Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - How would you define the newest western generation?

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How would you define the newest western generation?

Last night me and a group of friends were having a discussion about what are the more dominating characteristics of our generation. This is what we have came up with. Would you agree or disagree? Agree that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer? *cough bench sitter*

Society: We are more engaging and interconnected than the previous generations, we have more friends in the cyber network than in reality. But we struggle to establish ourselves into communities. We believe we should interact with each other in total disregard of race, ethnicity, gender national origin over benefiting from the diversity. We don't believe in turning complexity into opportunity. We are indecisive. We like shunning over praising. We are the 'look-at-me-generation.' We have more demand to get rich young.

Gender wise: Males are not getting enough attention compared to females. Males are not as in touch into their masculinity. Women leaders are supported more but also are more criticized due to double standards.

Politically: We are a dominating liberal. When the larger culture tells minorities to get with the program we no longer support you if you resist but we claim that we do. We Basically if we find out that you are not liberal in the political sense, you must be dummer than us. We will vote on not who we think will be the best to lead our country, but who will be the least worse. We will also sometimes vote for change, the positive and negative impacts are secondary.

Theologically :We are starting to adore our own version of a morally permissive Buddhism-like theology. We want the most guilt-free lifestyle as possible. Some of us may be Christian, but we are mostly always anti organisation Christian. Not always for intelligent reasons. We get hellophobic and homophobic people mixed up and misunderstand the word 'fundamentalist.' We have a wider range of understanding in theologies, but not a very in-depth one.

I think that is close. There are going to be differences from country to country, and even sub areas within each country.

I think there is a group of males 45-65 who have never been 'in charge' that are upset about it. But they are finding out that they can't control the younger generation, and the older generation still votes.

Privacy is a lot harder to find, but nobody seems to mind. It can be used for good and bad, yet it is hard to drop off the grid quickly anymore.

It is frustrating when there are only a few people who care about issues and believe the same things as you, yet it is easier to talk to other people about your views now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASU2003 (Post 2894195)

That's true it does depend which angle you take your perspective from even in 'western' countries. ( I wonder if Australia and New Zealand are more similar to Europe or North America? )

Yeah i +agree about finding people who share similiar mind sets. I think a big problem now is although there is a lot of information out there, a lot of it is misinformation and poor quality.

I would suggest that the US is not predominantly liberal but is in fact trending increasingly conservative. There are indicators that this is a western trend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan (Post 2894208)

I would suggest that the US is not predominantly liberal but is in fact trending increasingly conservative. There are indicators that this is a western trend.

That's really interesting. Can you show me the source for that trend?
(in the political sense right? )

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan (Post 2894208)

I would suggest that the US is not predominantly liberal but is in fact trending increasingly conservative. There are indicators that this is a western trend.

I think it is a psychological problem, there are more liberals but you don't hear about them. People don't like what is happening, they can't figure out how to fix it, and the conservatives have been very vocal about the problem without coming up with any solution that doesn't involve hurting people who aren't them.

Quote:

( I wonder if Australia and New Zealand are more similar to Europe or North America? )

Australia is a warm version of Canada. New Zealand is Australia (Victoria/Tasmania region) with 10% of the population (or similar to the Rocky Mountain region of Canada). Vancouver is probably a lot like Auckland or Wellington. Barcelona is similar to Sydney. The USA has too many problems compared with those countries. Europe has a few problems, but they seem to be able to do something about them. Mexico has the least government regulations and you are the 'free-est' there (nobody even looked at me crossing the border into Mexico, you can drive any vehicle with wheels on the road, but the government doesn't always protect your safety.)

We are very accustomed to the comforts of a developed society. Almost to the point of taking it for granted.

i.e. Food, water, shelter.

Collaborative. The idea of individualism has changed. The idea of being the lone wolf is no longer as desirable.

Technology has enabled this to happen, and it's tied into that Buddhist-inspired spirituality mentioned in the OP: it's the realization that we're all connected. The universe is about interconnectedness. "No man is an island."

Which generation would you be talking about? TFP has a pretty wide range of ages <18 represented.

That said stereotypes are almost always wrong when taken to an individual level.

Defining the generation? Much of what you sheepily postulate is how I also look at it. I'd caution you a bit: Sexism is wrong no matter which side it comes from. The trends I've observed in my kids & their friends have been towards inclusiveness, as you said. As each generation comes along, especially with modern information sharing, I find more indications that we're not an unkind species. Here's hoping the next "generation" will be even more thoughtful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StanT (Post 2894366)

Which generation would you be talking about? TFP has a pretty wide range of ages <18 represented.

That said stereotypes are almost always wrong when taken to an individual level.

I looked up the definition and it's apparently every 30 years.

I find many people actually go out of their way to be apart of a stereotype because there are some stereotypical traits many people would believe are appealing.

