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Thread: Generational Boundaries - Page 64







Post#1576 at 07-21-2002 01:45 PM by zzyzx [at ????? joined Jan 2002 #posts 774]
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On 2002-07-21 06:52, AlexMnWi wrote:
On 2002-07-20 20:05, Jenny Genser wrote:
My ex-husband is a Joneser. I need you to help me figure out if he is a Boomer or an X-er.

He was born November 15, 1960 into a middle-class family. Dad, an engineer, was born in 1929; Mom, a housewife, was born in 1930. An older sister was born in 1957. No other kids.

Family intact -- the parents celebrated their 50th birthday last spring. As the baby of the family, ex was protected and cherished.

So far, a Boomer story. But more follows.

Because of late birthday, parents had him repeat kindergarten, so he ended up graduating from high school in 1979, with 1961 cohorts.

Alienating event happened in 1980, during the summer between freshman and junior year. Ex had a job stocking shelves at the local pharmacy and somehow developed chronic pain. This pain ended up disabling him from 1981-1984. During this period, he saw just about every specialist in San Diego (where he and his family lived) and they failed to provide either an effective treatment or even a diagnosis.

Chronic pain abated significantly during the 1984-1996 period so that ex could resume life. However, pain still present, just not as bad. Returned back to school, me me in graduate school. Now a few years behind his 1960 cohorts, he mostly associated with X-ers. Yet in public policy school, managed to fall in love with one of the few female Boomers in the class.

(Pain worsened throughout second half of 90's, and was probably a major factor of the breakup of our marriage -- ex because bitter, angry, and depressed, would not seek help. His attitude was, if they can't help my pain, then they can't help my mood -- so I had to get out of the marriage).

So my question is -- Boomer or X-er?

By the way, ex read "Generations" in 1993 and could not figure out his own Gen!



_________________
Living begins not on the day you are born
but on the day you recognize your consciousness -- Prem Rawat

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Jenny Genser on 2002-07-20 20:06 ]</font>
Heck, in most places a person born on his birthday would have graduated with the class of '79 anyway. For example, my mom born on 12/16/1961 graduated with the class of 1980 (although she is more of a "boomer*" simply due to multiple factors. I would say that your husband is definitely an "Xer" or a "boomer*" because high school graduation year is, in my opinion, the best way to define a person's generation (beginning with the G.I.).
Are you sure he'd be a '79 grad in most places? Where I lived, in New York and Florida, everyone in a class (unless they were held back) were born in the same year. I thought it was the same in most other places.







Post#1577 at 07-21-2002 03:23 PM by AlexMnWi [at Minneapolis joined Jun 2002 #posts 1,622]
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On 2002-07-21 11:45, Mark Y wrote:
On 2002-07-21 06:52, AlexMnWi wrote:
On 2002-07-20 20:05, Jenny Genser wrote:
My ex-husband is a Joneser. I need you to help me figure out if he is a Boomer or an X-er.

He was born November 15, 1960 into a middle-class family. Dad, an engineer, was born in 1929; Mom, a housewife, was born in 1930. An older sister was born in 1957. No other kids.

Family intact -- the parents celebrated their 50th birthday last spring. As the baby of the family, ex was protected and cherished.

So far, a Boomer story. But more follows.

Because of late birthday, parents had him repeat kindergarten, so he ended up graduating from high school in 1979, with 1961 cohorts.

Alienating event happened in 1980, during the summer between freshman and junior year. Ex had a job stocking shelves at the local pharmacy and somehow developed chronic pain. This pain ended up disabling him from 1981-1984. During this period, he saw just about every specialist in San Diego (where he and his family lived) and they failed to provide either an effective treatment or even a diagnosis.

Chronic pain abated significantly during the 1984-1996 period so that ex could resume life. However, pain still present, just not as bad. Returned back to school, me me in graduate school. Now a few years behind his 1960 cohorts, he mostly associated with X-ers. Yet in public policy school, managed to fall in love with one of the few female Boomers in the class.

(Pain worsened throughout second half of 90's, and was probably a major factor of the breakup of our marriage -- ex because bitter, angry, and depressed, would not seek help. His attitude was, if they can't help my pain, then they can't help my mood -- so I had to get out of the marriage).

So my question is -- Boomer or X-er?

By the way, ex read "Generations" in 1993 and could not figure out his own Gen!



