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.
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