Gen X Speaker, Karen McCullough Honors Gen X

[@Troy211]

The only generation to have albums, 8 tracks, cassette tapes, CD'S, MP3's, iPod's and digital downloads. We saw it all!

[@teams3345]

We Boomers sure did.

[@reebee9851]

Actually that was the baby boomers.

[@charlesflannery4610]

To know what life was like without computers, the internet, or cell phones as well as with those things

[@zeelotz9786]

An extremely powerful generation, underestimated and overlooked. Proud to be Generation X.

[@somebodysmom3747]

Me too ❤

[@etude79]

Fellow Gen X here, and one word to sum us up: Survivors if the internet and this new tech falls apart someday, these young generation better have some Gen X friends because we can go back to basics and survive on analog equipment; all the clothes stores are shut down? Oh what is this you say? A sewing machine, well what does it do? Well let me show you. What is this weird looking phone? You mean the rotary phone? here, let me dial and call someone for back up.

[@zeelotz9786]

@@etude79 Absolutely

[@johnmiller5987]

This is like one of awards they never gave me. For obvious reasons

[@EveryDooDarnDiddlyDay]

Boomers are such "show your work" style leaders. Who gives a fuck how I arrived at the end result, THE RESULT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

[@debjonesloyal4190]

The worst was when you waited all day for a song on the radio and the dj talked over the song.

[@hamishreid8791]

And they did it every time! Or played the song and never said what it was called!

[@dalerushton1394]

I hated that ! ( both ). Wolfman Jack was a cool DJ..

[@kidsniffer2654]

I'm so proud to be an X'r, best times growing up, best movies and music.

[@chriskirsten8221]

1971 here, she was spot on in everything she said......late 70s and early 80s were the best time in life ive ever had. Such a different time back then

[@dalerushton1394]

1969, same here, I agree 👍 💯

[@mwfmtnman]

69 here, and the 90s kicked some ass too

[@thenobleandmightybeaver4411]

I have to say as stereotypical Gen Xer who was raised as a latchkey kid to a single working mother I am now grateful my parents left me to my own devices. By the time I graduated from high school and went off to university I was self-sufficient and confident enough to make my way through the world. My parents instilled resiliency in me because they let me fail, let me formulate my own peer relationships and did not come running to my rescue when I screwed up. I am now 43 years old, happily married, rocking my career and financially stable because I have been working my ass off for 20+ years and saving. I have survived 2 massive recessions (laid off and retrained/changed careers as a result of one of them) which has instilled and urgency to remain professionally relevant because it could all change in a minute. I am both personally and professionally fulfilled and couldn't give a lick about what the world in general thinks of me; I know I am capable and I have the credit to back that up.

[@thenobleandmightybeaver4411]

Lord Chanka Yep, we did have access to some amazing music venues. I didn’t do much bowling, but I did live out in the middle of no where. I just remember hitting 16 and my parents giving me a very long leash. I was in school, working and had my own car, so as long as I maintained those things my parents let me do my own thing. My friends were the same.

[@magnificentmuttley154]

@Lord Chanka 👍 I agree. How much freedom you have in childhood & in your teens really gets down to whether your parents (esp a single parent) are/ were paranoid about your safety while you were home without them... In retrospect, the one thing I can see that we took for granted as GenX kids is, growing up in my neighborhood, sure, our parents werent home from work for several hours. But between my sister & I, & other so-called "latchkey kids" just like us, we were never alone. All of us were anything but "latchkey," & we lived very much outdoors. The front door stayed unlocked. We all watched out for one another & helped one another Whether it was some scrape from playing sports or maybe someone got into a fight, we'd be doing first aid. Another kid in the neighborhood fell out of a tree once. He didnt break anything, just bruised up. One of his friends from school called his Mom at work to ask if he should be taken to the hospital. When she learned what happened & knew he was ok, the answer was no. Eventually there were accidents standing on chairs or an accident standing on a ladder, that required real bandaging, not just minor first aid. And a trip for x-rays was necessary to see if there were broken bones. Still, our parents trusted us because they could see that we took care of ourselves In other homes, such as an inner city apartment, I can understand a single Mom or Dad having their children keep themselves locked in at the end of the day. Too much traffic; too many strangers; too much crime. But I have seen alot of paranoid or otherwise overprotective parents who never seemed to trust their children enough to let them out of the house while away at work. When my son & daughter became old enough to look out for themselves, all too often they couldnt get their friends to play outside because as long as their parents werent there, they were required to stay inside 😪 What Ive always known as overprotective or possessive parents are now called "helicopter parents," it seems

[@afc-td8zo]

Amen

[@joescott701]

Proud to be a gen xer. grew up in the 80s playing block tag with the entire neighborhood along with all the main sports. Nintendo was cool but did not dominate our lifes. The 90s were the last great decade but I'm trying to stay hopeful to the future.

[@chrisrob3854]

My God. I'm 40 w a 27 year old woman. Lawd have mercy on my soul. All dystopian movies and books that predicted the future came true

[@samuelplacensia9979]

@@chrisrob3854 🤩

[@hankscorpio6111]

Your not just kidding about the block tag.. It moved on to night games that were fun. One was come to court. Its kind of like hide and seek but when you find someone "using a flashlight" they had to follow you.. Now you could "escape" and run off so long as you weren't seen by the looker and this went on till everyone was found. I was from a small town and the yards were big so that game was a lot of fun.

[@anothersoulintheuniverse]

Gen X here and I love it!!! If I could go back to the old times I would! Everything she said was so right 💕

[@dinamule1119]

45 yr old "slacker" as of this dec and yes I most definitely believe that my work should stay at work.

[@lorettathomas3994]

I'm with you! I would love to go back late '70's, 80's the world was better. Slower.

[@KentKaliber]

I LOVE BEING GENERATION X !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would NEVER trade a minute of it to be younger!

[@RachelLWolfe]

Proud GenX'er! Wouldn't have it any other way. As for our cynicism, I mean... I know we take a lot of crap for being who and what we are, but you have to admit... our sneering distrust of everything turned out to be 100% correct.