_________________
Living begins not on the day you are born
but on the day you recognize your consciousness -- Prem Rawat

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Jenny Genser on 2002-07-20 20:06 ]</font>
Heck, in most places a person born on his birthday would have graduated with the class of '79 anyway. For example, my mom born on 12/16/1961 graduated with the class of 1980 (although she is more of a "boomer*" simply due to multiple factors. I would say that your husband is definitely an "Xer" or a "boomer*" because high school graduation year is, in my opinion, the best way to define a person's generation (beginning with the G.I.).
Are you sure he'd be a '79 grad in most places? Where I lived, in New York and Florida, everyone in a class (unless they were held back) were born in the same year. I thought it was the same in most other places.
In MN people have to be age 5 by the time they enter kindergarten, so they turn 18 during their senior year. When I moved to WI, it is set up so you have to be 5 by July 15th before you enter kindergarten, so I thought situations were similar nationwide. For example, my class of 2005 was born between 7/16/1986 and 7/15/1987, with some exceptions, such as those who were held back.







Post#1578 at 07-21-2002 03:47 PM by zzyzx [at ????? joined Jan 2002 #posts 774]
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In MN people have to be age 5 by the time they enter kindergarten, so they turn 18 during their senior year. When I moved to WI, it is set up so you have to be 5 by July 15th before you enter kindergarten, so I thought situations were similar nationwide. For example, my class of 2005 was born between 7/16/1986 and 7/15/1987, with some exceptions, such as those who were held back.
Oh, OK...so I guess it's more common than I thought.







Post#1579 at 07-21-2002 04:26 PM by Justin'79 [at Copenhagen, Danmark joined Jul 2001 #posts 698]
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that's not exactly true for my age group. I think my class had ages spanning pretty much 1978-1982 (this is the class of 1998 at my high school).
There were kids born in 1981 and 1982 who were prodigies of some sort and had been pushed ahead into my class, as well as people who had been left back.
I knew people in the class of 1997 that were younger than me, born in 1980, and those that were born in '78. Sometimes people are born even in the late Spring of the following year. I had a bunch of friends in my freshman class of 2002 that were born in 1978, and early 1979. Some had taken a year off before college.
So you can't exactly pinpoint this stuff..
GENERALLY people turn 6, their K year, and 18 their senior year.
So in 1985-86 school year I did indeed turn 6, and in 1997-98 school year I did indeed turn 18.
Why this or birthrates matter, I have no idea.
I will be bold enough to say that the non-conformity level decreased significantly while I was at college each year, particularly the 1999-2000 year,when cell phones and other such dastardly things entered into the cultural fray.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: chet on 2002-07-21 14:28 ]</font>







Post#1580 at 07-21-2002 06:12 PM by Number Two [at joined Jul 2002 #posts 446]
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On 2002-07-21 13:47, Mark Y wrote:
In MN people have to be age 5 by the time they enter kindergarten, so they turn 18 during their senior year. When I moved to WI, it is set up so you have to be 5 by July 15th before you enter kindergarten, so I thought situations were similar nationwide. For example, my class of 2005 was born between 7/16/1986 and 7/15/1987, with some exceptions, such as those who were held back.
Oh, OK...so I guess it's more common than I thought.
I already posted (in detail) the de facto and de jure policies in Howard County (i'm too lazy to repeat it here) - anyway WI has a 7/15 cutoff? That's gotta be just a few districts and not the whole state...







Post#1581 at 07-21-2002 06:18 PM by [at joined #posts ]
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On 2002-07-21 06:52, AlexMnWi wrote:
Heck, in most places a person born on his birthday would have graduated with the class of '79 anyway. For example, my mom born on 12/16/1961 graduated with the class of 1980 (although she is more of a "boomer*" simply due to multiple factors. I would say that your husband is definitely an "Xer" or a "boomer*" because high school graduation year is, in my opinion, the best way to define a person's generation (beginning with the G.I.).
I understand that during the Fifties and Sixties, grades were determined by year of birth. However, this began changing in hte Eighties, as more school officials began subscribing to the theory that kids, especially boys, weren't ready for kindergarten until they were five. So they moved up the cut off from December 31 to September 1 or so.

