Michele Healy, writing for USA Today, has an article entitled “Study: Gen X ‘slackers’ leading active lives.”
The study tracked 4,000 people born between 1961 and 1981 for 20 years. The report is here (pdf). Despite predictions that GenX was and would continue to be a generation of isolated slackers, they grew up, had families, are working reasonably hard, and have become vital members of their communities.
Near as I can figure, the youth of every generation are tagged by their elders as slackers who have it easier than their elders, listen to bad music, dress funny, and have weird haircuts. Then they step up, become productively middle aged, and worry about their own kids. Meanwhile, the elders continue to bitch about everyone younger than they are. Circle of Life.
And, the media will continue to report on worries about youth and surprise reports about how the last wave of youth turned out to be not so worthless after all.
I like some of the new music. Muse, Meric, Interpol, Rise Against, and a bunch of other “New Alternative” are all really, really good.
I think I’m doing that thing where I start to lose touch with music completely. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People caught my ear recently; but I’m not sure about other bands or artists I’ve noticed in the last couple of years.
It helps to have XM. Their genre channels can get you up to speed quickly. They have a new alternative channel “Alt Nation”, as well as a college radio kind of channel, SXMU. They’re both really good (but since Sirius took over, the playlists are a little short).
Believe it or not, in addition to new alternative, I’m big on dance music too. They have a techno/ trance channel and a more DJ oriented dance channel (remixes of top 40 songs).
It really is amusing to hear Baby Boomers (or even people my age – just younger than the Boomers) complain about the Impending End of Society due to irresponsible young people. As you say, it’s the Circle of Life.
And with that said…… “Get off my lawn!”
LOL, Thomas.