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Boomers
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Boomers |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan 
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. http://www.illinoispoets.org/poems0404.htm#Boomers This poem has bothered me since reading. In the context that he is speaking in, Have we, the Boomers, done more harm than good? John . |
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moondogz Member
since 2007-05-01
Posts 397Great White North |
Ha, ha! I thought Todd Possehl's poem was quite good...of course we know not what the Toddster has done to make this world a better place...he may simply see the glass as half full. [Edit - Profanity removed - Ron] I don't feel guilty about my contribution, miniscule as it was, like everyone else, I did my best. moon. [This message has been edited by Ron (09-28-2007 07:22 PM).] |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
One thing about Boomers always remains constant: Your incessant concern over your significance as a groupl |
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moondogz Member
since 2007-05-01
Posts 397Great White North |
Brad, I think this "incessant concern" you speak of is mostly a media fabrication. I work with at least two dozen so called boomers, and have since 1980, and have never once heard any of them agonize over their impact on the state of humanity. moon. |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Fair enough. Personally, I was thinking of a specific Boomer academic I met once. Can we say classic narcissist? On the other hand, it could just be the media's endless fascination with itself. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Your incessant concern over your significance as a group Interesting outlook, Brad. I admit that I, myself, am a boomer but I've never thought about the significance of that one way or another. It has, however, been an important group,just by where it falls into history. When you look at life in 1950 and life today, everything that has occurred has occurred in the "boomer" generation...tv, the birth of rock&roll, computers, moon landings, the greatest technological advances in history, artificial hearts, the list goes on and on. Boomers were the army in Viet Nam. Does all of this make boomers extra-special? No, it just makes them the people that were born at the time the country was entering it's most productive age. There was one Wall Street type who wrote a book called "Following the Boomers" (I think)in which he became rich by simply investing in areas depending on the age of the boomers. He followed them all the way from school to getting jobs, to having babies in their twenties, to buying houses in their thirties, to vacation and travel, to investing and saving for their retirement in their late 40's and fifties.....he had it all mapped out and bought stocks in companies that were involved with whatever the boomers would be doing at that particular time in their lives. It was pretty interesting and ingenious. Anyone who would beat their chest over their boomer status is off the wall....but ignoring the importance of their influence on the country in all aspects of society and technology would be equally foolish. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
BTW, John, I don't see why that poem should bother you at all. His words are, at best, insignificant and speak nothing of the generation. |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
. "the ones who have now put their kids through college without confession, without principle for that powerful piece of parchment which allows them to see how many garage doors can be affixed to a large suburban dwelling -- " Mike, That certainly bothered me. And: "the ones who frequent pharmacies and rent video after video to escape the shock of a dead squirrel raked from an auburn sea of a million fallen leaves" suggests an ongoing inability to deal with realities. John . |
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moondogz Member
since 2007-05-01
Posts 397Great White North |
[This message has been edited by moondogz (09-29-2007 12:05 AM).] |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
I don't know about that. It's not money so much as feeling like you're living through debates that happened forty years ago. There were times (and to be fair only sometimes) during the whole Clinton, Kerry, Bush debates that I felt like we weren't really talking about 'now' but fighting over the final, excuse me, epitaph of that generation (Vietnam, Civil Rights, etc.). And not just here, of course, all over the place. There were times like it seemed Boomers were fighting with each other over their legacy. Mike, As the largest generation, I agree that it would be foolish to ignore their significance, but none of the things you mention actually got started by Boomers. You were there, but not the instigators. Again to be fair, the scientific, technological, and cultural significance of the Boomer generation has yet to be fully mapped (You guys aren't dead yet.  )But one thing is clear: Great music! |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Thank you, moon. No thread here would be complete without someone working in a Bush bash, regardless of the topic. Ya done good. You got it, Brad...great music! The rest is just...the rest!  |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
. The Boomers make up almost 30% of the American population. How do you ignore them and their influence? . |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
But it's a clearly divided 30%. And in that sense, you're pretty much like the rest of us. The difference, and this is only an impression, is that you seem to fighting for the banner of the whole generation. |
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moondogz Member
since 2007-05-01
Posts 397Great White North |
[This message has been edited by moondogz (09-29-2007 12:05 AM).] |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Brad, we're not pretty much like the rest of you...we are exactly like the rest of you. The only thing that made us different is when we were born. We were born right after the last world war (was that one the war to end all wars or was that WW1?), which made it a real BOOM with all of the celebrations, festivities, and return to normalcy. yes, they have named other generations since ours - the x's, y's and whatevers, but they do not have the explosive starting point we did or the level of cohesion. we were part of school integration and the end of black/while water fountains. We screamed when Elvis came along and then went nuts over the Beatles and Stones. We were flower power and Woodstock and the "beat" generation. We were "Leave it to Beaver" and "ozzie and Harriet" instead of Fear Factor and The Batchelor. We were in our teens in JFK's Camelot. So what, though? As you correctly stated, we are not all dead yet. When we are, the generation will go the way of all generations. Does anyone talk about the generation that grew up during the Great Depression? How about the generation of the Roaring Twenties (minus Gatsby?) The generation that tamed the West? There have been many impressive generations and, once they are gone, they are gone and whatever current generation exists at the time is THE generation. Such is life. The baby boomers are singing their swan song...and why not? It's been one hell of a ride. |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
