tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post8481477444859305949..comments2023-07-03T07:16:33.824-04:00Comments on David Sprowl: Generation Why?Diveboard Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847381312370407101noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-20245053199286434722012-01-23T23:01:45.556-05:002012-01-23T23:01:45.556-05:00Well, social media is ONE equalizer. Anything tha...Well, social media is ONE equalizer. Anything that you can gather 'round and not notice age until later helps. In our book club, we're periodically being taken by surprise, being re-reminded that we have millennials and boomers happily conversing and learning from each other. But months on end go by, & we barely notice.<br /><br />Myself, i suppose i talk a bad work attitude. My paper trail certainly isn't the best. But the jobs i've had have been because someone knew me and wanted ME, and they were happy with me as long as i was content to stay.Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899094765497997431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-2916720469631739342012-01-20T17:26:40.645-05:002012-01-20T17:26:40.645-05:00Valerie> Thanks for your comments! This is defi...Valerie> Thanks for your comments! This is definitely an interesting topic. I think our culture and society have shifted so dramatically over the last decade or so that we find ourselves in a much different world. Businesses are much more about the bottom line (in order to survive and compete in a global economy, I think they may have to be). Attitudes on both sides of the fence--employer and employees, are not the same as they used to be. I am persuaded, though, that generational differences seem to be more edgy than ever. I am often amused by some of these things, but I'm also sometimes concerned by some of the coarseness & disrespectful things I see that seems to be acceptable if not lauded. I could see how that very well could be more cultural than generational. <br /><br />But on the other hand, I personally know lots of Gen Yer's that have impressed me. I can think of one young lady in particular who works circles around her co-workers, has one of the best attitudes and personalities I've ever witnessed, and is just an incredible and amazing person. Conversely, I have witnessed a few Baby Boomers with some of the worst attitudes and perceptions about work.<br /><br />Chris is right--social media is a great equalizer and a wonderful way for all of us to connect and share experiences, thoughts & beliefs, and we definitely have much more in common than the differences that would seemingly divide us.Diveboard Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08847381312370407101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-70109826611913127742012-01-19T14:01:14.034-05:002012-01-19T14:01:14.034-05:00i think Cris has hit it about the cultural shift a...i think Cris has hit it about the cultural shift as much as generational thing. My dad, a Greatest Generation guy, was loyal to his company for the 40+ years he worked for them, but their attitude toward him was different over the years. While he was away from his job, fighting WWII, he was written about regularly in the company newspaper. When he returned from the war, they gave him an inscribed book about the war, as well as his job back. At the end of his career, he was regarded as a bother; why is this old guy still here? <br />Myself, i tend to think as much like a GenY as the Boomer i am. The transition fairs i've been to have taught me that today's grads should expect 7-10 different careers - not jobs, but CAREERS - in their lifetimes. It is a fact of modern life.<br />The church attendance thing, that reminds me of the button i used to wear: "Religion is a drag. Knowing Jesus personally is something else." i stopped wearing it because i found it unnecessarily divisive. i stand by the sentiment, though, and i think that may be where at least some of these people are coming from. Worshipping with the body of believers is something else yet again, and you find it and a whole host of other things best in church, despite all the other baggage there.<br />Finally, whether electronically or in person, it's important we connect despite our differences. A loner position is more natural for me, but it's important that loners too connect. Asking questions and really listening, giving thoughtful summaries of where we stand instead of chanting slogans, all that builds bridges.<br />Thanks for taking on the dicey topic!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899094765497997431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-84265271465695818882012-01-17T18:05:24.332-05:002012-01-17T18:05:24.332-05:00Yeah...it was longer than usual. I fell back into ...Yeah...it was longer than usual. I fell back into old habits of being long-winded!Diveboard Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08847381312370407101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-80629689024152635392012-01-17T17:30:15.350-05:002012-01-17T17:30:15.350-05:00i must've missed this in the computer farm cra...i must've missed this in the computer farm craziness last week. Long post - i'm going to print this & read to make a good comment.<br />Off the cuff comment - i know i underappreciated MY youth!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899094765497997431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-23074869329729386772012-01-12T22:24:02.971-05:002012-01-12T22:24:02.971-05:00Meant to say "manufacturing/factory jobs...&q...Meant to say "manufacturing/factory jobs..."Diveboard Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08847381312370407101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-16238306553323521182012-01-12T22:20:57.248-05:002012-01-12T22:20:57.248-05:00Thank-you for your comments, Chris! I know this ki...Thank-you for your comments, Chris! I know this kind of topic is dicey. I had difficulty tackling this issue without it branching out into so many other issues. You're absolutely right, many of the problems in the workplace are more about the changed world we live rather than just a generational issue. I know my father's generation was one in which they could expect to work their entire career for the same company. Now many of these same companies have closed down in the quest for cheaper labor, leaving entire communities devastated by the shift to a global economy (in Marion almost all of the manufacturing/factories are now gone). <br /><br />I appreciate your thoughts, and glad my post lead to some good discussions! Thanks!Diveboard Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08847381312370407101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-56604850834361849462012-01-12T21:23:57.932-05:002012-01-12T21:23:57.932-05:00Hmmm... Well depending on which time frame you use...Hmmm... Well depending on which time frame you use, I am either a late X or early Y, so my perspective on these assessments are a bit different. I would argue that the workplace (and service field I worked in) is filled with much of what you describe, however, age is not the determining factor in my opinion... but more a general work ethic and internal compass... which is a very broad spectrum regardless of age. <br /><br />I could speak to a lot of what you have shared here, as I believe a lot of these issues/theories have another side to them, however instead, I will speak to one that I believe is a great example of how a character trait that is being assigned to a generation is actually a cultural shift that the generation is adapting to:<br /><br />To speak to the employer loyalty/career point specifically, while I believe that to be true, it is due to a shift in our culture, not necessarily the generation alone. As a young X/Y professional early in my career I was taught a tough lesson(layoff)that so many in years since have learned.... the company stability of previous generations is non-existent today. There is no promise or even illusion of promise any longer that the company or even the career you start with today will be there in 10 years. Early in my career I watched time after time co-workers some young, some veterans at the companies being laid off left and right... experiencing it once myself and barely escaping it on several occasions. No matter how much the companies loved the loyal employees, the bottom line... not the employee best interest became the best interest of the company. In the fast paced, technology hungry, down-sizing workplace we face, change/flexibility is what is rewarded, not loyalty. <br /><br />I think from the beginning of time one generation has struggled to understand the next and vice versa. And, I would say an essay on a previous generation from a Gen Yer would probably be as unflattering and frustrated unfortunately. Although I truly believe we all have a lot more in common than our differences would presume. I think that is why I personally love social media so much. It is the great equalizer, where we can all share thoughts, experiences and beliefs that allow a lot of the generalizations our society makes about age, race, fill-in-the-blank, fall aside a bit and we judge individuals based on their works and content rather than a label that has been issued to them.<br /><br />While I didn't agree completely with the general views here, I really do appreciate the discussion this piece generated.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16693160339334116500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-44879374980245637322012-01-12T18:11:01.578-05:002012-01-12T18:11:01.578-05:00Thanks for commenting!Thanks for commenting!Diveboard Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08847381312370407101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796481196395862011.post-30421768149615060992012-01-12T12:34:26.705-05:002012-01-12T12:34:26.705-05:00yes..and I see it! and I think your last paragra...yes..and I see it! and I think your last paragraph summarizes the way it is!momto8https://www.blogger.com/profile/13964950285763339907noreply@blogger.com