[Genmotty]

Considering I haven't started off a thread in a good couple of pages and there are not any particularly active ones at the moment. It might be worth exploring a subject that's been on my mind since watching the youtube video on Sel in Japan. For those of you who are interested it can be found here. But is of little actual relevance in this discussion.

[hr]

This discussion is about the characteristics of a generation. A generation can be defined in this context as people of a wide age group who were born and grew up during particular times and events in the history of mankind. For instance the 'Baby Boomers' who grew up after WW2, embodied the characteristics of their time, the want for stability, the importance of family and the ties that help rebuild a nation after a time of crisis.

Following them we have what has been come to be called Gen X (Short for Generation X) Or the 'baby bust' generation that grew up through the Cold War years, who embodied the rapidly advancing world of 1960 to about 1980 seeing the first man on the moon, the threat of global annihilation and a questioning attitude to life. They grew up in a time of high authority (from their parents) and came in adult life to question the old orders with a new cynicism to life.

Then we enter the generation that saw the latter years of the Cold War as Children and the rapid development of communication technologies. Following the naming convention they became to be know Gen Y. They having grown up under the guidance of their 'nomadic' parents, are free thinking irresponsible and adventurous within bounds. They rejected the old intolerance's instead wanting to embrace the world and its peoples. In a characteristic of their parents, but with greater emphasis on adeptness and peer orientated culture.

This is Tau Onlines Generation, I would believe that may of you would find that in your zeitgeist, you have characteristics of accepting minority, to put faith in your colleagues, and reject those who may have seniority over you considering them to be 'old fashioned' or 'stuck with the times' (hippy parents, strict post war parents etc.).

We see this characteristics strongly in the topic that come here for debate. The more recent one on political correctness being one where we see the breaking down of old intolerance's via authority being a mark of the demonstration culture of the 60s and 70s, that made their voice heard, but were not those to actually do. Where as today we do, and do not need the authority or acceptance of the establishment to do.

I find it somewhat odd that while I walk in the 21st century as a Gen Y, my sister will walk into it as a Gen Z.

So what is Gen Z? Gen Z could be seen as the hypothetical children of Sel9000. They will be the children who have not grown up with digital technology, but are growing up in a world where digital technology is already established and they will have never known a world without any piece of information or person being more than a few seconds away.

As we near 2010 we will be nearing the generation that will be entering their teens and so will start to be making their voices heard across society. Given another 6-8 years, they will be our university graduates, while we Gen Y will already be ingrained in a digital workforce of our own, and will come to be seen perhaps not in the 'inflexible' way that we have seen our own ancestral generation, but as those poor souls who never really 'stepped up' to the new digital age. They will see themselves as the 'digital natives', while we were the 'digital explorers'.

So what will this new world be like for these adaptive people. We already can probally see it in some of the younger members of TO, as well as some of the Older like myself. We find solace in the anonymity of the internet, in mass communication where we might be able to find all our entertainment when we want it. Not when it is provided to us. This can be seen in the 'falling' numbers of cinema goers (as well as who goes to the cinema), the way that we use youtube, BBC iPlayer and forums to communicate.

The way how SMS has perhaps replaced the average phone call, and how many people feel 'lost' without their phone or internet connection.

I find myself looking at these characteristics realising that of my parents, one was a Baby Boomer, one a Gen X and of my Sister now a Gen Z, and finding that I can see these characteristics throughout my entire family. The family tradition of sitting around the dinner table, good wholesome food and socail stability from my father. The more aloof and questioning aspects of my mother, my own questioning and accepting nature to life, and my sisters completely separate world connected to facebook, DS, PSP and mobile.

We have seen the past, but what about the future?

Well it has been said that these generations cycle in nature, today's Gen Z would have the characteristics of those of the silent generation who grew up during the Great Depression years, or came of age within those times. They would be the 'Neo-Bright Young People', those exploring the world born up on our fortunes lives in a world without end to its bounty.

Indeed we have already seen echos towards this culture, with more and more graduates even within our generation choosing not to explore the greater world, and staying close to home (or even living in the parental home), and with new hedonism towards life (as can be seen in today's 'youth underage drinking&#39. The cynical sides to us, and our parents might be 'It wasn't like that in our time' when indeed, that's exactly how it was in 'there' time. Just the dampening of age and responsibility reshaping our opinions. However if the predictions are true, what perhaps is history telling us?

Well the Bright Young People, were aristocrats in there world. Yet today's perhaps not 'bohemian bourgeoisie' might be their mirror for a world of few physical ties, yet a strong emphasis on capital, ownership and the egalitarian aspects of society. As well as their birthright to the digital age.

Being critical we might say that the Bright Young People squandered themselves during a time of crisis, before the crisis. Perhaps history will repeat itself with Global Warming not really set to become a major problem to most nations until today's Gen Z is siring their Generation A, in the 2030s. With the rise of new major world powers by the same time like China, Brazil, India and South Africa. Will they fiddle while Rome Burns, or perhaps will unlike other ages the momentum of the digital world convey greater understanding and industriousness across the western world. What do you think?

