Why Gen X is the real loser generation: the Economist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen X are life losers. I remember thinking when the TV show Thirty Something came on, never watched it btw, that Gen X were thirty nothings.
Sure they are Trumpers to blame somebody else.

My God, how old are you that you remember the tv show Thirtysomething, but have no clue what generation it was about?

That show wasn’t even thirty something’s, I think they were boomers. I’m an Xer and when that came out they were way older than me by a generation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was born in 1976. I love being late Gen X. Growing up in the 80s, high school and college in the 90s. I started earning good money right after the dot com burst so had that good run up, but yet wasn't wealthy enough to "lose everything" in the Great Recession. We went to college when it was still somewhat reasonably priced and not so difficult to get into great colleges. We have earned really well and our investments have done really well since 2009. I was able to buy my first house at a good time and have traded up since then. Good music, now we have nice HS kids and our parents are still alive (luckily!), but as very late Silent Generation / very early Boomers, we do stand to inherit a sizeable amount from them. But I especially thought coming of age in the 90s was so great. It was such a peaceful and prosperous time, at least in my memory, filled with optimism and promise. I have never voted for a Republican except one in a local election primary to prevent the MAGA type candidate from winning. Definitely never voted for Trump. I don't see people my age or slightly older as whiney at all. Most of them are quite accomplished.

This is close to my experience as well. Being born in 1977 for me gave me pretty good timing with education, life events, and economic cycles, investments and major purchases.

[Anonymous]

Born in 1979, perhaps the last Gen-Xer. I often wished I was 10 years older, so I could have experienced a bit more of the 70's, 80's, and 90's and fit in better with the rest of my Gen-X friends. I don't identify at all with the Millenials.

One thing I've learned is that you can't take your employment for granted. I saw my dad forced to take early retirement from IBM in 1992. He then worked for another decade in lower-paying tech jobs. It took him six months to find his next job after leaving IBM at age 57. Age discrimination is far worse now in the tech sector, where even being 40 years old is considered a liability and people are spending years to find their next tech job.

I ended up going in to steady Federal government work, and even that isn't guaranteed employment anymore. I saved and invested aggressively over my 22 years as a Federal employee and now have a net worth of $2M. I prepared myself to take early retirement, if it was offered at age 50, so that's why I was always maxing out my 401K and IRA every year.

Millenials and Gen Z are finding themselves in even less secure employment venues like being hired as an independent contractor, getting axed by some private equity firm or mega-corp, or piecing together work from the "gig" economy.

I really don't mind that Millenials are getting promoted over me. I don't need the additional income, and being a manager in the government doesn't pay much more anyway. It's just not worth the stress. I value my Gen-X work-life balance. I prefer being in this low-key, mostly ignored generation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Born in 1979, perhaps the last Gen-Xer. I often wished I was 10 years older, so I could have experienced a bit more of the 70's, 80's, and 90's and fit in better with the rest of my Gen-X friends. I don't identify at all with the Millenials.

One thing I've learned is that you can't take your employment for granted. I saw my dad forced to take early retirement from IBM in 1992. He then worked for another decade in lower-paying tech jobs. It took him six months to find his next job after leaving IBM at age 57. Age discrimination is far worse now in the tech sector, where even being 40 years old is considered a liability and people are spending years to find their next tech job.

I ended up going in to steady Federal government work, and even that isn't guaranteed employment anymore. I saved and invested aggressively over my 22 years as a Federal employee and now have a net worth of $2M. I prepared myself to take early retirement, if it was offered at age 50, so that's why I was always maxing out my 401K and IRA every year.

Millenials and Gen Z are finding themselves in even less secure employment venues like being hired as an independent contractor, getting axed by some private equity firm or mega-corp, or piecing together work from the "gig" economy.

I really don't mind that Millenials are getting promoted over me. I don't need the additional income, and being a manager in the government doesn't pay much more anyway. It's just not worth the stress. I value my Gen-X work-life balance. I prefer being in this low-key, mostly ignored generation.

I was born in 1970 and agree with this. DH was aged out a couple of years ago at 59 in the tech sector. I'm planning to retire next year. I also saved as much as I could to be able to retire early. That was actually always my goal.

