I'm dead center in Gen X. (b. 1968). The IGNORED generation. My kids say, "Ok, Boomer" to me, forgetting that WE fought the good fight against Boomers. We defined the culture of the individual. The Authenticity, the Apathy. So here it is: The HORRIBLE truths of Gen X: (1/x)
The Cures of Generation X - The Greatest Generation had the Polio Vaccine. Mustine (the first Chemotherapy drug, used for Leukemia). Prior generations used pharma to cure the greatest diseases of humanity. By contrast...Gen X... (2/x)
Gen X had Oxycontin (1995), Prozac for anti-depression (1988), Viagra (1989) for erectile dysfunction to combat decreasing libido among Gen-X-ers. Who wants to revolt when you can have opioids, ED drugs, and anti-anxiety pills. (3/x)
Gen X philosophy is about the pros and cons of Individualism. The Individual could be selfish, uncaring, apathetic, but it's also up to the individual to seek out the truth versus blindly following corporatism, advertisement, any ism. Blue pill or Red pill? (4/x)
Movies of Gen X - "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "The Matrix", "Slacker", "Clerks" (@ThatKevinSmith ), "The Breakfast Club". Quote from "Slacker": "Who's ever written a great work about the immense effort required in order not to create?" Or even better, from Ferris Bueller: (5/x):
Bueller: "I do have a test today, that wasn’t BS. It’s on European socialism. I mean, really, what’s the point? I’m not European. I don’t plan on being European. So who gives a crap if they’re fascist anarchists, it still doesn’t change the fact that I don’t own a car." (6/x)
Or from "Clerks" (@ThatKevinSmith ), "This job would be great if it wasn't for the fucking customers." Or best summed up from "Slackers" again: "Uh, I don't do much really, I just read, and work here, and, uh, sleep and eat, and, uh, watch movies." Then, our TV... (7/x)
Gen X TV "Seinfeld" (a show about nothing where nobody ever learns). "Friends", "BH 90210" - We went from MLK's "I have a dream" to Dylan in (BH 90210): "But something happened, I fell in love with you or something". And Seinfeld's "Yada, yada, yada". Then our music... (8/x)
Grunge - Punk / Metal was anger-filled vs Grunge's angst. We went from the dysfunction of society to dysfunction of the individual - loneliness, alienation, losers. Metal was "hard" vs "grunge" means "dirt". "I'm a loser baby so why don't you kill me? " - Beck. But.... (9/x)
Hiphop, though, is the music of the outsider. Of authenticity Or "representing" or "keeping it real" or "express yourself!". There's no one culture (vs punk or metal or rock) but a sampling of cultures to enhance individuality. And then...Gen X religion... (10/x)
- Secular religion - "Star Wars", "Stoicism" - “How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes”― Marcus Aurelius. Similar to: "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." - Yoda. Or, put another way... (11/x)
"Do or do not! There is no try" - Yoda. Similar toL "Do not show theorems to the unlearned, but the actions produced by them. - Epictetus. Religions of self-reliance vs religions of obedience. But...the sad story of Gen X innovation... (12/x)
Innovation of atoms became innovation of bits- From 1900-1965 society went from Horses to supersonic jets Cross-Atlantic jets are actually SLOWER NOW since the beginning of Gen X. A Gen X innovation is Twitter versus Apollo 11. But..."The Power of... (13/x)
Gen X and - The Power of Now! - (Not THAT power of now) The Internet, Smartphones = Immediate delivery. Immediate content. Lifehacks to riches. 30 day diets. Gen X is IMPATIENT, loves shortcuts, lifehacks, quick money, assisted erections. What about leadership? ... (14/x)
The oldest Gen X-ers are 55. By that point, every other generation had a President. Greatest Generation: JFK Boomers: Clinton. Jeff Bezos is our leader - the richest man in the world because he can ship in one day all our creature comforts... SUMMARY... (15/x)
But the Matrix defines Gen X - the idea of "the red pill" to choose reality over the consumerism and corporatism that control the masses. Harsh reality > Conformity. And yet...Apathy (the Boomers squashed Vietnam but X-ers are still in Afganistan BUT... (16/x)
SUMMARY:
- Individualism > Every other -ism
- Apathy, but still Authenticity
- Immediate pleasure rather than Struggle
- Losers > Winners
- Innovation of bits > innovation of atoms
- Safety vs Service
- Truth over Brainwashing
Gen X: Apathy, Authenticity, Anarchy
- Individualism > Every other -ism
- Apathy, but still Authenticity
- Immediate pleasure rather than Struggle
- Losers > Winners
- Innovation of bits > innovation of atoms
- Safety vs Service
- Truth over Brainwashing
Gen X: Apathy, Authenticity, Anarchy
