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follow Terry onI was doing my usual full-scale digestion of the Sunday NY Times the other day when I came across a book review by Harry Hurt, entitled “A Generation With More Than Hand-Eye Coordination“.
Hurt was writing about a book by Don Tapscott called “Growing Up Digital” – in it, the author takes a deeper look at the generation now commonly called the “Millennials” – those born between 1977 and 1997.
His thesis, based on interviews with nearly 10,000 people, is that as the first generation that came of age in the Internet era, the Millennials are “smarter, quicker, and more tolerant of diversity than their predecessors”
Why? Because of the “collaborative” nature of the Internet. Us older folks, baby boomers weaned on the one-way medium of television and radio, were apparently dumber, slower, and less tolerant at a similar age.
Or were we?
On behalf of Baby Boomers throughout the world, I will take on the list of 8 “norms” that supposedly give this generation their superiority, according to Tapscott. Here we go…….
- Tapscott: Millennials (“M’s”) prize freedom Starbucker: Baby Boomers (“BBs”) also prized their freedom, but in our case it revolved around enjoying getting Dad’s car on a Saturday night, instead of a Blackberry with texting ability.
- Tapscott: M’s want to customize things. Starbucker: BB’s were just as good at this – it was just more “analog”. For example, I could still make “mix tapes” in the 70′s with my cassette deck- they just took longer to put together. Much longer.
- Tapscott: M’s enjoy collaboration. Starbucker: I more than enjoyed collaboration. I LOVED collaboration. I collaborated frequently with my friends in the 70s and 80s to organize very good parties- with those mix tapes mentioned above (and my Dad’s car).
- Tapscott: M’s scrutinize everything. Starbucker: BB’s didn’t have the Internet to research everything under the sun in seconds flat, but that didn’t stop us from hitting the library or the good ol’ encyclopedia if we really needed the straight scoop. Or better yet, actually having a face to face conversation with someone to pick up those nuances missed on those text messages.
- Tapscott: M’s insist on integrity in institutions and corporations. Starbucker: Hey, we always wanted our school administrators and early bosses to level with us when it came to how much beer we could have at our parties and happy hours. In fact, we demanded this transparency constantly – especially on Fridays.
- Tapscott: M’s want to have fun even at school or work. Starbucker: And we didn’t? I challenge M’s to go back in time to my younger days and see if they could “hang” with us at night and still get their work done during the day. At least most of it.
- Tapscott: M’s believe that speed in technology and all else is normal. Starbucker: Anybody who’s ever driven with me knows that I always “feel the need for speed” (thank you, Tom Cruise) – that was certainly the case back in those earlier days.
- Tapscott: M’s regard constant innovation as a fact of life. Starbucker: BB’s have known and practiced this always – how else did we manage to figure out how to sell pet rocks, or black light posters, or bell bottom pants, or AMC Pacers, or…… I rest my case!
There you have it, the generational smackdown. I think us BB’s hold up pretty darn well.
So let’s just call it a tie, shall we? 
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Terry, your post hilariously articulates the flaw of labeling – it never fits. I am 45 and a proud baby boomer and in my opinion, those norms equally apply to boomers – Freedom, cultural diversity? We are the generation of civil rights and the hippie movement. Whatever the Ms have we can do them one better because our norms come with a healthy dose of life experience.
I was born in 79… I never knew I was a Millennial. Learn something new every day, eh?
(Folks do often say “That’s very X-gen of you,” and then I think of the X-men… but that’s a very different story.)
Labels are silly.
Terry,
Thanks for the fresh view. I recently had a little bit of a… well, let’s just call it a rager, when I witnessed this Hulu video on my generation: http://www.hulu.com/watch/49387/downtime-managing-millennials. I talked about my reaction on my blog: http://www.psychoticresumes.com
I thought it was completely unprofessional, I know there are a few bad apples in the bunch, but do all of us “know nothing about the corporate world” or ask to come in at noon after giving a little bit extra at work? Or for that matter, want to be micro-managed every hour? I think not.
It’s completely silly for baby boomers and gen-x’ers to fight a Millennial’s influence in the workplace. The only question is how quickly these people want to become irrelevant.
I’ve had a hard time fitting in at any workplace I’ve ever been at. I’m kindof astonished when I see people handing in 50-60 hour weeks without a second thought, and then without taking the time for themselves to rejuvenate, and going on as if they can carry that on forever. Meanwhile, I quietly and confidently chug along on whatever I’m assigned to, busting out project after project right in line with my co-workers. But because I don’t put in the 50-60 hours they do, I look like – and am treated like – a major slacker.
On the other hand, I manage six blogs in my spare time, so I guess my priorities are just a little different.
-Nick
PsychoticResumes.com
I think the whole “Boomers vs. Gen-Y” idea is overblown, by a longshot. I fall into the Gen-Y category (born in 1980), but like most people, I have characteristics of numerous groups.
I think a lot of attention is being given to Gen-Y since they’re now coming into the workforce in large numbers. Some of them have been there a few years, and many are just coming in after undergrad and graduate school. We’re ‘new’, hence a lot of attention. And not to forget, we’re the children of Boomers, so we’re the direct result of their parenting.