[@sliceoflife4220]

Spot on. We saw that the last 3 years

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*Cynics are people who care so much about important things that it makes them down.*

[@RachelLWolfe]

@@hulkhatepunybanner you're not wrong.

[@forgoogletotrack7181]

I'll never be able to shake this cynicism we are known for, nor do I want to. It's our safeguard.

[@RachelLWolfe]

@forgoogletotrack7181 agreed. First line of defense in some cases.

[@afc-td8zo]

53 year old generation X , but also our generation was the last to have an appreciation for what came before us. Yes we were all the things you mentioned but we also are the last truly educated generation .

[@YATESA8]

Yes, which was very useful when the internet started. We could read and write, learned all the other basics, by heart... ...and then the internet started. If you are GenX and jumped on the internet in the early days: You are miles ahead... ..if you are not watching cat movies all the time.

[@osborne9255]

@@YATESA8 Those CAT cables were designed for watching cat video. :-D

[@laurencejohnson8573]

That’s real ish! I appreciate what I learned from the OG’s. They were tough in a way you can’t explain. And their OG’s were even tougher! They embraced struggle and didn’t complain. We owe them an immeasurable amount of respect.

[@shawnwright5893]

I'm 53 also. Hey twin.

[@camillenaar9413]

We really are the chillest generation. And we aint scared of shit!

[@lenoreoak3541]

Correct

[@Brian-zo1ll]

When I was a teen genXer, my friends were my family.

[@dbltzwng484]

Gen Xer here. Last of the generation. Born in 1980. I totally made my own mix tapes . Still very cynical. Have self absorbed boomer parents . Love being a gen Xer

[@chefboyardee4467]

Parents that weren't your friends and mean teachers. I'm grateful for that at this point in my life

[@dalerushton1394]

Yup. My Dad literally told me "I'm not your friend ". The old man was strict. Mom was too, and so were our teachers. If my grades weren't good or I didn't finish my chores, I was in trouble. Now I'm glad they were like that though. We weren't allowed to whine or complain. We had to count our blessings and be grateful for what we had. They weren't too big into self-esteem eitner, to say the least. Feelings for boys weren't even invented yet. Boys didn't cry. Period. At least we tried not to ! Lol 😆 🤣 😂

[@chefboyardee4467]

@@dalerushton1394 mmm hmmmm. If we had a meeting with the teacher, not only was I tag teamed by my mom and the teacher at the school. But I had it waiting for me some more when we got home. That wide leather cowboy belt with my dad's name engraved on it comes to mind. I think he wore it to have a place to keep it when he was ready to wear my seat out with it.

[@SemperGumbi0369]

you forgot to mention that parents & teachers were allies and the goal was to cut the communication between the two at all cost!😆!

[@chefboyardee4467]

@SemperGumbi0369 I also recall the teacher making a fool out of you in front of the whole class if you got disruptive. The attention you got wasn't exactly the kind you were after. Self esteem? Getttt ouuuuta heeere!!

[@SemperGumbi0369]

@@chefboyardee4467self what? lolol And we didn't care as long as there was no phone call home!😉

[@Violet-qf8dr]

I wasn't allowed to watch MTV but, since no one was home, I watched it all the time.

[@colossusforbin5484]

Born in 1967. We grew up in a time when cereal companies had the word 'sugar' in the name of the cereal. Sugar Frosted Flakes. Sugar Pops. Super Sugar Crisp. Sugar Smacks. Not to mention the cigarette vending machines that were accessible by pretty much anyone.

[@SteveAustin.]

I remember those days like yesterday....I was so active that sugar never really affected me ....we didn't have computers then..I remember when i was 15 in 86 I got my first pack of smokes at the gas station vending machine across the street from where I worked as dishwasher....they were $1.25...lol

[@dalerushton1394]

Nothing like a good sugar cereal with cartoons on Saturday mornings ! I used to love getting my Grandpa's cigarettes for him out of the vending machine for him and lighting my Grandma's cigarette for her ! People smoked inside everywhere then, even in the hospital. I miss the 2nd hand smoke. My parents didn't smoke but both my Grandparents on my Mom's side did, and some other relatives did too. Some did, some didn't. Usually it was with their 🚬 ☕ it seemed like. They'd sit around the table talking after they ate desert. I liked it. Grandma smoked from when she was 14 until she died at 88. Grandpa had quit, but he died when I was 13 or 14 of Colon cancer at 68. Sorry, too much information ! Lol, I got carried away reminiscing. Great times !

[@inquisitor4635]

I could down a whole box of Captain Crunch and a gallon of milk during Saturday morning cartoons, then get outside and play "war" with my friends in the tree forts.

[@greatriffishere]

Wow this lady really knows Gen X !! I'm guilty of almost everything she described in this video.

[@DrJ3k4lMrH4d3]

greatriffishere I love her

[@Gearhart_Music]

Except I never put a tape recorder against a radio to bootleg a song. Either we had a boombox or a home stereo (component system) that allowed us to record the audio directly to tape. I recorded off the radio, the CD Player, and Vinyl. It was glorious!

[@nunodasilva5449]

She really got it right on me when she stated that this generation likes to split professional from personal life. Also the part that we were left alone at home. I had to take care of my little brother. There were little to no microwaves, I had to learn how to cook. Computer games and internet were in its infancy. To play I had to create the settings, thus being creative. Oh yes, tv or radio always on when I was at home to listen to rock, grunge, etc

[@niki7997]

Same here...I also had a BIG part in raising my 2 younger brothers. They're 6 & 9 yrs younger than me. That might not seem like a lot now but, for ex., when I was 15 & they were 6 & 9 it seemed like a huge difference. In retrospect, I'm grateful to have had the responsibility (even though that's not how I felt at the time lol). I think it's shaped all 3 of us as adults. Your siblings are the only people in the world that really get you. All the hard times made us closer & we still are. That's what's missing from the younger generations. They were never pushed out of the nest to make you more independent. Also, the world is much scarier today I think. So who am I to say what's right or wrong, I'm not. I do think think that parents hover too much today. We need to find a happy medium

[@RachelLWolfe]

Same. Helped raise my two younger brothers, but the internet wasn't in its infancy... it didn't exist for us. After school snacks for us, helped my brothers with their homework, played board games with them to keep them occupied, read books to them, etc. Usually helped my mom get supper going when she and dad got home. I miss the 80's and 90's. I'd totally go back if I could.

