadown of the Boomers who struggled with skyrocketing education costs, unaffordable housing and "McJobs") really belong to the 1955-1964 cycle. It's interesting that Coupland characterizes Gen-X as those born after 1963 when he, himself, was born in 1961. So he is really right in the center of my proposed definition of Gen-X.
When the media talks about Boomers, they are usually characterized as those who were teenagers in the 1960s; with the free love movement, Vietnam War, a particular style of "rock" music probably best associated with the Beatles, and a major social rebellion in the acceptance of casual drug use. Having been born in late 1956 (almost 1957) I have nothing in common with the Boomer generation. I had to register for the draft, but we had pretty much pulled out of Vietnam by 1974 when I turned 18. Most of my "teen" years were in the early 1970s, so the Beatles are about as foreign to my "teenage soundtrack" experience as, say, Bing Crosby. The cost of a college education was just starting to escalate out of proportoin to its ROI when I graduated in 1979. By then, I could not afford to buy a house on one income, as the Boomer's generation had done. And I had to settle for inferior jobs because the Boomers got to the good jobs first. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Paulboswell ( talk • contribs) 22:02, 5 September 2007 (UTC)
Hello'...for the person who graduated in 74, you are a Boomer (NO Doubt) you are sooo 70's in fact you were in a disco no doubt. X-ers knew the death of disco and remember the records being broken and later the inception of walkmans and video arcades. These markers are not really in dispute, I have Boomer bros and sisters you are in the Rowe/Wade, Vietnam and Hippie demise era. Generation Jones are those whom were the teens in the very late 70's (78-80) some may or may not identify with boomers it can depend, these were the Grease and Close Encounters....kids'-simple. It is unfortuante that those graduating 78-80 are in between but that always happens in every generational shift. Generation Jones really only encompases a few years and most often is Gen X encompases them as the older or elder of Gen X, Barak Obama would be in that camp. Just think of it as 61-81 is X, that is the best understanding: After JKennedy and to the sunrise of Regan era; Gen X were in fact the Regan generation our parents were those from the Greatest generation (the last of the large families) and those young parents of the 60/early 70's who where Boomers. Author martin cline. wa
GENERATION X was and is the "Antidote" to the Boomers. We exist to remind them that their time is over and ideals failed or at least was not based in truisms or morality but humanism. We were those children that resulted or were the little brothers and sisters of those who were Boomers. We inherited the sexual revolution with "Safe Sex" montra's, Condoms and Anti-Drug campaigns. Instead of Tie die we had the "Izod" and breakdancing. It is best to think of anyone born after the Kennedy asassination and to the Regan revolution as Generation "X". In reality we are the most education generation and saw the major world change and the rise of the internet. Be glad' if you know Footloose, ET, Raiders, Breakfast Club, Star Wars, Jaws and the first walkman you are an "X"er. Our desire for relationships, authenticity and upward mobility is a unique mix. Author Martin Cline —Preceding
unsigned comment added by
24.19.99.40 (
talk)
19:57, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
Yes that is true but you must see that Drew Barrymore and Barak Obama are all X-ers, so it is just a reality of scope and demographic context. It is a bit big; your movie reference may be eluding to generation Jones' which in fact are the oldest of our group they actually were teens in the very late seventies and early eighties. So Tom Cruise and as you mentioned Micheal J Fox would be in that lot. But the core are in their mid to late 30's now, so when I speak of movies and historical markers those of us who actually in Junior High or Highschool when Ferris Bueller, Breakfast Club or Top gun were out are just claiming that we were the Regan kids-genration. M-TV began in the summer of 81 and home computers began being intergrated into homes and schools for the first time in the years to follow it took some time though. Companies like Google and Facebook were created by this generation. Yes as kids some played pong, Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Mario and later Doom. So some will vary on an end or age point but mainly the age range stands at about 26.5-47 at it's widest if you are in your 30's and 40's your the heart of X not getting around it. Anyone under age 26 is in no way a X-er but Y they had way more advancments but we were the fist kids to get the slower versions, ha. But this led to the dot-com boom/bust and boom. So You are right when you say that you are much like Y but some would say that you are just in the tale end of the X. Gen Y are 25.5 years (born after 1981) old to 13. We had Madonna, Y had Brittney. Still the Millenials (Class of 2000) are 12 and under and have Myli or whatever..? You get it. Author martin cline :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 00:11, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
This is all too specific and too ideological a definition of Gen X to be useful. While some people in our generation view the Baby Boom achievements of Civil Rights, the Free Speech Movement and the Sexual Revolution as successful, others do not. If you want to paint a sharp division, it would probably be most useful to note the point at which American men no longer feared conscription. This produced a profound change in the outlook of US youth toward their country. It was the fear of conscription that made Vietnam such a passionate cause amongst members of the elder generation, and made them so anti-establishment. Our generation was a bit more measured and realistic in its political outlook. Nonetheless, Gen X inherited and expanded on many of the Boomer's achievements. Amongst Gen Xers it is almost universally accepted that racial segregation and discrimination is unacceptable, whereas the Baby Boomers were split on the issue. We are the oldest generation to accept open gays as members of society, although our generation is somewhat split on the issue. We are the first generation to return to urban life, after the Baby Boomers abandoned the cities for fear of race riots. 76.108.177.119 ( talk) 14:13, 14 March 2008 (UTC)N. Landau
The coming problems in the USA, especially, are a direct result of the Gen X being so small...the Boomers will reap what they did NOT sow...that is, they didn't want to have kids when they SHOULD HAVE, they thought of me, me, me (despite being SOOO in love with socialism as a concept), and that they would be young and live forever, both impossible...NOW, Social Security is going to go belly up, OR the Gen Xers and GenYers are going to get taxed into oblivion to pay for it...the culture that the Boomers know and love WILL perish along with them...People need to know, it's OK to have more than 1 or 2 kids, its OK to have those kids when you are young enough to have the energy to properly raise them and discipline them, and its OK to know that some day you will be gone (as will we all), so what and who are you leaving behind to take care of things and carry on?...Sad, sad Boomers, I will not mourn you the way I am mourning the loss of the Greatest Generation, they gave YOU the WORLD and look what you have done with it!...thanks for nothing but the MUSIC! —Preceding
unsigned comment added by
153.24.73.60 (
talk)
22:03, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
This article drones on about America and puts everything in a US perspective. Generation X is a global theory. I'm gen X and do not have any post 9/11 fears or over protective parenting habits - get over it and stop being so US centric. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.231.146.140 ( talk) 12:51, 27 September 2007 (UTC)
This is very true and is especially true of this attempting to make "grunge" music a defining feature of Generation X. That may have perhaps been the case in America but it was nowhere near as important in Britain (the rest of Europe?)with the acid house/rave/dance scene(call it what you will)being far more influential and of greater cultural importance amongst those of this generation in Britain. In the light of how this defined such a high proportion of British youth I'd set the parameters for Generation X as to include those born between 1963 and 1973 or those who aged 15-25 when it all kicked off in 1988.
This is the Wikipedia. Pretty much every article could be summed up by your phrase "America, America, America, me, me, me". 80.254.147.52 16:28, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
Because this is en.wikipedia, if you are an Xer from an English-speaking country other than America, feel free to add your own section! Ledboots 13:55, 9 November 2007 (UTC)
YOU' both are VERY right, it actually is a context of demograhic realities that was reported on in several other countries before the US picked up on it. Canada, Europe and some of Asia I believe....but people are forgetting that there is always some lag years between generations. So some need to realize generation Jones...(look it up)! Are just those whom are often forgotten they usually are split up into either Boomers or X-ers becuase they were the kids of the very late seventies into about 81'. Nevertheless it is easiest to make the distinction after Kennedy to Regan or to the fall of the Cold war? This is not rocket science and anyway the Millenials 12-under are already being marketed to so this is not a very eath changing discussion it is just about historical markers and demographics. I could tell the shift when freinds went of the air (thank God) even though the actors are all my age Jennifer Anniston looks great for 38..almost 39. We have grown up now and have been for about ten years people need to move one. And oh yes please let churches home and youth groups know that Gen x-ers are all well over 25 years of age now. In fact Gen Y is already entered college..hello'. martin —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 00:20, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
BTW, this article should still be tagged "globalize" or "globalize/US". I would do it if it wasn't protected. arny ( talk) 03:33, 28 April 2008 (UTC)
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BetacommandBot 09:41, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
Pulling from an article I read by Robbin Kirkland and Olivia Sheehan from the Centers for Osteopathic Research & Education, I would like to see more discussion on the Silent Generation. This birth cohort was born between 1925-1942. They generally had large families and considered it natural. They married early and lived during the great depression. About 95% of them are now retired. Kirkchenry ( talk) 03:27, 27 November 2007 (UTC).
I do realize that this is an article about Generation X. However, I have not been able to find a higher level article about Birth Cohorts or Generations. If anybody can provide me guidance on that issue it would be appreciated. Also, there is the GI or WWI generation and the Millennial Generation. Although I haven't searched for all of these, I have not really found the right information. Kirkchenry ( talk) 03:32, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
Honeslty I'm intrigued by your question and I will try to help. The first way to guage or put skin on this generation is to add 18 year to the dates you ascribed. This will help identify the years of formation and the years of highshool and generational independence. As a demographic I would also look at the Presidents, Social Programs and Celebraties of this time. This at first glance seems to be a great opportunity to learn more about this special segment. Honeslty I think this is a very important generation as they actually would be the Korean war generation which really is just the end of the Greatest generation, they would have been their little brothers and sisters. There was some jelousy between those in the 50's and those in the 40's from some movies if you really look as they try to define themselves, the Movie rebel without a cause highlights this. But what may make you more excited is that this is the American Grafitti polulation, Buddy Holly, Doris Day...Lucy'. My Guess is that Elvis was born in this timefame. This is not a forgotten genration just a bit eclipsed. But they were the parents of at least half of the Boomers. My guess is that this generation saw a rise in womens issues, racial and gender issues. Also this is the BEAT generation...easily studied and musically very important mabye the most important to date. You may want to read the book Generation's it was published about 1991. It was really the original book that helped to begin this discussion all over about labeling generations. martin cline response author-good luck —Preceding
unsigned comment added by
24.19.99.40 (
talk)
01:18, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
im born in 1977 growing up i always thought of myself as generation x wore alot of flannel shirts from round about 92-97 lol, according to this article i am but if you look at the gen y it says people born as early as 1975 are gen y,i dont know what i am anymore,i dont know all the in and outs about generation things but all i know is i was a kid in the 80's a teenager in the early and mid 90's, so what am i i always though anyone born 1965 -1981 was Gen. X than i guess anyone born from 1982 to 1998 Gen. Y or sometimes it seems like gen y is trying to make itself to big by tryin to include people born in the 70's and gen xers trying to make their generation to exclusive by trying to eliminate those born in 80,or 81,-- Mikmik2953 22:36, 2 December 2007 (UTC)
To the previous bloggers'....77 and 79' you are both x's sorry. Although I and others may be able to make a case for the 79 being a Y'. First to speak to the 1977 person. The 77' blogger is an easy one because you are already 30's sorry no resercher will claim someone already 30 is a Y'. You may be just feeling your age but you actually are the best age now dont feel bad about that, it is a better demographic. If you have some concept of saturday morning TV and Night rider....you are an X-er even though you were in elementary when I was in Highschool. MY nephew was born in 76 and he loves to talk about the old school days of the 90's. I have nieces born in 78 and they would consider themselves x-ers maybe younger but can remember care bears, cabbage patch and the like plus they can sing some of the 80' tunes. They graduated the year of clueless and even Alicia silverstone is 30 so you are in my research a X-er. Although you are RIGHT- you do have more in common with Y so you could be the first Y's and to some researchers you may be. But in my study and memory, 81 is the best cut off. But you are right in that you can claim or go either way (X/Y) in this discussion. I would say X to be safe because you are still in the seventies and so politically you were born under a set of circumstances that maybe you were not aware of but still defines you and your parents. You really are just the babies of the X. So you get to choose but I still say X manly becuase you knew a less technical time then your sibling that means you have shown your age.' Just think 62-82 and that is the most liberal set of years in this silly discussuion, actually a generation is only really about 14 years or so. Many books would say 64-78....are the only true X-ers, even 66-75. In that way Y may on some level apply to that first person. You can easily monitor your context of generation by matching yourself with a current same aged celeb or look at the president during your teen years this is the easiest way to tell. Others will be able to tell you as well even when you cannot not decide. But I say include those till 1981 because the political change that happened after that, in the 80's is not often desputed. good luck...martin
Thanks for the interesting analysis Martin, but I must respectfully disagree. The first two commenters are onto something. I was born in 1978, so I can identify with both of them. We belong to both X and Y and neither at the same time. Generations do not have a hard cutoff, so anyone born roughly from 77-84 was stuck in a transitional gap between X and Y. This is supported by birth data since it was at an unusual low during this period. I've found that I have a lot in common with people in this time period, but anyone outside of this gap is a typical X or Y. My best friend is only 5 years older than I am, and he's definitely a typical X, although a young one. My brother was born in 1982, and he has the same issues. My youngest brother of course was born in 1990, and he's definitely a Y. My parents were boomers that actually had kids while they were young, which was atypical of that generation, but I'm also an unusual case. We're 80s kids, 90s teens, and 9/11 era 20 somethings. Old enough to remember things before high technology took over (80s), but young enough to be early adopters (90s). There was some interesting information here on Wikipedia about us being a "lost" group. They called us the "XY Cusp" or "XY Gappers". Of course, this was deleted because it was "original research." Well, the problem is that there IS no research on us because we're a lost group. No one really cares about us since we're such a small group. They just don't see us as being worth the time or energy to market any crap to us, so we just remain forgotten. Yorath ( talk) 01:54, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
Why is "Dakota Fanning" who was born in _1994_ included in this section of this article (which is clearly about the generation born 1960s to early 80's)? This must have been a joke? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.201.127.64 ( talk) 16:36, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
This section gave me a good laugh. What is the point of this section? There are thousands of famous Gen-Xers. Why not list them all? Name your favorite famous person born between 1965 and 1981? Very encyclopedic. Lets just list the entire 2007 New York Yankees Team. And the 2001 Dallas Cowboys. Ok, Ok, lets add the 2005 Vancouver Canucks. NationalPark ( talk) 19:43, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
You are soooo right. But 'MOST all of the Famous People Today are Gen X-ers'.....Julia, Diddy, Jay Z, Will, Pitt, Jolie and Anniston...too easy. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 00:44, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
I second the comment about the Pixies not being well-known enough to deserve inclusion, and add that none of the bands the article claims are associated with Grunge actually are. Korn and Green Day aren't even really part of the "alternative" scene from the 90's... I'd even venture to say that they contributed to the end of that era in music. Anyway, the only musicians famous enough to warrant inclusion are Kurt Cobain and *maybe* Eddie Vedder. Ebolamunkee ( talk) 22:34, 31 March 2008 (UTC)
The years used in the succession boxes before I just changed them were certainly not years that are commonly used. First of all, Strauss and Howe are just two of many generations experts; many experts disagree with their generational birth years, and further, the years used in those succession boxes didn't even accurately reflect Strauss and Howe's proposed birth years. Secondly, I can't imagine where those birth years could have come from (I've never seen anyone start GenX as early as the 1950's, I've never seen anyone use 1955-1962 for GenJones, etc.) Coupland never said that GenX started in 1958, he said, in fact, that GenX was a mindset, not a chronological span of years. Generation Jones is not a cusp generation; it is actaully the largest generation in U.S. history. Of the many hundreds of articles, and discussions in books, about Generation Jones, I've never seen it called a cusp generation--instead it is commonly now automaticaly included as a bona fide generation. C'mon...for Wikipedia to work, we all need to focus on accuracy, and the birth years in the succession box now reflect the emerging concensus most commonly used for these three generations. 21st century Susan ( talk) 00:09, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
Coupland is actually or could be designated as generation Jones...which most often is included in X (look it up), this would mean those born from 58-63. In all honesty most historials and real people you ask that age would use a post Kennedy assasination administration as the best marker for the generational change. Anyway, if one just takes those babies born in the sixties (not in the 50's) it makes the discussion much simpler. Coupland is just the eldest of Gen X and so his assertions of historical influences for that segment still hold true. He was not born in the 50's so he is speaking to a context of life in the US and the political realities for babies and youth culture of a certain time in history. Which I might add lasted to the early 70's as historians mark a baby rise from 76 on before that births were in decline for a period. Now there are other markers to be used but demographics and birth rates still stand. So all generations have 'markers' but Coupland I think some might assert would be in that transition or change span, but it nonetheless was a change so he is an X and it does speak to years and context of perspective one does not deny the other. So you both are right and anyway he was not the firt to write or label this generation. So he does put boundries on X; so those teens between 1978-81 may on some level have to choose if they more identified as Boomers or X-ers. Ask any of them and most often say they do not identify as Boomers even though there is some over lap of shared media, consumer goods and memories but as one of the writer shared they really saw their own explosion.' In many ways they are the pinnicale of Ad and media interest both as children and now. This was the easy bake oven generation. I know because my I have boomers and Xer's in my family unit (8 kids). We cleary know when to draw the genrational lines it is not hard. Coupland is a year older than my nearest brother and he is the very same age as Tom Cruise who is not a Boomer but one of the lead X-ers' in our memory bank. But there always is a few years at each generational shift that may be in some way debated. Still most would say anyone born in the 50's is not an X-er it really does not seem to work longterm, just like Gen X's whom are at their eldest age 27 or 28 now, they may need to decide if they are X or Y. Martin C. WA.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 00:54, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
I came up with my own term "the Fatalist generation": Imagine you are born-raised from 1976 to 1985...you're probably not much of an "innocent" child: You feared global warming, environmental damage, racial strife and "diversity", widening class division and middle class decline, political apathy and distrust of our leaders, Baby boomers' self-absorbed individualism, the rise of reactionary conservatism put a roadblock on many liberal trends, meagcorporate culture like shipping our factory jobs overseas or bring in illegal immigrant laborers in certain jobs still in our country, fanatical materialism when the economy boomed in the late 1990s to collapse in the 2000s (look at the house foreclosure pandemic), the changing economy required more academic requirement and intellectual skill, and now the War on terror threatens our national security in a nearly-failed mission against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The "real world" was a common phrase used among many Generation X and some Gen Yers in the 1990's to describe the economic difficulty to obtain and declare independence like young 20-something adults during the recession of 1990-93 that produced the "slackers" who can't get out of their parents homes until we're over 30. We are the "Fatalists" might had "lower standard" public education, ill taught about the "Puritan" work ethic our parents tickered with, matured slower than our elders had, didn't know the value of WWII/ Cold war sacrifice, doesn't hold patriotic feelings in the era of international globalization, and our impaired social etiquette by our free time spent on the internet. We know how tough the "real world" has become as a result of neglect and mishandling of our elders' rule (in this case, Baby boomers) of the order of things, and they will pass all that on (i.e. to fund social security, taxes to pay for our federal budget deficit and preserving American military might) to us when we're older when we can't pay our bills at home, our college loans, our lower incomes and depressed wages.
