I have been posting a bit about the whole Generation debate/issue over the last few months, and so have a lot of people if the Google Trends graph is correct.
One such post is Penelope Trunk’s on What generation are you part of, really? Take this test. Which basically states your generation is not 100% defined by your birth date, it’s more about who you are and what you do. To help us figure things out Penelope has created a quick survey to work out where you stand. Not sure it is 100% scientific but I would guess it provides a good base line.
Add up your points to figure out what generation you’re really a part of:
- Do you have your own web page? (1 point)
- Have you made a web page for someone else? (2 points)
- Do you IM your friends? (1 point)
- Do you text your friends? (2 points)
- Do you watch videos on YouTube? (1 point)
- Do you remix video files from the Internet? (2 points)
- Have you paid for and downloaded music from the Internet? (1 point)
- Do you know where to download free (illegal) music from the Internet? (2 points)
- Do you blog for professional reasons? (1 point)
- Do you blog as a way to keep an online diary? (2 points)
- Have you visited MySpace at least five times? (1 point)
- Do you communicate with friends on Facebook? (2 points)
- Do you use email to communicate with your parents? (1 point)
- Did you text to communicate with your parents? (2 points)
- Do you take photos with your phone? (1 point)
- Do you share your photos from your phone with your friends? (2 points)
0-1 point - Baby Boomer
2-6 points - Generation Jones
6- 12 points - Generation X
12 or over - Generation Y
I scored 20 out of a possible 22, so I guess I am Gen Y at heart.
I am not sure I agree with the scores and think they are a little to “low” and would allow many non Gen X/Y into the categories. So I re jigged them:
4 or less - Baby Boomer
5 to 10 - Generation Jones/Baby Boomer
11 to 15 - Generation X
16 or over - Generation Y
Popularity: 90% [?]
20 responses so far ↓
1 Michael Clarke // Aug 7, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I scored 18 which puts me in the Gen Y category but at 44, I’m not entirely convinced that my team (mostly half my age!) would agree. Let alone the students we work with. The overall point, though, that age is a grotesquely simple way of assessing demographics, is an excellent one.
And it made me smile!
2 Penelope Trunk // Aug 7, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Hi, Michael. Thanks for linking to Brazen Careerist. The test look like it lets a lot of people who are not gen X/Y into those categories, that’s true. But that’s becuase if people are reading blogs, which they are if they’re taking this test, they are already a little ahead.
In general, baby boomers are not reading blogs. Those who are most certainly are choosing to relate to more Gen-Xers (bloggers are mostly Gen-Xers) than their baby boomer peers.
Penelope
3 Kevin // Aug 7, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Come on Michael, this is just nonsense.
I scored 13, but I am definitely a baby boomer.
I communicate with my parents by email and MSN video, and they are in their 70’s. In fact my mum would probably score as generation X.
I think you know my views on this whole generational thing. Ironically I bet a lot of Gen Y’s think it’s nonsense as well.
4 Meg // Aug 7, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Seems I’m with you “ahead of my time”
Do you think there’s any substance in “generation C”?
5 Talkin’ bout my Generation - Boomers, X, Y & beyond « knowledge is everywhere // Aug 8, 2007 at 12:34 am
[...] - Boomers, X, Y & beyond 7 08 2007 There’s always discussions about generations, what generation are you (take the test), but increasingly when people talk about Generation Y, the main point is [...]
6 systematic // Aug 8, 2007 at 1:43 am
Hmm, 15 for me. Do I get an age handicap? By rights I shouldn’t have gotten much over 5!
7 Stephen Collins // Aug 8, 2007 at 9:59 am
That would make me a 21/22 39-year-old Gen-Yer, then.
But, as we know, and as Kevin points out once more, the whole Generational thing is largely nothing more than a handy generalisation.
Alli, over at ShiftedHR can talk your ear off on this very point. She has her hands and mind on a wealth of research in the space.
8 Michael Specht // Aug 8, 2007 at 10:17 am
Some replies to you all:-
@Michael glad you got a smile out of it
@Kevin yes I know your views :-), I will wait and see how many Gen Y’s comment on the post
@Meg not sure I agree with the use of the word generation to describe Gen C but I do think there is group of people who fit the description, although even what the C stands for is up for debate.
@systematic yes we will give you an age handicap so subtract 15 from you score and now see where you are placed, in fact Kevin take 15 of your score as well!
@Penelope true if people are reading blogs they are ahead of many others. I (and others it seems) still feel the numbers ranges are a bit low. However it does get the point across, age is not necessarily the determining factor in how people behave it is moire a state of mind.
9 Thomas Shaw // Aug 8, 2007 at 11:53 am
scored 21, and yes I am a Gen Y - only 24 years old.
10 William Luu // Aug 8, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I ended up on 20, and i’m 25. I’ve got friends of a similar age (23 to 26) who would’ve probably scored between 10-15. I’d say those scored definations are based upon many generalisations/stereotypes of generation types.
Perhaps some questions could’ve been generalised to “social networking sites” rather than being specific in MySpace. I like a few others went from Friendster (and similar) to Facebook skipping MySpace. I’m sure i’m not the only Gen-Y’er that did the same (especially in non English speaking regions).
11 Cait // Aug 9, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I’m Generation Y and I scored 22. My Baby Boomer dad scored 6.
It’s a bit harsh about the parents, most of the parents of my parents age group are going to be dead.
To me this doesn’t determine anything other than tech-savvy use of the internet in a cultural way.
Younger generations are more likely to use the internet natively in their culture, but there are plenty of grandmothers playing World of Warcraft.
The real question is why do all generations seek to put down the generations of others?
12 C // Jan 9, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I have no idea what generation i am im 18 years old i have no idea does it mean the people that are your age your generation or not?? iv always wanted to no. or is it people that are only a few year older or younger???