[@MarkAberdeen_author]

1969 here. She nailed it. We turned "whatever" into an emotion and it has served us well. Proud GenX

[@user-lb8do4ew6k]

Proud to be Gen X, but give the Silent Generation their due. Incredible creativity in all fields by those born from the 20's - 42. Baby boomers try to take all their credit. From Jimi Hendrix to Timothy Leary, Vonnegut to Kerouac, Warhol to Ram Dass. The list is huge

[@biogeniclife]

Bradford Maloney I agree. Very true.

[@user-lb8do4ew6k]

sclapione Demographically those people were from a different generation. The boomers gave us a yuppies, disco & the eagles.

[@matthewatwood8641]

My parents were silent generation. My dad was born in '37 and my mom in 1940. I was the only kid I was always the only kid with both a mom and a dad at home.

[@edstar83]

Same born 76. My parents were born during the 30's.

[@edstar83]

@@user-lb8do4ew6k No more different than Gen X is to millennials born in the 80's which isn't very much.

[@mattslupek7988]

Proud to be a Gen-Xer! However, my brother and I didn’t hold the tape player up to the radio. We recorded THROUGH the radio/stereo. Whether it be cassettes or 8-tracks, that’s how we recorded albums off of K-94 back in the 70s and 80s. GEN-XERS RULE!!

[@matthewatwood2581]

We came into this world with wide open eyes. We saw everything. Most of us were thinking for ourselves from way back. We weren't all latch key kids, but one way or another, we knew we were it, and we had to look out out ourselves.

[@down-to-earth-mystery-school]

Working on the cynicism, but damn, the world gives us so much material!

[@courte28]

The best generation on the face on the earth.

[@amechealle5918]

Back in 72 my mom and aunt lived next door to each other. That meant my cousin and I had plenty of time to adventure. We lived in an apt complex that was surrounded by nothing. They were still working on the sewer and water systems so there were plenty of places to explore. One summer there was a construction crew that was cutting down trees. We asked if we could have the trees and the workers told us If we could carry them we could have them. We went home got supplies and started dragging the trees to our favorite spot and made a fort. Best summer in Thousand Oaks hands down! We were always doing projects. I miss the good times of out after breakfast in by dark. Great memories of adventure.

[@jeremyhodge6216]

Everything you said was facts. I'm proud to be a Gen X 'er no matter what 😌👌💯

[@spyralspyder]

Our tape decks were a part of the radio... It was easier than that lol.

[@magnificentmuttley154]

It was terrific fun to find thrown away tape decks, phonographs & hi-fi's & improvise a mixing station. Every once in a while when neighbors bought new furniture or new hi-fi equipment, they just GAVE their old hi-fi's to us. Plus there was even more to look at & buy for a $1 or 2 at weekend garage sales... My stepbrother & me certainly werent whizzes at electronics. Several burned up & shorted out components later we eventually figured it out. No textbooks on electronics. No diagnostic tools. Just wire cutters, a screwdriver, some salvaged RCA connectors, alot of speaker wire, & ALOT of trial & error! We'd hook up the microphones, play some radio in the background, hit "Record" & do comedy spontaneously by assuming & interchanging roles with one another. Every once in a while me & my sister did the same thing. The real kick was after about 30 minutes of clowning, we'd play the tapes back. It was like having our own radio show 📻 🔊 Malcolm McLaren, Sugar Hill Gang, Blondie, Orleans, Cliff Richard, & even Shalamar were playing behind us while we just made up nonsense on the fly. What I'd give to have just ONE of those old tapes we made!

[@Christina-71]

My first tape recorder wasn't, lol.

[@edstar83]

I still have some of my old mixed tapes.

[@YATESA8]

...but the hardcore part of GenX used the tape decks also for copying Commodore64 games. :D

[@richardlepreux8489]

You had to press "record" and "play" at the same time as a failsafe feature to avoid accidentally recording over something important. But if you wanted to make sure that your cassette couldn't be altered, just remove the plastic tabs at the top ridge. There were ywo tabs: one for each side of the tape.

[@brotha-man7]

I miss them mixtapes!!!

[@richardlepreux8489]

@@brotha-man7 By request, I made mixtapes for friends to get their gurlfirends back. I was successful every time. Ah, the power of music!

[@briankearn6991]

If we wanted to record over a store bought prerecorded tape we didn’t like we’d put tape over the holes.

[@YATESA8]

....and we used pencils for....... -but don't tell the new generation! Let's keep it secret!

[@WhirledPublishing]

This is hilarious - and so true - I was a Gen-X middle child - a latchkey kid, living alone from the time I was 12 - until I was 17 - because the economy had collapsed - so my dad took a second job and didn't have the energy to commute round-trip two hours so he stayed in the city. My mom was long gone from the time I was little so I'd had nearly a decade of knowing I was on my own before I actually lived alone - I am over-the-top "creative" - "mixing tapes" in the 80's just like you said - which evolved into me singing in ten languages, with a long list of other highly-evolved talents and skills. I've lived the best life ever because of all the independence I had - in relative safety - which included me being a long-distance bicyclist from the time I was 13 - going wherever I wanted - thank you so much for this.

[@WhirledPublishing]

@@Reach2929 I laugh at my own misfortunes - and feel sorry for the others.

[@WhirledPublishing]

@@Reach2929 An elderly woman told me that taking pity on others is equivalent to climbing on a pedestal to look down on them.