Seems like my ex's parents were preseasonal in holding him back. They felt that my ex needed more time to mature and they didn't want him dragging up the rear of his class throughout his academic career. My ex thinks they made the right decision, and he ended up being a salutitarian of his HS class and getting a Master's in Public Policy from Jarvard. :grin:







Post#1582 at 07-21-2002 06:23 PM by Number Two [at joined Jul 2002 #posts 446]
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On 2002-07-21 16:18, Jenny Genser wrote:
On 2002-07-21 06:52, AlexMnWi wrote:
Heck, in most places a person born on his birthday would have graduated with the class of '79 anyway. For example, my mom born on 12/16/1961 graduated with the class of 1980 (although she is more of a "boomer*" simply due to multiple factors. I would say that your husband is definitely an "Xer" or a "boomer*" because high school graduation year is, in my opinion, the best way to define a person's generation (beginning with the G.I.).
I understand that during the Fifties and Sixties, grades were determined by year of birth. However, this began changing in hte Eighties, as more school officials began subscribing to the theory that kids, especially boys, weren't ready for kindergarten until they were five. So they moved up the cut off from December 31 to September 1 or so.

Seems like my ex's parents were preseasonal in holding him back. They felt that my ex needed more time to mature and they didn't want him dragging up the rear of his class throughout his academic career. My ex thinks they made the right decision, and he ended up being a salutitarian of his HS class and getting a Master's in Public Policy from Jarvard. :grin:
or in the 00s in Maryland... anyway, no offense, but I have very little respect for most people who are 'redshirted' (i.e. held back) even though they are already smart enough to do decently in their original grade (ESPECIALLY if they already WOULD be 5 by the start of kindergarten, 6 by the start of 1st grade, etc...) - although with a November or December birthday I can at least understand

anyway do you need to even ask me what I think? He's an X-leaning cusper; if he can't remember the Kennedy assassination he leans that much stronger towards X







Post#1583 at 07-21-2002 07:22 PM by AlexMnWi [at Minneapolis joined Jun 2002 #posts 1,622]
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On 2002-07-21 16:12, Number Two wrote:
On 2002-07-21 13:47, Mark Y wrote:
In MN people have to be age 5 by the time they enter kindergarten, so they turn 18 during their senior year. When I moved to WI, it is set up so you have to be 5 by July 15th before you enter kindergarten, so I thought situations were similar nationwide. For example, my class of 2005 was born between 7/16/1986 and 7/15/1987, with some exceptions, such as those who were held back.
Oh, OK...so I guess it's more common than I thought.
I already posted (in detail) the de facto and de jure policies in Howard County (i'm too lazy to repeat it here) - anyway WI has a 7/15 cutoff? That's gotta be just a few districts and not the whole state...
Well, I think in my district it is more along the lines of *roughly* 7/15 or so. Everyone who has driver's ed in the summer is born in the same year and they post a list of names with their birthdates on the wall, for set-up purposes (you have to be this age for your permit, this age for license, etc). I looked at it, and most of those born on 7/15 or before were in my class (with a few in the younger class) and most of those born after 7/15 were in the younger class, with some in mine. For example, the range of kids in my grade (including those held back) is Sep. 1985 - Sep. 1987. I don't know what is with the girl born in 9/87, but most of those her age were in 8th grade last year.







Post#1584 at 07-22-2002 09:19 PM by Anne T. [at joined Jul 2001 #posts 40]
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Jenny, your ex is a Joneser, which is why he doesn't fit into either Boomer or Xer--I think that's the point of Generation Jones...







Post#1585 at 07-30-2002 12:46 AM by transgen [at J M Poletti joined Jul 2002 #posts 1]
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I have some questions as well about setting boundaries between generations. For example, perhaps they are not as sharp at times as one might think. As one generation moves toward another, the last-wave can take on some of the first-wave traits, and vice-versa.

I have a daughter born in Jan. 1980. She has much of the cynicism, but is great at working in a team, and getting things done. She has higher standards than I do in some regards, at least is more embarassed talking about things like sex. She did have a rebellious attitude, and mainly had to learn a lot of things the hard way, but never was tempted by drugs, sex, violence, etc. Mostly just didn't like me to tell her what to do at all!

Me, I feel I missed the hippie era, but do identify with the era all the same. Never did the drugs and sex myself, and too young to protest on college campuses. ('53). Not a fundamentalist either, though. Pretty middle of the road, in fact.

My daughter is a "boomer/silent" child.
Her dad was born in '38.

