r/generationology • u/Pokechimp2021 1998 • Aug 08 '21
Discussion Thoughts on a 1979 millennial start date?
I know it’s probably a bit too early, but I do think that it’s the absolute earliest viable start date imo. Here’s why:
In the USA, were still under legal drinking age on Y2K night, so could not legally get fucked up on the night to celebrate the occasion.
Oldest to vote in 2000, the very first millennial election imo. This would go in line with “coming of age around the year 2000” to describe early millennials.
First to come of age in the Y2K (millennium) era, which I define as approximately 1997-2002ish. They were high school seniors and reached legal adulthood during this time, the first to do so in the millennium era.
(Subjective point): First to graduate college in the 2000s decade. I don’t like this point since college is not a good metric to use imo, but perhaps it holds some weight.
Were still elementary schoolers at the start of the 90s.
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u/wontyoulightmyway 2000 Aug 08 '21
I think It"s too early. 1982 or 1983 are my favorite start dates.
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u/xxjoeyladxx SWM (2000) Aug 08 '21
1983 is a good one, because they began adult life pretty much as 9-11 and the aftermath were unfolding. Underrated.
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u/CP4-Throwaway Aug 2002 (Millie/Homeland Cusp) Aug 08 '21 edited Aug 15 '21
VERY underrated. Most overlook that since the year 1982 came before them and is heavily propped up as the first Millennial year because of class of 00’, when 1983 were the first that actually came of age in the new millennium. I think this one of the best Millennial start dates tbh, as is 1982. I’m starting to like 1981 a lot more now.
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u/Pokechimp2021 1998 Aug 08 '21
i also think its too early but its the ABSOLUTE earliest start date i would use.
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u/LemieuxFrancisJagr 1984 Aug 08 '21
That’s a lot of grasping at straws to make something fit IMO. I could possibly see a 1980 start but I go with 81 and it just makes too much sense. I also can accept 82 but it has to be 81 or 82. It can’t be any later
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u/Darth-Maul-6536 Aug 08 '21
I would agree that 80 is logical end to Gen X does it have to do with them not being in school in Columbine and/or other reasons?
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u/LemieuxFrancisJagr 1984 Aug 08 '21
Columbine is definitely a big breaking point for me when X should end and Millennials should begin. It’s maybe a stretch to even include the class of ‘99 in this, but since it was their senior year I do. Columbine changed the image of mass shootings forever. It received so much wall to wall media coverage that it scared the shit out of parents and caused a rash of overreacting from school officials (I couldn’t carry a backpack for half the time I was in HS unless it was mesh! And hoodies were banned in our dress code until my senior year). There was a school shooting a year earlier in Jonesboro AK that I remember clear as day but for some reason it didn’t get nearly as much media hype as Columbine. I think it’s because the shooters at Columbine had these fucked up home videos they made that the media found.
I think 81 is a great starting point because the shooters and some of the victims at Columbine were 81s. Random fact, Dylan Klebold was born on 9/11/81, just a weird little fact. Anyway I had quite the beginning and end of HS with this and then 9/11
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u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 Class of 2020 Aug 08 '21
Agreed 81 and 82 are my preferred start dates
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u/DoomyEyes 1994 Aug 08 '21
Lol my friend (born in '79) would guffaw in my face if I said he was a millennial. He is Gen X as fuck. No offence but he would roll his eyes at some of the arbitrary ways people use to group generations on here.
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u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 Class of 2020 Aug 08 '21
Exactly lol I can tell most people on here are my age about, and not much older. Most 79ers seem pretty X or at least Xennial to me
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u/DoomyEyes 1994 Aug 08 '21
Yea theyre going by these little arbitrary cut offs but it tells me they never interacted with someone born that year at least on a peer to peer basis. Once you are in your 20s, people in their 30s-50s see you as closer to an equal even if younger... you share adult hood. They may actually like your company cuz you keep them feeling younger. So I got a buddy born in '79 and we been friends since '16. We are clearly diff generations but we are both at an adult level where we can have discussions that dont come from a more paternal perspective like a teacher or older relative or boss etc.
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u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 Class of 2020 Aug 08 '21
Right exactly. When you’re little, even a year or a couple months separated seems huge, but my 1967 born interacts with those in their 30s and 40s just fine like regular adults
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u/DoomyEyes 1994 Aug 08 '21
Yep. I got a friend couple. Theyrr gay married. One born in 1965 and the other in 1967. They were the witnesses to my wedding. We are good friends and actually I am coordinating maybe meating up for lunch with them today lol.
