I’m pretty sure the Boomers invented the term out of guilt when their parents started dying.
This seems to be the case. I withdraw my comments about “The Greatest Generation”. OK, Boomer?
The biggest pusher of the “greatest generation” bullshit was Tom Brokaw, who was at the tail end of that generation or a pre-boomer at least, being born in 1940.
Plus, there was no real pushback.
Did Brokaw originate the term? I know he at least popularized it, with his book by that title.
Nah, 1940 is way too late. The defining characteristic of that generation is that they fought in World War II (and maybe also that they lived through the Great Depression), which someone born in 1940 would have been too young to do.
But definitely not a boomer.
I think the '27-'45 generation is called the “Silent Generation”.
(Just checked Wikipedia, and they call it '28-'45.)
Interestingly enough for a generation dubbed “silent”, they were the main group leading those activities that are associated with Boomers, such as the civil rights movement, the rise of rock & roll, and women’s and gay liberation. Boomers grew up with them, so the turmoil associated with with them was around in their formative years, but they were too young to be the pioneers of those movements.
Is there a tendency to lionize the previous generation? Brokaw was a Silent. Though I don’t know of many Xers that extol the Boomers.
ETA: sorry for the hijack.
There is if there’s money to be made.
Trivia question: Which U.S. president is the only one born as part of the “Silent Generation”? Joe Biden
While now completely off-track, I’m amused that this thread is running neck and neck with the 162-post thread about all the new music that older listeners have discovered and want to share.
“New music is DEAD! Dead, I say!”
“Hey, check out these three new songs from last year I just discovered and really like!”
Unless it is bringing in phat staxx, it doesn’t count.
Seriously. each Top 40 song should generate generational wealth for the artists.