Is it possible when generations are more mixed and/or extreme, more deviation from the "norm" is likely?







Post#1586 at 07-30-2002 02:28 AM by Tom Mazanec [at NE Ohio 1958 joined Sep 2001 #posts 1,511]
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I have an "internal" nature as a Boomer, but my "external" life seems to follow more the economic roller coaster of an X-er/13er.
My father is born 1926 and so is a silent...but he had time in the WWII army and he seems *much* more G.I. to me.







Post#1587 at 07-30-2002 06:04 AM by Chicken Little [at western NC joined Jun 2002 #posts 1,211]
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On 2002-07-30 00:28, Tom Mazanec wrote:
I have an "internal" nature as a Boomer, but my "external" life seems to follow more the economic roller coaster of an X-er/13er.
My father is born 1926 and so is a silent...but he had time in the WWII army and he seems *much* more G.I. to me.
I am like that too, though I see it in terms of personality rather than economics.

I've described myself here in the past as a cream puff--hard, crusty Xer shell, soft mushy idealistic center.
Yum.

Lots of late 50s cohorts are like this and many early 60s Xers as well. Tom, when is your birthyear?

My crust shows more in my non-online life or when I am new to a place than it does once I feel comfortable in my surroundings. So I show a lot more of that sweet and gooey Boomer filling on this board then I used to, which is good because it means I feel at home here.

Also when I am feeling positive and good I show my idealistic Boomer nature, but when I am angry or hurt I usually lash out in a rather Xer-ish fashion. You know, shrug and say "whatever" or use sarcasm (even though someone who knows me well can always tell when I'm hurt or ticked off). It's a self-protective thing, like a crab hiding in its shell. Maybe it also has something to do with being a Cancerian.
We're sensitive but don't like you to know that. :smile:

___________________
We're all created from an act of love, so why is there so much hate?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Heliotrope on 2002-07-30 04:10 ]</font>







Post#1588 at 07-30-2002 10:51 AM by [at joined #posts ]
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On 2002-07-30 00:28, Tom Mazanec wrote:
My father is born 1926 and so is a silent...but he had time in the WWII army and he seems *much* more G.I. to me.
Did your Dad actually serve in the European or Pacific theaters or was he in training when the war ended? The first experience would entitle your Dad to be a GI*, whereas the second experience is a quintessential early-wave Silent experience.







Post#1589 at 07-30-2002 05:31 PM by Justin'79 [at Copenhagen, Danmark joined Jul 2001 #posts 698]
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On 2002-07-30 04:04, Heliotrope wrote:
On 2002-07-30 00:28, Tom Mazanec wrote:
I have an "internal" nature as a Boomer, but my "external" life seems to follow more the economic roller coaster of an X-er/13er.
My father is born 1926 and so is a silent...but he had time in the WWII army and he seems *much* more G.I. to me.
I am like that too, though I see it in terms of personality rather than economics.

I've described myself here in the past as a cream puff--hard, crusty Xer shell, soft mushy idealistic center.
Yum.

Lots of late 50s cohorts are like this and many early 60s Xers as well. Tom, when is your birthyear?

My crust shows more in my non-online life or when I am new to a place than it does once I feel comfortable in my surroundings. So I show a lot more of that sweet and gooey Boomer filling on this board then I used to, which is good because it means I feel at home here.

Also when I am feeling positive and good I show my idealistic Boomer nature, but when I am angry or hurt I usually lash out in a rather Xer-ish fashion. You know, shrug and say "whatever" or use sarcasm (even though someone who knows me well can always tell when I'm hurt or ticked off). It's a self-protective thing, like a crab hiding in its shell. Maybe it also has something to do with being a Cancerian.
We're sensitive but don't like you to know that. :smile:

___________________
We're all created from an act of love, so why is there so much hate?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Heliotrope on 2002-07-30 04:10 ]</font>



Of course because everything can be explained or rationalized due to birthyear or sun sign :lol:
I just saw a special on Eminem.
He was born in 1975. His infamous mother Debbie was born in 1958.








