Generation Z

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I saw a totally interesting and absorbing interview this morning on the News which interviewed representatives of Generation Z (born since 1993, if I got that correct).

They seemed completely different in their approach to life and success than, even, Generation X.

And they are so different from War Babies, that I cannot even attempt a description. For example, going to college is a dubious ( at best) interest of theirs, the interviewees said.

Another point made during the interview that had sudden clarity for me was their saying that Gen Z does not know a time in their lives when electronics, such as iPhones and laptops, were not part of their everyday lives, every minute. Every thought. Every communication, usually (always?) multi-managed/tasked/focused/conducted/enjoyed.

My recent attendance with my wife at a family Holiday party in a relative's home demonstrated some of these differences to me. Some. The 15 yr old son, and the just-turned-13 year old son, seen here, were attentive to their electronic gadgets throughout the partying; and yet, they were polite and interactive, especially if "interviewed," with the X-Gen relatives present, as well as to their parents' interests, as well as to us antiques present.

Anybody else, here on MTJ, aware of or becoming aware of how differently Generation Z sees their world?

[NJPiney]

I've lost track of the generation definitions as they keep inventing new ones. Strangely, I don't feel deprived by that lack of knowledge.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Anybody else, here on MTJ, aware of or becoming aware of how differently Generation Z sees their world?

You only have to have had children to understand, appreciate, and accept how each succeeding generation is different.

None of the understand, appreciate, and accept is easy since it seems that every preceding generation expects the succeeding ones to be just like they were, and they aren't.

[Roy]

I thought "z" was for zombie, as in The Walking Dead generation. Doesn't seem like they're using it that way.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I've lost track of the generation definitions as they keep inventing new ones. Strangely, I don't feel deprived by that lack of knowledge.

Me too. That's why I found the interview on the News this morning so interesting. I had not kept track and found the demarcations somewhat marginal in my bag of interests. However, since my wife and I are blessed with interaction with a wide variety of generations in our church activities, as well as in our family, we could see taking-shape marked differences that seemed worthy of particular notice. Instead of expecting generations to "fall-in-line" eventually with standards of conduct and education and aspirations that fit our own expectations of what it meant to be a successful American, we have come to learn and to see that the newest generations simply do not see life and its expectations as our generation does. Apparently, why should they?

My wife and I want to be effective relatives, as well as good teachers, albeit retired, so that to us means being attentive and understanding of what is important to the new generations. They are very, very, very different from ours, and, to me, as an adult wanting to remain relevant and not marginalized in society, keeping up with the changes and newest viewpoints is worthwhile.

Something BIG is happening. And I do not want to simply be a spectator on the sidelines. I want to be a valued participant, meaningful and interesting to young people.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Anybody else, here on MTJ, aware of or becoming aware of how differently Generation Z sees their world?

You only have to have had children to understand, appreciate, and accept how each succeeding generation is different.

None of the understand, appreciate, and accept is easy since it seems that every preceding generation expects the succeeding ones to be just like they were, and they aren't.

True.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Something BIG is happening. And I do not want to simply be a spectator on the sidelines. I want to be a valued participant, meaningful and interesting to young people.

Suggest you read (or re-read) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Something BIG is happening. And I do not want to simply be a spectator on the sidelines. I want to be a valued participant, meaningful and interesting to young people.

Suggest you read (or re-read) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

Would it be better than playing with my trains in the basement?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Something BIG is happening. And I do not want to simply be a spectator on the sidelines. I want to be a valued participant, meaningful and interesting to young people.

Suggest you read (or re-read) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

Would it be better than playing with my trains in the basement?

Will playing with your trains answer anything about the younger generations or will it just let you retreat to your basement and avoid the reality outside? Do you suffer from a form of agoraphobia?

In any case, reading a book is almost always a good pursuit. I generally read 2-3 every week. I find that if you are not careful, you can actually learn something.......

[rogruth]

Seems to me that the generation differences have always been there. Today there are things that make those differences more apparent such as that
thing in the hand or in the ear. Science, real and fiction, has been warning us for years. In some respects this has been like the boy who cried wolf.
We all wondered what was wrong with our grandparents and today we wonder about our grandchildren.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Suggest you read (or re-read) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

Would it be better than playing with my trains in the basement?

Will playing with your trains answer anything about the younger generations or will it just let you retreat to your basement and avoid the reality outside? Do you suffer from a form of agoraphobia?......

I was being facetious and had thought you might have known that. Actually, I have not run the trains for at least a year, have stopped modeling, have pulled back on any facet of my Layout Refinements , and have expanded my outreaches to the congregation of our church, and interactions with family.
Agoraphobic ? Hardly.

Be well, safe, and prosperous, every day of the new year, Rufus.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Would it be better than playing with my trains in the basement?

Will playing with your trains answer anything about the younger generations or will it just let you retreat to your basement and avoid the reality outside? Do you suffer from a form of agoraphobia?......

I was being facetious and had thought you might have known that. Actually, I have not run the trains for at least a year, have stopped modeling, have pulled back on any facet of my Layout Refinements , and have expanded my outreaches to the congregation of our church, and interactions with family.
Agoraphobic ? Hardly.

As was I - facetious. But, if you don't run them, don't model, etc., do you still derive any enjoyment of them and the contents of the basement?

Be well, safe, and prosperous, every day of the new year, Rufus.

Do the same now, lad.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

... if you don't run them, don't model, etc., do you still derive any enjoyment of them and the contents of the basement?

Be well, safe, and prosperous, every day of the new year, Rufus.

Do the same now, lad.

I love having the trains and their layout. Possession appears to be a large percentage of the enjoyment, for me, these days. I don't need to be shoulder-deep in modeling ingredients and projects any further, it seems. Whenever somebody might want to visit the layout to see it roll, I will get my enthusiasm renewed (as in the past) because having stuff and not sharing it is a waste, in my approach to life.

Right now, the room is the catch-all for the transitioning of the entire house from Christmas to after-Christmas, with a zillion boxes and crates awaiting their cargoes, as I traipse, little by little, with decorations from upstairs to downstairs for storage.

Participation on a couple forums has become a significant enjoyment for me in our hobby, too. They are enjoyable, afford interaction and exchange of ideas and viewpoints, and they teach me control and ways to try to live the Gospel, and not just read it aloud at Sunday Masses. Some of the characters that one can meet on a forum can be trying, at times, but the testing is good, I figure, because who wants to yak with just a bunch of totally like-minded clones, huh. Not us, right, Rufy-babes (!)

[G3750]

Something BIG is happening. And I do not want to simply be a spectator on the sidelines. I want to be a valued participant, meaningful and interesting to young people.

Suggest you read (or re-read) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

Would it be better than playing with my trains in the basement?

IMHO, no. Clarke's Childhood's End is depressing. Playing with trains is not.

My observation is that toy trains (of any type) still continue to fascinate children of all ages.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Suggest you read (or re-read) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

Would it be better than playing with my trains in the basement?

IMHO, no. Clarke's Childhood's End is depressing. Playing with trains is not.

My observation is that toy trains (of any type) still continue to fascinate children of all ages.

Well, it is depressing, but it puts the older generation into its place and demonstrates that we may never really fully understand or appreciate our children.