Am I Supposed to Hate my Generation?

I'm generation X and baby boomers hated us growing up

We were the first TV generation, and "X" was a reference to our flatness and lack of character or charisma

Then we hated millenials

Now apparently millenials hate you

Everyone has a go of being the most hated

@Hexapod

I know, but from what I gather, some of these things like cognitive decline are apparently based on real research, so this time are we really as awful as everyone says?

@Hexapod

Milennial on the cusp of gen Z here, so I sort if feel like I relate to both.

To answer your question "are we really as awful as everyone says?"

Nah. Like @DogMan79 @ said above, every gen seems to go through a phase of hating the one below them. I think it comes down to being a mirror of change, and alot of people can become accustomed and biased towards their own realm of experience and relatibility. When this change begins to become apparent in cultural shifts, as each gen does create a slow cultural shift, it can be upsetting for the older gens.

Im aware of it but I feel it a bit myself and catch myself saying things like "kids these days just have no clue." then I remind myself its just different and a product of a different time in the world they grew into.

Hey @Hexapod

Millennial here! As other members have shared, hating on generations and blaming them for changes happening is something that happens with every generation it seems (and even before we named the generations!). I remember millennials being blamed for the diamond market plummeting! 🔷

While there might be studies about cognitive decline its important to take into consideration who made the study, what the results actually say versus what is reported and why they studied it. Hopefully also some reassurance in the fact that our brains are amazing! They can learn and grow throughout our lives, so if cognitive decline is something you are worried about maybe you can look into things that are good for you brain! From what I have heard (although don't quote me on the actual studies of it) learning an instrument, dance, and learning another language are great for our brains!

Hey @Hexapod

That is a heavy weight to carry, and it’s completely understandable why you’d feel defeated after hearing those narratives on a loop. It sounds like you’re doing everything "right", being polite, working hard, staying curious, yet you’re being told the finish line has been moved because of the year you were born 💚

Every generation, without fail, has been labelled "lazy," "unskilled," or "the end of civilisation" by the ones preceding it. The Baby Boomers were called the "Me Generation" and criticised for being narcissistic and entitled in the 70s. Gen X were famously labelled "Slackers" who lacked any drive or direction. Millennials were told they were "killing" every industry and were too soft because of "participation trophies." The criticism you’re hearing now is often less about a specific failure of Gen Z and more about a timeless tension between those in power and those entering the very world they built.

You made a very sharp point about the difference between data and their interpretation. Cognitive scientists often point out that IQ scores fluctuate based on what a society values at the time. A shift of a few points often reflects a change in how we process information (moving from rote memorisation to digital synthesis) rather than a loss of "intelligence."

Management surveys in the workplace are often skewed by "clash of culture." Gen Z is the first generation to openly prioritise mental health and work-life boundaries. To a manager used to a 1990s "hustle culture," a healthy boundary can look like "laziness," even if the work being done is high-quality.

It’s okay to feel lost when the world is shouting that you’re mediocre before you’ve even had a chance to fully start. But remember this, generalisations are not our destiny. A survey about "Gen Z" says nothing about your specific work ethic, your kindness, or your capacity for deep thought.

On another note, critical thinking is still very much alive. The very fact that you are questioning these statistics and looking for bias proves that the "lack of critical thinking" trope doesn't apply to you.

You aren't "supposed" to hate your generation, nor are you required to defend every part of it. You’re allowed to just be you, a person doing their best in a particularly noisy era of history.

When you look at the people around you, do you see "mediocrity," or do you see people who, like you, are just trying to find some peace and meaning in life? 💚

Hey @Hexapod ,

Thanks for sharing. Interesting insight.

I guess what comes to my mind is, can you change the fact that you are part of that generation? If not, there's not much else one can do except push on and make the most of it?

What do you think?

I guess none of us can not be born in the generation we are. It seems that every generation talks about the next generation - we can't stop that.

I hope you get to live the life you want whether you've got high IQ, or low IQ, have strong critical thinking or low critical thinking skills... meh? That's their opinion!

Take care mate. Just be YOU.