Comments on: Gen X & Gen Y: How can we all get along? http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/ thoughts on how the Internet intersects with work, play & life Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:03:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: G. W. Hayduke http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-72147 G. W. Hayduke Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:05:06 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-72147 This is an interesting topic. I am a Gen X profesor that has taught Gen Y students. I'm not a big fan of generalizations, but I'll also admit that sometimes they hold true. When I first taught Gen Y students I was quite frustrated. I couldn't understand why they were always questioning the little things (not so much the big things,... Everyone should question the big things),... I didn't understand why they didn't seem to want to work hard, yet would challange me when their lack of work was reflected in their grades. I couldn't believe their lack of formality or the things they would do in class (music from laptops, headphones on during lectures,...) I started writing them off as lost causes,... But then I started to think about the differences and made more of an effort to reach out. Now I thoroughly enjoy teaching most Gen Y's. I think teaming Gen X-er and Gen Y's could result in a powerful work force able to accomplish almost anything. However, it takes both generations realizing that there ligitimate world views that are alternative to their own,... But maybe that is the key to most things. This is an interesting topic.

I am a Gen X profesor that has taught Gen Y students. I’m not a big fan of generalizations, but I’ll also admit that sometimes they hold true. When I first taught Gen Y students I was quite frustrated. I couldn’t understand why they were always questioning the little things (not so much the big things,… Everyone should question the big things),… I didn’t understand why they didn’t seem to want to work hard, yet would challange me when their lack of work was reflected in their grades. I couldn’t believe their lack of formality or the things they would do in class (music from laptops, headphones on during lectures,…)

I started writing them off as lost causes,…

But then I started to think about the differences and made more of an effort to reach out. Now I thoroughly enjoy teaching most Gen Y’s.

I think teaming Gen X-er and Gen Y’s could result in a powerful work force able to accomplish almost anything. However, it takes both generations realizing that there ligitimate world views that are alternative to their own,… But maybe that is the key to most things.

]]> By: Melissa Chang http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-28262 Melissa Chang Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:15:24 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-28262 @Rae Thanks for your insightful comments - they are appreciated. I do just want to point out that not only did I (unintentionally) skew the characteristics of GenY/GenX with my list, but I also left out a lot of the details to make my point. The GenX'er in question in this conversation had multiple discussions with the GenY'er about how she needed to come to work when she had scheduled time to come in, and the requests were repeatedly ignored. The GenX'er also repeatedly informed the GenY'er that she didn't like the job in question and wanted more challenging work, which the GenX'er appreciated, but didn't (think she) had the means to provide. So there was a lot more going on than this simplified dialog that was meant to point out (and probably did so effectively) that there are workplace biases in play between the generations. All these issues with the post, though, are mine. And I do appreciate you bringing them up. They will hopefully lead to more thoughful and considerate writing in the future. Thanks! @Rae Thanks for your insightful comments - they are appreciated. I do just want to point out that not only did I (unintentionally) skew the characteristics of GenY/GenX with my list, but I also left out a lot of the details to make my point. The GenX’er in question in this conversation had multiple discussions with the GenY’er about how she needed to come to work when she had scheduled time to come in, and the requests were repeatedly ignored. The GenX’er also repeatedly informed the GenY’er that she didn’t like the job in question and wanted more challenging work, which the GenX’er appreciated, but didn’t (think she) had the means to provide. So there was a lot more going on than this simplified dialog that was meant to point out (and probably did so effectively) that there are workplace biases in play between the generations.

All these issues with the post, though, are mine. And I do appreciate you bringing them up. They will hopefully lead to more thoughful and considerate writing in the future. Thanks!

]]> By: Rae Simmons http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-28244 Rae Simmons Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:46:42 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-28244 Wow. Now I understand that this piece is biased, personally I wouldn't expect otherwise, but that conversation! That is really insulting to the Generation Y's. I mean, it says to me that the Generation X who was having trouble with their intern was miserable and complaining. Still they didn't do anything about the problem. In fact the situation was, from what I've read in this article, only resolved when the intern took the initiative to remove herself from the workplace in question. Still, it seems to "save face", the Gen. X employer blamed the whole ordeal on the Gen. Y employee because she was doing what she felt was in her best interest. For me this raises the question; Is it better to suffer in a difficult (please take the word with a grain of salt) position, or to move on from a discordance where both parties feel uncomfortable? On top of that, is it right to tarnish someone's reputation when they are actually doing something that benefits, not only them, but you as well? Wow. Now I understand that this piece is biased, personally I wouldn’t expect otherwise, but that conversation! That is really insulting to the Generation Y’s. I mean, it says to me that the Generation X who was having trouble with their intern was miserable and complaining. Still they didn’t do anything about the problem. In fact the situation was, from what I’ve read in this article, only resolved when the intern took the initiative to remove herself from the workplace in question. Still, it seems to “save face”, the Gen. X employer blamed the whole ordeal on the Gen. Y employee because she was doing what she felt was in her best interest. For me this raises the question; Is it better to suffer in a difficult (please take the word with a grain of salt) position, or to move on from a discordance where both parties feel uncomfortable? On top of that, is it right to tarnish someone’s reputation when they are actually doing something that benefits, not only them, but you as well?

]]> By: Melissa Chang http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-8809 Melissa Chang Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:40:12 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-8809 <i>Anna, Wow, I wrote this article awhile back and re-read it when I got your comment, and you're right...this article does seem really focused on the positive characteristics of Gen X and the negative characteristics of Gen Y. My apologies. In thinking about this, it seems that opposite qualities of each generation could be highlighted to twist the article the other way. Making Gen X look "positive" was not my intention going into it, but I'm really glad that you pointed out my bias. thanks. -Melissa</i> Anna,
Wow, I wrote this article awhile back and re-read it when I got your comment, and you’re right…this article does seem really focused on the positive characteristics of Gen X and the negative characteristics of Gen Y. My apologies. In thinking about this, it seems that opposite qualities of each generation could be highlighted to twist the article the other way. Making Gen X look “positive” was not my intention going into it, but I’m really glad that you pointed out my bias. thanks.
-Melissa

]]> By: Anna http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-8806 Anna Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:48:20 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/03/07/gen-x-gen-y-how-can-we-all-get-along/#comment-8806 I find it amusing when the author is so clearly part of one generation that the "characteristics" are very positive for one group, and mostly negative for the other. Get some objectivity. I find it amusing when the author is so clearly part of one generation that the “characteristics” are very positive for one group, and mostly negative for the other.

Get some objectivity.

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