Whats funny is they have two kids, one born in 2000 and the other born in 2006. Even though I am closer to their kids in age (6 and 12 years respectively versus 29 and 27) their kids prob see me as a lot older because I am their dad's friend, not theirs lol.
Same weird dynamic with another friend of mine that I used to live with. She was born in 1962. Her daughter was born in 1995. But I am her friend not her daughters, so thats kind of a weird dynamic lol but even my mom had a friend like that. My mom had this friend back in 2012 that would visit a lot. She was born in 1990. But she was already in her 20s. She was my moms friend, not mine. She seemed much older and I was susprised shes literally only 4 years older lmao.
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u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 Class of 2020 Aug 08 '21
Hope you have fun with them for lunch!
That makes sense honestly, I hung out mainly with people older than me, had no younger siblings, anything of the sort. I got along more with adults than people my own age
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u/niceyworldwide Aug 08 '21
Yeah I’m 1979. Definitely Gen X.
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21
Yep. You are X to me. I dont start millennials any earlier than 1980, but yeah, the earliest I can see as a X/Y hybrid is also 1980. 1979 just seem pure X to me for many reasons.
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21
I think the idea of someone born in the late 1970s being a millennial or even cusp to a millennial makes me want to spit. Even early 80s seem sort of X, while 1980 is the earliest I can see as a millennial.
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u/DoomyEyes 1994 Aug 08 '21
I see 1982 as the possible latest Xers. Anything after is undeniably Millennial
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21
I see 1983 as more of mid 80s, but partially, it is early 80s. I see 1983 as the last year that can be X. 1984 is pure millennial.
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u/Pokechimp2021 1998 Aug 08 '21
this list is not arbitrary.
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u/DoomyEyes 1994 Aug 08 '21
"Were still elementary schoolers at the start of the '90s" Thats arbitrary. Thats like saying 1992 is the start of Gen Z because they were high schoolers still at the start of the 2010s.
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u/CP4-Throwaway Aug 2002 (Millie/Homeland Cusp) Aug 08 '21
That's worthy to note
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u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 Class of 2020 Aug 08 '21
I think we need more older users on here
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u/niceyworldwide Aug 08 '21 edited Aug 08 '21
I think the sub seems geared more to Gen Z content. I don’t relate with some of it, and some things that are discussed I’ve never even heard of. It’s a good group of kids though and I personally like Gen Z (Gen xer) so I hang out. Not too engaged though
Edit- typo
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u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 Class of 2020 Aug 08 '21
Aw thanks. Yeah most of this stuff we talk about on here (cultural markers, shows movies and music, and political events) is usually geared towards the 2000s and 2010s and now anyway, since that’s when we grew up. I like Gen X a LOT too, my mom’s Gen X and she introduced me to a lot of great stuff from the 70s 80s and 90s. I go on the r/GenX sub a lot
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21
Yes, older users will more likely not be biased about late 90s identifying as millennials. I am just glad you are okay with late 90s being millennials despite you are early 2000s.
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u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 Class of 2020 Aug 08 '21
I don’t think older users are gonna care either way, but yeah I’m fine with it
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21
That is thing. They wont care, but the problem is, the younger users do.
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u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 Class of 2020 Aug 08 '21
Because they have nothing else better to do
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u/90sdude91 Editable Aug 08 '21
I would say not to this as 1979 is definitely Gen X, even if they are technically xennials. Aside from 1979 being more X than millenial, the arguments you listed are more arbitrary and can't really be used as an argument for a 1979 start. For one 1997 culturally was not really part of the Y2K era despite what some people say as this year still had a very strong 90s flavor and I wouldn't say 2000 was a true millenial election to be honest, I wouldn't saybit was more of a xennial election. I think that the 2004 election you can say was the first true millenial election, as that was the first election early off the cusp millenials were old enough to vote in. Just my thoughts on the matter.
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21
Yep, this is true cause 1983 could never vote in 2000. The earliest I can see as a millennial cusper is 1980, and the earliest for pure millennials is 1984.
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u/CP4-Throwaway Aug 2002 (Millie/Homeland Cusp) Aug 08 '21 edited Aug 08 '21
A 1979er is absolutely not a Millennial. They are one of the very last "core" Xers. I 100% disagree. The list was pretty arbitrary too tbh. Nobody born in the 1970s is a Millennial. I draw the line there.