Post#1590 at 07-30-2002 05:50 PM by AlexMnWi [at Minneapolis joined Jun 2002 #posts 1,622]
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On 2002-07-30 15:31, Chet wrote:
On 2002-07-30 04:04, Heliotrope wrote:
On 2002-07-30 00:28, Tom Mazanec wrote:
I have an "internal" nature as a Boomer, but my "external" life seems to follow more the economic roller coaster of an X-er/13er.
My father is born 1926 and so is a silent...but he had time in the WWII army and he seems *much* more G.I. to me.
I am like that too, though I see it in terms of personality rather than economics.

I've described myself here in the past as a cream puff--hard, crusty Xer shell, soft mushy idealistic center.
Yum.

Lots of late 50s cohorts are like this and many early 60s Xers as well. Tom, when is your birthyear?

My crust shows more in my non-online life or when I am new to a place than it does once I feel comfortable in my surroundings. So I show a lot more of that sweet and gooey Boomer filling on this board then I used to, which is good because it means I feel at home here.

Also when I am feeling positive and good I show my idealistic Boomer nature, but when I am angry or hurt I usually lash out in a rather Xer-ish fashion. You know, shrug and say "whatever" or use sarcasm (even though someone who knows me well can always tell when I'm hurt or ticked off). It's a self-protective thing, like a crab hiding in its shell. Maybe it also has something to do with being a Cancerian.
We're sensitive but don't like you to know that. :smile:

___________________
We're all created from an act of love, so why is there so much hate?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Heliotrope on 2002-07-30 04:10 ]</font>



Of course because everything can be explained or rationalized due to birthyear or sun sign :lol:
I just saw a special on Eminem.
He was born in 1975. His infamous mother Debbie was born in 1958.

What, Eminem is an Xer? I've been looking for indications of that for a while, and they've just been so hard to find! He doesn't seem like an Xer to me! :smile: (Sarc.)







Post#1591 at 07-30-2002 06:05 PM by Donna Sherman [at Western New York, b. 1964 joined Jul 2001 #posts 228]
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I've always thought of myself as an Xer through and through, but recently my '66 & '69 siblings both told me I'm a Boomer.

I'm shocked!







Post#1592 at 07-30-2002 07:38 PM by Chicken Little [at western NC joined Jun 2002 #posts 1,211]
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On 2002-07-30 16:05, Donna Sherman wrote:
I've always thought of myself as an Xer through and through, but recently my '66 & '69 siblings both told me I'm a Boomer.

I'm shocked!
Donna, maybe it's because you're so adamant and vocal about being an Xer. A true blue Xer would not give a damn what generation he or she is in, and even if he did, would have a whatever attitude about it. Hate to disappoint or annoy you, but you don't. Not about that anyway.

Stonewall is the same way but he is younger than you. Of course not all Xers are going to be poster children and some are even Boomerish, just because people are individuals first and you're going to get all 4 types within each generation, with one type being dominant. People are their personalities first, THEN their generation (or zodiac sign, or whatever). Justin's right about that. You can't reduce everything to birthyear or sign.


It's like a bug high on the wall. You wait for it to come to you. When it gets close enough you reach out, slap out and kill it. Or if you like its looks, you make a pet out of it.
- Charles Bukowski







Post#1593 at 07-30-2002 07:54 PM by Chicken Little [at western NC joined Jun 2002 #posts 1,211]
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On 2002-07-30 00:28, Tom Mazanec wrote:
I have an "internal" nature as a Boomer, but my "external" life seems to follow more the economic roller coaster of an X-er/13er.
My father is born 1926 and so is a silent...but he had time in the WWII army and he seems *much* more G.I. to me.
My dad was born in 1926 too. He went to the Naval Academy but was just a little too young to actually serve in the war. He wound up teaching mathematics there. He often seems much more like a GI to me too. He's a real hybrid.

He has children born in 1949, 1952 (a son who died at age 3 in a train accident), 1955, 1958 (yours truly), and 1975.

For such a short generation, Silents seem to have kids spread over an unusually wide age range. I have known Silents with kids born as early as 1942 and as late as 1987.

I remember a cartoon I saw in The New Yorker about a year ago. Two Silent guys are chatting at a golf course. The one Silent dude says to the other, "My 7-year-old is a prince. My 47-year-old is a pain in the ass. That about sums it up--and sums up the general attitude toward Boomers and Millennials too!

