Originally posted by: Tiptup
I hope I don't make a post like that until I'm at least 60.

Well I’m only 33, but I was born 100 years too late so that probably explains my disposition. I’m a throwback.

Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape Hmm, I've never heard of the term echo-boomers to describe the generation after the baby boomers. How long has that been around?

Some use the term to differentiate between young members of Gen-Y (Boomer Echo 1995-2005) and older members (Gen-Y 1985-1995), which is what I think Anchorhead was using it for.

They are Generation Y and even though they are primarily the children of boomers they fall two generations beyond the boomers. Here’s the typical breakdown:

Silent Generation 1925-1945
Baby Boomers 1945-1965
Generation X 1965-1985
Generation Y (Boomer Echo) 1985-2005

There are some variations and those are ballpark numbers. Boomer Echo is a self –centered and insulting term for Gen-Y invented by boomers. Think about what the two terms really mean:

Gen-Y: The generation that followed Gen-X

Boomer Echo: The less accomplished, less revolutionary, less artistic generation that is an echo of boomer greatness.

Boomer echo is just a term invented by self-absorbed Boomers. It has recently become popular because Boomers members of the media have made it that way. The issues that Gen-Y types have are really just a result of their parents; lots of over-parenting where it isn’t needed (50 lbs of padding to ride a bike, acting as a defense attorney for their children) and very little parenting where it is needed (a blowjob is sex even if the President said otherwise). It’s sad because there’s a whole generation out there that never lost a game, never faced down a bully and never skinned a knee. Eventually they will face all of those challenges they’ll just do it 20 years later in life. Unfortunately for them the stakes get higher as you move on in life. Make a wrong turn on your bike and you wind up in the bushes, make a wrong turn in a car and you wind up dead.

These definitions are not written in stone and there are definitely exceptions, but I think the general trends are set until Gen-Y proves otherwise. It’s possible; my generation was derided and beaten down by the Boomers. They gave us a hard time when we entered the workforce. Most of that has died off since productivity numbers show Gen-X is making real contributions to the economy. It isn’t Gen-Y’s turn yet (shit it isn’t Gen-X’s turn yet), but when their time comes they’ll find a way to shine just like every other generation has.