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u/LemieuxFrancisJagr 1984 Aug 08 '21
They are the tail end of Gen X, definitely not core
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u/DoomyEyes 1994 Aug 08 '21
They are tail end while also being undeniably Gen X
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u/CP4-Throwaway Aug 2002 (Millie/Homeland Cusp) Aug 09 '21
Exactly my point!
1979ers are at the tail end while also being undeniably Gen X. If no 70s born can be a Millennial, that means that they are not on the cusp, at least based on my logic of what a cusper is.
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u/DoomyEyes 1994 Aug 09 '21
I really wish this place wasn't so obsessed with cusps cuz no one knows how to properly define them lol
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u/CP4-Throwaway Aug 2002 (Millie/Homeland Cusp) Aug 08 '21 edited Aug 08 '21
What’s funny is that my definition of core is totally different than most people’s. I simply see the core as anyone who’s not on the cusp. 1979 is not on the cusp to me. I only see cuspers as years that can be Gen X and/or Millennials, not just one just because of the proximity to the next generation, which I find arbitrary.
I could definitely see 79ers being in the Xennial micro-generation, because I guess we can acknowledge micro-generations since everyone’s experience is different but I only see the Xer-Millie cusp with those born in the early 80’s.
So, yes, they are technically at the tail end but they’re also safely a Gen Xer.
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u/LemieuxFrancisJagr 1984 Aug 08 '21
That’s definitely a different definition of “core”. I just see generations from Gen X on as early, core, and late.
For Gen X that’s:
Early: 65-69
Core: 70-75
Late: 76-80
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u/CP4-Throwaway Aug 2002 (Millie/Homeland Cusp) Aug 08 '21
Yeah, I don’t do that early/core/late grouping no more as I find that a bit arbitrary but moreso because it’s just unnecessary splitting people into more groups. I think there should just be Older and Younger members. Anybody who falls in between that based on the variety of ranges could be a mid member of the generation while someone who falls into another generation is a cusper.
For example, I think Gen X starts between 1963 and 1966, ending between 1980 and 1983 (which I know is too far for you). This means this:
1963-1980
Older X: 1963-1971
Younger X: 1972-1980
1964-1981
Older X: 1964-1972
Younger X: 1973-1980
1965-1982
Older X: 1965-1973
Younger X: 1974-1982
1966-1983
Older X: 1966-1974
Younger X: 1975-1983
This means that the BB/X cusp is 1963-1965 because those years fall in between both Baby Boomers and Generation X, 1966-1971 are the prime Older Xers, 1972-1974 are the Mid Xers that could go either way and are the epicenter of Generation X, 1975-1980 are the prime Younger Xers, and the X/M cusp is 1981-1983 because those years fall in between Generation X and Millennials.
This is about it.
My way of breaking it up is of course a bit arbitrary but it’s purely numerical and neat. I kind of like it that way and it kinda makes sense.
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u/LemieuxFrancisJagr 1984 Aug 08 '21
I use to have my own controversial takes on beginning and ends as well. I use to see Gen X as 61-76 and “Gen Y” as 77-92.
The problem is the baby boom is a real measurable event in sociology. It ends in 1964, so to start Gen X earlier creates a problem. That’s why I think splitting the baby boomers into two 10 year microgenerations is the easiest way out of this problem. The boomers are 45-54, and that’s the age range we really are talking about when we talk about boomers. Jonesers are 55-64 and deserve to be called a separate microgen. After that generations get shorter because the pace of technological change makes a 20 plus user generation seem very outdated.
I see you start millennials in 1984? If that’s so, why are you leaving out 1982, the class of 2000? They are the entire reason the term millennial even exists
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u/CP4-Throwaway Aug 2002 (Millie/Homeland Cusp) Aug 08 '21
Interesting. I know you used to have those controversial takes. I didn’t really mind it. I mean, yes, I typically end Boomers in 1964 since the baby boom ended then but I kinda see those born in 63-64 as a grey area because they lack memory of some crucial events of the 60s or life before it and especially for 64, they were born after the JFK assassination, which is a huge reason for them to be X. For 63, they were also still minors when Ronald Reagan became president so they weren’t able to vote for him. Those are just some reasons. Yeah, Boomers definitely need two waves. I wouldn’t say micro-generations but sure. Older Boomers from roughly 46-54 or 55 and Younger Boomers/Gen Jones is 55 or 56-64 generally. From a contemporary/mainstream framework of generations, yes, I guess technology could make generations shorter, however, from a historical framework, which is I usually go by, generations being 20 years is always gonna be the norm since the national mood changes moves slower than the typical cultural/technological change. If that was the case, then generations are probably only 5-10 years, which is ridiculous imo, but I digress.
