Maybe its the difference between Iowan Gen-Xers and “urbanites”, but in my experience those of my generation ARE the Idealist, self-starters…cynical yes, but it is our cynicism that feeds our idealism. (This idealism led many of my friends to vote for the Clinton/Gore ticket in the 1992 “Year of the Woman” — — universal health care, environmental concerns, working wage, egalitarianism…radio diversity)

Part of this was driven by the realization that trickle-down economics doesn’t work and that we needed to figure out how to survive in a bad economy.– Ultimately it was we who “…invented the Internet” and popularized Independent music labels…

Granted so much of this “debate” should also include where each generation is in their life stage, so I am currently trying to figure this out between the “generation gap” between my own students and me.

BUT just to comment on my own perception of Generation Y (granted this could probably be said of every generation at this stage –they are young, in college, and do not yet understand the difference between real world necessities vs. luxuries)

First some generalization from my own formative experience (Nixon was in the 2nd year of his first term, Vietnam war was still on) our exposure to media was unified by 3 main networks and PBS; still had to wait for a re-release in the theatres if one wished to watch Star Wars; Many of influential Elementary and 2ndry school teachers were 2nd wave feminists; both parents worked but there was really no “supervision” (well actually in most rural life throughout history, both parents (and the whole family) have always worked–its in suburbia where women had the luxury to stay home); Soccer was still a marginal sport; We could still joke about kids bringing guns to school (Julie Brown’s “The Homecoming Queen’s Got a Gun”); We were in the dawn of the digital age when computers and cellphones were still thought of as “nerdy” gadgets like Ham Radio and Role Playing Games– [I used to be really into technology with my Commodore 64 and 300 bpm modem back in 1983…then I studied in England in 1990 came back in 1991 and the whole technology took a giant step forward then and again in 1995– by this time I was 25]
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Now I am going to get characteristically Gen-X curmudgeonly here, but What I am finding in Gen Y is a lack of concern in global issues (hmm… if I buy a new iPod or Cellphone or bottled water, how does that impact the environment in the longrun). There also seems to be a neediness for a pat on the back - or a need to be told what do - no real practice at indepent thought. Speaking of iPods — as a musicologist it might seem odd that I do not have one, but having had the recent experience of travelling with 8 Gen Y students on a 12 hour van trip — I was all prepared for dialogue and discussion, car games, etc. — Instead it seemed as soon as we hit the road, these GenY students began to entertain themselves with their Gameboys and iPods —

Growing up, we were constantly graded on essay and short answer, the “show me what you know approach.” We were never tested via “multiple-choice.” Getting 75% on an exam was average rarely would anyone get beyond 95%. Recently I had given a 75% grade to a student (I thought I was being generous) because he had missed about 4 classes during the semester, didn’t turn in all of his assignments, and a number of his assignments were not all that good.
Then he complained that he did not get at least an “A-” for his work?!?!

When I used to manage retail, I had a a student who was a Senior in High School. He was downright lazy, looking at his job as an “inconvenience” rather than a privelage to work. So after warning him my second time in our meeting, I received a call from his mother.
She was concerned too about the prospect of him being fired, and she suggested that if I “…paid him more, perhaps he might work harder.”
I don’t recall if I laughed out loud or what, but I said, ah no. That is not how the job market works you first “Work Hard then you earn a raise.”

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Again these are some heavy generalizations regarding generations and where they are at in their live stage, it does not even begin to touch the broader spectrum of religious, political, social and environmental factors that also play into their life experiences.

That’s all this 13th Generation cat has to say about that.

Sincerely,
Xn McGuire

All the older people I know seem to be obsessed with social drama (or creating it.) which is also notabley a Gen-X feature.

The characters in ‘Reality Bites’ which is a symbolic movie for Gen-X seemed old and weird to me (I think I was 15 when it appeared in theaters,) yet at the same time I didn’t quite understand why people a year or two younger than I didn’t seem to have the ability to stand out as an individual. I think of Gen-Y as Gen-Neutral. I say I like this or that and they like it too, even if they’ve never even heard of it (Avril Lavigne + David Bowie.)

The point I’m trying to make is that the World is not black and white. You can label a group if that makes you comfy, but you’re just a step away from being a bigot.

I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read this one! Imagine two generations building a road through the wilderness. Then as soon as the road is done and the last stripe is painted on the curb, some Gen Y kid pulls up in the BMW her daddy bought her and says “look how far I’ve come! Congratulate me!” Then when everyone looks at her like they want to shoot her in the face, she pulls the sophomoric “they’re just jealous” routine. NEWSFLASH: What Gen Y has today is not success…it is opportunity paid for by those who came before them. I’m Gen X and the same goes for me. I gripe about boomers, but I sure am glad one of them started my company 48 years ago!