I agree with you about the gig economy. I've been a contractor for most of my career. It has its pros and cons, but one thing I learned early in my career was that there is no such that employer loyalty to the employee.

[Anonymous]

The only thing I'm irritate about as a generation is how many boomers dominated leadership roles and treated us poorly in my particular career realm: international relations policy analysis.

But F them.

My resourcefulness and gratefulness for even a modicum of goodness in life has served me well. Love our DIY spirit.

[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.

Woot woot, agree!

[Anonymous]

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.

We’ll never be on track, but we’ll always be fine, because the boomers will improve a lot of what we need (no more polka music at the nursing home) and leave us good used stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Woot woot, agree!

75% of Facebook posts are Gen X whining about life or posting about chemtrails and flat Earth theories. Other 25% is Boomer rants and bots.

[Anonymous]

Gen X is the greatest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Woot woot, agree!

Yes, not many whiny latch key kids in my neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Woot woot, agree!

Yes, not many whiny latch key kids in my neighborhood.

I do however see many millennials walking their 5-6th graders to the bus stop and wonder what that is all about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Woot woot, agree!

75% of Facebook posts are Gen X whining about life or posting about chemtrails and flat Earth theories. Other 25% is Boomer rants and bots.

Why single out Facebook? Branch out and see where the complainers and 24x7 outragers are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Woot woot, agree!

75% of Facebook posts are Gen X whining about life or posting about chemtrails and flat Earth theories. Other 25% is Boomer rants and bots.

Why single out Facebook? Branch out and see where the complainers and 24x7 outragers are.

Facebook is basically the historical record of Gen X independence going from creativity and entrepreneurship to space aliens and anti-vax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

SAME! I always hear people saying that Millennials are the complainers. I don't remember anyone my age ever hating on their parents or older people as much as I hear 30-40 year olds doing right now. My generation never blamed anyone else for their troubles, they just dealt with
it.

30-40 year olds are millennials dear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not White, we are first gen immigrants and we are not Christians. Nothing of the generational stereotypes are true for us. We are Gen X and we have done well in every sphere of our life. Our kids are Gen Z and they are the most motivated kids I have seen.

America is amazing! I'm enjoying the comments in this thread from successful immigrants of color. Goes to show that despite all the fashionable claims to the contrary, the USA is truly a land of equal opportunity, regardless of skin color.

As an African immigrant who spent years in Europe, I wish many of the liberals in this country who always use Europe as a sort of "paradise" knew about the glass ceiling migrants face there. Despite graduating near the top of my class from one of the best engineering school in France I was quickly reminded that as an African im destined to be another regular engineer like anyone else.

I moved to the US wow. My career took off like a rocket.

And soon they will force you to go back to Africa. Or send you to El Salvador or wherever.

Maybe. I am not Nostradamus. But there is no place in the world where migrants can have the kind of success they do outside their countries like the United States. Nobody ever said that here is no racism in the United States. It exists. But American corporations pay for talent regardless of their ethnic origin. At least it's been my experience, I cannot speak for everyone.

NP, and a Xennial child of immigrants. I think historically this has been true, especially for for well-educated immigrants, in the US. They experience racism if they aren't white/European, but they have had a lot of opportunities for growth that they would not have experienced elsewhere. That includes Canada vs the US, because my parents did also consider emigrating to Canada in the 70s.

What I think we are seeing now, however, is a backlash against immigration in general. While the focus in the narrative is around undocumented, low-skilled immigrants, the policies are broader and would impact immigration across the board. It's coming, IMO, from a perception that non-Americans are taking all the spoils of our economy: education, high-paying jobs, nice housing and neighborhoods, etc. And there is particular resentment for Asian and African immigrants and their kids who are disproportionately represented in the UMC.

Anyway, it's hard to know how the current set of policies will play out...but that's my observation as an Asian-American. The racism is more pronounced in certain ways now than when I was growing up...and I grew up in a much less diverse area and much less liberal state than where I live now. The truly overt racism is no longer acceptable, but it's taking a different form now that looks a lot more like white, Christian nationalism to me.

If you think the main racism in the country right now is directed anywhere other than working class Hispanic immigrants and African Americans of all class levels, then you must be living in a different community and reading a dinner newspaper than I am.

I mean, they are literally rounding Hispanic up and putting them in tents in a swamp incommunicado.