As I am starting my third year of blogging about my profession (you can see my first post for entertainment’s sake), I am starting to realize that I am not a very good Gen Y blogger. I am 26 and so I should be posting things about how I am going to change the world, change HR, change … my pants. You see, because I just spilled ice cream on them.
I was invited to join the Brazen Careerist network which is always a nice ego boost. I was called a hotshot (which by the way is utterly and completely true). It is for bloggers who are under 30. I fit that I suppose. Then I was looking at their front page and noticing how hardly anything I ever write about fits in among my peer bloggers. I know this because I am not stupid but I also know this because looking at my stats/demographics analysis, I have about 30% more 35-49 year olds than 18-34 year olds (which, if you know internet traffic, is completely upside down).
Then yesterday, I sort of had an epiphany. I was reading this post in my Google reader and I clicked on share with a note and wrote (and I quote): “More Gen Y whining.” I should clarify that this wasn’t in response to the actual post (Jaclyn Schiff doesn’t write crap), but in response to the comments which were almost offensively ironic. Talk about unintentionally making the authors point.
As far as I could tell, none of the people commenting (as of yesterday) had read the book. Yet they were tearing the thing apart based on an article written in a newspaper (read: limited in scope and availability of additional resources). I have read the book and knew that while I didn’t particularly agree with the overall conclusion of the thing, it did have a lot of damning information in there that supports the generalizations he makes. And while they are generalizations, that takes nothing away from the validity of the studies being done. If only 21% of people my age can explain the reasons behind the Korean War, that says something. You may not like it and you may try to rationalize it but the fact remains that many people in our generation stay voluntarily ignorant.
For many Gen Y bloggers, this is okay. For me, it isn’t. I have a feed reader (80+ blogs), I have diverse interests yet I am still reading, still working on acquiring, retaining and applying knowledge that will make me better at my career and life. And yes, I may be better at finding information when I need it than other generations but sometimes you need that information in your head. At least in my opinion, you need an accumulation of diverse knowledge to make great decisions.
And while I’d love to believe this sort of thing is going to come about in my lifetime, some of it is simply contradictory to every recent trend in business (and, let’s be honest, common sense). Saying that probably doesn’t win me the Gen Y viewership and that is fine with me (Booyah, I’ve got moxie, baby!). Being a realist (or cynic) isn’t that sexy. If being right means being a little less sexy though, I’ll take it (even though I have a lot of sexy to give).
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Hi Lance, good for you for recognizing that there is still a lot to be learned. The biggest complaint I hear from HR execs who want me to come and speak to the twenty-somethings at their companies is that Gen Y-ers graduate from college thinking they already know everything about everything. I think that in many ways, the ambitious, empowered energy of Gen Y is a good thing, but not when it means ignoring others’ earned expertise and knowledge.
Best,
Alexandra Levit
Twenty-something workplace expert
Author, Success for Hire
http://www.alexandralevit.com
Lance, I think there are a lot of Gen Y’ers who aren’t all for a revolution in the workplace. Who agree that our generation is self-absorbed and not interested in current events. I don’t think the way you feel means you can’t gain a Gen Y audience.
To your point, I didn’t read the book, but I would with an open mind. I feel a little disconnected from the topic of how Gen Y is dumb though because I don’t feel I’m dumb. Perhaps Mark offers insight into Gen Y as a whole, but for me personally he just offers proof that I have less competition for jobs if I’m willing to differentiate myself from the general Gen Y population.
I also agree with Alex that Gen Y has a lot to learn. I really look forward to getting mentoring people older than me for this very reason.
Alexandra and Monica, Fair enough on both counts. I don’t disagree though I would say that while it is likely I have an audience of Gen Y folks, I’d probably have more if I pandered to my age group a little more.
Monica, I’d also say that I don’t feel that stupid either. That being said, Mark did a very good job of underlining data with the fact that they are generalizations. They are useful for macro-analysis, not judging individuals. I know plenty of boomers and x’ers that would fit into the categories he describes in his book. I guess that is besides the point as I do not feel like I am judged on the veracity of my generation but on my own works. People will rail against the results for a few reasons:
1. Hits too close to home
2. Feels like it will hurt them by associating them with a bunch of ignorant people
3. Will use it as a crutch whenever they are denied opportunities or the chips don’t fall their way.
Sadly, I think opinions powered by what someone else has said, without actually reading the source is nothing new. There will always be those who remain voluntarily ignorant – I think it probably takes a more affirmative effort as information becomes increasingly more available than 15 years ago, but it doesn’t change the fact that it doesn’t much matter to what generation one belongs.
It is those who continue their learning, their acquisition of knowledge, and their diverse interests that make more interesting people…I wouldn’t change a thing.
Lance, I appreciate that you do not think I write crap
Also, this is the first time I have visited your blog – great stuff. I have to agree with Monica, don’t dismiss finding a Gen. Y audience just yet!
As a member of the Y Generation, and a proud American, I don’t care what you know, but I will fight to the death to defend your right not to know it.
But in all seriousness, my generation deserves the least respect or appreciation of all generations currently living, except perhaps these Millenials who appear to be twice as selfish, twice as egotistical, twice as impatient and a hundred times stupider than their parents/grandparents/etc were at their age.
Regardless – a lot of opinions formed of Gen Y’s are incorrect (see http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/05/30/46088/generation-y-assumptions-flawed-survey-reveals.html)
“If only 21% of people my age can explain the reasons behind the Korean War, that says something. You may not like it and you may try to rationalize it but the fact remains that many people in our generation stay voluntarily ignorant.”
Yeah, and large percentage of the other generations can explain the reasons for the war? Do you know the cause off the top of your head? No Googling.Right. While I can’t get into much detail, it had something to do with the containment policy the US had. The US for afraid that Korea would fall to the communist, the Domino theory, so the US government supported forces that opposed the communist. The war finally resulted in Korea being split. That is off the top of my head, I can give you a better account how Iraq formed, though.
so your post was pretty much Generation Y sucks more than all the other generations.
“If only 21% of people my age can explain the reasons behind the Korean War, that says something. You may not like it and you may try to rationalize it but the fact remains that many people in our generation stay voluntarily ignorant.”
I think pulling some random event or statistic or fact out of the air and then using that as a litmus test for whether or not people of your generation is informed is, well, bunk. How many people our parents’ age can explain the Spanish-American war? I mean, it was about as relevant to their time as the Korean war is to ours. If you want to complain about Gen Y, in my opinion, you need a better argument than “Gen Y doesn’t know some random fact about the past.” For instance, I’m much more concerned about the fact that most people my age can’t identify two countries that we’ve been at war with for most of our adult lives on a map than I am that they don’t know anything about the Korean war. I’m even more concerned that most Americans, regardless of generation, can’t do this.
Also, when people make statements like, “This group of people is not so great. Thank god I’m nothing like them!” I always kind of wonder about the person making the statement. Something about the whole having to put someone else down to prop oneself up has never really settled well with me. But, whatever. You have google reader and “diverse interests,” just like 90% of every other person your age. Glad to see you’re distinguishing yourself!
@Katie – Please read The Dumbest Generation before you claim I pulled some statistic out of nowhere. This book is a part of a much broader look at Gen Y. I only use it as an example.
If by group of people, you mean Gen Y bloggers, than I agree. I am generally proud of my generation though because I’ve met a ton of people who don’t at all fit the stereotype that Gen Y bloggers love to perpetuate about us.
Of course general ignorance is an issue but if you read the book, you’ll see Gen Y is out of line with the general population. These people that love to sing the praises of Gen Y? Most of them can’t stand stuff like this because it would require them to read a book and make a thoughtful commentary on it.