'Generation X' has aged abit more as the majority of them are ages 30 to 40 and I noticed they are more aware of the realities of adulthood, probably their parents overshielded them or didn't teach or warn them about the world has changed, since they were teens themselves...and we analyzed the Baby boomers are hypocrites in young people rebelling, having fun and playing around with life. Our disenchantment with both democracy and capitalism despite it defeated fascism and communism, and made European colonialism and post-WWII socialism into the trash bin for good. The "fatalist" generation doesn't see any gradual improvement in our political structure: the two-party system is simply a political game of a single government ran by the "military-industrial-technocrat- megacorporate" complex that controls the U.S. and world economies.
Yes, we are more tolerant of change when we feel it's desperately needed, proud of racial and cultural diversity and care deeply on the environment when man has altered the natural process of things (i.e. global warming). More Gen. X and Yers aren't too "liberal" when we emphasized families more (so many of us grew up in divorce or single parent families, or our mothers are working so much) but aren't "conservative" as we both scoff at the Bushes, Clintons, the Nixon/Ford and JFK/LBJ legacies for nearly ruining our quality of life as the "lone superpower" about to collapse in any moment. This is the 21st century, China is stronger, the Middle East may get us back, the European Union is a better example of democratic living, and Mexico is said to influence America more than Canada does. We know the Pax Americana is over, we're in a global technological age and the nation-state as the "Fatalists" believe has served its fate.
In the year 2008, we might have a president who's a Generation Xer who's open-minded, calmer, worldly, concerned on domestic issues and wants to be the first non-White male president. We rather have Obama instead of a Baby boomer psuedo-feminist wife of a former president who cheated on her while on presidental duty anyway, or a 70-year old hawk who's like "George Bush III". He may be "fatalist" but the point of fatalism is to fight it, give the world a second chance and improve ourselves economically, socially or politically. We are more progressive while we want America to be strong again, more traditional on family values while we tolerate gay couples and we want unity while we have different cultures and minority groups. But we got to save the middle class, cut down on military spending, focus more on health care, education and children's well-being, amd stop this "radical religious right"/"politically correct left" stuff that caused more fear, division and impaired civil liberties. This produced "fatalism" to hurt our economy and living standards.
Sorry for such a long diatribe, but Generation X-Yers are not naive or immature, and able to live on our own but it took us longer and we hafta work harder than our parents (it seems like it with longer work days or hours, plus commuting time to and from our homes) when economic conditions are instable or economic booms end up as busts so quickly. We want to get off foreign oil costing us $4 a gallon and go for natural gas alternatives to prevent us more wars for oil and cool down the warming planet. We want to control immigration in a proper legal manner when we need more people to our countries who want to work and contribute to this country. And most of all, we want Generation X-Yers to prosper, retire on time, and save up for the future or give it to our young the same way the Baby boomers and their parents had before. Maybe it's up to us to stop being so "fatalist" and start working to help fix and save the future. + 71.102.53.48 ( talk) 12:07, 16 May 2008 (UTC)
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BetacommandBot ( talk) 21:52, 2 January 2008 (UTC)
It states on the page for Generation Y that "Generation X" was originally a pejorative, yet I see the more unlikely story on this page that it was "uncreative researchers" that came up with the name. This seems unlikely as I doubt that in the days when the name was coined, researchers would just "make up" a name and it would stick - I can't see why Generation X came about, but I'm fairly sure it had more to do with the pejorative and less to do with a group of researchers. Zchris87v 14:04, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
I have removed significant amounts of original research from this article. Those edits were reverted by an anonymous IP without explanation. I have reverted those changes and if that happens again I will seek short term semi protection. Thanks, Cumulus Clouds ( talk) 17:48, 31 March 2008 (UTC)
I would like to submit that anyone who wants to make a contribution to this article postpone until pending mediation is resolved. Administration does not feel an article lockdown is warranted at this time and your edit is likely to be undone my myself or the other party until it is resolved. Sorry for any inconvenience. Ledboots ( talk) 17:08, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
Could we discuss the TIME magazine reference? In particular, does it matter the article doesn't use the phrase 'Generation X'? PhilKnight ( talk) 13:06, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
Second footnote of the article, Generation X#History of the Term. Mstuczynski ( talk) 13:19, 6 April 2008 (UTC)
How could ANYONE link an early-1980s birth to Gen X? Being born in that range, I have always been lead to believe by impressions given by the media that individuals of a decidedly older, more experienced age were being referenced. Whenever there were TV specials and references made to Gen X "phenomenas", such as an "unemployment crisis", or the "Seattle movement", seeing as this was all coming out at a time before I even hit puberty(or just starting to), how was I supposed to relate to it? Younger children my age were NEVER alluded to in these things. The stuff about being the "first generation of divorce"...I don't know, but I think by the time we got to my childhood, divorce was hardly new anymore.
I am aware that there was a book released in the early-1990s devoted to the subject, one which put forth a birth span of 1961-1981(incidentally STILL an earlier cut off than the one given on the Wiki entry), but I never assumed that was to be taken too seriously since it's release, given that for starters, people born between 1961-'64 are clearly BABY BOOMERS. The Baby Boomer birth span of 1946-64 is one I have NEVER seen disputed. Not to mention, the Gen X birth span is supposed to be more narrow, isn't it? Being as it is IIRC, also reflective of a brief, birth decrease trend that initiated in the mid to late 1960s?
I'm sorry, but the idea of someone being a Gen-Xer who wasn't old enough to have entered high school at the start of 1990s, or worse yet was still IN high school at the start of the 2000s, is one that doesn't register at all. It seems quite a misleading message to send.( Theburning25 ( talk) 16:13, 9 April 2008 (UTC))
--- As someone just starting high school in the mid-90's (born 1980) I certainly agree that it seems out of touch with reality to call someone born in the 80's a Gen Xer... I have never considered myself GenX, nor have I met anyone my age who does. I did not feel particularly connected to the traditional GenX touchstone issues/moments such as the Regan Administration or even the death of Kurt Cobain. There must be more research out there that can help settle this, one way, or the other. Adam Clotfelter ( talk) 08:35, 19 April 2008 (UTC)
--i wonder which section you arerefering to.. As someone born in 1975 when i was at highschool- when they stated talking about gen x i was always dissapointed i had just missed out on the cut off. It does seem to have expanded- and these things are fluid. THe event you cite as important were really important to me; kurt and the divorce thing actually, i remember it clearly beign a big deal when someone came along with a hyphenated name (like weird). The real actuall boom in babies only occured for about 7 years post war. i know she IS but my mum born 1953 does not identify her self as boomer citing "i was too young.. to be involoved with all that (relevent) stuff" younger than 16yrs. And some stats would put her into Gen Jones chohort. So lets not forget Gen jones in this debate- trailing edge "generations" are very usefull in clearing up this sort of debate. Again the ppl arguing above (1981s) are clearly IN the Mtv geneneration. (enough of my rant) Cilstr ( talk) 04:22, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
It is protected and no date is given for when it will be unprotected. What is this all about? I can see that there was some kind of debate (although I can't seem to understand what the debate was about) two weeks ago, so why is the article protected now? Is it because of the debate two weeks ago? JayKeaton ( talk) 06:38, 18 April 2008 (UTC)
Who is to say a source is accurate and if someone was not to come up with something in the first place you would have no source, you my friend are running in circular logic. Somewhere some how something has to be made up trusting "sources" (meaning you found someone else with the same opinion) still does not make something correct or incorrect. As George Carlin said "It's all Bull#$*& and it's bad for you" —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.182.127.159 ( talk) 16:58, 23 April 2008 (UTC)
I'm not "unwilling" to locate sources. A number of the most distinguished members of Gen X were listed with links to their bios. The dotcom companies founded by GenXers included links to these companies' histories. You have said that the list is "garbage" in a thread above. Why is it "garbage" to list the one Nobel laureate born since 1961? Why is it "garbage" to list some of the greatest entrepreneurs in history that are members of Gen X (such as Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Jerry Yang, and Divid Filo)? These are not trivial persons in history, and they exemplify a generation. This is really more important than the recitals of the criticisms leveled at Gen X by journalists and authors during the very early 1990s.
Moreover, what remains on the page is utterly trivial. All that is left is the opinions of poorly informed journalists and authors written over fifteen years ago, before most of the important events and achievements of the generation occurred. Why is it acceptable to allege that some author of little repute in 1991 accused GenX of "rampant political apathy," as opposed to discussing the anti-globalization protests and Free Tibet movement that flowered among GenXers during the rest of that decade? Mind you, references to the actual political movements were accompanied by links to the full Wiki articles, which in turn contained numerous outside references.
I have to agree with everybody else on this talk page that the "edit war" is merely one person's attempt to dominate a page with his opinions. 76.108.177.119 ( talk) 05:44, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
Maybe those involved should agree to step back for a while and let uninvolved editors take a go at it. Powers T 12:19, 29 April 2008 (UTC)
I had done a lot of work on this article (pre
Cumulus Clouds ) and as such i was most upset to see the article ripped to shreads with out a please or thank you. I lIKED the list important people. I think its an important reference (yes it made the article overly long but that could have been resolved). As For other thinngs
Cumulus Clouds says i also disagree with - numerous times in the (mass) media gen x has been refered to as apathetic- your own personal disregard for this -blanket- statment must only stem from the fact you are a hard working dilegnet gen x'er- thats Fine! Everyone must know that individuals dont really fit the sterotype- but thats beside the point. Get over it.! I'm not going into the research/pov/citing debate now, its too much effort! (hmm is that the gen x in me comming out- oops) at a latter date i may- it takes time- and i dont know how to fully access the edits i want to research- which thousanth edit woiuld i look at?? I'm sure i have hard copy newspaper articles that would clear most of this up. It jsut seems that
Cumulus Clouds is being overly nit picky and semantical (if thats a word). And hey, i also loved the generations table along the side too,! pah!
Cilstr (
talk)
04:36, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
All I see is the slashed page when this dispute began, with Cumulus Clouds giving blessings to go ahead and edit as usual. Give me a break! What has changed? You sit there and decry how pov this article is and all of original research, and it's ok for you to slash items, of mine at least, that I know were properly sourced. What about wiki policy concerning that? Isn't that vandalism? Mediator: I'm asking that you please make a call here for the sake those who properly contributed here. Bring back the unslashed page and go from there. Not everything was unsourced and trivia. And lets face it: if we resubmit our items as this page stands, the edit war will only continue with it's prompt removal by Cumulus Clouds saying it's "trivia", then I'll "keep complaining about it"!! Ledboots ( talk) 14:59, 16 May 2008 (UTC)
What's up with Cumulus? S/He continues to remove well-cited info and refuses to acknowledge the citations. Anybody out there that can explain the background here? I'm not going to continue to spend time sourcing this info if it continues to be removed. The goal was to be helpful but when my time is wasted by Her/His quick reverts I'm ready to move on. Thoughts? 24.98.135.148 ( talk) 18:34, 20 May 2008 (UTC)
Regardless of whether Strauss & Howe properly delineated their "13th Generation" and its association with Generation X, it's definitely the case that they identified it as 1961-1981, NOT 1965-1982 as currently in the article. In particular, the book Generations, listed as a reference for this assertion, definitely has it as 1961-1981. Can this be corrected? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Patrickbowman ( talk • contribs) 05:45, 9 June 2008 (UTC)
Hello, I'd like to second Patrick's correction of the Generation X birth years according to Strauss and Howe. I am one of the believers of the Gen Hist theory and can assert unequivocably that it's 1961-1981. Here is a verifying link to their official website: [2]
PLEASE CORRECT THIS!!!!! Thank you, Aimeslee Winans 6/27/08 15:29 27 June 2008 (UTC)
In view of the fact that "This page is currently protected, and can be edited only by administrators", this comment is on the talk page, instead of a ('be bold') edit to the article. The footnote [8] refers to an article, referenced by this ref tag: <ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,963617,00.html</ref> (at least, it was footnote [8] "as of" the date/time shown in the time stamp on this comment). One could add a name to that ref tag, and put another copy of it (does the copy having the URL have to come first?) up at the intro to the quote from Time Magazine, where it says << "The perception of Generation X during the late 1980s was summarized in a featured article in Time Magazine" >>. It seems wrong to me, that this intro is currently followed by a {{Fact|date=April 2008}} tag, which causes it to have a little superscript complaint reading " citation needed" right after the intro to the quote from Time Magazine, where it says << "The perception of Generation X during the late 1980s was summarized in a featured article in Time Magazine" >>. Why is a "[citation needed]"? Maybe someone forgot to remove the "[citation needed]" squawk (some time after adding it in April 2008?) once that footnote [8] had been added? (by someone else)? That is one theory. Actually, it probably could be checked, by looking at the history, but I am too lazy. Thanks for any help. Mike Schwartz ( talk) 18:46, 17 June 2008 (UTC)
LOL, is there any better summary? M0llusk ( talk) 01:56, 30 July 2008 (UTC)
If a comment is going to be made that Generation X is a generation that exists in many countries that spans from 1965 to about 1980, how about using a reference that states that? Ledboots ( talk) 23:49, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
Again - let's quote what the Time article says if it's going to be repeated here. The author of the article suggests the birth years are roughly born from 1965 - 1980, not exactly in 1965 to about 1980. Btw, that is the author's opinion of the Gen-X birth years; the YouTube vid (@6:54) shows Jeff Gardiner professing 1961 - 1977, or possibly 1961 - 1980. Ledboots ( talk) 18:37, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
Ok, do me a favor; show me where in the Time article the dates are quoted as you say they are. Because frankly, I'm not seeing it. As it stands, the meaning conveyed in the Time article, as I just mentioned above, is not saying quite the same thing as the meaning in this article, is it? The quote I see in the article is "roughly defined as anyone born between 1965 and 1980" not "born between 1965 and roughly 1980". To me that conveys two different meanings. Are you saying otherwise? Ledboots ( talk) 22:44, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
Then not to have any double standards as to what is proper or not, I insist! If you want anything more exacting, you'll have to use another source. Ledboots ( talk) 09:48, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
From what I know, those born after 1964 are NEVER considered Boomers.
