CBS News recently ran a story titled, “Are Millennials The Burnout Generation?” They posted an infographic outlining generations defined by birth year. They included the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Millennials, and Post-Millennials. But they seem to have forgotten one.
Oops.
[adsanity id=”35664″ align=”aligncenter”/]Apparently, no one exists between the ages of 38-53 (including me). It’s known as Generation X btw. Oh wait, formerly known as Generation X.
Which is ironic, considering we’re also dubbed “the Forgotten Generation.” It’s no surprise, really. We were the latch key kids, left to our own devices by our parents. We’re sandwiched between the bigger Boomers and Millennials. The middle child. And we ALL know what happens to the middle child.
Jan Brady happens.
Can we really blame CBS? I mean, how important are Gen-Xers anyway? We’re only 66 million strong. A mere 20% of the population.
[adsanity id=”35665″ align=”aligncenter”/]Let’s play a little game, shall we? It’s called “What Would The World Be Missing If Gen-X (1965 – 1980) Never Happened?”
- A little thing called the Internet
- The introduction of mobile phones, which led to cell phones, and who even uses those?
- The invention of personal computers – again, no biggie.
- GPS – we don’t really need to know where we are or where we’re going. Esp. Gen-Xers who apparently don’t exist anyway.
- The best movies of all time, including: The Godfather, Star Wars, Jaws, Rocky, American Graffiti, Saturday Night Fever, Dirty Harry, Grease (is the word, sorry, couldn’t help myself).
A generation that just happened to be defined by the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Watergate scandal, the Challenger explosion, Roe vs. Wade, acid wash jeans, Doc Martens, banana clips, Sweet Valley High, the Brat Pack, Madonna, Jon Bon Jovi, Journey, Van Halen, mix tapes, Blockbuster, Must-See TV, video games, and MTV.
[adsanity id=”35667″ align=”aligncenter”/]
But it’s okay, CBS. Really. And Twitter agrees. Sit back and enjoy the hilarious sarcasm that we Gen-Xers are known for (if we existed).
What about the people born between 1965-1980?
— NewDawnNewDay and I'm Feeling Good (@passionflower92) January 20, 2019
It's a pretty big detail. That's a lot of people
— NewDawnNewDay and I'm Feeling Good (@passionflower92) January 20, 2019
Roughly 46 million
— NewDawnNewDay and I'm Feeling Good (@passionflower92) January 20, 2019
Actually it’s 66 million, but whatever.
But no one all that important probably
— ß¡|| Evenson (@BillEvenson) January 20, 2019
Probably not.
Except maybe the inventors of that thing…you know, the internet-y thing, Google? Oh, and Amazon, Netflix, Yahoo, and Twitter. But you know, nobody really important.
If only there was some way to look that up on the Internet
— ß¡|| Evenson (@BillEvenson) January 20, 2019
Gen Xers started Google, Amazon, Netflix, Yahoo and Twitter.
— Jim Ausman (@SanFranciscoJim) January 20, 2019
What has your generation done other than invent Avocado Toast?
— Jim Ausman (@SanFranciscoJim) January 21, 2019
You would think someone was born between 1965 and 1980, but you’d be mistaken.
You might think so but turns out no
— ß¡|| Evenson (@BillEvenson) January 20, 2019
Not much apparently
— ß¡|| Evenson (@BillEvenson) January 20, 2019
Little known fact, but no babies were born between 1965 and 1980. pic.twitter.com/XMNSz00q98
— ShannonCC (@gingeraletoast) January 20, 2019
Where IS Gen-X? This is strangely accurate.
https://twitter.com/JoeGuillotin/status/1086852331910643712
I’m #GenX. I just sit on the sidelines and watch the world burn. –#keenanthompson @nbcsnl pic.twitter.com/mJviUCxqfm
— HollyMDavis (@hollymdavis) January 20, 2019
Yes, we are the forgotten. It’s really not that hard to believe, Samantha. We are just like you. We are ALL the middle child.
They forgot our f***ing birthdays. #GenX pic.twitter.com/HKBOA5JiQ5
— kristen (@kdattoli) January 21, 2019
awesome – it’s just like my adolescence all over again – I don’t exist
— Jennifer (@jennknut) January 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/HollieJoyJoy/status/1086839993312505856
https://twitter.com/NaughtKnot/status/1086833332913139712
Some of us are perfectly okay with being left out.
As a member of Gen X, I am 100% cool with being left out of this mess. https://t.co/AOcwLOjZ66
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 21, 2019
I've spent 47 years lowering my expectations, preparing for this very moment. I too am cool with this.
— Turbohand (@turbohand) January 21, 2019
I’m an introvert so I’m totally fine not being noticed.
— Astro Yuki 🌎🚀 (@AstroYuki) January 20, 2019
“Oh well, whatever, never mind”
— trypectopah (@trypectopah) January 21, 2019
But some of us just want to be seen.
I’m just a GenXer, standing in front of history, asking it to acknowledge me. https://t.co/qYexFrdrOm
— shauna (@goldengateblond) January 20, 2019
And remembered. Whoops, sorry, too late.
Remember us???? pic.twitter.com/AnsftafoKs
— MΞGAN KΞLLΞY HALL (@MeganKelleyHall) January 20, 2019
Don’t you forget about me!
Sincerely yours,
Gen X#GenX #GenerationX #DisappearingAct pic.twitter.com/lK86WlZUoN— jamie bee 🌈 (@jamieboylan) January 20, 2019
Look, I’m just going to say it. Gen-Xers are the best. We may be slackers (we’re not) and have said weird things, like “grody to the max” and “gag me with a spoon,” but we grew up in the greatest generation ever. Hands down. So go ahead, CBS. You can forget about us. We don’t care. We’re apathetic like that. But we will go down in history as having the BEST music. Just sayin’.