_________________
We're all created from an act of love, so why is there so much hate?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Heliotrope on 2002-07-30 17:56 ]</font>







Post#1594 at 07-30-2002 08:24 PM by zzyzx [at ????? joined Jan 2002 #posts 774]
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On 2002-07-30 17:54, Heliotrope wrote:
On 2002-07-30 00:28, Tom Mazanec wrote:
I have an "internal" nature as a Boomer, but my "external" life seems to follow more the economic roller coaster of an X-er/13er.
My father is born 1926 and so is a silent...but he had time in the WWII army and he seems *much* more G.I. to me.
My dad was born in 1926 too. He went to the Naval Academy but was just a little too young to actually serve in the war. He wound up teaching mathematics there. He often seems much more like a GI to me too. He's a real hybrid.

He has children born in 1949, 1952 (a son who died at age 3 in a train accident), 1955, 1958 (yours truly), and 1975.

For such a short generation, Silents seem to have kids spread over an unusually wide age range. I have known Silents with kids born as early as 1942 and as late as 1987.

I remember a cartoon I saw in The New Yorker about a year ago. Two Silent guys are chatting at a golf course. The one Silent dude says to the other, "My 7-year-old is a prince. My 47-year-old is a pain in the ass. That about sums it up--and sums up the general attitude toward Boomers and Millennials too!

_________________
We're all created from an act of love, so why is there so much hate?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Heliotrope on 2002-07-30 17:56 ]</font>
So if your father was a couple years older, and your youngest sibling was a couple years younger, you'd have a person in the GI gen having a kid born in the mainstream Generation "Y". So much for the echo boomer theory...

It's certainly possible (although unlikely) for five generations to live in a household as either parent or child, even with the S & H definition in effect. You have a 1924 father marrying a 1942 mother, both of whom have children born in 1960, 1982, and some other year between those two years. Feasible, especially in these days of fiftysomething dads and unusual age differences between spouses.

_________________
Mark Yorsaner '78

Thank goodness for Howe and Strauss...the only ones who don't dump me in the Britney Spears and Barney the Dinosaur Generation

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Mark Y on 2002-07-30 18:26 ]</font>







Post#1595 at 07-30-2002 09:52 PM by Number Two [at joined Jul 2002 #posts 446]
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On 2002-07-30 17:54, Heliotrope wrote:
On 2002-07-30 00:28, Tom Mazanec wrote:
I have an "internal" nature as a Boomer, but my "external" life seems to follow more the economic roller coaster of an X-er/13er.
My father is born 1926 and so is a silent...but he had time in the WWII army and he seems *much* more G.I. to me.
My dad was born in 1926 too. He went to the Naval Academy but was just a little too young to actually serve in the war. He wound up teaching mathematics there. He often seems much more like a GI to me too. He's a real hybrid.

He has children born in 1949, 1952 (a son who died at age 3 in a train accident), 1955, 1958 (yours truly), and 1975.

For such a short generation, Silents seem to have kids spread over an unusually wide age range. I have known Silents with kids born as early as 1942 and as late as 1987.

I remember a cartoon I saw in The New Yorker about a year ago. Two Silent guys are chatting at a golf course. The one Silent dude says to the other, "My 7-year-old is a prince. My 47-year-old is a pain in the ass. That about sums it up--and sums up the general attitude toward Boomers and Millennials too!

_________________
We're all created from an act of love, so why is there so much hate?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Heliotrope on 2002-07-30 17:56 ]</font>
hmm... my 1943-born math prof (from Germany; he came to the US to go to Princeton in 1960 and graduated college in 1964 - almost DEFINITELY a Silent*) had a 1992-born kid :smile:

but mark y's point *DOES* make sense tho







Post#1596 at 07-30-2002 10:02 PM by Number Two [at joined Jul 2002 #posts 446]
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07-30-2002, 10:02 PM #1596
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On 2002-07-30 17:38, Heliotrope wrote:
On 2002-07-30 16:05, Donna Sherman wrote:
I've always thought of myself as an Xer through and through, but recently my '66 & '69 siblings both told me I'm a Boomer.

