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If you really want to gauge the type of generation the boomers were, simply look at the average savings of a boomer in America now that they are nearing retirement...
If you really want to gauge the type of generation the boomers were, simply look at the average savings of a boomer in America now that they are nearing retirement...
In one word? Spenders.
Let's see how much you will have saved after a lifetime of living paycheck to paycheck.
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I'm a Boomer, and I don't "look down on Gen Y" ... nor do I think that my parents' generation was "the greatest generation."
Each generation is faced with difficulties; each has its victories and its defeats; each has its good points and bad.
Here, here! Until reading this thread I did not know there was a generational war. I do know when faced with adversity, some folks dig internally, take responsibility for their situation - deal with it's realities, find creative ways to adapt and eventually succeed. Others portray themselves as the unwitting targets of external events and become victims, blaming others for their misfortunes. I've seen this across all age groups. Isn't our country divided enough? Isn't this why our government is now dysfunctional? The us against thems. Ageist discrimination, racial discrimination, religious discrimination, etc. Do we need more divisions; more ways to blame someone or something rather than looking for solutions. Wow!
Here, here! Until reading this thread I did not know there was a generational war. I do know when faced with adversity, some folks dig internally, take responsibility for their situation - deal with it's realities, find creative ways to adapt and eventually succeed. Others portray themselves as the unwitting targets of external events and become victims, blaming others for their misfortunes. I've seen this across all age groups. Isn't our country divided enough? Isn't this why our government is now dysfunctional? The us against thems. Ageist discrimination, racial discrimination, religious discrimination, etc. Do we need more divisions; more ways to blame someone or something rather than looking for solutions. Wow!
I agree, the problem is I see is people are hypocrits. They always did things better in hindsight but we all had that issue at some point. Every generation has been accused of being lazy at some point and moochers. However we never learn from this and continue this vicious cycle.
My brother and I are X-ers; my parents are just barely boomers, born at the very beginning of the boomer generation. They do not have the 'boomer mentality', probably because they were raised by immigrants.
My brother and I were raised to be grateful for g-d's blessings and also to be mindful of how fortunate we were. We were raised with the firm notion that it was our responsibility to make the world a better place than we found it. The concepts of tikkun olam and daily mitzvot were drilled into us from an early age, and we were always taught that we had a heavy responsibility as Jews to set an example not only to other Jews but to the world at large of how to live harmoniously with others and with g-d.
Materialism was eschewed; my parents did not take on heavy debt and did not see the point in 'keeping up with the Jones'. They worked hard to teach us the difference between needing something and wanting it. Even when I saved my own money to buy something that my parents considered very frivolous (designer jeans, expensive makeup/perfume, etc.), I was required to give an equal amount of money to charity. So instead of saving up $50 for a pair of jeans, I had to save $100. That really makes you think about whether you need those jeans with the triangle on the butt. (This was in the 80s, when Guess jeans were very popular!)
My friends with boomer parents didn't grow up like that. They got pretty much anything they wanted, and all they had to do was ask for it. Their parents drove around in leased BMWs and Mercedes while my parents drove Fords and Hondas. The difference between them and us was that they were always wanting more. Always. It was never enough. Sometimes I wanted these same material things...wanted them so badly I could taste it...but I knew better than to ask for them because I knew the answer would be no. My friends were spoiled rotten. To this day, they're unsatisfied with what they have. It's never enough. If they have a 4,000 sq ft house and a BMW, they want a 6,000 sq ft house and a Rolls. They are clueless and unhappy.
The later boomers are the ones who gave rise to Gen Y. They are simply products of their environments. If these boomers have a problem with these Gen Y kids, perhaps they should blame themselves for their empty materialism, their lack of values, their near-complete lack of empathy, their narcissism, and their greed. It's their own crappy parenting that produced the generation they're complaining about.
interesting... in my experience I have noticed that boomers are punctual and reliable for showing up, but lack getting everything done in awork day.. and sometimes half-a$$ things to be done on time. Gen x and y on the other hand are not punctual, are terrible for calling in or not showing up but when they do they try to do everything just right that not everything gets done. I notice a lot of OCD in younger people..
I've noticed this as well. Boomers seem to put more of an emphasis on showing up every day and being punctual. Xers and Yers are more task oriented.
Essentially, a BB will work 10 hours per day but bull**** for three of those hours. X and Y will only work 7, but get just as much if not more done.
Being a Gen Xer I am between the two generations. I have a preference for boomers over Gen Y. I like boomers politcally as they are more diverse while Gen Y is around 80% liberal Democrat.
But it's reality shows such as Jersey Shore that really turned me against Gen Y. Boomers were just so much more likeable. Of course I am being very general. I'm sure there are many individual Gen Yers I would like and boomers I wouldn't.
The world war 2 generation was the greatest.
Millennials are indeed spoiler and you can thank the boomers for that
I think millenials take technology for granted and I wonder how they could function without a smartphone. Many cant read an analog clock or handwrite.
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