If Isaac Newton was Gen Y, he would have proclaimed that he invented gravity instead of simply discovering that it existed in the universe.

So here’s yet another Xers take on the Y folk. I work in a marketing firm with a couple dozen Ys, a couple dozen Xs and about 50 boomers. WARNING: Brace yourselves for an admittedly gratuitous and oversimplified generalization:

BOOMERS: They are what they are. They are defined by their cars, titles, and brag about working a bazillion hours. They are shocked that I have no interest in becoming CEO and think I’m lazy. In actuality, I’d just as soon head to the beach with my kids on the weekend and keep my comfortable salary without all the bullspit headaches. Before I would even consider a senior management position, I would want the numerous layers of political nonsense and red tape removed from the corporate structure. I’m there to perform and get paid, not waste my life navigating a wasteland of hierarchical roadblocks to success.

Boomers say “look how much I have” and Gen X responds “Good for you. Now you can die with a million dollars and a thousand regrets”.

GEN X: We’ve seen massive layoffs, corporate greed run rampant in the name of capitalism (I’m a conservative and a defender of capitalism, but sheesh). We have seen our parents fired 7 months before retirement, and good people given pink slips so that some CEO’s stock would go up one tenth of a point. We know how entrenched the political games are, and although we despise them we cannot ignore them and must engage in them from time to time in order to keep our jobs. To our bosses we are still “kids”, so they give us important tasks and often micromanage the ever-loving bejesus out of us.

We do not care about working long hours; we care about giving an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Our satisfaction comes from a job well done. We are often cynical – and often proven right. We are a bit more isolated and less team oriented because we know that information is power, and familiarity breeds contempt. The more private we are, the less crap we’ll have to deal with in the future.
GEN Y: Surprising bright and full of good ideas – even if you like, have to like, hear the word “like” 1,500 times while they’re like telling you. They are surprisingly proud and vocal of their accomplishments regardless of how insignificant they are, and grossly overestimate their relevance to the company.

They want to lead teams before they even know what the client’s product is; they want to know why they weren’t invited to the executive board meeting, they wear flip flops to client meetings, and they truly believe that everyone just loves them to pieces. These are all actual examples from my office.

Gen Y does not understand that Boomers and Xers honestly do value them as junior associates, but are giving them a HUGE pass on their spoiled-rotten behavior due to their age. We are betting that most of the annoying little habits like entitlement and a vaunted sense of self esteem will succumb to maturity in the future.

And yes, as a poster above stated, we do laugh at you. We remember when we were a lot like you and how much we’ve learned over the past several years. We’re really not all that different…Yers are just more willing to expose their ignorance and trumpet their lack of understanding in a public forum!

…Oh, and about that iPod thing. Were you kidding? That is such a Y trait!

I work for a large Fortune 100 company as an IT consultant and get the opportunity to work with Boomers, Gen X and young Gen Y daily.

This is an example of what I see/hear (and I will likewise us “I” and “we” etc.):

The Boomers, generally, are often described as political, name-dropping, meeting calling, face-time idealists who are concerned with process and base entitlement on experience or longevity as opposed to merit.

The Gen Xers are quite reserved, BUSY, producing, yet trying to balance keeping a family and other obligations/interests as well as performing high-quality work. Different than the Boomers they often do not try to make work into part of their lives other than it just being WORK (i.e. work is not often a place to make close friends or join into political games). You go to work and you go home to your life (or to a bar for me often…). Boomers live to work Xers work to live.

Now for you Gen Yers (whiners) — what I see from Gen Y is they come into the companies with a look and attitude of entitlement that even the Boomers balk at.

Being diplomatic the Boomers notice but tend to just let it pass while Gen X, being blunt and direct, sees right through it and usually is obviously annoyed by it.

Gen X is already having to deal with this attitude from Boomers who have the attitude, at least sometimes, for a reason — they actually have been around for while, know something, and make more money then the Gen Y bunch will seen in the next two decades or maybe more.

I hear Gen Y on the phone asking when they will be promoted, what they can do to advance etc. It never seems to occur to them that maybe doing/learning SOMETHING will help. They actually believe that right out of college they should be these successful big earners with little-to-no actually real world experience.

Note to you Gen Yers we Gen Xers are LAUGHING at you. I can’t speak for Boomers but I suspect they are too. Actually, in a case-or-two I know this to be a fact as well.

