Reflections on gen z
Posted by chairhats@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 36 comments
This may be a better post on r/millennial, but I'm a xennial, so here I am.
I was thinking the other day that Gen z doesn't understand that the way that the world is today, is not the way things are meant to be. In the US it's been pretty constant chaos for the past 25 years, and it's always been in my mind that hopefully things will go back to normal. The thing is tho, I think this is just the way things are now. The world we were raised in no longer exists and the future is for gen z now, not for us.
crazycatlady331@reddit
I employ a lot of Gen Zers. Many (not all) in this generation were raised by helicopter parents who intervened when the slightest inconvenience arises. I can imagine it will be much worse for Gen Alpha.
I've had way too many parents call me regarding their kid's employment. If your kid is old enough to get a job, they're old enough to handle all workplace communications on their own. I tell the parents that if their kid is concerned about something, the kid has to call me themselves.
StevieNickedMyself@reddit
I just spoke to a woman near my age who is currently in charge of training new hires (22-23 yr. olds). She told me some of their mothers call her to complain about how their kids are being treated at work. I was blown away. That's ridiculous!
LittleCeasarsFan@reddit
Not true, the 60s had the draft and Vietnam, seventies had the oil crisis and crime, in the 80’s we had AIDS and the possibility of nuclear war, 90’s was gang violence and crack… things have never been peaceful and idealistic.
chairhats@reddit (OP)
Every generation had its hurdles and specifics that related to that generations, but it's a little different now- when we were young, the main cause of death for people under 18 was not fun violence, but there's also the economic decline which has increased over the past 25 years. Previous generations had an idea of a future, and part of the issue is that time has passed and we're no longer the younger generation at the fore of things to come, but additionally, it really doesn't look like gen z has much of a future to speak of. The economy is screwed and getting worse and the political and international landscape is only getting worse.
Turbulentshmurbulent@reddit
I think that previous generations bought the storyline that the ultimate goal was career, marriage, kids.
This generation is like “yeah, no thanks”, and are living more in the moment (just as I did even though I worked hard I was really also into having fun) and choosing the path that they want to love vs what society told them they should live. I know at least one of my kids will never have kids and isn’t interested in a conventional marriage. Politics has a real draw for a lot of kids, too. I’m seeing a lot more engagement with the recent special elections.
I think if you spend a lot of time thinking of how different they are and how there’s not much hope of a future that will be the truth you see. I think there’s a future and I think Gen Z is going to find a way to get back to humanity.
Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit
Add in that the world is on fire and shit that has no business getting worse is doing so routinely.
prosequare@reddit
The time most people think of as peaceful and idealistic is when they were around 8-18 years old. The music was better then, life was more relaxed, and the snow was taller than it is now. Curious.
KingCarnivore@reddit
I saw a video from a HS teacher saying that kids today don’t have aspirations anymore. She asked her class what their dreams were and almost all of them said they wanted to win money or stuff, not even to be a successful inventor or entrepreneur, just to win money.
Turbulentshmurbulent@reddit
That hasn’t been my experience at all. Maybe it just depends on where you live?
FoppyRETURNS@reddit
I saw this coming post 9/11. I constantly talk about careers, investing, fitness, religion, family, and marriage with my children as the common culture is pretty much garbage in garbage out.
Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit
What's the point? We had a chance to stop global warming and opted instead to build super yachts for billionaires.
Just-Try-2533@reddit
Sorry. How did we have a chance to stop global warming?
Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit
Not we as a generation, we as a species.
Bored_Acolyte_44@reddit
We don't value inventors or entrepreneurs. We actively attempt to steal their ideas and stifle their endeavors for the profit of others.
Who wants to be on the receiving end of that?
Turbulentshmurbulent@reddit
I think Gen Z is pretty kick ass.
I see it in the workplace. The things I was taught to just chuckle over and ignore they will call right out for being awful. They set boundaries and aren’t afraid to speak up. I was considered someone who always spoke my mind and these younger folk do so beautifully. Many of them (my kids and friends) aren’t obnoxious about it and choose their battles. I keep telling people that the kids are all right.