[@WhirledPublishing]

@@Reach2929 Yes, the sexual predators, serial rapists and serial killers are everywhere - we're lied to about all that - just like we've been lied to about politics, economics and religion, healthcare and nutrition, democracy and freedom, justice and equality while the 1% siphon 99% of the world wealth into their control - which includes the CEO's and the corporations, the medical mafia, the corrupt politicians, corrupt lawyers and judges, and so on. It's amazing that we survive at all - they enjoy torturing us - thank you for mentioning the evil incarnate hybrid spawn of satan billionaire overlords and their millionaire minions that control our world, with help from their billions of underlings.

[@k.stacey7389]

Everybody forgets the biggest contribution Gen-X brought to the world. Cup holders. Before we came into buying power in the car market, a cup holder was unheard of. At most you could buy a plastic accessory you had to hang inside your car window. We didn’t stand for such nonsense and demanded cup holders in our cars, we are legends.

[@veronicawest3749]

In this time of great turmoil, I feel that Gen-x was the closest to get it right, we were very tolerant, very understanding to minorities yet, responsible, hard working, and independent. Now I fear much of that progress is lost....

[@KarenMcCullough]

Keep a positive outlook. Gen X is the most resilient of all the generations. And thanks for commenting!

[@tnp1047]

Exactly this. What happened?

[@themaquis62]

She is spot on! Proud to be Gen X!

[@BBQFanNo1]

i'm a Boomer and agree with this. My generation did mess things up seriously. i actually look up to and seriously respect the The G.I. Generation 1901 to 1913, The Greatest Generation 1910 to 1924 and The Silent Generation 1925 to 1945 much more than my own generation.

[@magnificentmuttley154]

Never knew my great-great grandparents (G.I./ WWI). But I miss my G.G. great grandparents, & especially my GenS/ WWII grandparents (esp my paternal grandfather & some of his brothers & sisters, my great aunts & great uncles) more & more with each passing year. My very last elder, my paternal grandmother, died in 2009... They were priceless, hardworking, resourceful, & honest farm folk. When it came to outdoor work, they could literally do circles around me all the way into their 80s. Both of my grandfathers were jacks of all trades. I learned basic engine repairs, complete engine overhaul, brake systems, basic hydraulics, air conditioning & refrigeration, household plumbing (copper & pvc), & carpentry all from working for my maternal grandfather... I cant hold a candle to them. And this world can never be as good as it was without their generation around anymore. God Bless Them All 😪😪

[@edstar83]

I was born in 1976 but my parents were born in the 30's. The Silent Generation.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Don't go around hating.

[@paleamigo8575]

The further you go back, the grittier it gets.

[@ALT_RIGHT]

You all did a fine job. GEN X will be forced to stop the Evil in this country ... BECAUSE WE SEE IT AND DONT LIKE IT. AND WERE KINDA PISSED OFF

[@edvardsans2490]

I'm generation X. I made videos with what I recorded on my cameracoder and I had to edit it in a longer way and then play the music off my stereo and then hand held my cameracoder to record my video with no sound but with the music from the radio all done live. My whole room had to be very quiete in order to make my live , my own music video, with no Instructions or manuals, pure creation and pure genius of my time. Because I didnt have software and I wasnt going to wait , to create art my way. Yes i may have been a loner but i created beautiful things alone. Your welcome, future earthlings!!

[@101skysthelimit]

Mixed tapes? That is so me. I still have some of them. It looks like we're the more sane generation.

[@travisp11]

Those of us that were lucky enough to have a boom box with cassette decks were able to record directly to the tapes which was awesome. Even better, "high speed dubbing" the original Napster, LOL.

[@tiozao8620]

Thank you, dear! The world needs more ppl like you!

[@yx6889]

I'm very thankful to have been a Gen Xer myself, it forced me to be stronger and more independent than I would have been otherwise.

[@cmhughes8057]

All true and she knows me so well. I'm impressed, not everyone gets my generation like she did here.

[@andrewscott6677]

56 years old, very proud to be a gen xer . I was the youngest of five, and we roamed neighborhood all the time. Rode our bikes, went fishing hung out with our friends, build forts in the woods

[@Hideaway904]

Saw a meme that said... GenX, we were 30 @ 10 years old and still 30 @ 50 years old.

[@andrewwright8507]

I'm proud to be a millenial that worked like a gen X. Started working for the forrest service back in 02 as a teen, spent my weekends hiking and shooting anything that didn't require a hunting license. And after graduating from high school i joined the Army in 2007 and did 8 years plus 18 months of combat deplyment OEF. There are a lot of millenials and gen z that give us a bad name but there are those of us who took after Gen X with work ethics like y'all have and don't take handouts. Y'all are the ones who taught us how to be self reliant and how to make a living so thank you!!!!

[@ammj6202]

So I raided my grandma's garage sale for all my uncle's plaid shirts. Grunge was big, and so was the "loser" mantra as a rebellion to the greed, excess, and glamour of the 80's. We needed something real, and we needed "alternative" music. We may have looked gross but she is right about the making of the tapes... To make a tape for someone was to share something of yourself and not just the music. Hell, I had a friend who would pass a blank book to me between classes and we would write to each other that way. Funnier yet, when the Kleenex was gone we had toilet paper to blow our noses on... and then on the roll, we would write sentences to each other and pass the roll back and forth, cramming words in when the space was running out. We spent a LOT of time outside... ran our bicycles through puddles or sat in a tree house at our dead end road just watching the sun set over the field. I remember "the birth" of the internet... I was there for it... and when cell phones became affordable and on trend I refused to get one for years because I didn't see anything wrong with using a pay phone. Even when digital and streaming media were popular and the Blockbusters were dying, I still wanted to rent movies...there was something nostalgic, maybe even cathartic about walking the aisles and looking for the right movie.

[@SouthernSkeptic]

This is funny because I'm a gen xer and I loved the 80s.much more than the 90s. But I may be a tad bit older than you too.

[@RoyalFizzbin]

NFL is rigged Bingo. The only people who prefer the 90s over the 80s didn’t fully experience the 80s.

[@SouthernSkeptic]

@@RoyalFizzbinyep. "WE needed something real" 90 dollar flannel shirts were real as fuck.