Hey Terry
Thanks for the grand defense — but they tell me I’m now in Generation Jones!
http://www.jonathanpontell.com/aboutgenjones.htm
There’s also us GenXers (1965 to 1980) which fall between the Boomers and Millennials, but I think we stack up in a similar way. Great post!
Oh Starbucker!! I think I love you!
So take that you little upstart millenials. And while you’re at it stop blaming everything on us Baby Boomers who built the bridge for you to get over!
I was just going to write a typical GenX screed here but then I realized that Jeff Gordinier already took care of it in “X Saves the World: How Generation X Got the Shaft But Can Still Keep Everything From Sucking”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPdEgwOsvDk
Yikes. I usually try to stay clear of this comparison. But I’m happy with where you ended up! Yes, a tie it is! After all, we all have hearts. We all breathe. We all came from the same type of genetic material (even if some came via a petri dish), and we’ll all eventually leave the planet. I’m sure another good post would be what else do we have in common. Yet, it seems to me the BIG question is: what will we each do with this one life we have? I’m glad you’ve decided to use part of yours to write this blog, Terry. Thanks for making us think.
The comparisons are fabby! I am a Ba Ba Boomer with a Millennial son. He has taught me the ins and outs of the internet and inspired me to come up with my website idea. I taught him how to walk, read, ride a bike, be respectful to others and so much more. We Boomers are NOT dumb, slow or otherwise we just can’t get around like we use to!!
Hey everyone, thanks for your comments on this post!
Karen, stay proud.
Amy, keep learning (happy to help).
Norcross, I agree, it’s all overblown, this kind of stuff.
Julie, thanks for the tip on the Jones Gen!
Helen, you should write a post on the Xers!
Chris, right back at’cha!
Jamie, keep on keepin’ on, you proud Xer!
Erica, yikes indeed!
Boomer MJ, that’s right, we just can’t get around the same way. I don’t have a 66 Rambler anymore.
Happy New Year (and thanks again)!
Funny thing is that you “Boomers” put us in this position. Boomers have raised us to believe that we were better, smarter, stronger and want more out of life.
Mr. Tapscott spent $4 million of his associate’s money and interviewed 10,000 people to say that Millennials are “Net Geners are “smarter, quicker and more tolerant of diversity than their predecessors.”
He also cites “recent brain-imaging and childhood-development studies to buttress his contention that Internet use by Net Geners has fundamentally changed — and improved — the way their brains are wired. Noting that raw I.Q. scores have been climbing by three points a decade since World War II across racial, income and regional boundaries, Mr. Tapscott asserts that Net Geners are also developing valuable skills that do not show up on standard I.Q. tests.
“Not only do video game players notice more, they have highly developed spatial skills that are useful for architects, engineers and surgeons,” he says.”
So are you “Boomers” annoyed with our generation or yours? Did you all acomplish what you set out to do? Did you make us to good?
Maybe soon Millennials, our parents will realize that they inspired great change and that now it’s our turn!
Christoph,
You make some really fascinating points. We “Boomers” have not accomplished everything we set out to do. We’re not dead yet, so why not keep trying?
Yes we “Boomer” parents did raise our “Millennial” children to believe they are smarter, stronger, and will get more out of life. We did not make you to good…. you are good!
Cynicism, irony and labels just suck. Can’t we all just communicate with each other? Hopefully all of us (I was born in 1980 – am I ‘X’ or ‘Y’?) will get over labels soon enough and just embrace open communication and understanding. Is this a typical ‘Gen Y’ attitude??
If my generation (‘Gen Y’? who gives a f***, we’re all human!) is looked at as ‘slacking’, it’s because we’re smart and don’t operate well in a fragmented environment. If there is anything I’m sick of, it is the act of labeling . Baby Boomers: get over yourselves. We’re youre children for Christ’s sake. You raised us. Gen X’ers: we’re your little brothers and sisters for Christ’s sake – embrace us.
i’m a millennial and i’m just saying that we all have it the same at the young age, but we kick but in the digital time ^.~
I find it amusing that the millennials who responded have spelling issues. Ah well, love them anyway. We all need to keep in mind that every generation thinks the world will go to he** when the next one takes over. So far, the world has survived every new generation.
BB and proud of it.
Karl
Hey Karl – thanks for your comment. And yes, I too love everybody.
All the best,
Terry
Yay, for a post that smacks down generational stereotypes! Lots of good points in the comments, too.
Though stereotypes make great headlines and sound bytes, thinking people see more nuance. Of course Baby Boomers can master technology. No doubt Millennials can source their theses properly and put in a good day’s work.
All of us stand together at a unique economic/technological/cultural juncture. It’s exciting–and scary. We need each other.
Thanks to decimated 401Ks, Baby Boomers are not going gently into that good night. Like it or not, all generations must work together to dig our way out of the economic mess, humanize technology, save the earth, create world peace and lay the way for future generations.
As the Presidential Baby Boomer put it, “Yes, we can.”
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