“MILLENNIALS” Not Like Me At All!

“MILLENNIALS” Not Like Me At All! Conventional wisdom demands that each generation gets labeled so we have a simple phrase to describe them. It is the zeitgeist; the general cultural, intellectual, ethical, spiritual and political climate within a specific group along with the morals and cultural direction of that era. I am a Baby Boomer. Known by that name because it is the generation that spawned from the spike in fertility after World War II, it is considered to have ended in 1964 when the birth control pill was invented. Parents then were full of hope for a peaceful world and a better life for their children than they had experienced. Those born after 1965 were originally part of the “Baby Bust” generation, but the name got changed to Generation X. According to Wikipedia, the term was first used in the UK in a 1964 study of British youth by Jane Deverson. The study revealed a generation of teenagers who "sleep together before they are married, were not taught to believe in God as 'much', dislike the Queen, and don't respect parents," these controversial findings meant that the piece was deemed unsuitable for the magazine. Deverson, in an attempt to save her research, worked with Hollywood correspondent Charles Hamblett to create a book about the study. Hamblett decided to name it Generation X. The newest generation is the Millennials. Characteristics of the generation vary by region, depending on social and economic conditions. However, it is generally marked by an increased use and familiarity with communications, media, and digital technologies.

The Pew Center just issued a 149-page study - "Millennials: Confident. Connected. Open to Change" - the most ambitious examination to date of the age group. The study dubbed the young adults history's first "always connected" generation, treating phones and other shiny, handheld devices like body parts. But as my friend Constance Buscemi pointed out,” All of the technology the Millennials use today, the Baby Boomers invented yesterday.” There about 50 million of them and they tend to be more confident, liberal, upbeat and open-minded, the report found.

Chapter seven of the report tells us that 70% say they have tattoos hidden beneath clothing and nearly one-in-four have a piercing in some place other than an earlobe. My body does not sport either of those extra adornments.

But the biggest difference between me and the Millennials has to do with our priorities in life. The most important thing to them at 52% is to be a good parent and that followed by successful marriage at 30%. I am not married, nor do I have a child; so those priorities rank very low for me.

Third on the list at 21% is helping others; but a high paying job ranks only at 15%. When helping others it is de rigueur to have money (serving food in a soup kitchen is nice, but cash is what charities need!) The Millennials should have ranked those two in a different order.

The lowest priority for this generation, at only 1%, is to become famous; which has been my first priority all my life. To quote Pepe Le Pew from the movie, “Little Beau Pepe,” A pitiful case am I not?