Economy-Mango7875@reddit
Gen z is being raised by millennials. They have failed us for the most part. I know my kids are gen x 2.0. They have the tech and learned from our mistakes. My daughter is 15 and with the help of her 11 year old sister and left over construction debris from me, they made a ramp.
She didn't stick the landing and turned herself into a crayon but about a week later she tried again. No helmets or pads either. Just the crazed look I remember. But with technology
worksnake@reddit
I do not like the “kids these days” posts. We should leave them the fuck alone, the running commentary is unnecessary and makes us look like the worst adults we had to contend with when we were younger.
BigPoppaStrahd@reddit
Just a friendly reminder that we are all 40+ now. Gen z and the next group is our kids. We are the adults, we are the teachers, we are the example setters, we are the authority.
FoppyRETURNS@reddit
Behind every bad kid there are several adults to hold accountable.
ActualAssociate9200@reddit
This! My colleagues complaining about “kids nowadays” and, not having kids myself, I’m like “aren’t these the kids you raised!?”. When they talk about their kids there appears to be real cognitive dissonance - stories about them doing their homework and telling them to learn to use AI or get into crypto. I’m like “yep - you are that parent that created this generation”…
FoppyRETURNS@reddit
Without this turning into a bashing thread, Gen Z/Alpha takes things very literally and does not pick up sarcasm/nuance easily.
My wife and I were watching The Little Rascals (1994) and they were stunned by the "He Man Womum Haters Club", the cross dressing, and casual property damage. We all knew that was stupid off the rip back then.
kmmccorm@reddit
You sound like a boomer dude 😁
chairhats@reddit (OP)
To a certain extent, yes, and that was part of my post - we are no longer the future, gen z is. We have passed that time period of relevance. What I am seeing that they do have tho is their entirely different baseline, which is not good. They may understand that it's not good, but they cannot relate to going to school with 0 concern for school shootings, like we did. Every generation does evolve and I'm noting my understanding of that change, and observation of how things are.
kmmccorm@reddit
lol ok dude.
chairhats@reddit (OP)
I am genuinely grateful that you responded and proved yourself to just be a miserable person. You've relieved me of any desire to help you understand my point.
kmmccorm@reddit
Thanks, the good thing is I literally had zero desire to understand your point. But gosh that was so generous of you that you were willing to help me.
chairhats@reddit (OP)
what's that sonny? I can't understand you. Warren G. Harding was president when I was born and I'm a boomer.
kmmccorm@reddit
Hell yeah, you’re cooking now dude. Bold italics? Love it.
chairhats@reddit (OP)
Oh, I'm definitely not deleting comments. I absolutely did make that post. Most likely a mod is deleting your comment, because they can tell you dad didn't want you.
chairhats@reddit (OP)
what's that sonny? Your mom likes it up the pooper and you don't know who your father is? I don't hear so well these days, but I definitely gathered that from everything you said. It's almost miraculous that I can't actually hear, but I knew that your mom was a butt slt and no one would take responsibility for being your father after talking to you for a brief moment. It's just written on your face. No. one. Ever. Wanted to be your father*
desertdweller2011@reddit
i don’t think there’s any way things are “meant” to be necessarily, but i also think gen z is very aware things are very fucked up.
chairhats@reddit (OP)
When I say meant I mean the expectations of the xennial generation- general stability, ideas of a prosperous future, college will get you ahead in life, etc. I think every generation has semblances of that, and that just happen to be ours, which has not passed on to Gen z. They have no way of knowing that school shootings are not normal- columbine happened in 1999(?) and they've increased in regularity every year since. They may understand that it's wrong that these things happen, but they do not know a world without it.
usernames_suck_ok@reddit
This post will probably get removed for not being about old music, movies, TV shows or something along those lines.
I'm kidding. (Kind of.)
Li-RM35M4419@reddit
Or some cartoons, toy or video game.
Lucky_Louch@reddit
Yeah I am so grateful to have grown up in the 80's and 90's. It does make the way things are now harder to come to terms with, but at least we got to experience that reality. I honestly feel really bad for those that have only known the world in this state of chaos. How can they even know how bad it is if this is all they've ever known...
chairhats@reddit (OP)
Yeah, I think the realization that this is how things just are now was pretty illuminating for me. There's probably no going back to the way things are.