~~Oregond00d~~ —Preceding unsigned comment added by OregonD00d ( talk • contribs) 20:30, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
This page is an archive of past discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page. |
The OED defines Gen X as those "born in the 1960's and 1970's. The Cambridge definition simply stated "early 1960's". There is no mention of 1965.
This is consistent with the Harvard definition, which, more specifically, lists a start date of 1961.
All three of these establishments are of course renowned for their stupidity, so I suppose we ought treat them with some cynicism. Bloomberg is probably a better source. (....?).
No, I'm not attaching links. This is all on Google. Hanoi Road ( talk) 22:25, 30 November 2019 (UTC)
Harvard Business Review defines Gen X as 1961/65 to 1979. You're right about Cambridge University (currently ranked in the top 5 universities in the world) probably not "being as authoritative as it sounds". Bloomberg is probably a better source. :) The OED does require a subscription (which I have), though they're kind enough to indulge the likes of you with a specific Google question, gratis. Nowhere in any reputable source does the 1965 figure appear. All recognise that the number likely starts from the early 1960's and none are prepared to be more specific. With good reason, I imagine. Hanoi Road ( talk) 00:38, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Nowhere in any reputable source does the 1965 figure appear." The article is full of reputable sources using that year. Kolya Butternut ( talk) 01:10, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
So, I guess that given all the variables, what makes you think that 1965 is universally accepted. Or accepted at all? It's clearly an imprecise science with no real expertise possible. Best to reflect that in the lede? Rather than defending obvious shit and ignoring the subtleties? Hanoi Road ( talk) 02:09, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Nowhere in any reputable source does the 1965 figure appear." This is patently false. The article is full of reputable sources. Kolya Butternut ( talk) 02:14, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
If you want to get into a source war, I can do a lot better than Bloomberg. The US statistics Office cites 1960 as a start point. Most Top 100 Universities (or relevant faculties therein) concede 1960 as the most accurate starting point, based on hard sociological research (Empirical data is clearly impossible in this case). However, your rag-tag of 1965+ "sources" does not bear serious scrutiny. Hanoi Road ( talk) 02:58, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
PS: As a Cambridge graduate (Clare College), let me assure you that the Cambridge corpus releases nothing under its name without full university approval. In other words, it is not a Forbes set-up, where anyone can chip in with impunity. Otherwise, it wouldn't be Cambridge. It would be Pig Knuckle College, Arkansas. Hanoi Road ( talk) 03:05, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Nowhere in any reputable source does the 1965 figure appear", but you have not discussed any of the sources in the article besides Bloomberg, which you have cherry-picked because you found it to be the least authoritative. It is clear you are not acting in good faith. Kolya Butternut ( talk) 03:21, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
NYT and The Washington Post obviously employ writers. A couple of them (probably copying each other) casually and without research mentioned 1965 in some article. These are not "sources", dude, any more than Bloomberg is. Cherry picking? Almost ALL of your sources are illiterate, re-hashed garbage, and to push your ridiculous agenda, you relegate the only REAL source (Strauss & Howe) to some sort of supplementary counter-argument when it is in fact the only reasoned case. When cornered, you then resort to indentation? Wiki procedure? Where's your dignity? I can't find a single other contributor on this talk page who agrees with anything you have to say. What does that tell you? Hanoi Road ( talk) 03:48, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Can't you help yourself. Really. Tell me this: Could you help yourself from not seeing the following major article as you were trawling the internet in search of support? So if quality broadsheets have the final say, where should this one go? "Smashing the Gen X Stereotype 1961-1981" Los Angeles Times. Hanoi Road ( talk) 12:32, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Rather than continuing to argue pointlessly, could the lede not be reworded along these lines: "Researchers and popular media typically use birth years around 1965-80 to define Generation X-ers, though others position the starting point for the group as early as 1961"? An Investopedia article I've just read uses 1961. Atlantic magazine uses 1961. The LA Times has used 1961.A whole raft of other, reputable sources acknowledge the differing views on the start year. So should this article, and it ought be stated in the lede. We can leave Strauss & Howe where they are, if you like. I can do it and provide the sources, though I don't have time today. That surely makes the thing more balanced.
Hanoi Road ( talk) 15:45, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Yes, I read your LA Times article, referenced. ("THE TRUE GREAT GENERATION"). In your stampede to get support, did you bother reading the piece? It cites 1961 as the start date for Gen X (....?). So...you know.... that sort of defeats your own case, I would have thought. If we're applying the age of articles as a factor, you've quoted Toch from 1984, Foot from 1996, Gross from 1990, and U. Wisconsin from 2003. The oldest of your sources was written thirty-five years ago. Sorry, but Wiki is not your personal playpen. I'm taking this elsewhere. Hanoi Road ( talk) 18:28, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
I have referred this mess to Admin. Hanoi Road ( talk) 18:40, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Admin has responded accordingly. And they made the right call. Hanoi Road ( talk) 21:11, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Fair enough. But I tried a collaborative idea earlier (which you implemented yourself) but it was shot down, and pretty much arbitrarily. And I am not the only one to get this response. Sometimes, courtesy just doesn't work. Hanoi Road ( talk) 21:36, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
No. Not always. Read the well-reasoned "Original Research" topic with another contributor. The responses are a facsimile of the ones I received. Anyone challenging Butternut would have received the same treatment. I agree with you in general on the courtesy issue. But when the responses consist of disrespectful, passive-aggressive evasion (and I can spot such tactics instantly), the courtesy has to stop. Thanks for your input. Really. Hanoi Road ( talk) 22:27, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
This makes me laugh. For days, you've resisted basic common sense. Only when brought to task do you start running around like Biff polishing McFly's far in Back to the Future 11. "Thank you, Mister Editor! Pleasure working with professionals, Sir! Thank you, Sir"!
Get out of my sight. Hanoi Road ( talk) 07:37, 2 December 2019 (UTC)
Yeah, I think we're done. The article is now correct. Hanoi Road ( talk) 12:00, 2 December 2019 (UTC)
Since there's so much fighting about the dates in the lead, here's what I think could be put there as a compromise:
"Researchers and popular media use the early-to-mid 1960s as starting birth years and the early 1980s as ending birth years, with 1965 to 1980 and 1961 to 1981 as widely accepted definitions."
Does this sound good?-- 98.235.178.140 ( talk) 02:10, 25 January 2020 (UTC)
The lead paragraph cites no independent, published source with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy. The lead paragraph states it is a "demographic cohort", with sociologic implications, and should be referenced accordingly. 73.10.6.239 ( talk) —Preceding undated comment added 20:10, 27 February 2020 (UTC)
It seems obvious that Generation X has been totally influenced by the Baby Boomer concept, the only generation the government defined and we were all force fed their definition. The front end Boomers have no cultural similarities with the back end Boomers whatsoever. The bracketing years of Generation X are so diverse, to try to nail it in this article, or even say "around" this year or that year, is the height of stupidity. So often a publication about Generation X will refer to Douglas Coupland giving them their name, when his definition is drastically different that what is stated in the publication! So, at the end of the day, it's just a lot of research with opinions that are biased from the start and have been repeated so often that everyone believes the lie. 2601:8D:500:5950:1D08:5FA4:F6D5:3861 ( talk) 03:22, 23 February 2020 (UTC)
This is Douglas Coupland's first published use of Generation X. The scanned magazine has been archived, but not the whole thing. As of this writing the citation links here. I think it would be better to link to the actual scanned images , but I'm not sure how best to do that. p. 164 p. 165 p. 167 p. 168 p. 169 The story is continued on p. 194, but this was apparently not scanned. Kolya Butternut ( talk) 01:22, 27 February 2020 (UTC)
More scans of the old articles: [4] Kolya Butternut ( talk) 01:55, 27 February 2020 (UTC)
Yet another US article seeing the USA as a template for the world. This whole idea doesn't work elsewhere. The dates would be different for people who grew up in Iron Curtain countries, because there would be a clear divide between those who grew up under Communism and those who didn't. No corresponding thing exists in the USA. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.205.241.82 ( talk) 07:40, 16 February 2020 (UTC)
This
edit request to
Generation X has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request. |
https://www.papercitymag.com/culture/generation-x-earns-respect-conronavirus-pandemic-stay-home/ 172.74.99.12 ( talk) 13:00, 28 March 2020 (UTC)
The following wording (under "Adjusting to a new societal environment") is pretty unclear: "Furthermore, 3 decades of growth came to an end and the unwritten social contract between employers and employees, which had endured during the 1960s and 1970s and scheduled to last until retirement was no longer applicable with, by the late 1980s, large-scale layoffs of Boomers, corporate downsizing and accelerated offshoring of production."
What is it supposed to mean?
86.120.209.121 ( talk) 10:12, 15 May 2020 (UTC)
Lead paragraph needs cleaning up. It is original research and sites no sources. Every other generational cohort follows that policy. Ledboots19 ( talk) 11:53, 9 May 2020 (UTC)
" Between 1970 and 1980, on average, for every 10 American citizens born, 3 were aborted.[52]"
Article references is not a functioning link. Commenter believes this statistical reference is FALSE. With no actual reference believes this sentence should be deleted and removed.
I updated the functioning link. Between 1970 and 1980, on average, the proportion is 3.38 over the period. Roughly for every 10 american citizens born, 3 were aborted.
Number of US Live births 1970-1980: 36,921,243 Reference: Live Births, Births Rates, and Fertility Rates, by Race, United States (1909-2003), 2003. Number of US Reported Abortions 1970-1980: 10,900,577 Reference: Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Abortion Surveillance: United States, 2005.
Year Live Births Abortions Reported 1970 3,731,386 193,491 1971 3,555,970 485,816 1972 3,258,411 586,760 1973 3,136,965 744,610 1974 3,159,958 898,570 1975 3,144,198 1,034,170 1976 3,167,788 1,179,300 1977 3,326,632 1,316,700 1978 3,333,279 1,409,600 1979 3,494,398 1,497,670 1980 3,612,258 1,553,890
FrenchScholar ( talk) 21:24, 18 June 2020 (UTC)
google trad- 08 yuli 2020 PCN Who are xennials? Between the X and Y generations of millennials, another was identified, that of the "young" born between 1977 and 1983. It is the Xennials, a small world (but not too much) that contains a hybrid generation, born and grew up in a world that is still analog, but which has adapted well to the use of digital technologies. The Xennials are the living symbol of ... (complete source). http://www.facemagazine.it/1977-1983-chi-sono-gli-xennial-la-generazione-migliore/?fbclid=IwAR0PMFjRsgJMMm36SbjZxsg-bREitxUPCEoDYOhoXP8M1aIWQYRjtLLOHtw in the italian version of the wikipedia the tree scheme is missing. I add the template ][\/][ 79.40.108.115 ( talk) 00:36, 9 July 2020 (UTC) {discussioni}
This
edit request to
Generation X has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request. |
Please change X - Some of the cultural influences on Gen X youth were the musical genres of grunge and hip hop music, and independent films.
To read Y - Some of the cultural influences on Gen X youth were the musical genres of: New Wave Music, Hard rock and heavy/glam metal, Alternative rock, Post-punk, Gothic rock, Heavy metal, Synthpop and hip hop music, and independent films. Other cultural influences included: .25 cent Video Game Arcades, the Sony Walkman, portable "Boom-Boxes" and VCR's. Stereotypes included: Populars, Preppies, Valley Girl, Yuppies, Jocks, Headbangers, and Goths. Skeauxsha ( talk) 00:44, 4 September 2020 (UTC) (I grew up during this time period. This is my first time suggesting an edit. I hope I did the correctly. Thank You)
The millennial Wikipedia page confirms this. It needs to be corrected but the page is locked for some reason. It needs to be corrected. There are countless articles that make the dates of each generation clear! Please correct this. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/generation-x-genx.asp — Preceding unsigned comment added by Whatplop ( talk • contribs) 17:28, 16 March 2020 (UTC)
I just want to add that it is absolutely moronic that the universally accepted definition of generation X for my entire lifetime has suddenly changed to meld the historical Generation X with Millennials, all because some idiot on Wikipedia, who probably has an underlying agenda, has been able to pick a fight that only a handful of people can participate in 24.168.17.179 ( talk) 22:04, 27 May 2020 (UTC)
Sorry but the defining factor is the range of years someone would turn 18 in that generation not 20 or 21. With Generation X being first born in 1973 and ending in 1982. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2604:CB00:284:8600:C8C2:7BC6:AC6F:4FE8 ( talk) 19:50, 11 October 2020 (UTC)
This
edit request to
Generation X has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request. |
Please change X - Some of the cultural influences on Gen X youth were the musical genres of grunge and hip hop music, and independent films.
To read Y - Some of the cultural influences on Gen X youth were the musical genres of: New Wave Music, Hard rock and heavy/glam metal, Alternative rock, Post-punk, Gothic rock, Heavy metal, Synthpop and hip hop music, and independent films. Other cultural influences included: .25 cent Video Game Arcades, the Sony Walkman, portable "Boom-Boxes" and VCR's. Stereotypes included: Populars, Preppies, Valley Girl, Yuppies, Jocks, Headbangers, and Goths. References: https://www.presstelegram.com/2015/12/28/grunge-rap-music-movements-of-the-early-1990s-became-gen-xs-soundtrack/ https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/mar/05/top-five-generation-x-anthems — Preceding unsigned comment added by Together against gender bias ( talk • contribs) 17:09, 23 October 2020 (UTC)
This review makes the case that the term is centrally a reference to a literary generation, akin to the Lost and Beat Generations: OI: https://doi.org/10.3384/cu.2000.1525.113455 Kdammers ( talk) 06:24, 1 February 2021 (UTC)
When I first heard of "Generation X", many years ago, it was stated that the X is the Roman numeral for the number ten, as it signifies the tenth generation of Americans born since the Revolutionary War, or the birth of the republic. That would be roughly correct, using 20 years for each generation. But somehow that got lost through the years, as people used the X as a letter rather than a number, and started referring to gen Y, and gen Z, which really does not make any sense at all. Can we please get some clarification about this? John Paul Zenger ( talk) 15:06, 10 February 2021 (UTC)
I added in a subsection under Date and age range definitions noting the subdivision of Generation X into Atari and Nintendo waves (basically those Xers born 1965 to 1970 and those born 1970 to 1980), but Some1 reverted as WP:UNDUE due to one source (Howe). Howe and Strauss did make the delineation, but I don't think the removal is valid. It's a distinction that's in the literature, admittedly usually connected to Howe and Strauss, but that doesn't make it WP:UNDUE. The first ref below is the one used; the rest were others found in a quick search.