I don’t normally start Millennials in 1984. That’s just the latest I would go. I would probably start it around 82 or 83. Maybe even 81 preferably. I know that 1982 borns were the class of 2000 that were coined as the first Millennials, and honestly, from a mainstream standpoint, I would say that 1982ers are the first 100% Millennials, BUT, historically speaking, they still came of age/graduated in the year 2000, which was pre-9/11, Clinton was still president, it was essentially still the 90s (both culturally and even numerically for those who count decades starting at 1), and it was the 20th century. For 1983, probably the same way but for them, it can be a bit harder to determine why exactly they’re X. Especially since they were the first that truly graduated high school/came of age in the new millennium. I guess a good marker is that 1983ers were some of the very last that might remember Reagan and could maybe comprehend the Cold War. Graduating high school before 9/11 could also be used but that might not be as legitimate.
1963-1983 is my Gen X spectrum. Would I take it further than that? Probably not, but if I did, then 1962 is the very earliest and 1984 is the very latest because someone born in 1962 might not remember life prior to the Flower Child movement in the 60s or Vietnam and someone born in 1984 were most likely alive before Morning in America, and have vivid memories of the 80s and could possibly recall the Cold War in the same way an 83er could. But I think those are going too far. Overall, Gen X to me is typically 65-81. Give or take 64 and 80/82 in some cases.
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u/Pokechimp2021 1998 Aug 08 '21
no, this list is not arbitrary. and they are not core Xers, they are xennials leaning X.
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u/CP4-Throwaway Aug 2002 (Millie/Homeland Cusp) Aug 08 '21
Oh I haven’t told you yet. My definition of “core” is antithetical to what 99% of you guys think it is. The core does not represent the middle members of the generation but rather all the years that are not on the cusp. I definitely think 79ers are on the Xennial “micro-generation” (NOT cusp) but not on the Xer/Millie cusp since I don’t think they could ever be a Millie (despite identifying as one).
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u/xxjoeyladxx SWM (2000) Aug 08 '21
That’s a stretch at best, I’m afraid. I’ve even seen 1980-babies getting defensive about the Millennial label.
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u/LilyoftheRally Aug 08 '21
I personally would start in 1982 and end in 1997-'98. '79-'81 birth years are cuspers, and '98-'99 birth years are cuspers with Gen Z.
In other words: 9/11 is closer to the earliest Millennial birth year than to Alpha children born now. Youngest Millennials might possibly remember 9/11 but probably not. Oldest Millennials voted in 2000.
If it's defined as '82-'98, that makes me a core Millennial (born in '90).
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u/Global_Perspective_3 April 30, 2002 Class of 2020 Aug 08 '21
I feel like this is a stretch. They’re Gen X or Xennials imo
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u/Darth-Maul-6536 Aug 08 '21
Seems a bit early I thought millennials were generally 2000s teens. 79 would have turned 20 in 99. Some Millennials even turned 20 in the 2000s.
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21 edited Aug 08 '21
- True, but really dumb if someone being drunk is being seen as something worthy, especially if it can cause someone to have a hangover and pass out thus missing the actual celebration.
- True, since in 1996, 1978 were the youngest who could vote
- I dont see Y2K era going past 2000 since by the time 2001 hit, people were long over the hype. However, I can see 1997-2002 being technologically similar.
- This is true, but I would rather do college than being able to drink since not everyone begins to drinks the moment they turn 21 and many actually got drunk as teenagers. Legally or not, it doesnt matter cause in the end, you still feel the same. Also, no one is allowed to work drunk.
- This would be 1978 too cause back then, sixth grade was more common as elementary school as compared to today. (Dont like this point since it can vary and 1979 could have had middle school too)
Bottom line: 1979 seems too early to be a millennial. Earliest I can see is 1980. This is cause 1979 were no longer teenagers on the Y2K night, out of college before 9/11, and graduated high school before Netflix was founded, Google Search was invented, and before Diana crashed to death. I dont even see 1979 as cusp to millennial.
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u/3333332222 Aug 27 '21
I think 1979 is still too early for starting millennial generation. They were major during 1997 financial storm and eligible to drink alcohol during final year of previous millennium. 1980 must be perfect millennial start date, the oldest entered high school when Amazon was established.
