We’re the ones you ask about new cell phones, mp3 players, laptops and game consoles. Some of us are so gizmo-geeky, we could make livings as gadget consultants. We’re used to having anything and we demand everything, and we aren’t about to apologize for it.

But it won’t be all fun and games forever for us. Gen-Xers, the group that built the gadgets, toys, gizmos and websites that the we enjoy, have very little respect for the indulgent ideologies of our group. And why should they? Our predecessors put in the work to develop the luxuries we take for granted, and what do we have to show for ourselves?

We are consumers, not creators. We expect everything delivered on a silver platter with no regard for how it got there. We’re happy to be the most linked-in internet users, wasting countless hours on Facebook, Youtube and AIM, but we aren’t interested in becoming involved in developing that which we can’t go without.

For our lackadaisical lifestyles, we are disdained by Generation X. We might be able to continue consuming the creations of our forerunners, but at what point will we get involved and make something of ourselves?

Living off the fat of the land only works when there’s lots of fat to be had. Now entering an economic recession, our generation can look forward to a few harsh realities. Jobs won’t come easy, and money won’t go far. That means not upgrading to the latest and the greatest cell phone, or trading in old computers for new ones. There aren’t many handouts in the real world for those who don’t make something of themselves.

We think Bachelor’s degrees are our tickets to white-picket fences and Cape Cod windows. Education is the only thing we’ve ever known; just the thought of responsible adulthood is surreal. What will it take for us to make a name for ourselves other than users and abusers? Maybe the tried and true school method of waiting until the last possible minute before applying ourselves will work one last time…but chances are slim.

We don’t like being categorized and marginalized, but we haven’t earned anything else. Maybe Generation Y means generation ‘Youth.’ Will we ever grow up?

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Entry was posted on Friday, June 6th, 2008 at 10:21 pm under Technology, YouTube.

Read more entries by Triston McIntyre.
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