Any comments or objections to adding back in language about the Atari wave and Nintendo wave delineation, either as a separate subsection or in some other manner? Carter ( talk) 00:56, 12 March 2021 (UTC)
in determining proper weight, we consider a viewpoint's prevalence in reliable sources, not its prevalence among Wikipedia editors or the general public.Strauss and Howe came up with the subdivisions and that's mentioned in the article, but giving more details such as the names and descriptions ("Reagan/Clinton era", etc.) is giving it undue weight. Relevant section of WP:DUE:
Undue weight can be given in several ways, including but not limited to depth of detail, quantity of text, prominence of placement, juxtaposition of statements and use of imagery.Some1 ( talk) 02:40, 13 March 2021 (UTC)
The article is very focused on Generation X in the USA, appropriating the concept that was born as references from UK and Canada. The subtitle "Generation X Internationally" listing countries other than the USA is also inappropriate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ddbon ( talk • contribs) 05:53, 9 February 2021 (UTC)
Then please amend the narrative. I have done as much as I can. FrenchScholar ( talk) 14:54, 31 March 2021 (UTC)
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Remove line stating millennials are the children of gen x. The youngest millennial is born 1980. The oldest gen x in 1965. That would make the first millennials the children of 15 year olds, at best. I hope math is good enough Other data: gen x ave age to have children was closer to 30. Older boomers the same. See Wikipedia article noting boomers as parents of late gen x AND millennials. Boomers were a big group! 174.88.94.84 ( talk) 21:20, 23 April 2021 (UTC)
It appears that on and after 5 March 2019, there were a lot of edits that seem to have had the intention, and the effect, of de-emphasizing definitions of Generation X that have a starting birth year other than 1965. The edits in question include:
Due to edits such as the above, it appears that the article is now far less NPOV around the issue of the Generation X date range than it was in February 2019. My proposal is to restore what was lost (in terms of both content and formatting/emphasis), without losing anything useful added since then. -- HLachman ( talk) 10:00, 22 February 2021 (UTC)
I have noticed this drift as well. Recently, an "I am Generation X" meme has been circulating on Facebook that had the dates starting at 1965, I thought "that's not right" and came to Wikipedia and it certainly wasn't the page I remember. I think it ironic that you have a picture of Douglas Coupland in the entry, author of Generation X and lauded as the spokesperson of his generation...who was born in 1961. I endorse this proposal. Actsasgeek ( talk) 15:22, 26 February 2021 (UTC)
Then please amend the narrative. FrenchScholar ( talk) 14:55, 31 March 2021 (UTC)
In relation to de-emphasizing definitions of Generation X that have a starting birth year other than 1965, I think this recent statement by Douglas Coupland from May 14, 2021 should be included. "But people my age are used to leftovers. It’s the curse of being Gen X." <www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-astrazeneca-fiasco-is-the-latest-example-of-the-gen-x-curse/> I think that this might be important to include in defining the starting birth year of Generation X as 1961 given that he was the creator of the term, and see himself, born in 1961, as being Gen X. Pauly7771 ( talk) 15:35, 15 May 2021 (UTC)
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Change the years for Generation X from 1965 to 1980 to 1965 to 1981 2600:1007:B104:6EF4:64C7:7F22:FBB0:D9FA ( talk) 02:51, 21 June 2021 (UTC)
Page currently states "Between 1970 and 1980, on average, for every 10 American citizens born, 3 were aborted.[56]"
The citation it links to paints a different picture of the data. That study also indicates that the CDC data used in the chart on the page is problematic.
The language of "for every 10 American citizens born, 3 were aborted" is against page guidelines. The page is intended to be neutral, but the language implies that 3 "citizens" were aborted. Roe v. Wade concluded that there is not enough expert consensus that life begins at conception. Therefore, labeling the procedure as aborting US Citizens carries a bias.
Morefromalan ( talk) 18:06, 21 June 2021 (UTC)
> For those on the left of the political spectrum, the disappointments with the previous boomer student mobilizations of the 1960s and the collapse of those movements towards a consumerist "greed is good" and "yuppie" culture during the 1980s felt, to a greater extent, hypocrisy if not outright betrayal. Hence, the preoccupation on "authenticity" and not "selling-out". The end of communism and the socialist utopia with the fall of the Berlin Wall, moreover, added to the disillusionment that any alternative to the capitalist model was possible.
Extremely biased to anti-left. - Espírito Espectral ( talk) 14:39, 26 June 2021 (UTC)
"I am not under any orders to make the world a better place" - Troy, played by Ethan Hawke, in the GenX cult classic movie Reality Bites [1] summarizes the perceived apathy of the generation. Jennybholt ( talk) 21:57, 6 July 2021 (UTC)
References
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The original root meaning behind the term Generation X was to describe the 10th generation of people born in North America after its 'discovery' and permanent settlement by the 'Pilgrims' arriving on the Mayflower. This was arrived at using the approximation of 35 years between each generation depending on birth cycles. 76.67.125.61 ( talk) 08:51, 17 July 2021 (UTC)
Who wrote this and chose these years? Obviously not a kid from the 80s. I was actually there when the term GenX was coined. It was the media's way to describe the sudden violent shift from happy 80s kids wearing florescent shirts, LA Gear with 3 sets of laces and trading Garbage Pail Kids, to the 90s angsty hate your parents grunge and flannel rage against the machine kids. 1965-1980 was NEVER classified and pushing "GenX" back to make someone's chart nice and tidy is a disservice to us that are in those years. You can't be 30yrs old and suddenly get labeled with tweeners that hate the world with a term that was just thought up.
There's never been such a violent shift in youth mentality as the 80s to 90s and to lump them together in a 35 year span is insulting at best. The fact you can tell the difference in "GenX" and "80s kids" proves my point. Zodwraith ( talk) 11:21, 24 September 2021 (UTC)
GenX was a mentality, not a date on your driver's license. Zodwraith ( talk) 11:23, 24 September 2021 (UTC)
Can you please add a nickname for Gen X as being the Jilted Generation? (i.e., Music for the Jilted Generation) 2601:800:C200:6F50:0:0:0:7F39 ( talk) 15:56, 8 April 2022 (UTC)
I’m born in 1983, I was a latchkey kid and I’m Generation X! Not a millennial! 174.214.0.57 ( talk) 03:50, 25 December 2021 (UTC)
Naw bruh you're a millennial, you were more then likely 10 years old when cobain died. and you graduated in the 2000's... You're not even close to gen x, hell 1980 seems kind of laughable as gen x, should be late 70's as the latest. — Preceding
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47.152.138.8 (
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17:21, 6 January 2022 (UTC)
When does Gen Y stop and Gen Z begin? Because I'm pretty young and seriously want to know if I'm at least a Gen Y. 2601:800:C200:6F50:0:0:0:7F39 ( talk) 15:57, 8 April 2022 (UTC)
while increasing genrefication of music has also not been addressed, changes in music technology must be included in this article including sequencing and sampling. a review of the klf "the manual", the akai s1000 and the 1988 "summer of love" is suggested before editing. the opening paragraph shows a derisible bias towards guitar based genres which is irresponsible in that hiphop is certainly the most notable contemporary evolution. the developing state of intellectual property is a key issue for generation x. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:8800:7004:FE00:3CF4:C4F1:E6A4:63EB ( talk) 18:05, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
Hip Hop and Rap need to be added please
2601:8C0:427F:3BD0:5525:7B81:1FB9:8A3F (
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18:56, 15 January 2022 (UTC)
New Wave/Top 40 (MTV music) and Hair Metal need to be added, please. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 159.218.3.202 ( talk) 00:03, 18 January 2022 (UTC)
In the section about health (at least in regard to the US) I think it might be relevant that many of the working poor lacked health insurance and were unlikely to have access to thorough preventative care during a time when healthcare became increasingly for profit.
Fast food and food deserts may also be a factor, however as a former grocery store employee I noticed far better options from the late 1990s to the present. Then again, there's also diner foodie culture (donut burgers, bacon on everything, ranch dressing everywhere) that is I suppose a reaction to the health food and exercise culture, and possibly had an impact on diabetes and heart disease.
I'd also like to know how income factors into this. Not all of us were tech geniuses, grunge musicians, etc. Many of us went from nametag job to nametag job, where we had no vacation time, sick leave, and schedule flexibility, while raising children and/or caring for elders. Stress from precarity may be a factor in health outcomes for this part of the cohort (which I'd argue spans generations).
It surprised me to see no mention of health care availability or environmental pollution and a bigger emphasis on the health stats of people already forced into the health care system because of what appears to me to be lack of preventative care access, leading to early deaths from treatable disease. Laurelpo71 ( talk) 02:04, 18 August 2022 (UTC)
According to George Masnick of Harvard University, Gen X runs from 1965 to 1984 SOURCE. I think this should at least be mentioned. MorphinESTP ( talk) 10:23, 19 August 2022 (UTC)
Gen X is 1965-1980. This is a fact. Correct it and remove Harvard ridiculous citation.
}} 172.114.230.38 ( talk) 09:04, 13 November 2022 (UTC)
I was born in the first week of 1981 and am definitely Gen X (got my first cell phone at age 30). Many sources say Gen Xers either came of age or graduated high school before 2000. This seems much more pointed than making 1980 the cut off. Please update the page to 1981. Donkeyoattea ( talk) 18:41, 26 August 2022 (UTC)
There are way too many mentions of the authors. Suggest we remove nearly all. Wakelamp d[@-@]b ( talk) 00:34, 17 November 2022 (UTC)
The article mentions many things that are very specific to American people. Politics, economy, drugs and culture are all almost exclusively about the American experience. Even if this article is aimed at the English speaking west it still makes large assumptions about the experience of American people being similar or the same as people in other countries. The time period where this takes place had significantly less hegemony than modern times as it was pre internet and there was significantly less crossover in media than current times 92.26.113.143 ( talk) 09:33, 26 November 2022 (UTC)
break dancing, also called breaking and B-boying, energetic form of dance, fashioned and popularized by African Americans and Latinos. Not just African dance as is stated here. This was the dance and music of the inner city which was predominantly black and Latino. 2601:19B:800:6DD0:0:0:0:1B90 ( talk) 15:26, 10 January 2023 (UTC)
Maybe I missed it, but I saw no mention of the Cold War with Russia, and the threat of nuclear war, we Gen Xers grew up with. My homework assignment in the Fifth grade one day was to watch, “The Day After” (referencing life after a nuke bomb struck) on television. In 7th grade we were assigned a book to read titled, “Z for Zachariah”, more nuclear war survival subject matter for young minds. This was a palpable, impactful, part of the Gen X experience, in my opinion. WelliJ ( talk) 18:47, 25 February 2023 (UTC)
"The almost universal dismantling of the grammar school system in Great Britain during the 1960s and the 1970s meant that the vast majority of the cohort attended secondary modern schools, relabelled comprehensive schools."
Both grammar and secondary modern schools became comprehensive schools, where these reforms were made. So the article would better read as:
"The almost universal dismantling of the grammar school system in Great Britain during the 1960s and the 1970s meant that the vast majority of the cohort attended comprehensive schools.
Editing of this section is locked. Bronxrichie ( talk) 09:51, 10 March 2023 (UTC)
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The graph of countries demographics has only 4 plots but 5 subjects.it shows, us, Canada, Europe, Australia NZ, world as subjects but Canada is not plotted? The colours are also difficult to read. 2604:3D09:3F7F:B200:FD04:C7A4:E5BE:920E ( talk) 18:25, 10 September 2023 (UTC)
How can you list those genre's of music and NOT include rap/hip hop? It's been the most influential genre of the past 40 years, think how small it began and is now enjoyed by several ethnicities all over the world!! 2603:9001:9E3F:8B93:CCC0:C751:F3FD:C4C6 ( talk) 00:12, 1 October 2023 (UTC)
1965 to 1984 George Masnick of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies puts Generation X in the time-frame of 1965 to 1984, in order to satisfy the premise that boomers, Xers, and millennials "cover equal 20-year age spans".
Also Generation X was about marketing both in North America and the rest of the world. 100.34.234.175 ( talk) 03:16, 31 August 2023 (UTC)
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1965-1984. Generations technically span 20 years. Citing Harvard. Current description was edited to only reflect pew research dates.
https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/defining-the-generations-redux 173.69.7.200 ( talk) 00:18, 25 October 2023 (UTC)
Not done for now: please establish a
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PianoDan (
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With the generation being generally defined as people born from 1965 to 1980. From the sentence above. I’m requesting to have the ending year 1980 changed back to 1984. It was showing 1984 before on Wikipedia. George Masnick from Harvard supports this. I believe that 1984 should be the last year of Generation X. Below is a web address discussing this in detail.
https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/defining-the-generations-redux/ Crc1984 ( talk) 23:04, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
Rightfully redirects here; the expression should be mentioned somewhere on the page. Drsruli ( talk) 20:29, 13 December 2023 (UTC)
Ah, I had missed it. Drsruli ( talk) 01:53, 17 December 2023 (UTC)
Why is this Generations Sidebar
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Social generations of the Western world |
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not visible in the mobile version? Espoo ( talk) 11:20, 30 December 2023 (UTC)
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ADD LINK TO MILLENIAL WIKIPEDIA PAGE ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials) TO MILLENIAL COHORT REFERENCE IN FIRST PARAGRAPH OF GENERATION X PAGE HMLandry ( talk) 18:50, 18 January 2024 (UTC)
There are evidence from multiple other strong sources saying the Generation X cohort were born between 1965 and 1983. I have those sources listed in my documents on Work 365, but before using them on Wikipedia there needs to be consensus because there is major controversy over the end date of the Generation X cohorts' birth dates. Can we have discussions about whether to include sources like that here on this Wikipedia, please everybody? I need consensus prior to including controversial references here on EnWiki. Angela Kate Maureen Pears 15:34, 26 January 2024 (UTC)
This changing the years stuff really needs to stop. Maybe you wouldn’t have to lock the editing if users didn’t keep putting their opinion in the page. Generations always spanned 20 years, and that’s the way it is. Gen X IS 1965-1964. Anything else is OPINION and recent. That can be added, but instead, you’re putting opinion as the consensus and saying facts are “vandalism”.
This is a quote from an older book and Harvard studies on generations.
‘Those years would be 1945–1964 Boomers, 1965–1984 Gen X, 1985–2004 Millennials/Gen Y. The 20 year scale has been the standard, it is only recently that others have come out with varying scales.’ 173.69.7.200 ( talk) 22:34, 11 February 2024 (UTC)
This is just kinda ridiculous. This whole entry should be relying on scholarly articles. 2604:3D09:D78:1000:7A9F:15B2:D016:1D91 ( talk) 05:29, 8 March 2024 (UTC)
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People born in the latter half of the Baby Boomers from the mid 50s to the early years of Generation X are sometimes called Generation Jones SoFusstBoutFacts ( talk) 03:03, 11 March 2024 (UTC) [1] [2]
References
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I've removed the "Comments by Generation X Writers" section, as it simply mirrored text from an article in The Independent, and thus a copyright infringement. -- Gyrofrog (talk) 13:38, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
I do not think that people born during the time MTV first aired would be in the MTV generation. Actually if I recall that was a slang used to describe teens that were watching MTV when it first came on. Also, becasue of that, Pepsi tried to coin the Pepsi Generation thing. No The MTV Generation was created by the media and should be removed.
YES"....Your right, MTV Generation is in fact to describe the core of the Gen X, in that if you were in the school system k-12 and College aged then you are the MTV generation. In Summer 1981 MTV started those children are theat generation I'm 38 and I was in seventh grade. So I know this term and it is quite acurate as any one who in in their mid to late thirties can tell you we say it's birth just like we saw the birth of the home computer. So I think it means to speak to those most core X-ers who were the actual teens of the 80's. I think some have just included (right or wrong) those younger Xers who may have always had' Mtv on the tube. Not sure but you are correct in your notation, still in this designation one can in fact can include the younger sibs...of x-ers. I define it in general terms that it can be a designation for all' those school aged children & youth ages 5-18 who only grew up with it's inception in the eighties. Which in reality is itself a pretty selective group now ages 30-45. As far as the flop of the Pepsi generation;...they tried to make very generation the the Pepsi generation..it was a marketing ploy they used from the 50's on to the 90's it just did not work with us because we were the target of the the cola wars...remember Old Coke was the New Coke...arrgg (ha). This commentary is pretty right on, even though it is my opinion. From Martin WA State.