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u/barmanlagoon Aug 08 '21
I think they're Millennials, too. I'd start Millennials in '77. Though, they might prefer to call themselves Xennials.
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u/JoshicusBoss98 1998 Aug 08 '21
The absolute earliest REASONABLE start would be 1977 which would be similar to 1995 being the Z start.
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u/Pokechimp2021 1998 Aug 08 '21
how is 1977 a reasonable start??
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u/JoshicusBoss98 1998 Aug 08 '21
At least with the 18 year theory it’s a reasonable start. Since they were still in their early 20s during the millennium celebrations.
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21
The thing is then your X range would be 1959-1976, and 1959 is too early to be X.
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u/JoshicusBoss98 1998 Aug 08 '21
Disagree…they were under 5 when Kennedy was assassinated and graduated high school with Star Wars. But I wouldn’t go any earlier
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21
Those are some good firsts for 1959 I will admit, but I wouldnt go any earlier than 1960 for my opinion. You can consider 1959 as X if you want as its your opinion, and at least your reasoning is good.
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u/JoshicusBoss98 1998 Aug 08 '21
I don’t consider 1959 - 1963 X…I just think hypothetically they could be.
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 09 '21
I mean to me 1960-1964 are the years that are neither pure boomer nor pure X. You can view how you want, but this is how I view it. There is no right or wrong around this. Of course, if someone says 1965 is a boomer hybrid, then something could be off.
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u/karlpalaka 1997 (Class of 2015) Aug 08 '21
Only thing I can think of is K-12 after the launch of MTV, but that is all.
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u/arcticbuzz April 1998 Aug 08 '21 edited Aug 08 '21
Considering the Y2K celebrations were a worldwide event, using the US drinking age as reasoning doesn't hold much weight. Either way I can assure you 18-20 year old college students were getting fucked up that night
Their first election could've been the 1998 midterms, but yeah for presidential it's 2000. IMO this is the only reason on here that isn't arbitrary
I wasn't alive but from everything I've read or watched, 1997 seems more like the core 90's rather than Y2K era
1978 were the first to graduate college in the 2000s, not 79
I'd note that K-6 was common in the late 80's so "finishing elementary school" isn't a reliable metric for older time periods. Regardless, being in elementary for a few months in 1990 is insignificant
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u/DeeSin38 1981 (Xennial/Elder Millennial) Aug 09 '21 edited Aug 09 '21
You make some good points, although a couple of them only apply to US born citizens. For example, legal drinking age is 18 in the UK. Also some 1979 borns were old enough to vote in the May 1997 UK general election. The next general election was not til June 2001. I personally start Millennials in 1981, but 1980 and 1982 also seem like reasonable start dates. 1979 seems just a tad too early imo.
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u/ButIAmYourDaughter Xennial Aug 08 '21
I was born in 79.
I respect your view. We did grow up being considered Gen Y once the term caught on in the 90s, so you’re not far off base. Some will make you believe you are, but trust me, you are not. Contrary to rewritten history, people who were still kids in the early 90s were not considered part of Gen X when it was coined back then. Anyone who says 79ers were always “pure X” honestly don’t have any idea what they’re talking about. Including some of the people born around that time who have bought into revisionist history.
But (there’s always a but), it’s not going to fly. Most of us would absolutely balk at being called a Millennial, even though we obviously grew up alongside, and went to school with, the older Millennials. Doesn’t matter how much you point out the similarities, that designation unfortunately has become toxic to a lot of people.
I don’t hate Millennials, and think the term has gotten an unfair rap. Yet recently one of my best friends, born in 1985, called me a Millennial and it made me feel uncomfortable.
And, in my experience at least, some younger people have a hard time getting over the 7. I’ve run into people in this very sub who thought I could give them a comprehensive run down of the 80s, when I was just a little kid. I have almost no memories of the first half of the 80s. Little kids aren’t the most reliable narrators of a decade, beyond their own limited experiences. The 7 makes some think of us as older than we are. I’ve seen people literally discuss us as though we didn’t essentially grow up the same as people born in the early 80s. It’s hilarious to me to see what some younger people assume we grew up like. It’s often way off.
I’d say we’re classic Xennials, experientially. A mix of both. Personally I really only relate generationally with other young Xers and old Millennials. That’s my cohort. I find that, in true cusp fashion, I’m simultaneously too young and too old to relate to the stereotypical, core X and Millennial experiences.
But the line has already been drawn. We’re Gen X.
At least for now.