Each generation tends to think that its taste in music, art, and culture, as well as its attitudes and values, are ‘just right’ while those that came before and after them got it a tad wrong. But it’s completely natural to think like that and feel nostalgic for the ‘good old days’ when the world around you continues to shift and change in unpredictable ways. Everyone does it.
If you want to take a trip down memory late or see what the world looked like before, Bored Panda has collected some of the most relatable and nostalgic posts and memes about life as a member of Generation X. Scroll down to enjoy the pics, compiled from all over the internet, and don't forget to upvote the ones that you enjoyed the most!
Bored Panda reached out to Glenn Geher, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz and a published author, for his thoughts on generational divides. He shed some light on how older and younger generations can find common ground despite their differences, as well as how to stay adaptable in the modern world. You'll find our full interview with Dr. Geher below!
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#2 This Goes Here
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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.
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#6 That Was Some Hard Velcro
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"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."
#7 Look At All These Text Messages
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#9 At One Point In My Early Childhood, I Had High Aspirations To Be A Doctor
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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.
#10 Can I Get An Amen
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#11 The Fan That Wouldn't Die
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#12 I Was At Least Lucky Enough To Get One Or Two Books Out Of Each Order
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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."
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#14 I Remember Many Summer Days Having Picnic Parties In Back Yard With This
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#15 This Is Where You Found The Important People Back In The Day
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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).
#16 Lmao Yep
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#17 Who Else Remembers The Wooden Calendars? Pretty Sure My Mom Had This Exact One
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#18 Who Can Still Taste The Can?
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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 Omg This Brings Back Memories!! I Loved Popcorn Out Of This
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#20 This Sat On The Top Of So Many Tvs When I Was Young! Anyone Else Remember These Fiber Optic Thingies??
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#21 Hello, Fellow Old People
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Statista reports that around 66 million Americans are members of Gen X. In 2021, they numbered around 65.8 million people, and it’s estimated that this will drop to 63.9 million in 2028.
Generally, the attitude is that baby boomers and Gen X had things easy in terms of employment and being able to easily afford property, which are huge pain points for millennials, zoomers, and older members of Gen A.
The reality isn’t so straightforward, though. It's far more nuanced.
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#24 Great Scott!!! #iykyk
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CNN reports that many members of Generation X, the oldest of which are within a decade of retirement, might run out of money after exiting the labor market. As per CNN, 45% of US households risk falling short financially if they retire by the age of 65, and 54% if they decide to retire at 62.
“The shift from defined-benefit pensions to defined-contribution plans left baby boomers and Gen X with less time to accumulate savings,” researchers from Morningstar’s Center for Retirement and Policy Studies explain. According to them, there is a retirement crisis.
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#27 I Learned Early On
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Nostalgia marketing is a big driver in business, no matter what generation you’re from. It’s a popular way to sell products (from clothes and toys to technology and food items) that were popular two to three decades ago. The BBC reports that consumers tend to spend more money on brands that evoke nostalgia.
“You don't have to dig through an attic. Content from the last few decades, and even before, is everywhere and so easily remixed,” says the executive strategy director at Brooklyn-based branding firm Red Antler, Liz Juusol. In other words, anything and everything can become content for nostalgia products and content because it's so easily accessible these days.
#28 Jan 10, 1984, Wendy’s Aired Its First ‘Where’s The Beef?’ Commercial
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#29 Laying On The Kitchen Floor Talking About Friday Plans... Ours Was Yellow
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#30 When A Genx Is Put In Charge Of Hr
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On the other hand, Krystine Batcho, a professor at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, notes that nostalgia may be less linked to timing and more related to people’s feelings about the difference between the present and the past.
If you feel like something’s missing, you can feel nostalgic, no matter if that thing disappeared “two months ago, two years ago, or 50 years ago.”
What generation are you a member of? What would you say perfectly defines your generation? What are your attitudes toward other gens? Do we have any members of Gen X reading this today?
We’d love to hear from you! Let us know what you think about the posts featured here today, and tell us what you miss the most about the past.
#31 Who Remembers. Mystery Science Theater 3000
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#32 Who Else Remembers Traveling With These
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#33 Always The Bathroom Mirror Selfie
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#35 They Were Warm
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#36 We Are Highly Attractive
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#40 Nair
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#41 Loved Him
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#42 Not Sure If These Are Still A Thing. I've Had These Pencil Grips A Long Time (30+ Years)
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#45 Say Hello To An Old Friend
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#46 This Was My Second Computer Upgrade. My First Computer Was The Vic-20
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#47 So- What Am I Watching? 😎 Yes, I’m Serious
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#48 I Had Quite The Collection Of These Back In The Day. Iykyk
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#49 I Know Good And Well Some Of You Had One Of These
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#50 Yep
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#51 I’ve Got A Pen Pal Who Has Spoiled Me With Awesome Stickers, Cards And Fun Wash Tape
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#52 They Were The Absolute Best
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#53 This Is Our First Sloppy Joe Night With The Kids..... And It Was Good, Very Good
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#55 Who Had A Flowbee?
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#56 Perfect Snowball Snow. Made Just The Way Gen-X Prefers Them, Hard As A Baseball
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#57 How Many Of You Enjoyed This?
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#58 Gt Bmx
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#59 70s Style, I Like It
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#60 Who Had One Besides Me?
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#61 Around 1976, My Cousin Had A Pulsar And Hypnos Figure. Since You Could See Their Internal Organs Complete With Pumping Blood, They Were Kind Of Creepy
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#62 More Like Ludicrous Speed
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#63 You're Welcome
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#64 Iykyk
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#65 Omg! I Like Had Every Color Of The Freaking Rainbow
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#66 Best $2 Find Today!
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#67 Taking About Home Computers, Did Anyone Have This One? It Was All My Family Could Afford But I Loved It
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#68 How Many Of You Had One Of These?
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#69 If You Remember This It’s Because This Scene Has Stuck With You Since The First Time You Saw It
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#70 Who Had These?
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#71 70s Chopper Bicycle
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#72 When You Buy The DVD Version Of Different Strokes From Temu
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#73 Take Your Pick
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#74 Core Memory Unlocked
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#75 Did Anyone Else Have These Blankets? Indestructible! Still Have 2
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#76 What's In Yours?
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#77 Clearly Marketing Done By Genx
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#78 Hours Of Annoying My Sisters Fun
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#79 Came Out In 1975
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