Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say shoot me now if I ever refer to myself as Gen x

116 replies

Notouchingmybhuna · 11/07/2025 12:53

Or Z or a millenial or a boomer.

WTF is happening? I’ve just attended a professional study day where speakers introduced themselves with this bollocks as if it was relevant.

For full disclosure I have no clue which Gen I am actually supposed to be 😎

OP posts:
custardlover · 11/07/2025 13:21

It’s a perfectly reasonable shorthand to indicate dominate cultural influences as you grew up. Gen X had an analogue childhood and generally adopted digital technology as they were young adults / in the workplace. I’m from one of the last years of GenX and got my first mobile at 18 and an email address at university.

Original poster
Notouchingmybhuna · 11/07/2025 13:20

uhta · 11/07/2025 13:17

It's just based on birth year. Things change in the world and so people come from different eras and different childhood reference points. It's not rocket science.

Show quote history

What’s changed? What relevance does it have when you’re presenting in a professional context.

Lots of comments about what it is so if it’s not rocket science would love to hear more specific details about how and why it’s emerged?

OP posts:
Snorlaxo · 11/07/2025 13:20

Your gen is defined by your birth year only.

ExquisiteSocialSkills · 11/07/2025 13:19

DisplayPurposesOnly · 11/07/2025 13:09

I'm Gen X, have no idea about which ones in which order after that. They're all 'too young'.

This. But I like being Gen X. It’s a useful shorthand.

Original poster
Notouchingmybhuna · 11/07/2025 13:18

uhta · 11/07/2025 13:15

I think it's a fair enough cultural reference frame. I'm Gen X. My parents (1946) are boomers, because quite literally after the war ended, there was a baby boom. Not sure why describing people with reference to the era in which they were born is a problem? It's factual and sometimes useful.

I do feel that people are idiotic when they use the insult "boomer" aimed at middle aged people, rather than actual boomers.

For what purpose though? What specific cultural characteristics does it include? Apart from age? Which we already refer to as.’age’

OP posts:
uhta · 11/07/2025 13:17

Notouchingmybhuna · 11/07/2025 13:11

Says who? Where has it come from? And most importantly WHY?

Show quote history

It's just based on birth year. Things change in the world and so people come from different eras and different childhood reference points. It's not rocket science.

uhta · 11/07/2025 13:15

I think it's a fair enough cultural reference frame. I'm Gen X. My parents (1946) are boomers, because quite literally after the war ended, there was a baby boom. Not sure why describing people with reference to the era in which they were born is a problem? It's factual and sometimes useful.

I do feel that people are idiotic when they use the insult "boomer" aimed at middle aged people, rather than actual boomers.

Original poster
Notouchingmybhuna · 11/07/2025 13:11

Girlygal · 11/07/2025 13:10

You sound gen x or boomer. It depends on your birth year.

Says who? Where has it come from? And most importantly WHY?

OP posts:
Girlygal · 11/07/2025 13:10

You sound gen x or boomer. It depends on your birth year.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 11/07/2025 13:09

I'm Gen X, have no idea about which ones in which order after that. They're all 'too young'.

corlan · 11/07/2025 13:08

It's for people that have an 'identity' rather than character.

ShamrockShenanigans · 11/07/2025 13:07

I really hate hearing Gen 'Zee' from anyone who isn't American.

It sounds ridiculous.

Original poster
Notouchingmybhuna · 11/07/2025 13:07

Namitynamename · 11/07/2025 13:05

That's such a genX thing to say

What other criteria do I need to check myself against? Is there a guide?

OP posts:
ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 11/07/2025 13:06

Oh, I mean, I might add it to the conversation if it becomes relevant - but I can't imagine leading with it as part of introducing myself.

Namitynamename · 11/07/2025 13:05

That's such a genX thing to say

NooNakedJacuzziness · 11/07/2025 13:04

Everything has to have a bloody label on these days - I remember when people HATED being labelled as anything (but then I’m old and Gen X 😬)