I couldn't help but notice that in the generation succession at the end of the article, 1974 is omitted! I probably wouldn't have noticed, except that's the year I was born (lol). I have always considered myself a Gen X-er even though the beginings/ends of generations are definitely blurry (when does the "Baby Boomer" generation really end and when does "Generation Y" really begin?). From what I have learned, '74 is far to young to be a Baby Boomer, yet far too old to be Gen Y. Who really knows what the generation "boundaries" are anyway? There probably isn't a strict boundary really. They seem to phase from one to the next over the course of several (three? five? seven?) years. And then there's all the "sub-generations" (MTV Generation, etc) filling in the "gaps" maybe? I've always been taught that I'm either middle or late Gen X. Anyway, just wanted to bring up the 1974 omission. No big deal really, just something interesting to think about... J —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikicali00 ( talk • contribs) 03:22, 31 August 2007 (UTC)
Due you are and Xer' anyon in their 30's is a gimme'..anyway 74 is always included most often especially when most historians go to 1981'. There is no doubt you are all X.' 76 is when the birth rates began to rise again so even at a conservative assesment you wouls be X. Sometimes years are not listed but it does not mean it was not pivitol, I have nieces and nephews born then or near and they remember much of what I do growing up they were just the younger tikes. So you are in the heart of X, just think of it this way you are only a year older than another X-er Drew Barrymore born Feb 22, 1975. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 02:54, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
First came the "Boomers," those who benefitted from the post-war (World War II) economic boom. Author Douglas Coupland describes, as best as I can recall, Genertion X as those who came after the Boomers — those born in the shadow of the baby boom generation. I think the usual mistake made in defining generations is that a line is drawn at the beginning and end of a birth bell curve. From an economic impact perspective, the real impact occurs when a generation enters the workforce at age 18.
In other words, if we accept that Boomers enjoyed the fruits of the post-World War II economic boom (cheap higher education, affordable housing, and abundant quality jobs) then we're really talking about those born between 1945 and 1954, with those on the leading eddge of the curve (1945-1950) enjoying the greatest advantage. I would propose that Generation X (those born in the shadown of the Boomers who struggled with skyrocketing education costs, unaffordable housing and "McJobs") really belong to the 1955-1964 cycle. It's interesting that Coupland characterizes Gen-X as those born after 1963 when he, himself, was born in 1961. So he is really right in the center of my proposed definition of Gen-X.
When the media talks about Boomers, they are usually characterized as those who were teenagers in the 1960s; with the free love movement, Vietnam War, a particular style of "rock" music probably best associated with the Beatles, and a major social rebellion in the acceptance of casual drug use. Having been born in late 1956 (almost 1957) I have nothing in common with the Boomer generation. I had to register for the draft, but we had pretty much pulled out of Vietnam by 1974 when I turned 18. Most of my "teen" years were in the early 1970s, so the Beatles are about as foreign to my "teenage soundtrack" experience as, say, Bing Crosby. The cost of a college education was just starting to escalate out of proportoin to its ROI when I graduated in 1979. By then, I could not afford to buy a house on one income, as the Boomer's generation had done. And I had to settle for inferior jobs because the Boomers got to the good jobs first. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Paulboswell ( talk • contribs) 22:02, 5 September 2007 (UTC)
Hello'...for the person who graduated in 74, you are a Boomer (NO Doubt) you are sooo 70's in fact you were in a disco no doubt. X-ers knew the death of disco and remember the records being broken and later the inception of walkmans and video arcades. These markers are not really in dispute, I have Boomer bros and sisters you are in the Rowe/Wade, Vietnam and Hippie demise era. Generation Jones are those whom were the teens in the very late 70's (78-80) some may or may not identify with boomers it can depend, these were the Grease and Close Encounters....kids'-simple. It is unfortuante that those graduating 78-80 are in between but that always happens in every generational shift. Generation Jones really only encompases a few years and most often is Gen X encompases them as the older or elder of Gen X, Barak Obama would be in that camp. Just think of it as 61-81 is X, that is the best understanding: After JKennedy and to the sunrise of Regan era; Gen X were in fact the Regan generation our parents were those from the Greatest generation (the last of the large families) and those young parents of the 60/early 70's who where Boomers. Author martin cline. wa
GENERATION X was and is the "Antidote" to the Boomers. We exist to remind them that their time is over and ideals failed or at least was not based in truisms or morality but humanism. We were those children that resulted or were the little brothers and sisters of those who were Boomers. We inherited the sexual revolution with "Safe Sex" montra's, Condoms and Anti-Drug campaigns. Instead of Tie die we had the "Izod" and breakdancing. It is best to think of anyone born after the Kennedy asassination and to the Regan revolution as Generation "X". In reality we are the most education generation and saw the major world change and the rise of the internet. Be glad' if you know Footloose, ET, Raiders, Breakfast Club, Star Wars, Jaws and the first walkman you are an "X"er. Our desire for relationships, authenticity and upward mobility is a unique mix. Author Martin Cline —Preceding
unsigned comment added by
24.19.99.40 (
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19:57, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
Yes that is true but you must see that Drew Barrymore and Barak Obama are all X-ers, so it is just a reality of scope and demographic context. It is a bit big; your movie reference may be eluding to generation Jones' which in fact are the oldest of our group they actually were teens in the very late seventies and early eighties. So Tom Cruise and as you mentioned Micheal J Fox would be in that lot. But the core are in their mid to late 30's now, so when I speak of movies and historical markers those of us who actually in Junior High or Highschool when Ferris Bueller, Breakfast Club or Top gun were out are just claiming that we were the Regan kids-genration. M-TV began in the summer of 81 and home computers began being intergrated into homes and schools for the first time in the years to follow it took some time though. Companies like Google and Facebook were created by this generation. Yes as kids some played pong, Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Mario and later Doom. So some will vary on an end or age point but mainly the age range stands at about 26.5-47 at it's widest if you are in your 30's and 40's your the heart of X not getting around it. Anyone under age 26 is in no way a X-er but Y they had way more advancments but we were the fist kids to get the slower versions, ha. But this led to the dot-com boom/bust and boom. So You are right when you say that you are much like Y but some would say that you are just in the tale end of the X. Gen Y are 25.5 years (born after 1981) old to 13. We had Madonna, Y had Brittney. Still the Millenials (Class of 2000) are 12 and under and have Myli or whatever..? You get it. Author martin cline :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 00:11, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
This is all too specific and too ideological a definition of Gen X to be useful. While some people in our generation view the Baby Boom achievements of Civil Rights, the Free Speech Movement and the Sexual Revolution as successful, others do not. If you want to paint a sharp division, it would probably be most useful to note the point at which American men no longer feared conscription. This produced a profound change in the outlook of US youth toward their country. It was the fear of conscription that made Vietnam such a passionate cause amongst members of the elder generation, and made them so anti-establishment. Our generation was a bit more measured and realistic in its political outlook. Nonetheless, Gen X inherited and expanded on many of the Boomer's achievements. Amongst Gen Xers it is almost universally accepted that racial segregation and discrimination is unacceptable, whereas the Baby Boomers were split on the issue. We are the oldest generation to accept open gays as members of society, although our generation is somewhat split on the issue. We are the first generation to return to urban life, after the Baby Boomers abandoned the cities for fear of race riots. 76.108.177.119 ( talk) 14:13, 14 March 2008 (UTC)N. Landau
The coming problems in the USA, especially, are a direct result of the Gen X being so small...the Boomers will reap what they did NOT sow...that is, they didn't want to have kids when they SHOULD HAVE, they thought of me, me, me (despite being SOOO in love with socialism as a concept), and that they would be young and live forever, both impossible...NOW, Social Security is going to go belly up, OR the Gen Xers and GenYers are going to get taxed into oblivion to pay for it...the culture that the Boomers know and love WILL perish along with them...People need to know, it's OK to have more than 1 or 2 kids, its OK to have those kids when you are young enough to have the energy to properly raise them and discipline them, and its OK to know that some day you will be gone (as will we all), so what and who are you leaving behind to take care of things and carry on?...Sad, sad Boomers, I will not mourn you the way I am mourning the loss of the Greatest Generation, they gave YOU the WORLD and look what you have done with it!...thanks for nothing but the MUSIC! —Preceding
unsigned comment added by
153.24.73.60 (
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22:03, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
This article drones on about America and puts everything in a US perspective. Generation X is a global theory. I'm gen X and do not have any post 9/11 fears or over protective parenting habits - get over it and stop being so US centric. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.231.146.140 ( talk) 12:51, 27 September 2007 (UTC)
This is very true and is especially true of this attempting to make "grunge" music a defining feature of Generation X. That may have perhaps been the case in America but it was nowhere near as important in Britain (the rest of Europe?)with the acid house/rave/dance scene(call it what you will)being far more influential and of greater cultural importance amongst those of this generation in Britain. In the light of how this defined such a high proportion of British youth I'd set the parameters for Generation X as to include those born between 1963 and 1973 or those who aged 15-25 when it all kicked off in 1988.
This is the Wikipedia. Pretty much every article could be summed up by your phrase "America, America, America, me, me, me". 80.254.147.52 16:28, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
Because this is en.wikipedia, if you are an Xer from an English-speaking country other than America, feel free to add your own section! Ledboots 13:55, 9 November 2007 (UTC)
YOU' both are VERY right, it actually is a context of demograhic realities that was reported on in several other countries before the US picked up on it. Canada, Europe and some of Asia I believe....but people are forgetting that there is always some lag years between generations. So some need to realize generation Jones...(look it up)! Are just those whom are often forgotten they usually are split up into either Boomers or X-ers becuase they were the kids of the very late seventies into about 81'. Nevertheless it is easiest to make the distinction after Kennedy to Regan or to the fall of the Cold war? This is not rocket science and anyway the Millenials 12-under are already being marketed to so this is not a very eath changing discussion it is just about historical markers and demographics. I could tell the shift when freinds went of the air (thank God) even though the actors are all my age Jennifer Anniston looks great for 38..almost 39. We have grown up now and have been for about ten years people need to move one. And oh yes please let churches home and youth groups know that Gen x-ers are all well over 25 years of age now. In fact Gen Y is already entered college..hello'. martin —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 00:20, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
BTW, this article should still be tagged "globalize" or "globalize/US". I would do it if it wasn't protected. arny ( talk) 03:33, 28 April 2008 (UTC)
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BetacommandBot 09:41, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
Pulling from an article I read by Robbin Kirkland and Olivia Sheehan from the Centers for Osteopathic Research & Education, I would like to see more discussion on the Silent Generation. This birth cohort was born between 1925-1942. They generally had large families and considered it natural. They married early and lived during the great depression. About 95% of them are now retired. Kirkchenry ( talk) 03:27, 27 November 2007 (UTC).
I do realize that this is an article about Generation X. However, I have not been able to find a higher level article about Birth Cohorts or Generations. If anybody can provide me guidance on that issue it would be appreciated. Also, there is the GI or WWI generation and the Millennial Generation. Although I haven't searched for all of these, I have not really found the right information. Kirkchenry ( talk) 03:32, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
Honeslty I'm intrigued by your question and I will try to help. The first way to guage or put skin on this generation is to add 18 year to the dates you ascribed. This will help identify the years of formation and the years of highshool and generational independence. As a demographic I would also look at the Presidents, Social Programs and Celebraties of this time. This at first glance seems to be a great opportunity to learn more about this special segment. Honeslty I think this is a very important generation as they actually would be the Korean war generation which really is just the end of the Greatest generation, they would have been their little brothers and sisters. There was some jelousy between those in the 50's and those in the 40's from some movies if you really look as they try to define themselves, the Movie rebel without a cause highlights this. But what may make you more excited is that this is the American Grafitti polulation, Buddy Holly, Doris Day...Lucy'. My Guess is that Elvis was born in this timefame. This is not a forgotten genration just a bit eclipsed. But they were the parents of at least half of the Boomers. My guess is that this generation saw a rise in womens issues, racial and gender issues. Also this is the BEAT generation...easily studied and musically very important mabye the most important to date. You may want to read the book Generation's it was published about 1991. It was really the original book that helped to begin this discussion all over about labeling generations. martin cline response author-good luck —Preceding
unsigned comment added by
24.19.99.40 (
talk)
01:18, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
im born in 1977 growing up i always thought of myself as generation x wore alot of flannel shirts from round about 92-97 lol, according to this article i am but if you look at the gen y it says people born as early as 1975 are gen y,i dont know what i am anymore,i dont know all the in and outs about generation things but all i know is i was a kid in the 80's a teenager in the early and mid 90's, so what am i i always though anyone born 1965 -1981 was Gen. X than i guess anyone born from 1982 to 1998 Gen. Y or sometimes it seems like gen y is trying to make itself to big by tryin to include people born in the 70's and gen xers trying to make their generation to exclusive by trying to eliminate those born in 80,or 81,-- Mikmik2953 22:36, 2 December 2007 (UTC)
To the previous bloggers'....77 and 79' you are both x's sorry. Although I and others may be able to make a case for the 79 being a Y'. First to speak to the 1977 person. The 77' blogger is an easy one because you are already 30's sorry no resercher will claim someone already 30 is a Y'. You may be just feeling your age but you actually are the best age now dont feel bad about that, it is a better demographic. If you have some concept of saturday morning TV and Night rider....you are an X-er even though you were in elementary when I was in Highschool. MY nephew was born in 76 and he loves to talk about the old school days of the 90's. I have nieces born in 78 and they would consider themselves x-ers maybe younger but can remember care bears, cabbage patch and the like plus they can sing some of the 80' tunes. They graduated the year of clueless and even Alicia silverstone is 30 so you are in my research a X-er. Although you are RIGHT- you do have more in common with Y so you could be the first Y's and to some researchers you may be. But in my study and memory, 81 is the best cut off. But you are right in that you can claim or go either way (X/Y) in this discussion. I would say X to be safe because you are still in the seventies and so politically you were born under a set of circumstances that maybe you were not aware of but still defines you and your parents. You really are just the babies of the X. So you get to choose but I still say X manly becuase you knew a less technical time then your sibling that means you have shown your age.' Just think 62-82 and that is the most liberal set of years in this silly discussuion, actually a generation is only really about 14 years or so. Many books would say 64-78....are the only true X-ers, even 66-75. In that way Y may on some level apply to that first person. You can easily monitor your context of generation by matching yourself with a current same aged celeb or look at the president during your teen years this is the easiest way to tell. Others will be able to tell you as well even when you cannot not decide. But I say include those till 1981 because the political change that happened after that, in the 80's is not often desputed. good luck...martin
Thanks for the interesting analysis Martin, but I must respectfully disagree. The first two commenters are onto something. I was born in 1978, so I can identify with both of them. We belong to both X and Y and neither at the same time. Generations do not have a hard cutoff, so anyone born roughly from 77-84 was stuck in a transitional gap between X and Y. This is supported by birth data since it was at an unusual low during this period. I've found that I have a lot in common with people in this time period, but anyone outside of this gap is a typical X or Y. My best friend is only 5 years older than I am, and he's definitely a typical X, although a young one. My brother was born in 1982, and he has the same issues. My youngest brother of course was born in 1990, and he's definitely a Y. My parents were boomers that actually had kids while they were young, which was atypical of that generation, but I'm also an unusual case. We're 80s kids, 90s teens, and 9/11 era 20 somethings. Old enough to remember things before high technology took over (80s), but young enough to be early adopters (90s). There was some interesting information here on Wikipedia about us being a "lost" group. They called us the "XY Cusp" or "XY Gappers". Of course, this was deleted because it was "original research." Well, the problem is that there IS no research on us because we're a lost group. No one really cares about us since we're such a small group. They just don't see us as being worth the time or energy to market any crap to us, so we just remain forgotten. Yorath ( talk) 01:54, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
Why is "Dakota Fanning" who was born in _1994_ included in this section of this article (which is clearly about the generation born 1960s to early 80's)? This must have been a joke? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.201.127.64 ( talk) 16:36, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
This section gave me a good laugh. What is the point of this section? There are thousands of famous Gen-Xers. Why not list them all? Name your favorite famous person born between 1965 and 1981? Very encyclopedic. Lets just list the entire 2007 New York Yankees Team. And the 2001 Dallas Cowboys. Ok, Ok, lets add the 2005 Vancouver Canucks. NationalPark ( talk) 19:43, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
You are soooo right. But 'MOST all of the Famous People Today are Gen X-ers'.....Julia, Diddy, Jay Z, Will, Pitt, Jolie and Anniston...too easy. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 00:44, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
I second the comment about the Pixies not being well-known enough to deserve inclusion, and add that none of the bands the article claims are associated with Grunge actually are. Korn and Green Day aren't even really part of the "alternative" scene from the 90's... I'd even venture to say that they contributed to the end of that era in music. Anyway, the only musicians famous enough to warrant inclusion are Kurt Cobain and *maybe* Eddie Vedder. Ebolamunkee ( talk) 22:34, 31 March 2008 (UTC)
The years used in the succession boxes before I just changed them were certainly not years that are commonly used. First of all, Strauss and Howe are just two of many generations experts; many experts disagree with their generational birth years, and further, the years used in those succession boxes didn't even accurately reflect Strauss and Howe's proposed birth years. Secondly, I can't imagine where those birth years could have come from (I've never seen anyone start GenX as early as the 1950's, I've never seen anyone use 1955-1962 for GenJones, etc.) Coupland never said that GenX started in 1958, he said, in fact, that GenX was a mindset, not a chronological span of years. Generation Jones is not a cusp generation; it is actaully the largest generation in U.S. history. Of the many hundreds of articles, and discussions in books, about Generation Jones, I've never seen it called a cusp generation--instead it is commonly now automaticaly included as a bona fide generation. C'mon...for Wikipedia to work, we all need to focus on accuracy, and the birth years in the succession box now reflect the emerging concensus most commonly used for these three generations. 21st century Susan ( talk) 00:09, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
Coupland is actually or could be designated as generation Jones...which most often is included in X (look it up), this would mean those born from 58-63. In all honesty most historials and real people you ask that age would use a post Kennedy assasination administration as the best marker for the generational change. Anyway, if one just takes those babies born in the sixties (not in the 50's) it makes the discussion much simpler. Coupland is just the eldest of Gen X and so his assertions of historical influences for that segment still hold true. He was not born in the 50's so he is speaking to a context of life in the US and the political realities for babies and youth culture of a certain time in history. Which I might add lasted to the early 70's as historians mark a baby rise from 76 on before that births were in decline for a period. Now there are other markers to be used but demographics and birth rates still stand. So all generations have 'markers' but Coupland I think some might assert would be in that transition or change span, but it nonetheless was a change so he is an X and it does speak to years and context of perspective one does not deny the other. So you both are right and anyway he was not the firt to write or label this generation. So he does put boundries on X; so those teens between 1978-81 may on some level have to choose if they more identified as Boomers or X-ers. Ask any of them and most often say they do not identify as Boomers even though there is some over lap of shared media, consumer goods and memories but as one of the writer shared they really saw their own explosion.' In many ways they are the pinnicale of Ad and media interest both as children and now. This was the easy bake oven generation. I know because my I have boomers and Xer's in my family unit (8 kids). We cleary know when to draw the genrational lines it is not hard. Coupland is a year older than my nearest brother and he is the very same age as Tom Cruise who is not a Boomer but one of the lead X-ers' in our memory bank. But there always is a few years at each generational shift that may be in some way debated. Still most would say anyone born in the 50's is not an X-er it really does not seem to work longterm, just like Gen X's whom are at their eldest age 27 or 28 now, they may need to decide if they are X or Y. Martin C. WA.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.99.40 ( talk) 00:54, 6 January 2008 (UTC)
I came up with my own term "the Fatalist generation": Imagine you are born-raised from 1976 to 1985...you're probably not much of an "innocent" child: You feared global warming, environmental damage, racial strife and "diversity", widening class division and middle class decline, political apathy and distrust of our leaders, Baby boomers' self-absorbed individualism, the rise of reactionary conservatism put a roadblock on many liberal trends, meagcorporate culture like shipping our factory jobs overseas or bring in illegal immigrant laborers in certain jobs still in our country, fanatical materialism when the economy boomed in the late 1990s to collapse in the 2000s (look at the house foreclosure pandemic), the changing economy required more academic requirement and intellectual skill, and now the War on terror threatens our national security in a nearly-failed mission against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The "real world" was a common phrase used among many Generation X and some Gen Yers in the 1990's to describe the economic difficulty to obtain and declare independence like young 20-something adults during the recession of 1990-93 that produced the "slackers" who can't get out of their parents homes until we're over 30. We are the "Fatalists" might had "lower standard" public education, ill taught about the "Puritan" work ethic our parents tickered with, matured slower than our elders had, didn't know the value of WWII/ Cold war sacrifice, doesn't hold patriotic feelings in the era of international globalization, and our impaired social etiquette by our free time spent on the internet. We know how tough the "real world" has become as a result of neglect and mishandling of our elders' rule (in this case, Baby boomers) of the order of things, and they will pass all that on (i.e. to fund social security, taxes to pay for our federal budget deficit and preserving American military might) to us when we're older when we can't pay our bills at home, our college loans, our lower incomes and depressed wages.
