According to Dr. Geher, people in one generation not fully understanding members of another generation is "an age-old human issue." This has become especially relevant in the last several thousand years due to very fast advances in technology.
"I will hear members of my parents' generation talk about '45s' versus 'LPs.' Members of my kids' generation talk about Spotify and 'streaming,' and members of my own generation talk about what a game-changer CD technology was when it first came out," the professor told Bored Panda via email.
"Members of different generations also often use different slang terms," he said. As an example, he noted that his son used the term 'booling' recently, which is similar to 'chilling' or 'hanging out.' It's a reminder that staying up to date with slang terms is very important for communicating with others.
"There is also a strong tendency for people to think that their generation is somehow comprised of more enlightened people than is true of prior generations. This also seems to be something of a constant in the human experience," Dr. Geher said, adding that finding common ground is often the key to bringing people from different generations together.
"Games, such as any number of card games, board games, pickleball, bowling, ping-pong, tennis, etc., can be both fun and bonding for people from different generations," he said.
"Inter-generational gatherings, as found at holidays, for example, have that same potential. For instance, this year, I played a game of backyard American football with a bunch of 20-somethings. While I may not have been the star, I think I held my own and it was definitely a bonding experience," Dr. Geher opened up to Bored Panda. "We still text around photos from this epic game to this day."
The key is to facilitate open-mindedness. "If people think that someone from some other generation just 'doesn’t get it,' and is unwavering in this belief, inter-generational relations are likely to be strained. The good thing is that open-mindedness is one of the basic human traits that seem to have a large environmental component—meaning that one’s level of open-mindedness (and the ability to develop a genuine understanding of others) can change based on time and experience. In other words, people can actually become more open-minded with effort and time," Dr. Geher explained.
According to the professor, it can definitely be a challenge to stay flexible and adaptable in the modern world. Dr. Geher revealed that he also personally finds it difficult when he has to learn a new piece of software for work, even if it is ultimately something that can make his job easier. It's a sentiment that we and most other people share! Learning new things is hard.
"For people from my generation, Generation X, the key is being open to the possibility that novel technologies, art, and ideas may well have merit and utility. I don’t play much in the way of video games, but I used to play Atari quite a bit as a kid," he said.
"When my son turned me on to Fortnite and Minecraft, I have to say that I never exactly mastered these games, but I did develop a rudimentary understanding and appreciation by watching him play. As the old adage goes, minds are like parachutes—they only work when they’re open. And this fact is likely key to fostering connections across generations."
Generation X includes people born in the United States between 1965 and 1980. Members of Gen X are the children of the so-called Silent Generation (Americans born from 1928 to 1945) and baby boomers (individuals born from 1946 to 1964, colloquially referred to as just 'boomers').
After Gen X come Generation Y (people born from 1981 to 1996, also known as millennials), Generation Z (Americans born from 1997 to 2012, who are known as Gen Z or, colloquially, 'zoomers'), and Generation Alpha (anyone born between the early 2010s and the mid-2020s).
Naturally, there are small disagreements about how to classify generations and if these classifications are even needed in the first place.
For example, some researchers and online communities take a broader approach and argue that Generation X refers to anyone born between 1961 and 1981. And if you’re looking at other countries besides the US, the generational timeframes will look very different.
#19 This Sat On The Top Of So Many Tvs When I Was Young! Anyone Else Remember These Fiber Optic Thingies??