Gen

[Tomo1]

What do I think? I think we're ****ed. The amount of people of 'Gen Z' nowadays who's idea of a crisis is not having cut their finger off with a saw, or having fallen out of a tree, but having no credit on their phone is surprisingly high. In my Tech classes, the amount of them who have no idea how to use a basic handsaw is shocking.

I suppose, in a great new digital world, perhaps such practical skills will not be required, but I'm quite optimistic that the apocalypse will happen, and when the shit comes down, it's the people who have the practical skills that will survive. Our dependence on technology is not something to be proud of.

[Genmotty]

Originally Posted by The Strange Child

I suppose, in a great new digital world, perhaps such practical skills will not be required, but I'm quite optimistic that the apocalypse will happen, and when the shtlk comes down, it's the people who have the practical skills that will survive. Our dependence on technology is not something to be proud of.

This is not what this discussion is about. The topic is more about the cyclical nature of history, and the characteristics of what each generation brings to the world. Not any merits of technology or the digital age.

Gen

[Tomo1]

Originally Posted by Genmotty

This is not what this discussion is about. The topic is more about the cyclical nature of history, and the characteristics of what each generation brings to the world. Not any merits of technology or the digital age.

Gen

Oh, right. Cylinders, I get it now. :P

[Yummifoamycoffee]

It's an interesting theory, yet not enclosing everything.

What I see in my direct and indirect environment, strangely limited to our own borders however, is a generation that, tough it uses a lot of the modern technology, does not place it in the priority that you (or maybe your generation) places it in.

The current Dutch generation, which is here called the Boundless Generation, which started about 5 or 6 years ago, places the most interests in apparel and immediate satisfaction of it's urges, with little care for others. The points you have about the use of technology are roughly the same, but the Dutchmen are less 'lost' without technology as, what you call, Generation X, because they will focus on satisfying other urges. Also, it voluntarily gives up a lot of modern day comforts to satisfy said urges. Though the next generation will grow up with the technology developed by the our predecessors, and brought to the current scale by us, I do not believe it will be the main interest of Generation Z. It's main interest will probably be the same as it's direct predecessor. What scares me a bit is how the generation after 'Generation Z' will look like...

Is this more what you where looking for? If not, please be a little more clearer on what exactly you mean...

[Genmotty]

I'm not looking for anything.

You suggest that our children, those born in the late '90's and 00's are growing up to become neo-hedonists. The "Neo-Bright Young People" I would agree with this, I think it's rather difficult to determine the generation they will bring up because it will depend on how the future itself plays out. If their children live in a land of bounty then there may be a high chance for civilisation to playu out like the Eloy (sp?) from H.G.Wells.

Reversely if this coming century sees the advent of space travel too the masses we might see an exodus and wish of individuals to go live in space. Carl Sagan envisioned the rich going to live in space because it would lengthen their lifespans.

Yet this is all speculation.

What will this coming generation Gen Z come to think of us. Employers know about Gen Y people, and how they are ambitious and (over)confident in their abilities, will we see a same urge in Gen Z, or will they be the 'lazy' generation that doesn't really care, so long as they can satisfy their urges?

What do you think?

Gen

[Ironwinds]

Gen Z... I don't know.

I personally think events shape generations more than anything, second to that is the previous generation. The people who lived through the depression, WWII, and their direct children were heavily effected by those things. I think that is why they like stability, authority, and also why they were always good at saving money throughout life.

Gens X&Y(Y probably more than X) have borrowed money faster than they can save it. Often to feed impulse decisions... have to have the BMW and big house 'now' rather than the honda, small house, and be able to retire in the future. Many learned the hard way through the latest financial crisis that is not a good way of going about things. Part of me hopes that seeing the struggles caused by this and other world events will effect gen Z in some way and they won't be a lazy generation that doesn't care as long as they can fufill their urges. Part of me also recognizes that this recession was no where near as bad as it could have been and it will likely have no effect on gen z and likely they will ignore other world events as well, and they will end up going further down the path of 'focusing on my wants now, worry about the future and everything else later,' and they will learn an even harder lesson in the future(global warming, social programs like medicare and social security falling apart and/or respective gov or governments going bankrupt, etc.). Sorry for the really long sentence.

Sorry if I seemed to focus on living a modest lifestyle & saving vs borrowing to live beyond your means but suffering for it later. I'm in finance. My best target client is 70, lives in a small ranch style house, drives a 10 year old buick, saved most of his life, and is now sitting on a pile of money. My worst clients are 50 year olds with BMWs, huge houses with second and third mortgages, who cashed out their 401ks, and now want to 'start' saving for their retirement and actually expect it to work that way. But it does show a huge difference in the generations.