'Generation X' has aged abit more as the majority of them are ages 30 to 40 and I noticed they are more aware of the realities of adulthood, probably their parents overshielded them or didn't teach or warn them about the world has changed, since they were teens themselves...and we analyzed the Baby boomers are hypocrites in young people rebelling, having fun and playing around with life. Our disenchantment with both democracy and capitalism despite it defeated fascism and communism, and made European colonialism and post-WWII socialism into the trash bin for good. The "fatalist" generation doesn't see any gradual improvement in our political structure: the two-party system is simply a political game of a single government ran by the "military-industrial-technocrat- megacorporate" complex that controls the U.S. and world economies.
Yes, we are more tolerant of change when we feel it's desperately needed, proud of racial and cultural diversity and care deeply on the environment when man has altered the natural process of things (i.e. global warming). More Gen. X and Yers aren't too "liberal" when we emphasized families more (so many of us grew up in divorce or single parent families, or our mothers are working so much) but aren't "conservative" as we both scoff at the Bushes, Clintons, the Nixon/Ford and JFK/LBJ legacies for nearly ruining our quality of life as the "lone superpower" about to collapse in any moment. This is the 21st century, China is stronger, the Middle East may get us back, the European Union is a better example of democratic living, and Mexico is said to influence America more than Canada does. We know the Pax Americana is over, we're in a global technological age and the nation-state as the "Fatalists" believe has served its fate.
In the year 2008, we might have a president who's a Generation Xer who's open-minded, calmer, worldly, concerned on domestic issues and wants to be the first non-White male president. We rather have Obama instead of a Baby boomer psuedo-feminist wife of a former president who cheated on her while on presidental duty anyway, or a 70-year old hawk who's like "George Bush III". He may be "fatalist" but the point of fatalism is to fight it, give the world a second chance and improve ourselves economically, socially or politically. We are more progressive while we want America to be strong again, more traditional on family values while we tolerate gay couples and we want unity while we have different cultures and minority groups. But we got to save the middle class, cut down on military spending, focus more on health care, education and children's well-being, amd stop this "radical religious right"/"politically correct left" stuff that caused more fear, division and impaired civil liberties. This produced "fatalism" to hurt our economy and living standards.
Sorry for such a long diatribe, but Generation X-Yers are not naive or immature, and able to live on our own but it took us longer and we hafta work harder than our parents (it seems like it with longer work days or hours, plus commuting time to and from our homes) when economic conditions are instable or economic booms end up as busts so quickly. We want to get off foreign oil costing us $4 a gallon and go for natural gas alternatives to prevent us more wars for oil and cool down the warming planet. We want to control immigration in a proper legal manner when we need more people to our countries who want to work and contribute to this country. And most of all, we want Generation X-Yers to prosper, retire on time, and save up for the future or give it to our young the same way the Baby boomers and their parents had before. Maybe it's up to us to stop being so "fatalist" and start working to help fix and save the future. + 71.102.53.48 ( talk) 12:07, 16 May 2008 (UTC)
Image:Generationzxthgde.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.
Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.
If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.
BetacommandBot ( talk) 21:52, 2 January 2008 (UTC)
It states on the page for Generation Y that "Generation X" was originally a pejorative, yet I see the more unlikely story on this page that it was "uncreative researchers" that came up with the name. This seems unlikely as I doubt that in the days when the name was coined, researchers would just "make up" a name and it would stick - I can't see why Generation X came about, but I'm fairly sure it had more to do with the pejorative and less to do with a group of researchers. Zchris87v 14:04, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
I have removed significant amounts of original research from this article. Those edits were reverted by an anonymous IP without explanation. I have reverted those changes and if that happens again I will seek short term semi protection. Thanks, Cumulus Clouds ( talk) 17:48, 31 March 2008 (UTC)
I would like to submit that anyone who wants to make a contribution to this article postpone until pending mediation is resolved. Administration does not feel an article lockdown is warranted at this time and your edit is likely to be undone my myself or the other party until it is resolved. Sorry for any inconvenience. Ledboots ( talk) 17:08, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
Could we discuss the TIME magazine reference? In particular, does it matter the article doesn't use the phrase 'Generation X'? PhilKnight ( talk) 13:06, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
Second footnote of the article, Generation X#History of the Term. Mstuczynski ( talk) 13:19, 6 April 2008 (UTC)
How could ANYONE link an early-1980s birth to Gen X? Being born in that range, I have always been lead to believe by impressions given by the media that individuals of a decidedly older, more experienced age were being referenced. Whenever there were TV specials and references made to Gen X "phenomenas", such as an "unemployment crisis", or the "Seattle movement", seeing as this was all coming out at a time before I even hit puberty(or just starting to), how was I supposed to relate to it? Younger children my age were NEVER alluded to in these things. The stuff about being the "first generation of divorce"...I don't know, but I think by the time we got to my childhood, divorce was hardly new anymore.
I am aware that there was a book released in the early-1990s devoted to the subject, one which put forth a birth span of 1961-1981(incidentally STILL an earlier cut off than the one given on the Wiki entry), but I never assumed that was to be taken too seriously since it's release, given that for starters, people born between 1961-'64 are clearly BABY BOOMERS. The Baby Boomer birth span of 1946-64 is one I have NEVER seen disputed. Not to mention, the Gen X birth span is supposed to be more narrow, isn't it? Being as it is IIRC, also reflective of a brief, birth decrease trend that initiated in the mid to late 1960s?
I'm sorry, but the idea of someone being a Gen-Xer who wasn't old enough to have entered high school at the start of 1990s, or worse yet was still IN high school at the start of the 2000s, is one that doesn't register at all. It seems quite a misleading message to send.( Theburning25 ( talk) 16:13, 9 April 2008 (UTC))
--- As someone just starting high school in the mid-90's (born 1980) I certainly agree that it seems out of touch with reality to call someone born in the 80's a Gen Xer... I have never considered myself GenX, nor have I met anyone my age who does. I did not feel particularly connected to the traditional GenX touchstone issues/moments such as the Regan Administration or even the death of Kurt Cobain. There must be more research out there that can help settle this, one way, or the other. Adam Clotfelter ( talk) 08:35, 19 April 2008 (UTC)
--i wonder which section you arerefering to.. As someone born in 1975 when i was at highschool- when they stated talking about gen x i was always dissapointed i had just missed out on the cut off. It does seem to have expanded- and these things are fluid. THe event you cite as important were really important to me; kurt and the divorce thing actually, i remember it clearly beign a big deal when someone came along with a hyphenated name (like weird). The real actuall boom in babies only occured for about 7 years post war. i know she IS but my mum born 1953 does not identify her self as boomer citing "i was too young.. to be involoved with all that (relevent) stuff" younger than 16yrs. And some stats would put her into Gen Jones chohort. So lets not forget Gen jones in this debate- trailing edge "generations" are very usefull in clearing up this sort of debate. Again the ppl arguing above (1981s) are clearly IN the Mtv geneneration. (enough of my rant) Cilstr ( talk) 04:22, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
It is protected and no date is given for when it will be unprotected. What is this all about? I can see that there was some kind of debate (although I can't seem to understand what the debate was about) two weeks ago, so why is the article protected now? Is it because of the debate two weeks ago? JayKeaton ( talk) 06:38, 18 April 2008 (UTC)
Who is to say a source is accurate and if someone was not to come up with something in the first place you would have no source, you my friend are running in circular logic. Somewhere some how something has to be made up trusting "sources" (meaning you found someone else with the same opinion) still does not make something correct or incorrect. As George Carlin said "It's all Bull#$*& and it's bad for you" —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.182.127.159 ( talk) 16:58, 23 April 2008 (UTC)
I'm not "unwilling" to locate sources. A number of the most distinguished members of Gen X were listed with links to their bios. The dotcom companies founded by GenXers included links to these companies' histories. You have said that the list is "garbage" in a thread above. Why is it "garbage" to list the one Nobel laureate born since 1961? Why is it "garbage" to list some of the greatest entrepreneurs in history that are members of Gen X (such as Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Jerry Yang, and Divid Filo)? These are not trivial persons in history, and they exemplify a generation. This is really more important than the recitals of the criticisms leveled at Gen X by journalists and authors during the very early 1990s.
Moreover, what remains on the page is utterly trivial. All that is left is the opinions of poorly informed journalists and authors written over fifteen years ago, before most of the important events and achievements of the generation occurred. Why is it acceptable to allege that some author of little repute in 1991 accused GenX of "rampant political apathy," as opposed to discussing the anti-globalization protests and Free Tibet movement that flowered among GenXers during the rest of that decade? Mind you, references to the actual political movements were accompanied by links to the full Wiki articles, which in turn contained numerous outside references.
I have to agree with everybody else on this talk page that the "edit war" is merely one person's attempt to dominate a page with his opinions. 76.108.177.119 ( talk) 05:44, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
Maybe those involved should agree to step back for a while and let uninvolved editors take a go at it. Powers T 12:19, 29 April 2008 (UTC)
I had done a lot of work on this article (pre
Cumulus Clouds ) and as such i was most upset to see the article ripped to shreads with out a please or thank you. I lIKED the list important people. I think its an important reference (yes it made the article overly long but that could have been resolved). As For other thinngs
Cumulus Clouds says i also disagree with - numerous times in the (mass) media gen x has been refered to as apathetic- your own personal disregard for this -blanket- statment must only stem from the fact you are a hard working dilegnet gen x'er- thats Fine! Everyone must know that individuals dont really fit the sterotype- but thats beside the point. Get over it.! I'm not going into the research/pov/citing debate now, its too much effort! (hmm is that the gen x in me comming out- oops) at a latter date i may- it takes time- and i dont know how to fully access the edits i want to research- which thousanth edit woiuld i look at?? I'm sure i have hard copy newspaper articles that would clear most of this up. It jsut seems that
Cumulus Clouds is being overly nit picky and semantical (if thats a word). And hey, i also loved the generations table along the side too,! pah!
