General Discussion

GPV

(72,384 posts) Sat Jul 8, 2023, 12:38 PM Jul 2023

POLL: Debunking this myth about Baby Boomers also reveals something about Gen Z

There’s nearly a 50-year age gap between the oldest Baby Boomer and the youngest member of Gen Z. And for years we’ve heard how different these generations can be, from how they spend their money to how they work to how they use emojis.

We’ve seen “OK Boomer” trend on TikTok as Gen Z criticized their elders, and heard Boomers retort that younger generations should “stop whining.”

But Baby Boomers and Gen Z have something in common that’s often overlooked: Bias is shaping the way we talk about them, allowing stereotypes and myths to drown out facts and reality.

It’s an important point the president of the Pew Research Center made in a recent post. And it’s worth unpacking, because it has big implications for how we can better understand huge swaths of the US population – and the country’s political future.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/08/us/baby-boomers-gen-z-cec/index.html

What Gen are you?

81 votes, 1 pass \| Time left: Unlimited
	Silent
	3 (4%)
	Boomer
	54 (67%)
	Gen X
	19 (23%)
	Millennial
	4 (5%)
	Gen Z
	1 (1%)
	Alpha
	0 (0%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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14 replies

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Highlight:

POLL: Debunking this myth about Baby Boomers also reveals something about Gen Z (Original Post) GPV Jul 2023 OP

So... 2naSalit Jul 2023 #1

These arbitrary dividing lines Progressive dog Jul 2023 #2

Constantly changing definition zipplewrath Jul 2023 #4

Those born between '56-'64 are sometimes referred to as Generation Jones. Raftergirl Jul 2023 #7

I was born in 1958 and this is how I think of myself. phylny Jul 2023 #13

Seems like every thing that was said about my generation is now being applied to Gen Z LostOne4Ever Jul 2023 #3

When my friends complain about their kids and grandkids, I point out the crap we pulled when young. Irish_Dem Jul 2023 #5

You're as old as you think. nt usonian Jul 2023 #6

Generation Jones here. we can do it Jul 2023 #8

Same here. shrike3 Jul 2023 #11

I'm in the Silent Generation, so I won't say anything about this DavidDvorkin Jul 2023 #9

Boomer/Generation Jones. My SO is Generation X. Solly Mack Jul 2023 #10

The gap is 66 years, not 50. Sky Jewels Jul 2023 #12

I am a boomer and close to Tree Lady Jul 2023 #14

2naSalit

(86,882 posts)

1. So...

Reply to GPV (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 12:51 PM

Jul 2023

i May be atypical, My friends and acquaintances are of varying ages, I don't have anymore "friends" in my age cohort then any other.

Progressive dog

(6,923 posts)

2. These arbitrary dividing lines

Reply to GPV (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 01:23 PM

Jul 2023

between generations is unlikely to align with the significant changes in the individuals. Change is almost always gradual.

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)

4. Constantly changing definition

Reply to Progressive dog (Reply #2)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 01:43 PM

Jul 2023

"Boomers" comes from the expression "baby boom" that existed after WWII. But if one looks at the birth rates, the actual "boom" was only from about '47 to 55. For years it was considered to be 47 to 60, which really, being on the 59 side of that with a brother on the 49 side of that, it was a bit long. I was not really of the "same" generation. Extending it to 64 is a bit of a joke. I've heard "early" millennials comment on a similar thing that they get lumped into the same "generation" as "late" millennials.

Raftergirl

(1,294 posts)

7. Those born between '56-'64 are sometimes referred to as Generation Jones.

Reply to zipplewrath (Reply #4)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 02:09 PM

Jul 2023

https://www.generations.com/insights/early-boomers-generation-jones-meet-the-two-boomer-subgroups#:~:text=The%20Boomer%20cohort%20is%20typically,40%25%20of%20the%20US%20population.

phylny

(8,392 posts)

13. I was born in 1958 and this is how I think of myself.

Reply to Raftergirl (Reply #7)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 10:12 PM

Jul 2023

LostOne4Ever

(9,290 posts)

3. Seems like every thing that was said about my generation is now being applied to Gen Z

Reply to GPV (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 01:29 PM

Jul 2023

As a millennial/Xennial I feel for Gen Z!

Irish_Dem

(47,631 posts)

5. When my friends complain about their kids and grandkids, I point out the crap we pulled when young.

Reply to LostOne4Ever (Reply #3)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 01:50 PM

Jul 2023

I start listing all the stuff we pulled when in teens and twenties.

usonian

(9,928 posts)

6. You're as old as you think. nt

Reply to GPV (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 02:02 PM

Jul 2023

we can do it

(12,210 posts)

8. Generation Jones here.

Reply to GPV (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 02:12 PM

Jul 2023

shrike3

(3,843 posts)

11. Same here.

Reply to we can do it (Reply #8)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 06:19 PM

Jul 2023

DavidDvorkin

(19,503 posts)

9. I'm in the Silent Generation, so I won't say anything about this

Reply to GPV (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 02:56 PM

Jul 2023

Except to say that when I was a teenager and young adult, the older generation constantly complained about how much noise we made, especially our music.

Solly Mack

(90,795 posts)

10. Boomer/Generation Jones. My SO is Generation X.

Reply to GPV (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 03:11 PM

Jul 2023

I get along well with those born after me. Primarily because I don't find anything special about being born when I was born. I don't think the music was better or the books were better (good stuff across generations), or the fashion was better (Well, OK. A lot of what passed for fashion in the 70's was just plain ugly) or that my age group has a monopoly on good/better/best work ethics, values, morals, or anything else.

Different people think/feel differently. I accept that. Doesn't change how I think, but I accept that.

Sky Jewels

(7,186 posts)

12. The gap is 66 years, not 50.

Reply to GPV (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 06:22 PM

Jul 2023

2012-1946 = 66

Tree Lady

(11,526 posts)

14. I am a boomer and close to

Reply to GPV (Original post)

Sat Jul 8, 2023, 10:56 PM

Jul 2023

My grandson gen X. We hike together. He has an intense love of nature like I do and believes in meditation. I think his generation is very concerned about the environment because it could kill them and they love it too.

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