Why Gen X is the real loser generation: the Economist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen X has been parenting themselves since they were 7. Sure they’ll figure it out.

This is so true! My mom used to leave legal sized notepad for us with chores to do afterschool - we'd find it by our cheerios when we woke up in the morning. She was already at work ...

You got legal pads? So fancy! We got the back of an old envelope.

[Anonymous]

I’m a Gen-X. Being honest, that article bored me. No I haven’t become more conservative. No I didn’t vote Trump, ever.

Anyway, I will eventually leave this earth knowing that my generation produced and experienced the best music ever.

[Anonymous]

Who cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen X has been parenting themselves since they were 7. Sure they’ll figure it out.

This is so true! My mom used to leave legal sized notepad for us with chores to do afterschool - we'd find it by our cheerios when we woke up in the morning. She was already at work ...

You got legal pads? So fancy! We got the back of an old envelope.

We had a mirror at the bottom of our stairs. Sometimes our list was written in a bar of soap from the kitchen if my mom couldn’t find a pen. Lol. I had forgotten about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen X has been parenting themselves since they were 7. Sure they’ll figure it out.

This is so true! My mom used to leave legal sized notepad for us with chores to do afterschool - we'd find it by our cheerios when we woke up in the morning. She was already at work ...

You got legal pads? So fancy! We got the back of an old envelope.

We had a mirror at the bottom of our stairs. Sometimes our list was written in a bar of soap from the kitchen if my mom couldn’t find a pen. Lol. I had forgotten about that.

Ha ha! Mine used lipstick occasionally but never soap. You win!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s completely on brand that we’re the loser generation. I love it.

In the shape of an L on her forehead.

I’m a loser baby so why don’t you killl me.
Agree being the loser generation in on brand for those of us that didn’t want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything ….
I feel like we’ve always been the dazed and confused my so-called life freaks and geeks dont really belong here or there and just trying to keep our head down and do our thing generation.

[Anonymous]

I'm at the older edge of GenX and grew up in the rust belt so my playlist was more Allentown (Billy Joel) and My Hometown (Springsteen).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHnJp0oyOxs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77gKSp8WoRg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm at the older edge of GenX and grew up in the rust belt so my playlist was more Allentown (Billy Joel) and My Hometown (Springsteen).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHnJp0oyOxs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77gKSp8WoRg

Speaking of which, who is going to see the Springsteen movie this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! OK read I guess. Gen X’s complaining as a generation doesn’t really track. We have always been too small for that, no one would listen. I’ve known us as the generation that just shuts up and gets it done.

But I suppose anyone who nears retirement age and hasn’t accomplished what they wanted to would have complaints.

I also don’t recognize my generation as being a bunch of complainers. Everyone I know was raised to be independent, non-whiners who got sh@t done.

Gen X has absolutely morphed into a group of complainers. (And I am Gen X).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Gen-X. Being honest, that article bored me. No I haven’t become more conservative. No I didn’t vote Trump, ever.

Anyway, I will eventually leave this earth knowing that my generation produced and experienced the best music ever.

I couldn’t make it through the article either. She was focused on throwing in Gen X cultural references but not really analyzing the actual issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Gen-X. Being honest, that article bored me. No I haven’t become more conservative. No I didn’t vote Trump, ever.

Anyway, I will eventually leave this earth knowing that my generation produced and experienced the best music ever.

I couldn’t make it through the article either. She was focused on throwing in Gen X cultural references but not really analyzing the actual issues.

This is the second shitty NYT author on DCUM this week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not that one but this one: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/opinion/gen-x.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fE8.UMA6.No0Xj6Q9Rmjp&smid=url-share

This article is so true but so flipping depressing.

"The inability to accept this may explain why so many Gen X-ers voted for Donald Trump. If they view him as anti-establishment, he validates their need to feel that they’re being subversive. If you see a post that used generative A.I. to make Mr. Trump look like a U.F.C. fighter or Rambo, I’ll bet you a bottle of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill that it was made by a Gen X-er. Mr. Trump is more Beavis or Butt-Head than John Kennedy or Franklin Roosevelt, and that appeals in the sense that he annoys the responsible grown-ups, which X-ers have loved doing since “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” And mostly, he gives them a story that says: Yes, you were lied to, and that’s why your life sucks, dude."

