I’ve felt like we’ve been invisible for years. When I was in marketing and content strategy at a gigantic media company all anyone talked about, at that time anyway, was Millennials. It seemed so misguided. But now that we’re back in the collective imagination, it’s possible to say, hey, we’re still here and still cool and still making it work. We’re the “I’ll make it work” generation and we have.
So great to find others my age on Substack. I’ve been writing here since 2022 and literally felt like I was the oldest person here.
I think what makes GenXers so resilient is the fact that we bridged the analog and digital worlds. I was part of the earliest online gaming communities, bulletin boards, and ISPs, while still knowing how to use a typewriter, a mimeograph, and carbon paper... not to mention write cursive. We also knew how to turn boredom into creativity instead of just zoning out on those Ataris. I always picked up innovations faster than either my younger or older coworkers, and usually taught everyone else how to use them.
My reticence to use AI isn't because I can't or couldn't do it. It's that I actually LIKE writing myself. Dismissing us as not understanding or flowing with technology just because we can ALSO do things without it just shows the lack of imagination of the generations judging us.
Gen X is going to help get us out of this mess because we have the entire communication infrastructure in us - from writing letters today. And we give great phone.
We did almost everything independently- of course I’m only describing my experience- but Fiesta Mall in Mesa Arizona was like heaven for me in Junior Senior College - bought my first record there. Had many many makeovers. My first interview suit. Met a lot of boys. In real life. None of it online. Few photos.
Dissing GenX is so 2023 … that’s why I canceled the meager sub I had with the NYT. I only played the games, and while I miss the days of proclaiming myself Queen Bee that rag isn’t worth a bookmark on my favorites bar.
I’m the daughter of a boomer and although I was born at the end of ‘64 nobody can tell I’m from the same gen. Different wars, different music, different goals and definitely different pressures.
Fuck the NYT. They criticized Biden for 4 years and report on Trump’s shit show as if it were actual governing. Color me unsurprised they wrote the Cliff Notes guide to my generation.
Thanks for taking up the cause. As a Gen Xer, I live a life I could not have imagined. I’ve also worked consistently since I was 16, all through the latter half of high school - through college, through the days when I had to wear a skirt to work and like many others eventually for myself. We are resilient, we are creative and yes, we still like The Cure. There was no roadmap for us and we still figured it out - are still figuring it out.
I have been following along since the Times article and I am loving every bit of it! Thanks for your thoughtful and completely Gen X take on it. I always say Gen X has the best sense of humor too! Jan Bradys unite!
I tore up my late Gen X card after I saw how they voted. Their big fuck you attitude brought us fascism. Cusper/ late millennial is my label now. Thanks Gen x - you can straight up fuck off
Thanks for the restack! I gotta give props to Vicki James of Align & Thrive for that quote.
Thanks! It's something i think about a lot.
On a different note. I've definitely experienced the ageism side of things. That's why pursuing my own venture while hanging out in this great space.
I’ve felt like we’ve been invisible for years. When I was in marketing and content strategy at a gigantic media company all anyone talked about, at that time anyway, was Millennials. It seemed so misguided. But now that we’re back in the collective imagination, it’s possible to say, hey, we’re still here and still cool and still making it work. We’re the “I’ll make it work” generation and we have.
So great to find others my age on Substack. I’ve been writing here since 2022 and literally felt like I was the oldest person here.
We’re the new silent generation - I don’t mind that so much - we keep showing up, doing the work and not worrying about what everyone else is doing.
🎯
We were the generation that didn’t give a f**k, and we still don’t.
Gen-Xers :: The Velcro, parachute pants loving, legwarmer, jelly-shoed cyber-shapeshifters who saved the world and never asked for credit.
Love this!
I think what makes GenXers so resilient is the fact that we bridged the analog and digital worlds. I was part of the earliest online gaming communities, bulletin boards, and ISPs, while still knowing how to use a typewriter, a mimeograph, and carbon paper... not to mention write cursive. We also knew how to turn boredom into creativity instead of just zoning out on those Ataris. I always picked up innovations faster than either my younger or older coworkers, and usually taught everyone else how to use them.
My reticence to use AI isn't because I can't or couldn't do it. It's that I actually LIKE writing myself. Dismissing us as not understanding or flowing with technology just because we can ALSO do things without it just shows the lack of imagination of the generations judging us.
Yes! Right there with you. We're also efficient as all get out!
And will say "all get out" until the day we die. LOL
Gen X is going to help get us out of this mess because we have the entire communication infrastructure in us - from writing letters today. And we give great phone.
Younger people struggle to communicate in person and older people to communicate with technology - but Gen-X is great at both👍🏻
So true!
GEN-X Dems(&similar) UNITE! Our anthem will be Under Pressure!
Also we were latch kids and broken home kids- and no one ever knew where we were. It was AMAZING
We did almost everything independently- of course I’m only describing my experience- but Fiesta Mall in Mesa Arizona was like heaven for me in Junior Senior College - bought my first record there. Had many many makeovers. My first interview suit. Met a lot of boys. In real life. None of it online. Few photos.
AND we had lots of ways of listening to music our parent’s couldn’t hear and kept up with music technology always
AND we have a work ethic to change the world - Gen-X fucking works hard and then we slack !
Dissing GenX is so 2023 … that’s why I canceled the meager sub I had with the NYT. I only played the games, and while I miss the days of proclaiming myself Queen Bee that rag isn’t worth a bookmark on my favorites bar.
I’m the daughter of a boomer and although I was born at the end of ‘64 nobody can tell I’m from the same gen. Different wars, different music, different goals and definitely different pressures.
Fuck the NYT. They criticized Biden for 4 years and report on Trump’s shit show as if it were actual governing. Color me unsurprised they wrote the Cliff Notes guide to my generation.
As a Gen X -er, all I can say is F#ck Yeah! We're not done yet and we're not gonna take it…anymore
This is great I've always thought of us as the quiet generation, have no doubt we are here, and powerful 🙏
Thanks for taking up the cause. As a Gen Xer, I live a life I could not have imagined. I’ve also worked consistently since I was 16, all through the latter half of high school - through college, through the days when I had to wear a skirt to work and like many others eventually for myself. We are resilient, we are creative and yes, we still like The Cure. There was no roadmap for us and we still figured it out - are still figuring it out.
Raised on hose water and neglect.
I have been following along since the Times article and I am loving every bit of it! Thanks for your thoughtful and completely Gen X take on it. I always say Gen X has the best sense of humor too! Jan Bradys unite!
Thank you, Ellen!
I tore up my late Gen X card after I saw how they voted. Their big fuck you attitude brought us fascism. Cusper/ late millennial is my label now. Thanks Gen x - you can straight up fuck off
It was shocking
Jan Brady🤣🤣🤣
Definitely hit a nerve. But collectively necessary, apparently.
Thanks for the blockquote. The list of transformations we've thrived through could go on and on. Time to go humble brag with a restack.
I haven’t even read this yet and I’m restacking on the pic and title alone.