Cilstr (
talk)
04:36, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
All I see is the slashed page when this dispute began, with Cumulus Clouds giving blessings to go ahead and edit as usual. Give me a break! What has changed? You sit there and decry how pov this article is and all of original research, and it's ok for you to slash items, of mine at least, that I know were properly sourced. What about wiki policy concerning that? Isn't that vandalism? Mediator: I'm asking that you please make a call here for the sake those who properly contributed here. Bring back the unslashed page and go from there. Not everything was unsourced and trivia. And lets face it: if we resubmit our items as this page stands, the edit war will only continue with it's prompt removal by Cumulus Clouds saying it's "trivia", then I'll "keep complaining about it"!! Ledboots ( talk) 14:59, 16 May 2008 (UTC)
What's up with Cumulus? S/He continues to remove well-cited info and refuses to acknowledge the citations. Anybody out there that can explain the background here? I'm not going to continue to spend time sourcing this info if it continues to be removed. The goal was to be helpful but when my time is wasted by Her/His quick reverts I'm ready to move on. Thoughts? 24.98.135.148 ( talk) 18:34, 20 May 2008 (UTC)
Regardless of whether Strauss & Howe properly delineated their "13th Generation" and its association with Generation X, it's definitely the case that they identified it as 1961-1981, NOT 1965-1982 as currently in the article. In particular, the book Generations, listed as a reference for this assertion, definitely has it as 1961-1981. Can this be corrected? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Patrickbowman ( talk • contribs) 05:45, 9 June 2008 (UTC)
Hello, I'd like to second Patrick's correction of the Generation X birth years according to Strauss and Howe. I am one of the believers of the Gen Hist theory and can assert unequivocably that it's 1961-1981. Here is a verifying link to their official website: [2]
PLEASE CORRECT THIS!!!!! Thank you, Aimeslee Winans 6/27/08 15:29 27 June 2008 (UTC)
In view of the fact that "This page is currently protected, and can be edited only by administrators", this comment is on the talk page, instead of a ('be bold') edit to the article. The footnote [8] refers to an article, referenced by this ref tag: <ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,963617,00.html</ref> (at least, it was footnote [8] "as of" the date/time shown in the time stamp on this comment). One could add a name to that ref tag, and put another copy of it (does the copy having the URL have to come first?) up at the intro to the quote from Time Magazine, where it says << "The perception of Generation X during the late 1980s was summarized in a featured article in Time Magazine" >>. It seems wrong to me, that this intro is currently followed by a {{Fact|date=April 2008}} tag, which causes it to have a little superscript complaint reading " citation needed" right after the intro to the quote from Time Magazine, where it says << "The perception of Generation X during the late 1980s was summarized in a featured article in Time Magazine" >>. Why is a "[citation needed]"? Maybe someone forgot to remove the "[citation needed]" squawk (some time after adding it in April 2008?) once that footnote [8] had been added? (by someone else)? That is one theory. Actually, it probably could be checked, by looking at the history, but I am too lazy. Thanks for any help. Mike Schwartz ( talk) 18:46, 17 June 2008 (UTC)
LOL, is there any better summary? M0llusk ( talk) 01:56, 30 July 2008 (UTC)
If a comment is going to be made that Generation X is a generation that exists in many countries that spans from 1965 to about 1980, how about using a reference that states that? Ledboots ( talk) 23:49, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
Again - let's quote what the Time article says if it's going to be repeated here. The author of the article suggests the birth years are roughly born from 1965 - 1980, not exactly in 1965 to about 1980. Btw, that is the author's opinion of the Gen-X birth years; the YouTube vid (@6:54) shows Jeff Gardiner professing 1961 - 1977, or possibly 1961 - 1980. Ledboots ( talk) 18:37, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
Ok, do me a favor; show me where in the Time article the dates are quoted as you say they are. Because frankly, I'm not seeing it. As it stands, the meaning conveyed in the Time article, as I just mentioned above, is not saying quite the same thing as the meaning in this article, is it? The quote I see in the article is "roughly defined as anyone born between 1965 and 1980" not "born between 1965 and roughly 1980". To me that conveys two different meanings. Are you saying otherwise? Ledboots ( talk) 22:44, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
Then not to have any double standards as to what is proper or not, I insist! If you want anything more exacting, you'll have to use another source. Ledboots ( talk) 09:48, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
From what I know, those born after 1964 are NEVER considered Boomers.
~~Oregond00d~~ —Preceding unsigned comment added by OregonD00d ( talk • contribs) 20:30, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
This page is an archive of past discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page. |
The OED defines Gen X as those "born in the 1960's and 1970's. The Cambridge definition simply stated "early 1960's". There is no mention of 1965.
This is consistent with the Harvard definition, which, more specifically, lists a start date of 1961.
All three of these establishments are of course renowned for their stupidity, so I suppose we ought treat them with some cynicism. Bloomberg is probably a better source. (....?).
No, I'm not attaching links. This is all on Google. Hanoi Road ( talk) 22:25, 30 November 2019 (UTC)
Harvard Business Review defines Gen X as 1961/65 to 1979. You're right about Cambridge University (currently ranked in the top 5 universities in the world) probably not "being as authoritative as it sounds". Bloomberg is probably a better source. :) The OED does require a subscription (which I have), though they're kind enough to indulge the likes of you with a specific Google question, gratis. Nowhere in any reputable source does the 1965 figure appear. All recognise that the number likely starts from the early 1960's and none are prepared to be more specific. With good reason, I imagine. Hanoi Road ( talk) 00:38, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Nowhere in any reputable source does the 1965 figure appear." The article is full of reputable sources using that year. Kolya Butternut ( talk) 01:10, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
So, I guess that given all the variables, what makes you think that 1965 is universally accepted. Or accepted at all? It's clearly an imprecise science with no real expertise possible. Best to reflect that in the lede? Rather than defending obvious shit and ignoring the subtleties? Hanoi Road ( talk) 02:09, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Nowhere in any reputable source does the 1965 figure appear." This is patently false. The article is full of reputable sources. Kolya Butternut ( talk) 02:14, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
If you want to get into a source war, I can do a lot better than Bloomberg. The US statistics Office cites 1960 as a start point. Most Top 100 Universities (or relevant faculties therein) concede 1960 as the most accurate starting point, based on hard sociological research (Empirical data is clearly impossible in this case). However, your rag-tag of 1965+ "sources" does not bear serious scrutiny. Hanoi Road ( talk) 02:58, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
PS: As a Cambridge graduate (Clare College), let me assure you that the Cambridge corpus releases nothing under its name without full university approval. In other words, it is not a Forbes set-up, where anyone can chip in with impunity. Otherwise, it wouldn't be Cambridge. It would be Pig Knuckle College, Arkansas. Hanoi Road ( talk) 03:05, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Nowhere in any reputable source does the 1965 figure appear", but you have not discussed any of the sources in the article besides Bloomberg, which you have cherry-picked because you found it to be the least authoritative. It is clear you are not acting in good faith. Kolya Butternut ( talk) 03:21, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
NYT and The Washington Post obviously employ writers. A couple of them (probably copying each other) casually and without research mentioned 1965 in some article. These are not "sources", dude, any more than Bloomberg is. Cherry picking? Almost ALL of your sources are illiterate, re-hashed garbage, and to push your ridiculous agenda, you relegate the only REAL source (Strauss & Howe) to some sort of supplementary counter-argument when it is in fact the only reasoned case. When cornered, you then resort to indentation? Wiki procedure? Where's your dignity? I can't find a single other contributor on this talk page who agrees with anything you have to say. What does that tell you? Hanoi Road ( talk) 03:48, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Can't you help yourself. Really. Tell me this: Could you help yourself from not seeing the following major article as you were trawling the internet in search of support? So if quality broadsheets have the final say, where should this one go? "Smashing the Gen X Stereotype 1961-1981" Los Angeles Times. Hanoi Road ( talk) 12:32, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Rather than continuing to argue pointlessly, could the lede not be reworded along these lines: "Researchers and popular media typically use birth years around 1965-80 to define Generation X-ers, though others position the starting point for the group as early as 1961"? An Investopedia article I've just read uses 1961. Atlantic magazine uses 1961. The LA Times has used 1961.A whole raft of other, reputable sources acknowledge the differing views on the start year. So should this article, and it ought be stated in the lede. We can leave Strauss & Howe where they are, if you like. I can do it and provide the sources, though I don't have time today. That surely makes the thing more balanced.
Hanoi Road ( talk) 15:45, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Yes, I read your LA Times article, referenced. ("THE TRUE GREAT GENERATION"). In your stampede to get support, did you bother reading the piece? It cites 1961 as the start date for Gen X (....?). So...you know.... that sort of defeats your own case, I would have thought. If we're applying the age of articles as a factor, you've quoted Toch from 1984, Foot from 1996, Gross from 1990, and U. Wisconsin from 2003. The oldest of your sources was written thirty-five years ago. Sorry, but Wiki is not your personal playpen. I'm taking this elsewhere. Hanoi Road ( talk) 18:28, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
I have referred this mess to Admin. Hanoi Road ( talk) 18:40, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Admin has responded accordingly. And they made the right call. Hanoi Road ( talk) 21:11, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
Fair enough. But I tried a collaborative idea earlier (which you implemented yourself) but it was shot down, and pretty much arbitrarily. And I am not the only one to get this response. Sometimes, courtesy just doesn't work. Hanoi Road ( talk) 21:36, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
No. Not always. Read the well-reasoned "Original Research" topic with another contributor. The responses are a facsimile of the ones I received. Anyone challenging Butternut would have received the same treatment. I agree with you in general on the courtesy issue. But when the responses consist of disrespectful, passive-aggressive evasion (and I can spot such tactics instantly), the courtesy has to stop. Thanks for your input. Really. Hanoi Road ( talk) 22:27, 1 December 2019 (UTC)
This makes me laugh. For days, you've resisted basic common sense. Only when brought to task do you start running around like Biff polishing McFly's far in Back to the Future 11. "Thank you, Mister Editor! Pleasure working with professionals, Sir! Thank you, Sir"!
Get out of my sight. Hanoi Road ( talk) 07:37, 2 December 2019 (UTC)
Yeah, I think we're done. The article is now correct. Hanoi Road ( talk) 12:00, 2 December 2019 (UTC)
Since there's so much fighting about the dates in the lead, here's what I think could be put there as a compromise:
"Researchers and popular media use the early-to-mid 1960s as starting birth years and the early 1980s as ending birth years, with 1965 to 1980 and 1961 to 1981 as widely accepted definitions."
Does this sound good?-- 98.235.178.140 ( talk) 02:10, 25 January 2020 (UTC)
The lead paragraph cites no independent, published source with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy. The lead paragraph states it is a "demographic cohort", with sociologic implications, and should be referenced accordingly. 73.10.6.239 ( talk) —Preceding undated comment added 20:10, 27 February 2020 (UTC)
It seems obvious that Generation X has been totally influenced by the Baby Boomer concept, the only generation the government defined and we were all force fed their definition. The front end Boomers have no cultural similarities with the back end Boomers whatsoever. The bracketing years of Generation X are so diverse, to try to nail it in this article, or even say "around" this year or that year, is the height of stupidity. So often a publication about Generation X will refer to Douglas Coupland giving them their name, when his definition is drastically different that what is stated in the publication! So, at the end of the day, it's just a lot of research with opinions that are biased from the start and have been repeated so often that everyone believes the lie. 2601:8D:500:5950:1D08:5FA4:F6D5:3861 ( talk) 03:22, 23 February 2020 (UTC)
This is Douglas Coupland's first published use of Generation X. The scanned magazine has been archived, but not the whole thing. As of this writing the citation links here. I think it would be better to link to the actual scanned images , but I'm not sure how best to do that. p. 164 p. 165 p. 167 p. 168 p. 169 The story is continued on p. 194, but this was apparently not scanned. Kolya Butternut ( talk) 01:22, 27 February 2020 (UTC)
More scans of the old articles: [4] Kolya Butternut ( talk) 01:55, 27 February 2020 (UTC)
Yet another US article seeing the USA as a template for the world. This whole idea doesn't work elsewhere. The dates would be different for people who grew up in Iron Curtain countries, because there would be a clear divide between those who grew up under Communism and those who didn't. No corresponding thing exists in the USA. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.205.241.82 ( talk) 07:40, 16 February 2020 (UTC)
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https://www.papercitymag.com/culture/generation-x-earns-respect-conronavirus-pandemic-stay-home/ 172.74.99.12 ( talk) 13:00, 28 March 2020 (UTC)
The following wording (under "Adjusting to a new societal environment") is pretty unclear: "Furthermore, 3 decades of growth came to an end and the unwritten social contract between employers and employees, which had endured during the 1960s and 1970s and scheduled to last until retirement was no longer applicable with, by the late 1980s, large-scale layoffs of Boomers, corporate downsizing and accelerated offshoring of production."
What is it supposed to mean?
86.120.209.121 ( talk) 10:12, 15 May 2020 (UTC)
Lead paragraph needs cleaning up. It is original research and sites no sources. Every other generational cohort follows that policy. Ledboots19 ( talk) 11:53, 9 May 2020 (UTC)
" Between 1970 and 1980, on average, for every 10 American citizens born, 3 were aborted.[52]"
Article references is not a functioning link. Commenter believes this statistical reference is FALSE. With no actual reference believes this sentence should be deleted and removed.
I updated the functioning link. Between 1970 and 1980, on average, the proportion is 3.38 over the period. Roughly for every 10 american citizens born, 3 were aborted.
Number of US Live births 1970-1980: 36,921,243 Reference: Live Births, Births Rates, and Fertility Rates, by Race, United States (1909-2003), 2003. Number of US Reported Abortions 1970-1980: 10,900,577 Reference: Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Abortion Surveillance: United States, 2005.
Year Live Births Abortions Reported 1970 3,731,386 193,491 1971 3,555,970 485,816 1972 3,258,411 586,760 1973 3,136,965 744,610 1974 3,159,958 898,570 1975 3,144,198 1,034,170 1976 3,167,788 1,179,300 1977 3,326,632 1,316,700 1978 3,333,279 1,409,600 1979 3,494,398 1,497,670 1980 3,612,258 1,553,890
FrenchScholar ( talk) 21:24, 18 June 2020 (UTC)
google trad- 08 yuli 2020 PCN Who are xennials? Between the X and Y generations of millennials, another was identified, that of the "young" born between 1977 and 1983. It is the Xennials, a small world (but not too much) that contains a hybrid generation, born and grew up in a world that is still analog, but which has adapted well to the use of digital technologies. The Xennials are the living symbol of ... (complete source). http://www.facemagazine.it/1977-1983-chi-sono-gli-xennial-la-generazione-migliore/?fbclid=IwAR0PMFjRsgJMMm36SbjZxsg-bREitxUPCEoDYOhoXP8M1aIWQYRjtLLOHtw in the italian version of the wikipedia the tree scheme is missing. I add the template ][\/][ 79.40.108.115 ( talk) 00:36, 9 July 2020 (UTC) {discussioni}
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Please change X - Some of the cultural influences on Gen X youth were the musical genres of grunge and hip hop music, and independent films.
To read Y - Some of the cultural influences on Gen X youth were the musical genres of: New Wave Music, Hard rock and heavy/glam metal, Alternative rock, Post-punk, Gothic rock, Heavy metal, Synthpop and hip hop music, and independent films. Other cultural influences included: .25 cent Video Game Arcades, the Sony Walkman, portable "Boom-Boxes" and VCR's. Stereotypes included: Populars, Preppies, Valley Girl, Yuppies, Jocks, Headbangers, and Goths. Skeauxsha ( talk) 00:44, 4 September 2020 (UTC) (I grew up during this time period. This is my first time suggesting an edit. I hope I did the correctly. Thank You)
The millennial Wikipedia page confirms this. It needs to be corrected but the page is locked for some reason. It needs to be corrected. There are countless articles that make the dates of each generation clear! Please correct this. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/generation-x-genx.asp — Preceding unsigned comment added by Whatplop ( talk • contribs) 17:28, 16 March 2020 (UTC)
I just want to add that it is absolutely moronic that the universally accepted definition of generation X for my entire lifetime has suddenly changed to meld the historical Generation X with Millennials, all because some idiot on Wikipedia, who probably has an underlying agenda, has been able to pick a fight that only a handful of people can participate in 24.168.17.179 ( talk) 22:04, 27 May 2020 (UTC)
Sorry but the defining factor is the range of years someone would turn 18 in that generation not 20 or 21. With Generation X being first born in 1973 and ending in 1982. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2604:CB00:284:8600:C8C2:7BC6:AC6F:4FE8 ( talk) 19:50, 11 October 2020 (UTC)
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Please change X - Some of the cultural influences on Gen X youth were the musical genres of grunge and hip hop music, and independent films.