This line of thought is so completely alien to me (GenX born in 1972) that when I see that crap, I assume it's Boomers who can't tell AI from real photos. I guess I do see it with a few GenX acquaintances who went full MAGA. I don't see it among my actual friends who are much more the stereotypical hyper-competent and responsible type who are always the clean up crew and get stuff done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not that one but this one: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/opinion/gen-x.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fE8.UMA6.No0Xj6Q9Rmjp&smid=url-share

This article is so true but so flipping depressing.

"The inability to accept this may explain why so many Gen X-ers voted for Donald Trump. If they view him as anti-establishment, he validates their need to feel that they’re being subversive. If you see a post that used generative A.I. to make Mr. Trump look like a U.F.C. fighter or Rambo, I’ll bet you a bottle of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill that it was made by a Gen X-er. Mr. Trump is more Beavis or Butt-Head than John Kennedy or Franklin Roosevelt, and that appeals in the sense that he annoys the responsible grown-ups, which X-ers have loved doing since “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” And mostly, he gives them a story that says: Yes, you were lied to, and that’s why your life sucks, dude."

This line of thought is so completely alien to me (GenX born in 1972) that when I see that crap, I assume it's Boomers who can't tell AI from real photos. I guess I do see it with a few GenX acquaintances who went full MAGA. I don't see it among my actual friends who are much more the stereotypical hyper-competent and responsible type who are always the clean up crew and get stuff done.

Well, something has to explain the demographics RE who voted for Trump. This seems as good an explanation as any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not that one but this one: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/opinion/gen-x.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fE8.UMA6.No0Xj6Q9Rmjp&smid=url-share

This article is so true but so flipping depressing.

"The inability to accept this may explain why so many Gen X-ers voted for Donald Trump. If they view him as anti-establishment, he validates their need to feel that they’re being subversive. If you see a post that used generative A.I. to make Mr. Trump look like a U.F.C. fighter or Rambo, I’ll bet you a bottle of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill that it was made by a Gen X-er. Mr. Trump is more Beavis or Butt-Head than John Kennedy or Franklin Roosevelt, and that appeals in the sense that he annoys the responsible grown-ups, which X-ers have loved doing since “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” And mostly, he gives them a story that says: Yes, you were lied to, and that’s why your life sucks, dude."

This line of thought is so completely alien to me (GenX born in 1972) that when I see that crap, I assume it's Boomers who can't tell AI from real photos. I guess I do see it with a few GenX acquaintances who went full MAGA. I don't see it among my actual friends who are much more the stereotypical hyper-competent and responsible type who are always the clean up crew and get stuff done.

All this navel gazing is so boring to me. Call us the generation of losers. It no biggie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not that one but this one: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/opinion/gen-x.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fE8.UMA6.No0Xj6Q9Rmjp&smid=url-share

This article is so true but so flipping depressing.

"The inability to accept this may explain why so many Gen X-ers voted for Donald Trump. If they view him as anti-establishment, he validates their need to feel that they’re being subversive. If you see a post that used generative A.I. to make Mr. Trump look like a U.F.C. fighter or Rambo, I’ll bet you a bottle of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill that it was made by a Gen X-er. Mr. Trump is more Beavis or Butt-Head than John Kennedy or Franklin Roosevelt, and that appeals in the sense that he annoys the responsible grown-ups, which X-ers have loved doing since “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” And mostly, he gives them a story that says: Yes, you were lied to, and that’s why your life sucks, dude."

This line of thought is so completely alien to me (GenX born in 1972) that when I see that crap, I assume it's Boomers who can't tell AI from real photos. I guess I do see it with a few GenX acquaintances who went full MAGA. I don't see it among my actual friends who are much more the stereotypical hyper-competent and responsible type who are always the clean up crew and get stuff done.

All this navel gazing is so boring to me. Call us the generation of losers. It no biggie.

But we’re not. Gen X largely made the internet what it is.