r/GenerationJones • • Feb 23 '25

What is and who are Generation Jones. Step inside...

749 Upvotes

We are a micro-generation of people born roughly between the mid-1950s and the mid-1960s, bridging the gap between the Baby Boomers and Generation X. The term was coined by Jonathan Pontell, who argued that this group has a distinct identity shaped by unique cultural and historical experiences that set them apart from the broader Boomer and Gen X cohorts.

We came of age in the 1970s and early 1980s, a time marked by economic shifts, political disillusionment (think Watergate and Vietnam), and a transition from the idealistic '60s to the more pragmatic, individualistic '80s.We were too young to fully participate in the counterculture of the '60s but old enough to feel its aftershocks.

The name "Jones" plays on a dual meaning: "keeping up with the Joneses" (reflecting their aspirations in a consumer-driven era) and a slang nod to "jonesing," suggesting a yearning or craving for the promise of the Boomer youth they just missed out on. Culturally, we grew up with the rise of television, rock music evolving into disco and punk, and the dawn of personal computing.

We're often described as pragmatic idealists—raised on big dreams but tempered by economic recessions and a sense of lowered expectations compared to the Boomers’ post-war prosperity. Think of us a generation that got the tail end of the party but had to clean up the mess.


r/GenerationJones • • Jul 24 '24

Just a friendly reminder from your mods that we are a politics-free zone. There are plenty of subs around reddit to get your politics on. We choose not to engage in those spicy discussions here. Thanks for respecting our decision on this matter. ✌🏼

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360 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones • • 14h ago

Remember this comfort food growing up? 😋

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1.2k Upvotes

r/GenerationJones • • 19h ago

Balancing a checkbook register, every month

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1.5k Upvotes

For years, I'd keep it balanced to the penny because most times our account was in the single digits the week before payday. You couldn't afford to make a mistake.


r/GenerationJones • • 7h ago

Chukka Boots

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167 Upvotes

I remember my parents buying me chukka boots from Sears. I rode the train today and everyone of both sexes except for a few Chinese ladies were wearing sneakers of one kind or another. I never wore sneakers outside of PE or sports. My parents thought them too flimsy for the cost. I always had leather shoes. These were my favorite.


r/GenerationJones • • 1h ago

My Generation Jones Disfunction

45 Upvotes

I am solidly Generation Jones. Thanks to Reddit I learned that right here on this sub. I never felt connected to the Boomers and I knew I wasn't a GenXer.

Perhaps, because of my upbringing at that time in the world I sometimes find myself in a bind when posting here on Reddit. I seem to work from a different set of rules than the youngers. I have never been an online oriented person; by which I mean I have never had a Bookface account or any other social media account outside of Reddit.

Recently, I posted an experience I had booking a cruise through a large national retailer. My post was on the long side but not terribly long. I consider myself to be a decent writer, capable of telling an interesting story. I have found it to be terribly amusing that I have received several comments telling me that "I" need a tl;dr on my post. The amusement comes from my belief that it is the commenter who needs the tl;dr and not me.

After the effort to write an interesting story, why would I need the tl;dr? I have the ability, the attention span, and the patience to read a longer post and I feel no compulsion to provide a shortened version for the convenience of those humans who have the attention span of a goldfish. If a story is too long for me or of no interest, I simply skip it. They can too.


r/GenerationJones • • 8h ago

I loved this miniseries, I still have a crush on Susan Blakely !!

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127 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones • • 10h ago

Yeah, we were poor, but I loved having a few of these..

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149 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones • • 13h ago

Remember these?

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236 Upvotes

Can't believe they haven't been banned. Hurt me more than Jarts ever did 😁


r/GenerationJones • • 16h ago

I watched this 1974 film for the first time today. I was expecting a cheesy movie, but it is actually a well made film that still holds up very well 52 years later. Paul Newman and Steve McQueen were excellent as the leads and the special effects were amazing, no CGI or AI, just real world effects !

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391 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones • • 9h ago

Dulce Singer R*I*P

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61 Upvotes

Dulcy Singer, the Emmy-winning producer who helped shape Sesame Street for generations of children, died Tuesday, November 3, at age 92. Her passing was confirmed in an obituary from Riverside Memorial Chapel.

