Talkin' 'bout my generation

 

I was asked to write something about my generation and state my opinion on the question, if I hold myself to be a typical member of it.

A search on the internet brought forth the following descriptions:

Belonging to my generation, the so-called Generation X, are the people born between the early 60´s and the early 80´s. We experienced the introduction of the personal computer, the start of the video game era, cable television and the Internet. Other events include the AIDS epidemic, the War on Drugs, the Iran hostage crisis, the Persian Gulf War, the Dot-com bubble, grunge, alternative rock and hip hop.

In his novel “Generation X”, Douglas Coupland emphasizes that the people belonging to this generation didn´t have the security their predecessors enjoyed, equally economically and ecologically.

In the preface to „Generation X Goes Global: Mapping a Youth Culture in Motion”, a collection of global essays, Professor Christine Henseler summarizes it as "a generation whose worldview is based on change, on the need to combat corruption, dictatorships, abuse, AIDS, a generation in search of human dignity and individual freedom, the need for stability, love, tolerance, and human rights for all."

Adding from another source: Generation X is independent, resourceful and self-sufficient. In the workplace, Generation X values freedom and responsibility. The first generation to grow up with computers, technology is woven into their lives. They adapt well to change and are tolerant of alternative lifestyles. Generation X is ambitious and eager to learn new skills but want to accomplish things on their own terms. Unlike previous generations, members of Generation X work to live rather than live to work. They appreciate fun in the workplace and espouse a work hard/play hard mentality.

Of course these descriptions are especially centered on people living in the USA and to a lesser extent in “the West” in general.

 So, am I a typical member of my generation?

I remember buying my first computer, an Amiga,  at the age of 14. Before that, I had little contact to advanced technology. Since then it became an increasingly growing part of my daily life and many good memories are attached to playing now legendary or long-forgotten games (The Secret of Monkey Island, anyone?). I first got onto the internet when I had already finished school, although I used the German predecessor (BTX) for a few years before that. God knows how it would have affected my grades in school if it would´ve been around before that.

In my teenage years I was fully exposed to the gloomy outlook on the job-market by the media, my parents and my teachers. In my parents’ time it wasn´t that important what school you went to and how good your grades were. Even people with mediocre school qualifications could eventually become bank-presidents when they worked hard enough. That changed a big deal and in my time qualifications counted for nearly everything.  I had much concern about my future and I think this played a big part in my decision to get the best education possible and in the end to become a bureaucrat. The same can be said about a lot of people I went to school with. About half the people of my graduation class did end up in the public sector, becoming police-officers, teachers or bureaucrats like me. What all these jobs have in common is that they offer a high degree of social security with an outlook to be employed there until retiring. The pay is not that high, when compared to the private sector, but you can make a decent living. There is a meaning to the things you do, other than to manufacture or sell people stuff they don´t really need and the working-hours are decent, so you actually have time for a family or a hobby. The work-environment is important to me. I like to be as autonomous as possible. I know what I have to accomplish and I´m the one in charge of the how and when.

I am eager to learn something new, normally in passing, but for a few years I even took some university courses in history, sociology, philosophy and literature just for fun and gaining knowledge.

Care for the environment was taught at school and the effects of the lack thereof were reported by the media since I can remember. The generation of my parents didn´t pay that much attention at first, because it challenged everything they were brought up with and took for granted, like big cars, wasting energy and so on. The sentiment to mind the environment in whatever you do became ingrained in me. That doesn´t mean that I always act in the best way possible, but at least  I get a bad conscience if I don´t. The wider political effect can be seen here in Germany especially by the rise of the Green Party which was founded in the late seventies and now is a power factor to be reckoned with, now being part of several state government coalitions and once even a federal one.

The need to combat corruption and to fight for human dignity and individual freedom has come into my focus rather late. In general I hold the country and legal system I live in in high esteem and I didn´t see any problems worth caring about in the regards aforementioned. That changed a few years ago when ever more laws in planning were reported on that to me seemed to be Orwellian in nature. Since then I´m rather active for my standards in demonstrating, signing petitions, discussions and I even joined a political party, a thing that I couldn´t imagine myself doing even a few years ago.

So in conclusion I have to say that the various descriptions about Generation X’ers fit me very well; the better the longer I live.

It would be very interesting for me to learn from my readers if they hold themselves to be typical members of their generation, or if the points stated above are applicable to members of other generations or people living in other countries as well.