I'm shocked!
Donna, maybe it's because you're so adamant and vocal about being an Xer. A true blue Xer would not give a damn what generation he or she is in, and even if he did, would have a whatever attitude about it. Hate to disappoint or annoy you, but you don't. Not about that anyway.
That's the *ONE* thing that separates Justin '79 from the rest of the Xrs; I believe someone going by "Deb8 King" pointed that out a while back :smile:

Anyway, I've always seen you (Donna) as a late, X-leaning cusper (but not *quite* a pure Xr)... and the difference between an X-leaning cusper and a true Xr can appear enormous (if it didn't Justin would go out of business :smile
Stonewall is the same way but he is younger than you. Of course not all Xers are going to be poster children and some are even Boomerish, just because people are individuals first and you're going to get all 4 types within each generation, with one type being dominant. People are their personalities first, THEN their generation (or zodiac sign, or whatever). Justin's right about that. You can't reduce everything to birthyear or sign.


very true :smile:







Post#1597 at 07-31-2002 12:44 AM by Justin'79 [at Copenhagen, Danmark joined Jul 2001 #posts 698]
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07-31-2002, 12:44 AM #1597
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On 2002-07-30 20:02, Number Two wrote:
On 2002-07-30 17:38, Heliotrope wrote:
On 2002-07-30 16:05, Donna Sherman wrote:
I've always thought of myself as an Xer through and through, but recently my '66 & '69 siblings both told me I'm a Boomer.

I'm shocked!
Donna, maybe it's because you're so adamant and vocal about being an Xer. A true blue Xer would not give a damn what generation he or she is in, and even if he did, would have a whatever attitude about it. Hate to disappoint or annoy you, but you don't. Not about that anyway.
That's the *ONE* thing that separates Justin '79 from the rest of the Xrs; I believe someone going by "Deb8 King" pointed that out a while back :smile:

Anyway, I've always seen you (Donna) as a late, X-leaning cusper (but not *quite* a pure Xr)... and the difference between an X-leaning cusper and a true Xr can appear enormous (if it didn't Justin would go out of business :smile
Stonewall is the same way but he is younger than you. Of course not all Xers are going to be poster children and some are even Boomerish, just because people are individuals first and you're going to get all 4 types within each generation, with one type being dominant. People are their personalities first, THEN their generation (or zodiac sign, or whatever). Justin's right about that. You can't reduce everything to birthyear or sign.


very true :smile:



What was an Xer again? i forgot.
Tell me again how they are supposed to act.
Like on TV right?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: chet on 2002-07-30 22:51 ]</font>







Post#1598 at 07-31-2002 05:55 PM by Donna Sherman [at Western New York, b. 1964 joined Jul 2001 #posts 228]
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07-31-2002, 05:55 PM #1598
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I'm not annoyed or disappointed, just, well, surprised! But Susan, you certainly sound annoyed with me!

There's a difference between the things you do and what your beliefs, opinions, and feelings are. My sibs, I think, notice the things I do: like having kids in my late 30's, being obsessed with my career, doing a lot of drugs when I was younger, and my parenting style.

As far as beliefs, opinions, & feelings, I have to say that I never felt at all like a Boomer - born too late and a little too young to have reaped all those Awakening fun times that Boomers had. Even the Jones label doesn't fit, again, born too late and too young.

Was I at the bars and concerts partying with everyone else? Hell, yeah. And at age 15 at that. Not really old enough to be there, IMHO. Hey even disco (late wave Boomer stuff) died in 1979 when I was 15.

I will say this, though - a fellow '64 cohort friend of mine recently told me she is a Boomer, so what do I know?

As far as personality, I agree that it has greater behavioral predictive value than what generation you are in. But let's be honest, the MBTI fails to have much more predictive validity - look how often people test differently!

I wouldn't mind being a Boomer if I felt it truly fit and I could own it authentically. As a matter of fact, there are probably greater benefits to being a Boomer than an Xer. But I can't, except to say that I did and do some stereotypical Boomer things.

Ahhh, the angst of being on the cusp. :smile:

Number Two, who are you? Did you change your name from something else???







Post#1599 at 07-31-2002 05:58 PM by Number Two [at joined Jul 2002 #posts 446]
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07-31-2002, 05:58 PM #1599
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On 2002-07-31 15:55, Donna Sherman wrote:

Number Two, who are you? Did you change your name from something else???
"I am the new Number Two. :smile:"

but you're right; this is my third identity - and I will tell you that in my three identites I have made just over 1,000 posts.







Post#1600 at 07-31-2002 06:04 PM by Donna Sherman [at Western New York, b. 1964 joined Jul 2001 #posts 228]
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07-31-2002, 06:04 PM #1600
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Oh c'mon now, you're not going to keep me guessing, are you?

Which are your other identities, pray tell?
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