Like stereotyping yourself as a nerd will imply your intelligent: a jock will imply you are healthy/active. Ironically playing into one people find that their identity becomes more secure.

sexism is running rampant at this point in time. It used to be too male centric, we currently are swinging the other way. I think women think it's great, until they have a son. Then they realize how education has become less capable of teaching boys. It's not surprising though.

Mikey5, with all respect, what are you talking about? Please give me an example because that doesn't ring true to me at all.

Somehow I missed this thread earlier.
I was born in 1976, so am what is called late Gen X or early Gen Y, depending on who you ask.
I think Sheepy is talking about his generation, born around 1990ish. So, right or wrong,:rolleyes: this is how I see it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepy (Post 2894189)

Last night me and a group of friends were having a discussion about what are the more dominating characteristics of our generation. This is what we have came up with. Would you agree or disagree? Agree that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer? *cough bench sitter*

Society: We are more engaging and interconnected than the previous generations, we have more friends in the cyber network than in reality. But we struggle to establish ourselves into communities. We believe we should interact with each other in total disregard of race, ethnicity, gender national origin over benefiting from the diversity. We don't believe in turning complexity into opportunity. We are indecisive. We like shunning over praising. We are the 'look-at-me-generation.' We have more demand to get rich young. And still have plenty of time off for leisure. Like a university schedule.

Gender wise: Males are not getting enough attention compared to females. Males are not as in touch into their masculinity. Women leaders are supported more but also are more criticized due to double standards. Where women get to have their cake and eat it too. Non-leader class men (especially those on the lower end of the bell curve) get the crumbs.

Politically: We are a dominating liberal. When the larger culture tells minorities to get with the program we no longer support you if you resist but we claim that we do. We Basically if we find out that you are not liberal in the political sense, you must be dummer than us. An attitude that I've noticed.:rolleyes: We will vote on not who we think will be the best to lead our country, but who will be the least worse. We will also sometimes vote for change, the positive and negative impacts are secondary. The consequences of change always include both winners and losers.

Theologically :We are starting to adore our own version of a morally permissive (no one should tell us what to do or not do) Buddhism-like theology. We want the most guilt-free lifestyle as possible. We don't do anything that is "wrong." We just make "inappropriate choices" or "bad decisions." Some of us may be Christian, but we are mostly always anti organisation Christian. We don't want to be inconvenienced by our nominal faith. Not always for intelligent reasons. We get hellophobic and homophobic people mixed up and misunderstand the word 'fundamentalist.' We disdain fundamentalist Christians but tolerate fundamentalist Muslims because they don't affect us personally. Well, not yet. We have a wider range of understanding in theologies, (we know all their names:rolleyes:) but not a very in-depth one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan (Post 2894208)

I would suggest that the US is not predominantly liberal but is in fact trending increasingly conservative. There are indicators that this is a western trend.

I disagree by half.:) I think that the US is still predominantly liberal, but agree that it is trending toward conservatism.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASU2003 (Post 2894233)

Liberals, on the other hand, think it is possible for the government to solve any problem without hurting anyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASU2003 (Post 2894233)

Australia is a warm version of Canada. New Zealand is Australia (Victoria/Tasmania region) with 10% of the population (or similar to the Rocky Mountain region of Canada). Vancouver is probably a lot like Auckland or Wellington..... Mexico has the least government regulations and you are the 'free-est' there (nobody even looked at me crossing the border into Mexico, you can drive any vehicle with wheels on the road, but the government doesn't always protect your safety.)

Aussies and Kiwis are certainly Western in culture, if not in geography. Mexico has, ironically, among the strictest immigration laws in the world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KirStang (Post 2894339)

We are very accustomed to the comforts of a developed society. Almost to the point of taking it for granted.

i.e. Food, water, shelter.

Sheepy's may be known as the last western generation that was mostly sheltered from the poverty, pollution, and political instability prevalent in the so-called developing world. We will all pay the price for gross overpopulation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StanT (Post 2894366)

Which generation would you be talking about? TFP has a pretty wide range of ages <18 represented.

That said stereotypes are almost always wrong when taken to an individual level.

Stereotypes may be sometimes wrong, even often wrong, but "almost always wrong" takes it too far. Stereotypes are sometimes formulaic cliches, but do not arise out of a vacuum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepy (Post 2894488)

I looked up the definition and it's apparently every 30 years....

Historically it is the length of a woman's prime fertility span, about 20-25 years. For our own convenience, we tend to want to tie generations to and name them after historical turning points, cultural changes, or simple decades, hence The Greatest Generation, the boomers, the beat generation, GenX, Geny, etc.
My post is looking kind of grumpy,:grumpy: even to me. I think I'll go take a little nap.:)

Lindy