"FUCK 'EM I SAY" ...

 ... I said that quite a few times to The Old Girl on our recent holiday trip when complaining about some aspects of the trip - some obnoxious and 'privileged' other train travellers, a couple of rude fellow walkers who ignored our 'hellos' on the walking tracks and the keas who failed to turn up at the glaciers.

I often save this expression for the younger generation(s). At age 70 there are a few 'generations' to refer to now. I'm of the 'Baby Boomer' generation. I'm followed by Generation X,  Xennials,  Gen Y/Millennials and Generation Z. 

There are lots of young people for me to complain about.

In the broadest terms I and most of my 'Boomer' pals, especially those who have never had children of their own, see these different generations like this:

Generation X: Born 1965–1980

The slacker generation. Generation X lived through the AIDS epidemic, MTV culture, and a shifting cultural landscape that gave rise to LGBTQ+ rights.
Generation X parents used 'helicopter parenting' and wrapped their kids up in cottonwool thus creating the 'snowflakes' and me-mes who wanted everything now.

Millennial Generation or Generation Y: Born 1981–1996

Millennials lived through great social, political and technological change and are the first generation to know a childhood both with and without the internet which now drives their business and personal personal lives.
Us Boomers see Millennials as also being self-centred and entitled due to their excessive use of technology, but this generation, unlike the Xers are becoming incredibly community-oriented and environmentally conscious, which are traits that are being picked up by their children in the next generation.

Generation Z or iGen: Born 1997–2010

While still very young Generation Z kids are the first to be born into a world where they know nothing else besides being constantly connected to one another, albeit through phones, screens, tablets and social media platforms. There's good and bad in this - good in that they are very savvy in dealing with this technology but bad in that they lack practical coping skills if, and when the whole damn thing collapses through the growth of AI, energy and communication failures or global warfare. They are damned handy though when needing to set up new TV, phone and computer purchases.

OK, you can see that I'm opinionated, bigoted and generally obnoxious but, at age 70 I'm entitled. Entitled to say "Fuck 'em".

I've mentioned 'snowflakes in previous posts:

OK SNOWFLAKES

PC INTERPRETERS

The trouble though is that my friends and family  have nice children from the X, Y and Z generations who don't show the traits I rage against and who are having children of their own now from the Alpha and later generations.

It's hard being a curmudgeon sometimes.

I was thinking of this today when enquiring as to the status of my niece's pregnancy. She's the eldest daughter of my sister and will be having her first child soon. She is a real treasure - intelligent, caring and kind. She completed a double fine arts degree - applied art and curating at university and then went on to primary school teaching. she chose low-decile schools and is a very good teacher. She has volunteered to work with high risk prisoners in maximum security prisons, teaching them reading, writing and other communication skills. She will be a great mother. Born in 1989 makes her a Millennial or Gen Y. I don't see her as self-centred and entitled.

Her younger sister is also a Gen Y. She is also intelligent and caring and is creating a very good career for herself in the hotel industry. Her career advancements don't get in the way of her family considerations and values.

The youngest sister is probably the most intelligent of the three. She has two small and lovely children who will be brought up balanced, enquiring and socially competent. I always thought that she would be the one who would become a medical doctor like her parents. She opted for owning and running restaurants and cafes and now, has completed a nursing degree, She will be a great nurse as she is a great parent. No self-centredness there.

My brother's children, my other  three nieces are X, X and Y. They all three are confident, intelligent and nice young women (getting older now) and are not 'snowflakes' or 'me-mes'. I love them all.