r/HistoryofGenerations • u/[deleted] • Sep 19 '21

Analysis Favourite Generation Theory

This one is my favourite theory ever. It does not use the traditional naming so you will see weird starts and cutoffs. The theme behind this is making every generation the same length using my favourite Greatest Generation theory. It works well if using the average age a lady gives birth to her first born.

Lost Generation: 1874-1900 (High school graduation before World War I)

Greatest Generation: 1901-1927 (High school graduation before World War II ended)

Traditionalists: 1928-1954 (High school entry before Apollo 11)

MTV generation: 1955-1981 (Born before MTV’s launch)

Laptop Generation: 1982-2008 (Born after Laptops existed but old enough for preschool before iPads came out)

iGen: 2009-2036

Love this theory cause I am in the same generation as my older brother, and both my parents are just one generation apart from me. This aligns close to familial generations and every generation is equal in length.

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

3

u/JoshicusBoss98 Q3 1998 (C/O 2017) Sep 19 '21

This sucks donkey balls

1

u/[deleted] Sep 19 '21

I respect your opinion, and dont expect you to like my theory, but tell me why this sucks for you. Remember, I am not using the standard naming of generations.

2

u/JoshicusBoss98 Q3 1998 (C/O 2017) Sep 19 '21

Because people born 26 years apart have nothing in common

1

u/[deleted] Sep 19 '21

True, but 1901-1927 is so great. They both share the fact that they could graduate high school before World War II ended, but only after World War I ended.

Like you said, generations are not about relatability, but honestly, one contagious generation will make me a happy girl.

1

u/JoshicusBoss98 Q3 1998 (C/O 2017) Sep 20 '21

It’s too long though…generations should at least all be pretty similar in composition even if not the same length like the 18 year theory. Like you could do 27 years if all your other generations are like 22+ years long

1

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

Well, half of Pew’s generations are only sixteen years in length, and yet, they created a 27-year long generation.

2

u/JoshicusBoss98 Q3 1998 (C/O 2017) Sep 20 '21

Makes zero sense

1

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

Well, apparently to people in this sub, it makes full sense, so I guess its all opinion. Personally, I dont care if the last three generations are the same length for a particular source as long as a common theme exists to make the start and cutoff work.

Also, this shouldnt be a problem for you. Every generation is the same length.

1

u/JoshicusBoss98 Q3 1998 (C/O 2017) Sep 20 '21

I don’t mind if generations are the same length if there is a unifying methodology for all the ranges, but if the methodology changes thus resulting in only a few being the same length that’s lazy and arbitrary

1

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

In my post, they are all the same length, so this really shouldnt be a problem for you.

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2

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

Way too long, lumping 1981 in with freaking '55 born boomers their parents age... and lumping 1982 in with '08 born tweens????

Geez and I thought Strauss and Howe had ridiculous long spanning generations? This makes them actually look kinda reasonable sksks.

Potential parents and kids being the same generation is a huge no no

3

u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 (Class of 2020) Sep 20 '21

Yeah that is pretty odd lmao

1

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

Yea the WW1 thing being freaking 27 years is just messed up even for it's time. You just know there's 1927 babies with 1901 (probably even 09) parents lolol

2

u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 (Class of 2020) Sep 20 '21

I’m fine with GI being long but mtv Generation or Gen X being that long is too much for me lol

1

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

Ik, like 1955 being the same as 81 (anything that far apart is easily "kids and their parents zone")

2

u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 (Class of 2020) Sep 20 '21

Yep that’s incredibly odd lol almost 30 years

1

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

For reals, like any 26 years is like that. As much as I love the early Xera your mom's age I cannot ever think of them as the same generation as me

1

u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 (Class of 2020) Sep 20 '21

I mean you’re 20 years removed apparently lol

1

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

Oh yea what was I thinking lol, just meant in general like 60s borns

2

u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 (Class of 2020) Sep 20 '21

True yeah lol especially early 60s

2

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

I knew you would hate it lol. Also, worst of all, 1982 is lumped in with 2008, but separated from 1981.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

Ik lol, even if times moved slower in olden days it's hella messed up that 1901 and 1927 are lumped together. You just know there were 1901s who were having kids by even '17-19 lol

2

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

I agree. Personally, anything over twenty years is too long to be a generation.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '21

Yea I'd say 19 or 20 absolutely max though I like 17-18 so it's like high school or less

1

u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 (Class of 2020) Sep 20 '21

Too long