demography
Fabian Society: The Cardigan Files
Generally I find generational analyses of society to be worthless, and I sigh at the well-presented and pretty-coloured stacks of books with titles featuring the letters X and Y, and find my cynicism rising to world-weary despair when I find those books contain nothing pertaining either to chromosomes or Sesame Street. More than one bookshop employee has had to escort me quietly to the street, sobbing and asking ‘where’s Big Bird’?
Every now and then, though, I get a glimpse of the true nature of power as it’s manifested across the years, by a statum class of superannuated Baby Boomer crypto-fascists, informally exchanging information to ignore and consign to non-decisions any issue not affecting their concerns or worldview. It’s a true Death Star of rolled-up nylon cardigans, resin handmade brooches, sandalwood perfume and T2 shares.
Generational generalisations
Liam and Arleeshar have created a dilemma: while I love the idea of attending a Stoush get-together, I’ve thus far tended to avoid much exposure to discussions on Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z or whatever they’ll be calling my children. (As an excel junkie, I suggest Gen AA.)
The first thing that makes me suspicious of these labels is that no-one can ever tell me which one I’m in. (According to Wikipedia, Gen X ends in 1981, and Gen Y starts in 1977, and I was born in 1979.) I seem to flick between generations, depending on who the speaker is, and what they’re trying to prove.
Then there’s the fact that I mostly hear these generational generalisations trotted out by marketing or management types. Apparently baby boomers respect managers because they respond to hierarchies, while Gen X employees will respect a manager they perceive as competent. And Gen Y, well, they don’t want to commit to a job or a hierarchy, but see it all as a life-style decision. Really?