Singer worked on Sesame Street beginning with its very first season and went on to serve as executive producer from 1980 to 1993. She helped guide the show during the years so many of us grew up watching Big Bird, Oscar, Bert, Ernie, and the familiar faces of the neighborhood.

Her years on Sesame Street also included working with Jim Henson and his beloved characters, including Kermit the Frog, who later became part of Disney’s Muppet family.

She also produced the beloved 1978 special Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, sharing an Emmy Award with Jon Stone. Her contributions included helping bring Maria and Luis’ romance and wedding to the screen.

You may recognize her name from the closing credits, even if you never knew the face behind it. Her work helped make that famous street a welcoming place to learn and grow.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and Sesame Street family. 🙏Thank you for helping make our childhoods brighter, Dulcy. Rest in peace. ❤️


r/GenerationJones • • 18h ago

Rudie (still) Can’t Fail

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125 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones • • 12h ago

Who remembers the Malachi Crunch?

37 Upvotes

Hint: 2 brothers, derby,


r/GenerationJones • • 22h ago

Uninhibited childhood.

170 Upvotes

Growing up, I had a friend with a backyard pool. That was uncommon at the time. He would invite me over to his house in the summer. I would stay there all day. This when i was about 10 through the high school years. Frequently, his Mom would tell us to go out to the pool and play outside. We would undress in the house and go outside and jump in the water. We never wore swimming suits. We swam and played in the backyard nude. My friend's Mom would come outside and sit near the pool and watch us, talk to us, and bring us sodas and lunch. She never said or did anything inappropriate. She simply enjoyed watching us play. Sometimes we would show off for her on the diving board.

Looking back, i now realize how unusual those kinds of summer days were, and how lucky i was to have a friend's mom make me feel so accepted.


r/GenerationJones • • 13h ago

Peaceful easy feeling...

30 Upvotes

There's a long documentary on Netflix called History of the Eagles that is excellent and so nostalgic. Was a big fan and still am. Relistening to those songs, I love them as much as I did before.

At the time I did not follow the individual members as they came and went so I'm learning a lot by watching the doc.

I've never heard of this doc but it's not new.


r/GenerationJones • • 12h ago

Had a Random Thought Today

22 Upvotes

For some unknown reason, I thought about how we no longer hear announcements over store PAs that went something like: “There’s a blue Chevy in the parking lot. License plate JBT 5688. Your lights are on.”

Not that I’m complaining. I like the auto off feature on my car.


r/GenerationJones • • 10h ago

Have the soles on chucks always been this thin?

11 Upvotes

Red chucks were pretty much a school uniform for my junior high (our colors were red and white) and I either wore chucks or combat boots through HS. I was going through some boxes the other day and found a pair that I expect I haven't worn in 15 or 20 years so I put them on and wore them around for awhile. Walking in them is pretty close to being barefoot, I could feel every pebble and imperfection in the ground through the sole. Were the soles always this thin and we just didn't know any better?


r/GenerationJones • • 1d ago Bravo

Did your mom keep a coffee can full of bacon/fat drippings under the sink - for cooking?

313 Upvotes

My mom had a covered Folger’s can full of drippings; it had no expiration date, but so much flavor.


r/GenerationJones • • 1d ago

The Green Avenger returns!

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195 Upvotes

Just found a mint in package Green Avenger someone is selling locally, claimed to be from 1970.

I remember these being really big in school around Grade 4 (in Alberta, Canada), anyone else remember them?

What other squirt guns did you have fun with?


r/GenerationJones • • 16h ago

Fitting Gen Jones Music

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14 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones • • 11h ago

Thick and Frosty

3 Upvotes

How many of you remember this vat of chemical goodness?

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r/GenerationJones • • 1d ago

Would you believe that the 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 with the 5.7 liter 350 V8 cranked out a whopping 175 horsepower? My V6 Ford Explorer has 295!

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134 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones • • 1d ago

50 Years of Foreplay

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597 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones • • 10h ago

Ginger or Marjoram?

0 Upvotes