[@magnificentmuttley154]

*@AM MJ* 😊👍 You just described my life in the 70s & 80s perfectly. (With the exception of the toilet paper thing. Thats something uniquely personal) One of the things Im most proud of & grateful for his how that we could only withstand staying inside to play Atari for so long. After about an hour someone would say "Who wants to start a soccer game?," "Lets get the rackets & play tennis," or "Let's go swim!" Our life was OUTDOORS. Although labelled "latchkey kids," no one I knew stayed locked in the house until our parents came home. There were enough kids my age in the neighborhood, younger & older, that we all looked out for one another. And the front door stayed UNLOCKED all day, every day 🔓... We took care of our own problems while our parents were away, & they knew it. Our parents trusted us to watch over each other & behave right when we went out in public without them, too. The neighborhood five-&-dime (M.E. Moses stores), Jewel T, the "big" all-indoor mall (Richardson Square), the city park, & the municipal pool, our local creeks & pastures were all examples of places we frequented WITHOUT parental involvement. The more I talk to today's new generations, the more I realize just what incredible freedom we really enjoyed as 70s & 80s children & 'teens

[@elizabethkelly6325]

This is true! Proud to be a Gen X

[@patriciameche9576]

I'm a generation x and that was the best days of my life

[@Wendy-LeeRattenbury]

1967 - yep, parents married young , worked ... I become a computer operator alongside my life as a punk rocker , travelled, wrote poetry, made my fashion uniquely mine , raised 2 sons on my own with the same ideals of freedom. Music is still our passion - proud to say one son plays electric guitar beautifully , a dream I could never accomplish , I still love going to concerts and dancing all night ! Rock on Grandma !

[@DrezdanyWildlife]

Even though I was born and raised in Germany, it was similar over there. We grew up as Punks, and punk rebelled to change society. We grew up with Genesis, Supertramp, ELO, Blondie, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Cure, the Sex Pistols, etc. We rode our bikes everywhere, shopping, working, to clubs on weekends. We typed on IBM electronic typewriters with the ball. We used Telefax at work still. Gosh did I hate Telefax! When one came in, you had to start the damn ribbon all over. And so on and so on… I’m so happy to be Gen X. Wouldn’t have wanted to miss the 70s-90s for the world. And the independent upbringing from my parents made me strong enough to immigrate to the US all on my own at 26.

[@mountaintiger6945]

Yes Millennials, we're watching you. We know your weaknesses, if we need to rise up & put you down, we will. Have no doubt, we are not the Boomers, don't underestimate us, leave us alone & don't phuck up our peace & quiet or we'll be coming for you. And you will experience a force of nature unlike any you've experienced before, we are the Honey Badgers of Generations. Our generation came up with Jason Vorhees, Michel Myers, Freddy Kruger, just for fun.

[@shasan73]

I remember making tapes for for my friends on their birthdays... that and a handmade card....i also remember making my own toys... it is more fun than playing with the store bought ones.... i was a tomboy... but my mom made me wear dresses... pink ones too😖!... so if you can imagine this curly haired girl in a pink dress doing basic parkour at the staircase with all my other cousins.... 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 so much fun...

[@ronaldzent4845]

I'm a Boomer guy,(1953) and geanted, my generation put out alot of great music, and of course, there were two iconic Festivals highlighting it, Monterey Pop ( 1967) and of course, Woodstock ( 1969), but I also think GenX put out some excellent stuff two hands I really like are Toad the wet sprocket and the Gin Blossoms( such a tragedy with Doug Hopkin death) Melissa Etheridge, "Come to my window"( think she is Boomer age). And yes,Grunge with Nirvana, Alice in chains and Soundgarden, to name a few. Think though with the Millennials, the music has not been very good at times. But, there is bad music from every generation to I suppose. It seems like the 90's were really the last decent decade overall for music in general.

[@edstar83]

I was born in 1976 but all my siblings are boomers. My parents were born in the 30's.

[@Stonecrow25]

It's a turn-around jump shot It's everybody jump start It's every generation throws a hero up the pop charts Medicine is magical and magical is art Think of the boy in the bubble And the baby with the baboon heart And I believe These are the days of lasers in the jungle Lasers in the jungle somewhere Staccato signals of constant information A loose affiliation of millionaires And billionaires and baby It's a turn-around jump shot It's everybody jump start It's every generation throws a hero up the pop charts Medicine is magical and magical is art Think of the boy in the bubble And the baby with the baboon heart And I believe These are the days of lasers in the jungle Lasers in the jungle somewhere Staccato signals of constant information A loose affiliation of millionaires And billionaires and baby These are the days of miracle and wonder This is the long distance call The way the camera follows us in slo-mo The way we look to us all, oh yeah

[@MrEliasdl]

Gen X was a musical Renaissance.

[@redstateforever]

I was Laundry Girl from 4th grade on, washed, dried, folded, hung up, put away. My mom told me after I left for college she missed coming home to clean clothes in her closet, lol. I knew my folks needed help, they were working their butts off to buy our necessities, it made me feel good to help out. Great life lesson, having a purpose, making a contribution has rewards. Being a leech, not so much.

[@valeriejoseph4227]

Yep I did the whole family's laundry too. My father messed up my favorite pair of white pants and that was it! No one was allowed to touch my clothes ever again. Loved doing laundry alone in the basement watching the 1st cable TV with the brown box with switches for the channels before we had a remote.

[@frederickdixon5002]

I'm a generation x too we didn't take no crap and we were not weak or woke we kept it 💯 and told the real truth not this sugar coated truth we have today.

[@barbaraxxx615]

Proud to be of the generation X..!!the best generation!

[@MoveInSilence23]

The REAL Greatest Generation. Gen X

[@DrJ3k4lMrH4d3]

Barbara xxx fuck yeah

[@ProfeARios]

I am a Gen X, too. Proud of it.

[@masonnix9566]

@Jaded YMan Yep im also Gen Y born in 1994 and I also Gen X is the best.

[@inertiaforce7846]

Gen X born 1977.

