There was never any doubt about how cool we were, after all we are generation X. Having been born in '76 I just slipped into the MTV generation. I have still got to be cool right....RIGHT?
As I turn 30 this year I have just figured out that while I was looking the other way 5 other generations slipped in front of me and have started blocking my view of the future.
Generation X
1965-1981
MTV Generation
1975-1985
Culture Wars
1984-2005
Boomerang Generation
1981-1986
Generation Y
1982-2003
iGeneration
1986-2000
New Silent Generation
2001-
I find this out at a time when I have also realized that I am having to work at keeping up with the latest gadgets, consumer technology and the new best websites. Its does not seem to long ago when I was the one introducing people to the cool gadget and the for now unknown, but soon to be 'next big website.' We all take great pride in finding 'stuff' long before it becomes popular. I much prefer to be refered to by marketers as an innovator or early adopter, I simlpy refuse to become one of those laggards. The one buying an apple newton at a Walmart sale in 2005 and getting excited by the technology.
In the past each generation did not necessarily try and change society they arrived in but went about building their own society with new music, clothes etc. iGeneration however seems to have started something completely new....It's not about clothes or music, it's all about the technology. What was the geek for GenX is the Guru for iGeneration. Once you were cool if you could speak 'Gansta' now your sad if you cant speak HTML.
I have my Xbox, Media Centre PC, Treo 650 Phone, 60g Video Ipod, a myspace website and now a blog. Am I, representing GenX, keeping pace with iGen and what am i missing.
