Generations – An in-depth look
Generation X, Millennials, Generation Y, Generation Me. We've all heard these terms, but what do they actually mean, and how does this relate to World of Warcraft?
Generations - What are they?
In the simplest of terms, a generation is simply a new iteration of something. Video game consoles have generations. For example: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U are all part of the eighth-generation of video game consoles. People have generations as well. If you consider yourself, your parents, and your grandparents; that would mean you're the 3rd generation (from those named in this article). However, there's also a social generation structure, which is what we're going to look at in this article.
So what are these "Generations"?
We're only going to focus on the social generations that are common in the present time. In this in-depth look, we'll see how each generation compares to each other and discover just how different each generation's ideals are from each other.
You've all heard the term "Millennial" or "Generation Z". Millennials were born in the early 90s to around 2001. In this generation, the term "blameless society" takes on a whole new meaning. Unlike previous generations, Millennials and forward generations are less likely to take responsibility for their own actions. Here's an example:
Let's say Player A was recently banned for sending inappropriate messages to another player. Player A was born in 1980, thus putting them in the range of Generation X, or the MTV Generation. This player will most likely understand the action that was taken, know they alone are responsible for the action, and change their ways in the future. The likely-hood the player will become a repeat offender is pretty low. Of course, we also have to take in to account any regional differences, as people from different areas act differently depending on how others act around them.
Now let's meet Player B. Player B was banned for sending a string of profanity after losing a match. Player B was born in 1996, thus placing them in the range of Millennials. Player B will argue with those issuing the action until they are blue in the face. Never taking responsibility for their own actions and defending themselves until the end of time. This player will never learn from their mistake and will often become repeat offenders.
What does this all mean?
The previous examples are only generalizations. There are people from Generation X who act like Millennials, and Millennials who act like Generation X. While Generation X is more accepting of different cultures and demographics, there are those "stuck in the past", if you will, and become very defensive. With Millennials, the level of accepting is even lower. Millennials will often degrade people from other demographics and hold their own demographic to an extremely high level of standards. "Represent" is a term coined by Millennials for this exact activity.
I know what you're thinking. I must have something against Millennials. The short answer is "not at all". The long answer is this: Millennials were brought up in an era where parents were more hands-off and allowed their children to grow up more independently. This hands-off approach never really taught the difference between right and wrong and never educated on taking responsibility for your own actions.
How can I help?
Parents: Take this opportunity to teach your children about taking responsibility for their own actions. Teach them the difference between right and wrong. Don't give in to every single demand and give your children a lesson in patience and acceptance.
Teens: Listen to your parents. Learn that it is okay to be wrong. If you do something wrong, take responsibility for your actions! Know that not everything is a competition and it is okay to lose. Rage and aggression is NOT okay unless absolutely needed. If you lose a match, don't start screaming your head off, yelling profanities. Become more accepting of other people and most importantly, be patient. It is never a race to the finish.
Comments?
We'd love to hear from you and what you think about this editorial. This article is a direct result of the environment visible in various online communities. Feel free to start a discussion!