Millennials, right?

Tom Pinney

“Millennial.”

Gen-Xers cringe when they hear the term, because it represents people who don’t know what work is.

Millennials cringe because they’re about to be lectured about what their lives should be.

Baby boomers didn’t hear you the first time, you’ll have to speak up.

The generation gap will always be a problem. In about 20 years, millennials will have a problem with the next generation, and the cycle continues.

So why is there a gap?

According to science, every living person in Generation X was once in their mid-20s. But for each generation, the time changed.

When Gen-Xers were in their mid-20s, they didn’t have cell phones. They didn’t have cool video game systems. They didn’t have the Internet (Al Gore was still working on the algorithms).

Generational privilege: things one generation takes for granted that the previous generation didn’t have. Like iPods. Flash drives. Hot Pockets.

Seriously, how did any generation exist before Hot Pockets?

It also works retroactively; for instance, millennials are really jealous of the inexpensive tuition costs Gen-Xers got.

Like anything, however, you have to learn to recognize your privilege in order to have constructive conversations about how life was or how it should be.

Gen-Xers, maybe we seem lazy because the job market isn’t great. Millennials, don’t get offended when Gen-Xers lump us all together, because even they know each case is different.

Baby boomers, take a nap. You deserve it.