This may be one of the few moments where Mike and I and Andrew Sullivan agree: quote: I have no idea how to say 'gag me, dude' with a straight face, but it seems appropriate here. And I'm not under 40. |
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moondogz Member
since 2007-05-01
Posts 397Great White North |
I'm curious as to why Ron edited my "offensive" words and yet leaves other "offences" unchallenged? moon. |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
moondogz, Like what? |
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moondogz Member
since 2007-05-01
Posts 397Great White North |
The last sentence of Balladeer's last post on this thread contains a word (that means the opposite of Heaven) that when I used it was deemed offensive....just wondering why someone else gets to use "colourful" language and I can't. moon. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Moondog...certain words are allowed. Certain other words, are not. Even interpretations of them, aren't allowed. Enough said. ~*~ It is interesting that only last evening I watched the CNN report on the first of several series of past presidents. Even though I was just a baby, it was President Eisenhower that adopted the real first use of television to "campaign" and make himself known in that medium to all of the American public that could at that time, own a television. And let me tell you - not everyone could. What the WWII decade, and those before them, gave to the Boomers was the seed of ideas, and it just happened that our generation took them [even while riding imaginary horses into cowboy scenarios] and made something of them. We used our imaginations in ways that not even our fellow classmate could have comprehended...unless they were our closest friend at the time. One of the more remarkable thing about the Boomers is that we also became more flexible in our thinking. NO, I never did drugs, so I'm not that flexible. But I AM flexible enough to realize that being open-minded is something that only a few decades ago, was not something that was done on a large scale. It's one of the reasons I like the movie, "Remember the Titans" so much. It was the beginning of a new future for all kinds of people who had the imagination, an idea that we could all live together in one world. John, I would surmise you have already decided whether or not you did more harm than good in your lifetime to this world. For myself, I'm not done giving my best, yet. |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
Sunshine Personally I am very thankful to be a Boomer. Yet being that, I am willing to acknowledge that for a general there may have been harm. There was an article in Time or Newsweek some many years ago that pointed out as fact that most people need a general paradigm for a sense of success, in the absence of which in trying to be “individual” they do more harm to themselves than good. John |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
quote: Colorful? Your own metaphor, I think, recognizes that words aren't either black or white, but come in vary shades of color. Obviously I can't be very specific (there's a thread in Grok This you might read, though), but generally speaking, moon, any time you use a human bodily function as a metaphor you're probably getting pretty close to the wrong end of the color wheel? You don't have to just guess, though. If you want to use a word, moon, actually use it instead of trying to hide it behind abbreviations or crude misspellings. The software will tell you if it needs to be edited. If you don't feel comfortable using the actual word in public, that should probably tell you something, too? Let's get back to the topic now . . . |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
Let's get back to the impact of 70 million Boomers winking out shall we? |
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moondogz Member
since 2007-05-01
Posts 397Great White North |
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Apparently, I'm not alone. Sullivan again: quote: Let's see if I can stir things up a little: When will you guys grow up? |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Why? What's the hurry? If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
When will you guys grow up? Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional. I choose not to exercise that option  |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Besides it's never too late for a good childhood!  |
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TomMark Member Elite
since 2007-07-27
Posts 2133LA,CA |
Boomers, who was born between 1946 - 1964, I say, a confused generation. They knew WW2 made US a very strong and significant country. But did they wonder why there was big struggle in Korean War and a loss in Vietnam war? Winning the "cold" war brought the Berlin Wall down but there comes out a Euro. And old values and new philosophies and some, do not even want to grow up.. I'll see how politicians get their serious votes...which means that their golden time will be here..or I am wrong at all? |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
TomMark, Well, speaking as one who lipped off about not being in a hurry to grow up, I can tell you it wouldn't hurt to lighten up a little. It's always easy to point the finger at something or someone else - but the truth is we're all in this together and we've all contributed to where we're at. It's just that some thought being disinterested relieved them of any responsibility. Turns out everyone is human. Turns out everybody makes mistakes. Turns out everybody has a skeleton or more in their closet. So if nobody is left to throw the first stone then I guess that means we probably ought to own where we've arrived and recognize we gotta accept the good with the bad. Because we aren't likely to experience a perfect here here 'cause this ain't heaven, but for now it's as close as we can get.Peace... |
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Kalle Member
since 2007-10-15
Posts 89Finland |
manifold opinions wag eon the subject |
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TomMark Member Elite
since 2007-07-27
Posts 2133LA,CA |
Dear Larry C, I agree totally with you!! Each generation has different life experience. I see no difference between Boomers and 49ers. |
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oceanvu2 Senior Member
since 2007-02-24
Posts 1066Santa Monica, California, USA |
Born in 1944, at the tail end of one generation and the very beginning of another, I think I was a Beat-Boomer. The arguments were still more interesting than those of Boom-Boxers. Except for the one about Ayn Rand. Personally, I intend to grow up on Wednesday, and expect cards. Jimbeaux |
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TomMark Member Elite
since 2007-07-27
Posts 2133LA,CA |
I think that the generation being through the Great Depression and WW2 are more down to earth and they built the platform where the boomers are standing on.  |
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