My favorite part about generations is how the cut off changes with every source I look at. Like, technically I'm a millennial, but I was born in '81 which is only sometimes part of the millennial age range and never part of the gen x age range. It's almost as if generations are entirely fabricated and not real.
The line between generations isn't a date, it is collective experience. For example, the split between Gen X and Millennials is digital technology. And whether one's experience more closely aligns to either generation is entirely down to the individual - and thus, not a rigid date.
One: Hello, fellow Xennial. I'm just a couple of years older than you.
Two: I find we sort of sort ourselves based on life experience, family structure, etc. I have an brother 7 years older than me, so I skew Gen-X. My wife is less than a year younger than me, but she's the oldest and her parents are a touch younger a d fair bit less traditional than mine, so she skews Millenial.
The generations are a convenient shorthand to discuss broad trends about how certain cultural and economic factors affect the shared experiences of certain cohorts, but they're pretty silly, especially on the edges. Chronological astrology, really.
Yeah, my GF and I were born in 96 but both in fairly rural areas so our experience aligns more with being millennial. I think it depends a lot on the context of your personal upbringing, but I definitely agree with your sentiment.
If you were old enough to grasp how 9/11 changed the world as we know it and have clear memories from that day, you're a millennial. If you had to be taught about it then you're not.
Everyone has their own definition but that's always been the cutoff that's stuck with me.
It was never a hard cutoff, nor was it universal. Technology has long been a big factor, which means people in rural/poor areas were a decade+ later in experiencing the same generational norms.
Even cultural cornerstones are variable. For instance, you might remember the Challenger, or you might not, depending on your early childhood schools and your memory. The news about Magic Johnson or Kurt Cobain may have shattered your worldview, or you may not have even noticed.
But even in the best case, these are only useful as a rough guide. You should not be trying to do anything specific with these generalizations.
I fucked around for 10 years before working. Born in 85 LOL.
I don't feel like the younger generation at all. The only thing is that I am shocked when colleagues actually watch traditional TV stuff like that . Other than that I am very detoxed from the typical social media nonsense maybe that's why.