But now let’s take your points into account (for fun):
1. Different job markets
Generation Y is a demographic powerhouse entering into our choice of jobs. With the world conspiring in our favor, we’ve already pushed the limits of the foundation Generation X laid.
You are simply enjoying what the MIGHTY Gen X has laid down for ourselves. True you outnumber us but you have a LONG way to go to show that you will amount to anything in the long run.
Generation X tried to change the status quo while entering into one of the worst job markets since the Great Depression. They scorned the good ole boys, but had to play by their rules anyway, while millenials are able to create our own rules.

Actually we DID change the status quo. I know this was before your time, but do think the Boomers with their need for face-time came up with working from home? The concept still seems to terrify them, although they want to do it, they are afraid that even taking a sick day might set them back politically somehow (and I have seen this first hand).
The fact that Gen Xers worked hard with little success beyond casual Fridays means that they are “only mentioned to be polite” in generational discussions. This is aggravated by Generation Y’s readiness to assume all the leadership positions when the Boomer generation retires. Gen X can’t seem to win and Gen Y reaps the rewards.
You Gen Y “tools” can’t believe this, Oh I forgot with that smug look and unwarranted sense of entitlement and self worth you probably do… I feel for you when reality sets in.
2. Cynicism vs. Idealism
Since the Gen Xers weren’t able to create the workplace change they desired, it’s no wonder that I get the feeling that Generation X is inherently skeptical of who I am. They’re weary of how easy success comes to me, of my desire to bring them into the mix, and of my idealism.
Can’t create the workspace we desire? Did it occur to Gen Y that we are still working on it? The Boomers didn’t wreck everything in a decade and it often takes longer to fix something then to break it.
Also, I question how “successful” you actually are, in addition to how successful Gen X would consider you or even the Boomers.
Unlike our older co-workers, Generation Y doesn’t operate out of fear or distrust, but the possibility of what can be done. I realize that Generation Y is new to the workplace. To Gen X, I just don’t get how the world works. And while it’s quite possible that we won’t change the world like we anticipate, why shoot for just the possible? Idealism is what changes the world.
Have you even done any research on the Internet before spewing this post? One of the main traits of Gen X is they are FEARLESS. I am also sure that 20-year-olds almost always have a better concept of how the world works then anyone older then them. It just stands to reason less wisdom more understanding right (sic.)? Idealism is a trait Gen Y shares with the Boomers. I guess that’s why we shouldn’t worry about Global Warming because everything is going to be just fine… Right? Groovy Man!
3. You vs. Us
The Gen X focus on distrust makes them solitary workers, preferring to rely solely on their selves to see a project through, while Generation Y tends to want to support and work together. A Gen Xer is often found at the office, squeezing by on their flextime, and blocking out the world with their iPod.
True we do tend to work more on our own but we grew up differently. We learned to be self-reliant and to get things done alone. Gen Y always was taught to work together and no one is left out. Gen Y relies on others to “help” them. “Who can help me do this all by myself” is a Gen Y idea.

Boomers, on the other hand, work together to be able to blame others when things go wrong. There is strength in numbers for them and they know it.

As for the iPod thing another reader did well to describe here you are talking about yourselves unless the Gen X is seated beside a Gen Y and just doesn’t want to hear them whine all day on the phone as to why they aren’t CEO yet.

Generation X is no doubt feeling like a stepping stone generation, and many are, in fact, choosing to align themselves with Generation Y rather than fade into the background. The founder of MySpace went so far as to lie about his age.
I say the more the merrier. There is strength and value to realism, and there is strength and value to optimism. That’s why we have to work together. What can I say? I’m a team player.
Gen Y should kiss every Gen Xers butt you see for how good you have it (the workplace) now. It is not some innate greatness that Gen Y possesses that puts them anywhere other then the bottom rung of the corporate latter, but rather that Gen X has, for decades now, while you were still in diapers, attempted to remove the “latter” entirely. And yes, we are still trying…

It’s just that we’ve been in a really long generational transistion at a time of great changes made in our world, we grew up fast in some ways but still had to take a little longer in other ways simply because of the massive changes that were taking place in our world. Remember when we were growing up and were still worried about getting nuked, but then as we came of age, the year before I got married as a matter of fact, the USSR broke up? Would have never imagined it even two years before it happed, and two years before that happened the Berlin wall fell! My family was the 2nd family on my block to get divorced, the 1st happened almost 10 years before ours. So I guess some of our X ways seem strange to Y but I think we are more alike than either side have realized in the past, we know where our world should end up, so it’s now up to us to stop thinking much in terms of x and y start doing what is right for our families, towns, states, provinces and anywhere else we find ourselves. The boomers really did a bang up job starting all of this change, now it’s up to us and our little brothers and sisters to take it on to the next level and hopefully we might leave it all a bit better for our kids and grandkids when we move on to the really big level………..I’m with you.