[@danieljames7037]

When I was 6 years old I played my parents vinyle From the Beatles, Carol king, Zeppelin, T Rex and etc. Gen X had the best music. Punk. Metal, Ska, New Wave. Classic Rock , Goth, Industrial, Techno Country, Disco and the birth of Hip Hop. You know this

[@seththomas9105]

As a Gen-Xer (1970) I find it hard to say we did anything THAT great, compared to GI Gen (Great Depression, WWII) or Silent (Korea, Civil Rights, Rock and Roll) but at least we are pragmatic and our cynicism keeps our ego in check; right Boomers? One other point if I may. Ms. McCullough talks about Boomer parents and latch key kids, Boomer mothers at work, etc. My parents were late Silent and It seems that many of my high school classmates had Silent parents. Does this mean there is a sub division of early/late Gen-X as well as other demographics at play such as where in the USA you grew up, urban/rural etc.? A fascinating subject and I found myself agreeing with many of the viewpoints Ms.McCullough presented. Cheers.

[@mattstrathis4328]

This might be describing me. I'm a late gen X who is very aware of the accomplishments of my grandparents generation. They paved the way for the Baby boomers. My Grandma is currently 93 years old.

[@anikadiamond007]

We created tech. Email, search engines, music streaming, social media, is all thanks to us!

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

I am late Gen X raised by Boomers. We’re just getting started in my eyes. We’ve had a hard time getting the previous generation to give us space to lead. Maybe they feel like we didn’t step up. We’re too cool to get our hands dirty clawing our way to the top. We are more tolerant and accepting. My kids are Gen Z - very sensitive and caring and alpha - very logical and pragmatic.

[@DLYChicago]

Gen X is the generation whose parents all got divorced. They also saw corporate America lay off their parents' generation when companies' shipped their jobs overseas, or canabalized businesses for paper.

[@generationxxx7965]

Gen X'er here. Dad and Mom goes to work, me at 6 and my little brother 2 years old are left alone at home.

[@generationxxx7965]

@Saoirse McLeod Yep, I played with my Dad's .22 cal. One time, i accidentally cock and didn't know what to do next. pressed the trigger, lucky it was empty.

[@generationxxx7965]

@Christopher Ryan snowflake

[@generationxxx7965]

@Christopher Ryan from 8am to 5pm work time both my parents are teachers. And NO DIAPERS, we dont use diapers. Hahaha

[@christopherj5780]

Omg yes love our music. Needed this little boost. Thank you.

[@christopherj5780]

And world, youre welcome.

[@mikethemechanic7395]

Born 75. Grew up in the burbs going to private schools. I had every toy I ever wanted. You know what I did not have? Spending time with my parents. I was thrown a Atari 2600 and told to play with my brother and sisters. I was always wrong. I remember my dad would come home from work. All of us kids would want to talk to my dad. He would get mad and tell us. I have to talk to your mom about work for 1 hour. Then you can chat to me. By then it was dinner and homework. When I was 7. On a Saturday. I asked my dad to play with me. He got mad and told my mom to tell us to play with each other. Sundays was football. It was his day. We could not watch TV. He would ignore us. My parents would hire baby sitters. They would go out to eat or to parties. They only took us to pizza or something cheap. By junior high my parents sat all of us kids down. They told us they had to save up overtime for retirement. They would work 6 days a week and we were told to get jobs in HS and they refused to pay for college. I was glad at 18 I joined the Army. I had so much anger at my parents. I was never told anything or showed. I learned the hard way. Fast forward to the age of 32. Got married to my wife I met at 25. We had kids by 36. I made sure my kids would grow up the same way as me except private school. I spend all of my time with my kids. I take my kids to nice restaurants. All adult parties kids are always a part of. It’s funny how baby boomers wanted nothing with their kids. I show my kids how to do things. I take my time with them. At 47. My kids are 9. I am glad I had them later in life. I confronted my dad 6 years ago about being angry at him. My Dad had silent generation Parents. His dad would go to the bar after work. He lived poor and would get his ass kicked. My dad told me when he was 6. He asked for a new bike. His dad took a old bike out of the trash and pained it. My Dad started to cry. I ripped into him. He told me when he had kids. He wanted to provide well. I told him he never spent time with me. Never let me join the Boy Scouts or do anything. I told him I hated him for that. I got no apology. I also kicked he out of the state I lived in. After my dad retired at 62. He moved up next to me and my brothers and sisters. He caused nothing but grief. My wife’s family hated him for the problems he created. My Dad left and I told him. When you get really old. I will not take care of you. My oldest sister decided to do it when it happens. My mom passed away 5 years ago. All of us kids were in her will. My dad changed it so he had all of the money to live on. That was the excuse. I chat with my dad often. I keep it neutral. My dad got married 2 times and cannot seem to sit still. I make sure he sees every FB post of my kids and I going on vacations or spending time together. My brother and sisters tell me he hates it and now regrets what he has done. I hate the Baby boomer generation.

[@torstenscott7571]

I can relate to much of what you said, though it was my mom who was quite the monster. The boomers are such a degenerate and selfish generation.

[@dalerushton1394]

Yea, I can relate somewhat.,in a different way I guess. I think my parents just didn't know any better. Dad thought his job was putting food on the table. Which he did. Mom was more nurturing ( obviously ), but they seem kind of distant, even now. I get all weird around Father's Day. Sometimes I call him. Mom's a lot better in that way. I wasn't abused or anything but I didn't really seem to make a connection like I thought people did. In my case, which wasn't nearly as bad as yours I just made peace with it and forgave them. In my case I really think they did the best they knew how to do at the time. I mostly spent time with my Dad helping him work. I wish we would have done more things together, but he was always working and usually didn't have the time. I think now he wishes he did too. At least that's what I tell myself. We did some things. Wow, this was like a free therapy session. Sorry.

