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Generations X and Y suffer boomer-angst
The Washington Times ^ | 12-12-05 | Martha Irvine

Posted on 12/12/2005 11:32:10 AM PST by JZelle

CHICAGO -- Abby Lovett's friends would die laughing if they heard her. Here she is in her office at a Chicago advertising agency, the place she spends many a night and weekend, loudly proclaiming that people in her generation need to work less than their baby-boomer parents have. Sure, she's putting in more than 50 hours a week to establish her career. But in her heart, Miss Lovett knows she'll end up miserable if she doesn't eventually find a little balance. To her and many other young adults, "having it all" quickly is becoming a myth, not the mantra it was for boomers who left behind their protest signs and tie-dye to climb the corporate ladder. "No one is happy. Everyone is overworked, overstressed. No one's spending the kind of time that they want with their kids or their spouses or partners. And I think part of that can be attributed to the boomers," says Miss Lovett, 27. You could call it "boomer backlash," or just high anxiety. But as the first of the baby boomers turn 60 next year, it's one of many ways that young adults are feeling conflicted about their graying elders. They both love boomers and love to hate them. They see a talented, successful and outspoken generation that also can be hopelessly dismissive and self-absorbed.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: babyboomers; boomerbacklash; generationx; generationy; genx; workplace
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1 posted on 12/12/2005 11:32:11 AM PST by JZelle
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To: JZelle
They see a talented, successful and outspoken generation that also can be hopelessly dismissive and self-absorbed.

I guess so. Think I will take my 2005 Vette out for a spin this afternoon! LOL!!

2 posted on 12/12/2005 11:34:08 AM PST by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: JZelle

"Generations" used to 25 or 30 years apart.

Media and marketing has changed that to about every 8 years, it's a whole new generation. It's ridiculous.


3 posted on 12/12/2005 11:34:37 AM PST by SteveMcKing ("No empire collapses because of technical reasons. They collapse because they are unnatural.")
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To: JZelle
it's one of many ways that young adults are feeling conflicted about their graying elders.

Oh, THAT'S never been the case before.

4 posted on 12/12/2005 11:36:42 AM PST by KellyAdmirer
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To: qam1

ping!


5 posted on 12/12/2005 11:39:19 AM PST by paltz
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To: paltz

Generation X was over once Billy Idol went solo.


6 posted on 12/12/2005 11:40:10 AM PST by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: RadioAstronomer

I just knew you were rolling in the dough. j/k I see the things my mother-in-law has been doing and things she can now buy. I can see that I have a lot to still look forward to after the kids move out in 15-20 years. I know she worked really hard to get the things she has now. I get more annoyed with the people my own age who have it all right now. Even when they are $20,000 in debt.


7 posted on 12/12/2005 11:41:20 AM PST by HungarianGypsy (`)
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To: JZelle

That masterpiece definitely ranks way up there in the "waste your life reading an unfocussed and meaningless article" sweepstakes.


8 posted on 12/12/2005 11:43:36 AM PST by JmyBryan
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To: RadioAstronomer
I guess so. Think I will take my 2005 Vette out for a spin this afternoon! LOL!!

Yeah yeah, just wait. One day you won't be looking and *bam* into the crooked nursing home that I saw on 60 Minutes. :)

9 posted on 12/12/2005 11:45:44 AM PST by Zeroisanumber
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To: JZelle
Everyone is overworked, overstressed. No one's spending the kind of time that they want with their kids or their spouses or partners. And I think part of that can be attributed to the boomers," says Miss Lovett, 27.

Attribute it to yourself, Miss Lovett, 27 ... and if you don't like it, do something different.

10 posted on 12/12/2005 11:54:38 AM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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To: SteveMcKing

I my mind, a generation consisted of the amount of time that it took a newborn to reach the age where they mate and have their own babies...so that a "generation" has fluctuated, based on the cultural mores regarding sex. For the longest time, i used to consider that a generation was about
18 to 22 years in length...it's obviously grown shorter among some Dims, and much longer among others that wait until they are closer to 30 to have children...this of course, is not genetically ideal. But then, Dims allways thought they wee born to beak all the rules.


11 posted on 12/12/2005 11:55:30 AM PST by Baby Driver
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To: JZelle

There are an awful lot of whining Gen Xers and Ys on this site.

I'm a boomer conservative as are most of my friends. We have save rigorously for retirement and are enjoying life now as well.

The rest of the youngsters will just have to whine.


12 posted on 12/12/2005 11:57:27 AM PST by BunnySlippers
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To: Tax-chick

Aww, and look how politically correct Miss Lovett is even. She's sensitive enough to throw in the word "partner" when discussing spouses.


13 posted on 12/12/2005 11:57:29 AM PST by Sam's Army ("Terrorism is a matter for the police" MurryMom 11/28/05)
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To: Sam's Army

I didn't catch that among the rest of the drivel ... ain't that sweet of her!


14 posted on 12/12/2005 11:59:33 AM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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To: qam1

ping


15 posted on 12/12/2005 12:01:14 PM PST by kenth (Come back here... so that I may brain thee!)
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To: BunnySlippers

I know, Gen x'ers and Gen Y'ers have nothing to whine about.

</sarc>


16 posted on 12/12/2005 12:05:38 PM PST by Conservomax (There are no solutions, only trade-offs.)
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To: Conservomax

It's easy to whine ... but harder to do something about it. Take a cue from GW's message: "personal responsibility".

You're on this site so I suspect you're a conservative. I'll bet it won't be as hard as you think.


17 posted on 12/12/2005 12:08:55 PM PST by BunnySlippers
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To: paltz; ItsOurTimeNow; PresbyRev; tortoise; Fraulein; StoneColdGOP; Clemenza; malakhi; m18436572; ...
Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.  

18 posted on 12/12/2005 4:16:22 PM PST by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: JZelle
They both love boomers and love to hate them.

Nobody loves Boomers except other Boomers

19 posted on 12/12/2005 4:17:36 PM PST by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: qam1

I don't know if I suffer angst from them so much as a deep, seething hatred. Unhealthy, yes, but there it is.


20 posted on 12/12/2005 4:21:09 PM PST by I_like_good_things_too
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