The Gen Z kids are quite different from the previous generations

You know Big Bend, I have to agree with you about the younger generations to some degree...at least with the guys.
Those I knew all seemed highly intelligent and above average competent in their particular interest...and some could be funny at times. And some tried to be friends with me and I found them entertaining indeed, but they were hyper aware of my age difference and I wasn't shy about teasing them about their unusually acidic verbal behavior, and they pretty much took it, ignored me, and dished it back completely unaffected. I eventually started to suspect that our youngsters are the first full time "Troll" generations, both in giving and receiving. They seem to live, breathe and eat the Troll lifestyle, and that's their world in a nutshell. Different ? Significantly. Are the youth running the media now ? Maybe. Politics ? Maybe. The world ? The last of the Boomers is still in place it seems. But up next...the Zoomers and the rest of the "Troll generations". You might want to take a couple of Valium each day in THEIR world...

But then, what do I know ? Thanks to general isolation, I've only befriended three and I've only observed a small number of Zoomers(11), Millennials(4), and Gen X(14) in the wild, so your results might vary !

I will say this though, I find all younger generations have a disturbing lack of understanding and knowledge of Human History. I suspect this will cost them someday I'm sure. And even the most intelligent and competent among them are curiously steeped in socialist and/or some kind of dystopian future without really understanding just how bad it would be for them if any of that really came true ! Very strange I thought. And they apparently have no idea of how high the cost was... just to secure the fragile freedoms we still retain. Professional Trolls apparently have little use for real History though...or the real Truth. Oh well ! The youngsters get the world next. Good luck ya all ! LOL

 

That was huge in the 1960’s and 1970’s! “What’s your sign?” was a classic pick-up line in every place where the sexes mingled. I’m guessing the Age of Aquarius is over?

And yeah, I don’t see any scientific benefit from the classification of generations as far as predicting behavior but then I don’t work in the insurance sector.

 

Of course, that's pure hokum. But, what's your blood type?

 

Me neither. I was pointing to all ages participating in the current philosophy of doubt. While some are pointing to "gen Z", I see all ages jumping on board with "they were wrong". What do we call it, when we see a trend or philosophy that is representative of the time, across all ages? Like the Enlightenment? I feels like we've entered the Endarkenment, lol.

 

My daughter is 25 - the last year of Millennials. My son is 21, in the first few years of Gen-Z. I have noticed the same thing you brought up. I think you are spot-on about Gen-Z.

My daughter works with adolescents; she tells me about Gen-Z trends that she sees. She also notices very distinct differences between kids with Boomer parents and Gen-Z parents, and very distinct differences in parenting between Boomer and X-ers. I could fill pages here about trends and generalities, but I won't.

One thing that amuses us both is how Gen-Z has sharp, biting presence on Social Media. Companies are hiring Gen-Z to do social media - many appreciate the biting sarcasm that generation loves. Look at Wendy's (hamburger chain) social media accounts some time as an example.

Gen-Z also know how to manipulate technology. The Game Stop stock manipulation? Gen-Z. Political events that sell out on-line then nobody attends? Gen-Z. They are a powerful force that older generations "don't know" how to contain. You have to both respect and fear that.

 

Both my boys were born in the 80s making them Millennials.
I' glad they lived outdoors, rode skateboards and bikes and played sports, swam etc.
Now they are loving family guys .
I'd hate to have a Gen ?? with a computer in the cradle. Because , my belief, that's how these kids will turn out, just as Harry Chapin sang " .. we'll get together then Dad, you know we'll have a good time then."

 

mostly captain morgan 100 proof

 

Those things are all probably true. But people are also sometimes totally different for no reason at all. We are all individuals.
I think every generation of older people worries about the younger generations coming up behind.

 

I see reflected in my sons, 20 and 23, that their generation is better than the last bunch of generations.

 

^^^This^^^...I'm still standing watch, but now I'm watching for places I might offer low-key help/advice...I'm not in charge anymore.

Edit: when my grandkids call for help with their cars...I count it a win and grab my coveralls.

 

Anxiety, apprehension, depression. Social media.