13 REAL GEN-Yer // Feb 2, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Clearly, again the Baby Boomers feel the need to run everything. You’re old. Get over it, you social security stealing, high water pants wearing blood sucking freaks.
14 t // Feb 21, 2008 at 3:05 pm
im 28 and scored a 5 and am not Generation Jones
this is bunk
15 Louie // Mar 31, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I was born in 1967.
My father fought in WWII & Korea
He was 47 when I was born
My mother was 34.
My oldest sibling is 55.
I have 9 older siblings.
I am the baby.
I like the Beatles,Disco and Funk.
I rarely read blogs if only to find info on a certain subject.
I scored a 1 on the test.
Yahoo and E-bay is the extent of my internet use.
A cell phone is just that a phone to call someone up and talk.
I don’t care too much about money or owning tons of “stuff”.
I watched Dean Martin,Gregory Peck,Cary Grant, Don Rickles, Sammy Davis Junior, John Wayne, Audy Murphy,Charlton Heston,Bob Hope Mary Tyler Moore, Munsters, Star Trek(Original) Beverly Hillbbillies, Waltons, Good Times, Alice, Lawrence Welk,Hee-Haw,Bobby Vinton,Gunsmoke,Big Valley,Green Acres, Brady Bunch, Andy Griffith, Romper Room,Sesame Street, Mr Rogers and on and on and on.
I am big on WWII history and history in general when today’s kids don’t know or care who Ho Chi was, Benito, or what was the Bay of Pigs. I watched Bruce Jenner win the 1976 Olympic decathlon live. Todays kids(no offense just making a point) know him only from the reality show keeping up with the Kardashians. I do not know if I’m a non-techy x’er or a Boomer?
I really would like to find my slot in the march of time. Most don’t seem to care but I do. Where do I belong?
16 Jeanette // Apr 12, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I am vehemently insulted by the label of baby boomer! or as some called it “Woody” Generation… I was born in 1963 ! Holy Shite! I was Five (5) 5- F - - -g years old.! How dare the media label my year born, as a boomer!
I did not partake in the biggest outdoor concert for freedom, love or peace and trying to change the world shite? Who came up with this timeline?, who wants to label you in a box or put a label on it? (The NY f—g times, and media are u kidding me.?
Do not put me in the boomer age. I am disgusted with the (All About me) “Boomers” generation.
They are greedy mother f—kers “all about me” gen. I Dislike them strongly (can I say hate?) Enron type fall out is what we have to live with and the tail end (of Us 1963 babys) are holding the bag of debt, corruption and total abuse of conservation issues!
My parents were at the discos after the free love crap and a divorce. I was a f_—G, fallout of all the free love shite, what the F- - K are u all talking about? 1963 a boomer! I think NOT!
17 C.W. Wyatt // Apr 26, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Ah come on love! Don’t be like that! Baby boomers aren’t so bad after you get to know us.
Admittedly, we tend to be full of our interests, and opnions. And nobody knows more than us. But despite these minor psyhic issues we tend to be genuinely whatever we’re into at the moment. Remember we invented the definition of real.
Look at G.W. Bush, he’s a baby boomer and despite being a complete kumquat and dolt, he’s a really genuine guy. And don’t forget Bill Clinton. He’s so for real he’ll be forever remembered as the president who was doing the sixties style soixante neuf on his desk in the white house.
Oh, is that considered sex or just a snack? It’s probably the same as not inhaling a good joint. Pun inteneded. Well dear, I hope that puts us boomers in the proper perspective for you. Peace!
18 Graham // May 24, 2008 at 11:50 pm
This is just more ageist shit coming out of the HR / Recruitment industry. When the word ‘parents’ is replaced by ‘children’ (both my parents are long gone) and, ‘facebook’ and ‘myspace’ are replaced by ’social site’ I score 12. I was born in 1952.
The attitudes in the ‘quiz’ are the same ones which prevent me getting employment in my more recent profession of software developer (got a B CompSc in 2001) or my older trade of telecoms/radio technician. These clever 20 and 30 somethings, who like to consider themselves professionals, are incapable of listening to anyone outside their age group.
Even though I am apparently too stupid and senile to handle the learning curve of a technician job I am halfway through a coursework masters in Linguistics and am learning to and having success in making money in share trading (so that I NEVER have to go to another interview with these offensive people purporting to be professionals).
19 matt // Aug 21, 2008 at 11:01 am
phew, I scored 13 and so was exactly on the cusp of reality. i’m 33. from an employer engagement angle this is really interesting. I love this stuff but i believe it is definitely a case of not one size fits all. just look at all the responses. No matter what the generation you have treat every employee differently…. We have learned to be customer focused by asking “How do our customers experience the brand?” Now the question of the times is “How do our employees experience the brand?” Read more at
http://corporate.redballoondays.com.au/go/news/employees-are-the-new-customers
20 elle // Aug 26, 2008 at 8:46 am
Ha-ha. I scored as Gen-Y. Hilarious. I don’t think at this point in our history that technology should be used as a measure for which generation one belongs.
It’s 2008. You’re living in a cave or a third-world country if you don’t use these technologies. People in nursing homes get internet and text message.
Anyway, I was born Dec ‘63, which makes me a leading edge Gen-X by latest accounts. I completely agree with this. I have more in common with my 21-year-old sister than any boomer. I came of age watching MTV and playing video games and watched the ascendence of Rap, Punk, and “alternative”.
Kennedy is a history lesson to me, and the boomer generation a bunch of wacked out hippies. LOL. I recall the 70’s fondly, but the 80’s was my decade.
I get tired of being lumped in with boomers and their 1960s sensibilities. I don’t remember any of that crap. Ancient history.
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