Work ethic, deviance, and cougars – oh my!

Over the last month, I’ve had the ultimate experience of interacting within an interesting subculture which has really laid down some really sharp demarkifications between Generation X (my generation) and Generation Y – that I find, personally, extraordinarily frustrating but equally interesting.

So, first, let me clarify the generational periods – because there is some overlap and some debate about where each begins and where each ends.  When I talk about Generation X, I’m using the general criterion of birth between 1961-1981 – loosely.  Generation Y, on the other hand, covers (semi-officially) the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s.  Generations are typically 25.2 years (for those of us in the U.S.) – but, as you can see, there’s a great deal of overlap between these two.  So, for my purposes, we are going to let that grey area go away…and consider Gen X 1961-1981 and Gen Y become 1981-1995.  In other words, I think the greatest differences in these two generations took place somewhere *outside* of those gray areas – almost a pre-early 80′s v. post-early 80′s.  The gray areas being a transitional period where the generational differences are not as severe or defined.

Before I go further – a few caveats – there are always “exceptions to the rule” – and this isn’t any different.  I know Gen Y members who are not necessarily like this (at least in my presence), or whom I can not speak to how marked the difference is.  These are mostly friends of my kids – so, they are better “editted” when they are around me…or, I am not as readily able to discern there Y-isms, simply because I’ve seen them grow up and are used to that trait from that particular person.  And, of course, there are always going to be those Y’s who simply don’t seem to belong in their own generation (just like individuals in other generations).

The second caveat – Gen X has grown up….so, we (generally) do have very different world views from people who are still trying to figure out what/who they are (Gen Y).  This, in and of itself, can be a major factor in the cross-generational phenomena.  I remember being a late teen (18, 19), and remember my early to mid-twenties.  I also distinctly remember thinking that I had it all figured out.  I’ve cross the chasm of “it all figured out” at this point in my life – from the “definitely have ….” to “accept I never will have…”  But, I definitely was not there in my late teens and early to mid twenties.  Still, there are days when I sit in class and wonder if I was like this – and feel complete pity for anyone in a different generation that I came across during those years if that is the case.  Also, with age comes the possibility for greater self-understanding.  Read that carefully – I didn’t say self-understanding comes with age…..only the possibility of self understanding comes with age.  The rest is up to the individual.

I have only started composing the “list of differences” from my own personal experience over the past month.  I’m sure this will change and update over the next few years.  So without further ado….let’s do a little vignette exploration of Gen Y.

Death of Icons

This has definitely been a long week for Hollywood, with the death of three icons (two in the same day).  While some deaths may not have been suprising (because the icon had been ill for quite some time), another left the world asking “why?”.

Then, our little state lost its own icon in a tragic death that has no rhyme or reason….and just makes you wonder what makes a guy  rip away someone else’s life, leaving everyone else in a pool of his aftermath.  I’ve always struggled with this – what happens inside someone’s head that makes it “okay” for him to destroy not only the victim’s life, but, the lives of everyone around them – both the victim and the murderer.

I am confident, in the case of Ed Thomas, that the townspeople of Applington-Parkersburg will get this through this.  There are calls for prayers for both the Thomas family and the Becker family….but, gosh, what a terrible thing.  And the townsfolk that I’ve watched in interviews – both after the devastating tornado last year and Coach Thomas’ death this year….in general, they appear to be strong Iowans….who pick up the pieces, deal with it, and keep moving forward.

While we are on the topic….when there are MULTIPLE witnesses to a shooting, why is it that the shooter is still presumed innocent?  I know that it’s the way our justice system was set up….but, when someone is clearly guilty (the person who commited the crime)….is that really necessary?  Maybe if there is more than 20 eyewitnesses (since we all know how unreliable eyewitnesses testimony can be), we can just skip the “potential gunman”, and go straight to – this guy did it.

Back to the losses of our national icons.  It kind of makes me angry that everyone continues to bash Michael Jackson after his death.  He was strange – eccentric – but, that isn’t criminal.  He had a terrible time (from the sounds of it) managing money – again, NOT criminal.  And, if you all remember….he was found not guilty of the charges.  Weird that many people presume he was guilty when he was found not guilty (without 20+ eyewitnesses)….but, a guy who is CLEARLY guilty of murder (back to the Iowa Icon’s death) is still presumed innocent.  How screwed up is that???

No matter what Jackson’s personal issues were – he was eccentric, not very good with money management, not super good at choosing the people around him wisely, terribly misunderstood, frail but not frail, addicted and not addicted, etc….he was a great artist who changed the face of music videos and music itself.  I liked his music when I was younger, and was ALWAYS amazed at his artistry.

I think this is more of a case of people not understanding the mind of an artist.  They have a tendency to see the world much differently than a non-artistic person….sometimes, people think they are just an “odd duck” and sometimes people think they are a total freak….but, in the end, in my opinion, it has to do with living in a different side of our heads.  He was what I considered an “upper level” artist – someone who was not only artistic, but, one who was almost a prodigy.  Those artists don’t come along often – but, they *almost always* have “issues”….So, while us common artists are considered a little odd…..the prodigy type artists are “cut-off-my-ear” type  odd – again, not criminal….but,  that living in that side of your head at that intensity couldn’t possibly make you more normal than the average artist….if anything, it would push you in the other direction.  The perfectionism that comes with it….well, that never helps a person emotionally.

And, Farrah….I have to say that I couldn’t imagine going from a “sex icon” to releasing a documentary on your struggle with cancer.  But, I think allowing people to see that not-glamorous battle demonstrated, in a big way, her spirit – it was very important to her for people to see that battle that every day people face and the fact that she was a “sex icon” when she rose to fame didn’t stop her from showing the raw ugliness of cancer and the treatment of it.  I *didn’t* watch the documentary…when I was flipping through the channels, I saw it, but, watched less than 2 minutes and found myself wondering why someone would watch the whole thing – not because of the documentary, itself…but, more the subject matter.  I found the whole idea to be very sad and borderline morbid.

Then, there was Ed McMahon….some people said they were shocked when the news of his death was released….but, I am not sure why.  He had not been in good health for several years.  EVERYONE – even people who didn’t see Carson/McMahon on the tonight show know that great “Heeeeeeeeeeere’s Johnny!” – and you see people trying to come up with that great one line that everyone will remember them by all the time.  McMahon was definitely an original.  I’m also sad that he will never come to my door with a check for 10 million dollars!  I never thought of McMahon as a “pichman”….but, when I heard him referred to as a great pitchman, I had to agree….his name gave credibility to many things that otherwise wouldn’t have meritted a second glance.

All in all, a very sad week.  I hope, as time passes, we will be able to recognize the best of those we have lost and understand that what we see on the surface can easily be misunderstood.