These are closely related. If you live your life on-line, and every one is posting about what a great time they are having and displaying a "great life", it causes you to question yourself. Yeah, they know that most of what they see is hyped BS, but it does eat away at you.

Add a minority of conspiracy kooks getting a lot of press and screen time, and suddenly the world is ending soon as well. Maybe it is? Nobody knows for sure, but that is also an undertone of that generation.

I don't think we can directly blame social media - it is just fuel someone dumped on an already burning fire. However, many of these sites are designed for quick dopamine hits to keep people coming back. As long as it is working, and there is no good way to regulate it, it will keep happening. Especially to Gen-Z.

 

I like being Gen X.

 

I’m a Boomer, Mrs. Steerforth is Generation X, our oldest daughter is a Millennial, and our youngest daughter is Generation Z.

I have the complete spectrum, all the research data that I need.

I should write, “Human Generations: A Field Guide”.

What the world needs is more categories into which to divide ourselves.

That way, we’ll always have people that we can look at and say, “Look at ‘em over there! They’re screwed up as a soup sandwich!”

That’ll fix all the world’s problems. As long as we’ve all got somebody that we can criticize based on sweeping generalizations, everybody will be content.

 

Your description of Zoomers reminds me of some of the guys on this forum (except they're about 40 yrs older)

As a newly retired el ed school teacher, I've worked with 700+ kids and their parents over the years. There has been a huge change in the last decade or so, the kids are less able to stay focused, but more drastically the parents/parenting, or lack thereof. Not you Big Bend, we're talking parents who are 30ish. Too often, I found them rude, self-centered, and unable to participate in a conference about their child's future for more than a few minutes without looking at their phone.

It's only going to get worse. Last year we were at Busch Gardens and I sat at a table outside the fudge shop for almost 20 minutes, waiting for my wife to make it through the long line to get served. At a table across from me were some young 20ish parents who had a 3 year old and a toddler in a high chair. With nothing better to do I observed them (the kids were naturally noisy) and was shocked that neither of the parents ever looked up their phones or spoke to their kids for the whole 20 minutes. If you haven't seen it yet, check out "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix. Our culture is going through incredible changes, all driven by profit margins for the ultra wealthy. Scary.

Rant over.

 

It's all luck...

It's just luck...

You get a little lucky and you make a little money.

-Joni Mitchell-

 

There are really old people like my mom, old people like me, young people like my kids, and little kids like my grandkids.
Doesn't matter to me what generation they get lumped into, some are fun to be around some are a PITA. I try to spend my time with the fun group

 

Both my kids are GenZ. They are light years beyond what I was at their age with awareness of the world, abstract and contextual reasoning, and future forethought. The last part can be problematic, though. Their worries about their future and that of the world can be VERY high. I blame my own parenting for that to some degree. But they really are wrestling with societal issues at a young age that I just never dreamed of at their age.

That said, they also have had less "adult-ish" experiences than I had. My childhood, though also similar socioeconomically, was just way different than theirs, for better or worse. I'm lucky to be alive, to be frank. Many times over.

Sometimes I think we've already stymied them even before they're out of the gate. I think my kids overall will do fine. Exceptional, in some ways. But of course I'm biased. I just worry about them constantly. But too much of that worry gets projected on to them. I have to catch myself and let them be who they are and fail when they fail. It's just that my generation and younger as parents are REALLY overly concerned about our kids' futures. It's hard not to be. But it's the kids who get the brunt of that.

 

Agreed! The world is transforming due to technological breakthroughs coming faster and faster. It is easier than ever to work and create from home. These kids will dramatically change the world and I think it will be for the better. They are so much more aware of the world instead of just where they came from. I think they’re more tolerant of people’s lifestyle choices but less on unfairness. I really think politics, world government and business will change drastically in the next couple decades as ethical and moral mistreatment of people and resources by governments and business gets more transparent.

 

Seems to me most new generations rebel from the worldviews of the previous one. So idealistic, earnest Boomers begat the cynical, sarcastic Gen X, who begat the idealistic, earnest Millenials, who begat the cynical, sarcastic Gen Z.

I'm Gen X (ugh, yes I hate labels and boxes too, but realize there's some truth to them) and Gen Z makes me smile.