To read Y - Some of the cultural influences on Gen X youth were the musical genres of: New Wave Music, Hard rock and heavy/glam metal, Alternative rock, Post-punk, Gothic rock, Heavy metal, Synthpop and hip hop music, and independent films. Other cultural influences included: .25 cent Video Game Arcades, the Sony Walkman, portable "Boom-Boxes" and VCR's. Stereotypes included: Populars, Preppies, Valley Girl, Yuppies, Jocks, Headbangers, and Goths. References: https://www.presstelegram.com/2015/12/28/grunge-rap-music-movements-of-the-early-1990s-became-gen-xs-soundtrack/ https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/mar/05/top-five-generation-x-anthems — Preceding unsigned comment added by Together against gender bias ( talk • contribs) 17:09, 23 October 2020 (UTC)
This review makes the case that the term is centrally a reference to a literary generation, akin to the Lost and Beat Generations: OI: https://doi.org/10.3384/cu.2000.1525.113455 Kdammers ( talk) 06:24, 1 February 2021 (UTC)
When I first heard of "Generation X", many years ago, it was stated that the X is the Roman numeral for the number ten, as it signifies the tenth generation of Americans born since the Revolutionary War, or the birth of the republic. That would be roughly correct, using 20 years for each generation. But somehow that got lost through the years, as people used the X as a letter rather than a number, and started referring to gen Y, and gen Z, which really does not make any sense at all. Can we please get some clarification about this? John Paul Zenger ( talk) 15:06, 10 February 2021 (UTC)
I added in a subsection under Date and age range definitions noting the subdivision of Generation X into Atari and Nintendo waves (basically those Xers born 1965 to 1970 and those born 1970 to 1980), but Some1 reverted as WP:UNDUE due to one source (Howe). Howe and Strauss did make the delineation, but I don't think the removal is valid. It's a distinction that's in the literature, admittedly usually connected to Howe and Strauss, but that doesn't make it WP:UNDUE. The first ref below is the one used; the rest were others found in a quick search.
Any comments or objections to adding back in language about the Atari wave and Nintendo wave delineation, either as a separate subsection or in some other manner? Carter ( talk) 00:56, 12 March 2021 (UTC)
in determining proper weight, we consider a viewpoint's prevalence in reliable sources, not its prevalence among Wikipedia editors or the general public.Strauss and Howe came up with the subdivisions and that's mentioned in the article, but giving more details such as the names and descriptions ("Reagan/Clinton era", etc.) is giving it undue weight. Relevant section of WP:DUE:
Undue weight can be given in several ways, including but not limited to depth of detail, quantity of text, prominence of placement, juxtaposition of statements and use of imagery.Some1 ( talk) 02:40, 13 March 2021 (UTC)
The article is very focused on Generation X in the USA, appropriating the concept that was born as references from UK and Canada. The subtitle "Generation X Internationally" listing countries other than the USA is also inappropriate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ddbon ( talk • contribs) 05:53, 9 February 2021 (UTC)
Then please amend the narrative. I have done as much as I can. FrenchScholar ( talk) 14:54, 31 March 2021 (UTC)
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Remove line stating millennials are the children of gen x. The youngest millennial is born 1980. The oldest gen x in 1965. That would make the first millennials the children of 15 year olds, at best. I hope math is good enough Other data: gen x ave age to have children was closer to 30. Older boomers the same. See Wikipedia article noting boomers as parents of late gen x AND millennials. Boomers were a big group! 174.88.94.84 ( talk) 21:20, 23 April 2021 (UTC)
It appears that on and after 5 March 2019, there were a lot of edits that seem to have had the intention, and the effect, of de-emphasizing definitions of Generation X that have a starting birth year other than 1965. The edits in question include:
Due to edits such as the above, it appears that the article is now far less NPOV around the issue of the Generation X date range than it was in February 2019. My proposal is to restore what was lost (in terms of both content and formatting/emphasis), without losing anything useful added since then. -- HLachman ( talk) 10:00, 22 February 2021 (UTC)
I have noticed this drift as well. Recently, an "I am Generation X" meme has been circulating on Facebook that had the dates starting at 1965, I thought "that's not right" and came to Wikipedia and it certainly wasn't the page I remember. I think it ironic that you have a picture of Douglas Coupland in the entry, author of Generation X and lauded as the spokesperson of his generation...who was born in 1961. I endorse this proposal. Actsasgeek ( talk) 15:22, 26 February 2021 (UTC)
Then please amend the narrative. FrenchScholar ( talk) 14:55, 31 March 2021 (UTC)
In relation to de-emphasizing definitions of Generation X that have a starting birth year other than 1965, I think this recent statement by Douglas Coupland from May 14, 2021 should be included. "But people my age are used to leftovers. It’s the curse of being Gen X." <www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-astrazeneca-fiasco-is-the-latest-example-of-the-gen-x-curse/> I think that this might be important to include in defining the starting birth year of Generation X as 1961 given that he was the creator of the term, and see himself, born in 1961, as being Gen X. Pauly7771 ( talk) 15:35, 15 May 2021 (UTC)
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Change the years for Generation X from 1965 to 1980 to 1965 to 1981 2600:1007:B104:6EF4:64C7:7F22:FBB0:D9FA ( talk) 02:51, 21 June 2021 (UTC)
Page currently states "Between 1970 and 1980, on average, for every 10 American citizens born, 3 were aborted.[56]"
The citation it links to paints a different picture of the data. That study also indicates that the CDC data used in the chart on the page is problematic.
The language of "for every 10 American citizens born, 3 were aborted" is against page guidelines. The page is intended to be neutral, but the language implies that 3 "citizens" were aborted. Roe v. Wade concluded that there is not enough expert consensus that life begins at conception. Therefore, labeling the procedure as aborting US Citizens carries a bias.
Morefromalan ( talk) 18:06, 21 June 2021 (UTC)
> For those on the left of the political spectrum, the disappointments with the previous boomer student mobilizations of the 1960s and the collapse of those movements towards a consumerist "greed is good" and "yuppie" culture during the 1980s felt, to a greater extent, hypocrisy if not outright betrayal. Hence, the preoccupation on "authenticity" and not "selling-out". The end of communism and the socialist utopia with the fall of the Berlin Wall, moreover, added to the disillusionment that any alternative to the capitalist model was possible.
Extremely biased to anti-left. - Espírito Espectral ( talk) 14:39, 26 June 2021 (UTC)
"I am not under any orders to make the world a better place" - Troy, played by Ethan Hawke, in the GenX cult classic movie Reality Bites [1] summarizes the perceived apathy of the generation. Jennybholt ( talk) 21:57, 6 July 2021 (UTC)
References
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The original root meaning behind the term Generation X was to describe the 10th generation of people born in North America after its 'discovery' and permanent settlement by the 'Pilgrims' arriving on the Mayflower. This was arrived at using the approximation of 35 years between each generation depending on birth cycles. 76.67.125.61 ( talk) 08:51, 17 July 2021 (UTC)
Who wrote this and chose these years? Obviously not a kid from the 80s. I was actually there when the term GenX was coined. It was the media's way to describe the sudden violent shift from happy 80s kids wearing florescent shirts, LA Gear with 3 sets of laces and trading Garbage Pail Kids, to the 90s angsty hate your parents grunge and flannel rage against the machine kids. 1965-1980 was NEVER classified and pushing "GenX" back to make someone's chart nice and tidy is a disservice to us that are in those years. You can't be 30yrs old and suddenly get labeled with tweeners that hate the world with a term that was just thought up.
There's never been such a violent shift in youth mentality as the 80s to 90s and to lump them together in a 35 year span is insulting at best. The fact you can tell the difference in "GenX" and "80s kids" proves my point. Zodwraith ( talk) 11:21, 24 September 2021 (UTC)
GenX was a mentality, not a date on your driver's license. Zodwraith ( talk) 11:23, 24 September 2021 (UTC)
Can you please add a nickname for Gen X as being the Jilted Generation? (i.e., Music for the Jilted Generation) 2601:800:C200:6F50:0:0:0:7F39 ( talk) 15:56, 8 April 2022 (UTC)
I’m born in 1983, I was a latchkey kid and I’m Generation X! Not a millennial! 174.214.0.57 ( talk) 03:50, 25 December 2021 (UTC)
Naw bruh you're a millennial, you were more then likely 10 years old when cobain died. and you graduated in the 2000's... You're not even close to gen x, hell 1980 seems kind of laughable as gen x, should be late 70's as the latest. — Preceding
unsigned comment added by
47.152.138.8 (
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17:21, 6 January 2022 (UTC)
When does Gen Y stop and Gen Z begin? Because I'm pretty young and seriously want to know if I'm at least a Gen Y. 2601:800:C200:6F50:0:0:0:7F39 ( talk) 15:57, 8 April 2022 (UTC)
while increasing genrefication of music has also not been addressed, changes in music technology must be included in this article including sequencing and sampling. a review of the klf "the manual", the akai s1000 and the 1988 "summer of love" is suggested before editing. the opening paragraph shows a derisible bias towards guitar based genres which is irresponsible in that hiphop is certainly the most notable contemporary evolution. the developing state of intellectual property is a key issue for generation x. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:8800:7004:FE00:3CF4:C4F1:E6A4:63EB ( talk) 18:05, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
Hip Hop and Rap need to be added please
2601:8C0:427F:3BD0:5525:7B81:1FB9:8A3F (
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18:56, 15 January 2022 (UTC)
New Wave/Top 40 (MTV music) and Hair Metal need to be added, please. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 159.218.3.202 ( talk) 00:03, 18 January 2022 (UTC)
In the section about health (at least in regard to the US) I think it might be relevant that many of the working poor lacked health insurance and were unlikely to have access to thorough preventative care during a time when healthcare became increasingly for profit.
Fast food and food deserts may also be a factor, however as a former grocery store employee I noticed far better options from the late 1990s to the present. Then again, there's also diner foodie culture (donut burgers, bacon on everything, ranch dressing everywhere) that is I suppose a reaction to the health food and exercise culture, and possibly had an impact on diabetes and heart disease.
I'd also like to know how income factors into this. Not all of us were tech geniuses, grunge musicians, etc. Many of us went from nametag job to nametag job, where we had no vacation time, sick leave, and schedule flexibility, while raising children and/or caring for elders. Stress from precarity may be a factor in health outcomes for this part of the cohort (which I'd argue spans generations).
It surprised me to see no mention of health care availability or environmental pollution and a bigger emphasis on the health stats of people already forced into the health care system because of what appears to me to be lack of preventative care access, leading to early deaths from treatable disease. Laurelpo71 ( talk) 02:04, 18 August 2022 (UTC)
According to George Masnick of Harvard University, Gen X runs from 1965 to 1984 SOURCE. I think this should at least be mentioned. MorphinESTP ( talk) 10:23, 19 August 2022 (UTC)
Gen X is 1965-1980. This is a fact. Correct it and remove Harvard ridiculous citation.
}} 172.114.230.38 ( talk) 09:04, 13 November 2022 (UTC)
I was born in the first week of 1981 and am definitely Gen X (got my first cell phone at age 30). Many sources say Gen Xers either came of age or graduated high school before 2000. This seems much more pointed than making 1980 the cut off. Please update the page to 1981. Donkeyoattea ( talk) 18:41, 26 August 2022 (UTC)
There are way too many mentions of the authors. Suggest we remove nearly all. Wakelamp d[@-@]b ( talk) 00:34, 17 November 2022 (UTC)
The article mentions many things that are very specific to American people. Politics, economy, drugs and culture are all almost exclusively about the American experience. Even if this article is aimed at the English speaking west it still makes large assumptions about the experience of American people being similar or the same as people in other countries. The time period where this takes place had significantly less hegemony than modern times as it was pre internet and there was significantly less crossover in media than current times 92.26.113.143 ( talk) 09:33, 26 November 2022 (UTC)
break dancing, also called breaking and B-boying, energetic form of dance, fashioned and popularized by African Americans and Latinos. Not just African dance as is stated here. This was the dance and music of the inner city which was predominantly black and Latino. 2601:19B:800:6DD0:0:0:0:1B90 ( talk) 15:26, 10 January 2023 (UTC)
Maybe I missed it, but I saw no mention of the Cold War with Russia, and the threat of nuclear war, we Gen Xers grew up with. My homework assignment in the Fifth grade one day was to watch, “The Day After” (referencing life after a nuke bomb struck) on television. In 7th grade we were assigned a book to read titled, “Z for Zachariah”, more nuclear war survival subject matter for young minds. This was a palpable, impactful, part of the Gen X experience, in my opinion. WelliJ ( talk) 18:47, 25 February 2023 (UTC)
"The almost universal dismantling of the grammar school system in Great Britain during the 1960s and the 1970s meant that the vast majority of the cohort attended secondary modern schools, relabelled comprehensive schools."
Both grammar and secondary modern schools became comprehensive schools, where these reforms were made. So the article would better read as:
"The almost universal dismantling of the grammar school system in Great Britain during the 1960s and the 1970s meant that the vast majority of the cohort attended comprehensive schools.
Editing of this section is locked. Bronxrichie ( talk) 09:51, 10 March 2023 (UTC)
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The graph of countries demographics has only 4 plots but 5 subjects.it shows, us, Canada, Europe, Australia NZ, world as subjects but Canada is not plotted? The colours are also difficult to read. 2604:3D09:3F7F:B200:FD04:C7A4:E5BE:920E ( talk) 18:25, 10 September 2023 (UTC)
How can you list those genre's of music and NOT include rap/hip hop? It's been the most influential genre of the past 40 years, think how small it began and is now enjoyed by several ethnicities all over the world!! 2603:9001:9E3F:8B93:CCC0:C751:F3FD:C4C6 ( talk) 00:12, 1 October 2023 (UTC)
1965 to 1984 George Masnick of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies puts Generation X in the time-frame of 1965 to 1984, in order to satisfy the premise that boomers, Xers, and millennials "cover equal 20-year age spans".
Also Generation X was about marketing both in North America and the rest of the world. 100.34.234.175 ( talk) 03:16, 31 August 2023 (UTC)
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1965-1984. Generations technically span 20 years. Citing Harvard. Current description was edited to only reflect pew research dates.
https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/defining-the-generations-redux 173.69.7.200 ( talk) 00:18, 25 October 2023 (UTC)
Not done for now: please establish a
consensus for this alteration
before using the {{
Edit semi-protected}}
template. This has already been discussed at length. It is therefore not an uncontroversial edit which can be made via an edit request.
PianoDan (
talk)
16:40, 25 October 2023 (UTC)
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With the generation being generally defined as people born from 1965 to 1980. From the sentence above. I’m requesting to have the ending year 1980 changed back to 1984. It was showing 1984 before on Wikipedia. George Masnick from Harvard supports this. I believe that 1984 should be the last year of Generation X. Below is a web address discussing this in detail.
https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/defining-the-generations-redux/ Crc1984 ( talk) 23:04, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
Rightfully redirects here; the expression should be mentioned somewhere on the page. Drsruli ( talk) 20:29, 13 December 2023 (UTC)
Ah, I had missed it. Drsruli ( talk) 01:53, 17 December 2023 (UTC)
Why is this Generations Sidebar
Part of a series on |
Social generations of the Western world |
---|
not visible in the mobile version? Espoo ( talk) 11:20, 30 December 2023 (UTC)
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ADD LINK TO MILLENIAL WIKIPEDIA PAGE ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials) TO MILLENIAL COHORT REFERENCE IN FIRST PARAGRAPH OF GENERATION X PAGE HMLandry ( talk) 18:50, 18 January 2024 (UTC)
There are evidence from multiple other strong sources saying the Generation X cohort were born between 1965 and 1983. I have those sources listed in my documents on Work 365, but before using them on Wikipedia there needs to be consensus because there is major controversy over the end date of the Generation X cohorts' birth dates. Can we have discussions about whether to include sources like that here on this Wikipedia, please everybody? I need consensus prior to including controversial references here on EnWiki. Angela Kate Maureen Pears 15:34, 26 January 2024 (UTC)
This changing the years stuff really needs to stop. Maybe you wouldn’t have to lock the editing if users didn’t keep putting their opinion in the page. Generations always spanned 20 years, and that’s the way it is. Gen X IS 1965-1964. Anything else is OPINION and recent. That can be added, but instead, you’re putting opinion as the consensus and saying facts are “vandalism”.
This is a quote from an older book and Harvard studies on generations.
‘Those years would be 1945–1964 Boomers, 1965–1984 Gen X, 1985–2004 Millennials/Gen Y. The 20 year scale has been the standard, it is only recently that others have come out with varying scales.’ 173.69.7.200 ( talk) 22:34, 11 February 2024 (UTC)
This is just kinda ridiculous. This whole entry should be relying on scholarly articles. 2604:3D09:D78:1000:7A9F:15B2:D016:1D91 ( talk) 05:29, 8 March 2024 (UTC)
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People born in the latter half of the Baby Boomers from the mid 50s to the early years of Generation X are sometimes called Generation Jones SoFusstBoutFacts ( talk) 03:03, 11 March 2024 (UTC) [1] [2]
References