[@du24pont70]

@@dalerushton1394 same here. Never really developed a strong relationship with my parents. Like you, I see it as they did the best they knew how. But were just to busy trying to stay afloat I guess. I enjoyed the freedom though, so it wasn't a big deal to me. Didn't really need to take care of my sibling either though. We were close enough in age that we didn't really need to lookout for each other. She did her own thing and I did mine. I have always felt detached though. Still do. I never considered my parents to be bad parents. They provided. That was all that was necessary for me. As long as I was good and did what I was supposed to, everything was fine. Otherwise, I was lectured, then ignored. Cool by me.

[@jasseppie3873]

The best was the boom boxes. You would record through the radio and to reduce the 1 or 2 seconds it took to actually start recoding you hit record and then pause so that it would not mess up the beginning of the song.

[@a.taylor8294]

Had to leave the mixtape in the recorder to be READY to record that song when it came on!

[@yang-it-yin7002]

Gen X was basically we're at the crossroads of the analog world into the digital world. They were the first generation of video game users and personal computer users. They also were the first generation to absorb music visually with the advent of MTV. And they were the first generation that was able to watch movies again after they longer were showing in theaters since the VCR or video recorder had been invented. This along with the advent of cable became a way of being exposed to a wider worldview. Regardless if you lived in the city, suburbs or away from large population centers you had access to a broader worldview which opened ones imagination to new possibilities. As a Gen X person born in 1970 it is our generation that has given birth to a lot of these millennials and gen z kids so we also may have some blame with some of their undesirable qualities as well.

[@megamlhcf4281]

Yes we hold responsibility for the new generations flaws...but remember that most of us were literally raised by older siblings or ourselves, we had nothing to guide us on how to be a parent because we didn't have active and involved parents. Boomers really developed the money grubbing "me first" culture which has led to a huge downward spiral and landed society in the current crisis situation.

[@YATESA8]

....and we were the first, though not all of genX, to explore the early internet, before it was a regulated, censored mess.

[@JoJoGranum]

Oh I remember those days. So millennials and GenZ thank a GenXer for music mixes. And we’re the MacGyvers .. improvise, fix things up, don’t like it? Change it! Lol I learned how to sew simply because I wanted to make patched punky clothes. And cynicism? Ooh yeah, bring it on! I’m proud to be GenX!

[@Malo-Hombre71]

The only disadvantage us Gen Xers had was when we went out into the work force boomers were still working and had a lot of the good jobs so we had to make do with what we could find. Thats why now we're in our 50's and the jobs we wanted then are now being filled with kids half our age, quiet quiting.

[@robertlee8400]

We as Gen xer,s through caution to the wind & sometimes went to the hospital for it & after we healed up we had a badge of courage ( a scar) to prove that we did indeed do what we said we did & the next time we did it with caution .

[@valeriejoseph4227]

Our local hospital got concerned if they didn't see my brother or myself every few months. My brother a super jock, me a dancer. He was fearless, I never stopped.

[@nowthatsjustducky]

Gen X here myself, in fact, born in the sweet spot for our generation (1968-01-20). My parents weren't Boomers. They were (and are, only one left now) Silent Generation. The Boomers are responsible for the "effing" Millennials. :)

[@jeanniem76]

Tori Amos Little Earthquakes ♡

[@lesleywilcox]

Watching MTV? Dude, I was in college when that came out. We had three channels and they went off at midnight. Vintage 1966 True Gen Xer here

[@valeriejoseph4227]

No you weren't. MTV premiered in 1981. So unless you graduated HS early you are wrong. Maybe you didn't have cable where you grew up. NYC didn't have cable TV until the late '80's.

[@theresahoffman7444]

Absolutely true! I was in charge of my sisters when my mom worked and there was no school. I was about 10 years old and we would watch Frankie Valle and Annette Funicello movies, old shows like The Dick Van Dyke show and I Love Lucy. I would feed my sisters bologna sandwiches and top ramen. We played and watched TV till it was time for our mom to come home. Then, just before she got home we cleaned up the house and put away all evidence of our shenanigans so we wouldn't get in trouble. I was an adult before I ever made it to puberty, responsible for my siblings and the house being cleaned.

[@teams3345]

63 year old Boomer here. I love it. We have seen it all. First color TVs, 8-tracks, CDs, 1st PCs, floppy disk, albums, MTV, movies on disk, digital downloads, bag phones, cell phones, smart phones, AI, NO EVs for me, my new car has an eight inch monitor that is enough for me.

[@Jonsey-lm5sv]

Great vid! You nailed us Gen Xers..spot on!

[@tritiumcat]

Ms. McCullough really did her research. Razorblade candy (isolated incidents), milk carton lost children (doesn't work), Piracy ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), war on drugs (failed), separation work from social life (duh). Excellent work!

[@MrLaloman18]

I'm a late Gen X (1977) and growing in the "GREATEST DECADE EVER the Mighty 80's" was the most magical and out of this world like no other era we Gen X have ever lived! I WILL NEVER TRADE A SECOND OF IT FOR TODAY'S CRAP!!! The smartest Generation of all past 50 years!

[@KerryLuckett]

Yes, I do feel I am creative AND adaptable. I am now one of the main people others turn to for answers at work because I know how to do more than one thing. And I’m never the oldest person in the room. So there!

[@rhondascraftobsessions5817]

We would cuss out Kasey Kasem for breaking into a song we were recording. Wolfman Jack was our hero, and Paul Harvey told us, "The Rest of the Story".

[@apet9859]

Gen X has become the hybrid generation; we still know how analog worked and are now fluent in digital as well. Plus the freedom to roam was incredible. Forever grateful to be born in the late 70's, becuz the 80s were amazing and 90s ruled.

[@donadavis1178]

Got home from school had to cook supper do my homework and yes i blasted my music all through the house! I had my bicycle and my 2 feet i did not need uber😂

[@7SideWays]

Weird to not be ignored, but thank you for doing the research and taking us down memory lane.

[@cyberprompt]

I literally started making "mix tapes" just by putting a tape recorder next to the radio and recording. That evolved substantially as I moved onto DJ equipment. but you know what? that crappy recording today would make me smile. songs starting late, cut off too early. it's the imperfections that equate to life's flavor. Analog is Dialog.

[@jeanniem76]

God I miss the 90s

[@denisewhite11385]

52 and a proud gen Xer

[@SteveAustin.]

Ditto...Im 48 and am thankful for my experiences as an X'er. ...good and bad...

[@jonathanrice1070]

We’re on opposite ends of the same generation! 40, here!

[@milivanili2603]

I made mixed tapes with a double tape, btw we pressed play and recording because that's how it works. I miss the days we didn't have these cellphones that invade owr lives i mean i do love the comfort of it but the constant watsapp it driving me nuts thats the only thing i miss is a bit of privacy and being lost for hours and ppl not constantly hounding you on the phone besides that i like these times much more

[@ThrashLawPatentsAndTMs]

I never understood (and still do not understand) the "slacker" slur. The Xers I know out-hustle others, and do it without whining.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

As Joe Walsh said We're Anolog People Living in a Digital World.

[@lizrock1442]

1960 here, I refuse to belong to the boomers, I totally identify with GENX and proud of it.

[@Millennialbybirthgexbyheart]

Gen Y born in 95 here, and you won't believe how much I wish I was gen X.

[@larryhayton154]

Wish i still had those tapes..

[@MrEliasdl]

As a Gen Xer I always made my mix tape from the top 100 countdown on New Years Eve. Power 106, Kiss FM, and KROQ

[@dalerushton1394]

Yup !:KROQ fm ! 👍

[@kimlr-herring]

KROQ, Pa Sa De Na...✌️💙 😊

[@dave23024]

That was incredible. Spot on!

[@tomtom7734]

45, proud to be a baby of 79, Gen x all the way.

[@darlenegattus8190]

Love her, my generation ❤

[@niki7997]

It's nice just to be recognized, as a Gen-Xer. We don't get a lot of that.I think most Millenial's & Centenial's (Gen-Y & Gen-Zers) assume if you're not one of them then you're a Boomer. I'm not saying there's anything wrong w/Boomers (my mom was one) it's just annoying. If your name was "John" & people kept calling you "Bill" you wouldn't like it, right? I'm more than happy that my generation stays out of the back & forth, for the most part. But, ya know, it's nice to be acknowledged. It's also refreshing to hear a point of view from somebody who isn't knocking others down to build someone else up. Focusing on our similarities & giving credit where credit is due. Older generations tend to minimize the contributions & opinions of the younger generations. People think they don't know what hard or difficult is. But what I considered difficult might not be the same for you, everyone has a new set of obstacles. I think if we all stopped arguing over who's ideas are better or more valid, & concentrated on each generations strong suites we could be happier & more productive.

[@vaderladyl]

Yes annoys the heck out of me, not because o boomers but because of the ignorance of not knowing the generations' order and using boomer as an insult.

[@niki7997]

@@vaderladyl Sad & true...there are far too many "right-fighters" in this world & not enough "team players"

[@vaderladyl]

@@niki7997 Yes too many right fighters and me,me ,me attitudes but no one wants to make the effort to be a team player so we can find a happy medium for everyone once and for all.

[@obsoletepowercorrupts]

The mix-tape is only part of the music especially if mentioning an Apple II computer. MIDI music was being made at home and continued so that less than a decade after that you would have Atari ST and Commodore Amiga MIDI music and Mod-Tracker music. This was the basis of pretty much all computer game (video game) music on the Amiga (1985 onwards) which would then end up on Sega Genesis-Megadrive and SNES (which the went onto be Playstation by Sony). Many people think they were not the people who experienced Mod-Tracker music and then the recognise the music from video games and realise that is what it was. The copyright-infringement of mixtapes was also in games as in _"don't copy that floppy"_ and it was the demoscene who cracked those games such as the team "Chrionics" (amongst multiple teams), a member of whom was Jesper Kyd who then made Hitman _(a famous video game still today)_ and put a Hungarian Orchestra as the music on the game's Playstation CDROM. So he was of the mod-tracker music scene in Amiga. Modtracker music was also part of the Rave music scene but that is more a fork. you'd create a modtracker song (that could be minutes or hours in length) on a single 3.5inch floppy disk and pass a copy to a friend.

[@debbieolson4287]

Proud to be Gen X

[@Love32377]

FINALLY We get some recognition ❤

[@PMV67]

We lived and we learned how to survive every other generation will never understand. ❤❤❤❤

[@Abundanthealthcoach]

Not latchkey but I honestly can’t remember my parents ever giving me direction other than lots of schooling. Had the credit card at 11- driving at 13- hustling side jobs n moved out at 17- never came back

[@robertbruce7772]

I am a Xer, but not into tooting my own horn. The music back then was great, a lot of diversity, as well. I liked anything from the Cure to Def Leppard and anything in between. I don't toot my horn because there is an obvious downward trend that happened with the Silent Generation that really picked up steam going forward. Sure Xers were the last generation to actually play outside, first latchkey generation, etc, but we didn't do anything to reverse this trend, we just went along with it. We really got the hook-up culture going in the real early 90's, and sure embraced materialism. Our best attribute was that we were a lot more self reliant than our successor generations. Overall Xers have stuff to hang out hat on, but we seemed to just go along with the program.

[@debjonesloyal4190]

The most frightening thing was the A.I.D.S adverts in the U.K. It put me off having sex for years.

[@valeriejoseph4227]

Me too. I thought AIDS would always be a death sentence. Lost many friends.

[@DrJ3k4lMrH4d3]

I miss MTV

[@anothersoulintheuniverse]

Damien Rick Umali The “good” MTV. And VH1 also!

[@TSquared2001]

......that actually played music

[@koby8251]

I think she gave a freebie to the Millenials when she mentioned Uber...sorry Millenials...Travis Kalanick is a Gen Xer...born in 1976. We even got Google, SpaceX, Tesla, Tupac, Biggie, Eminem, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, AIC, Foo Fighters and the list goes on.... who u got Millenials...you got Zuckerberg (thanks for social media...its workin out great)....lol. Oh wait we even invented lol...man GenX is awesome.