Younger Generation: Do We Get Them?

"When he talks my brain screams out this song...

Hello I don't understand you won't you tell me your name
Hello I don't understand you why don't you get in the game"

Dude!  I hope there are not too many other cats like you out there...especially in management positions! 

Daniel Ruth, columnist for The Tampa Tribune, writes an article  about college students and the Facebook  phenomenon.  Judging from Mr. Ruth's picture, his origin can be traced to the Baby Boomer years, just like mine.  Judging from Daniel's discourse, his mind is still there.  I merely state this as an observation, not a slam.  Daniel asks a class of college students that he has been asked to teach:

"Wait a minute here.  Let me see if I have this straight.  You create an online profile of yourself for total strangers to read and then get in touch with you?  And why would anyone do that?"

Now, as a parent of a generation Y'er who has created a My Space account in stealth mode, I can somewhat relate.  But as old foggies who deal with younger folks and might actually remember that Sunday night in February of 1964, we need to understand why the connected generation feels the way they do about Facebook, My Space, other entities; and why they do do the things that they do.

Personally, I love the spirit of generation X & Y!  I love their sense of adventure;  I love their sense of connection;  I love their sense of expression;  I love their unwillingness to robotically do as their told (don't tell my girls this though);    I love their determination to find a better way;  I love their propensity to embrace experience;  And I love their desire to make a difference.

Kind of hard not to notice that I've been talking about the connected generation lately.  I can't help it.  Lisa Johnson made me do it!  I am reading Lisa's book Mind Your X's and Y's and couldn't wait to finish it before talking about it. 

I suspect that Daniel Ruth is more tuned in than what we (I) have deduced from his article.  I also suspect though, that a whole lot of folks born prior to 1964 and have read Daniel's piece are relating to; "why do these young people do what they do?"  And this concerns me.

Comments

[Debra Estep]

What is the difference between Facebook and MySpace folks
and Mr Ruth who writes articles for 'total strangers to read' ?
(The site also lists his email address)

The way I see it, both are expressing themselves to the world in hopes of
making a connection. The difference, well..... maybe a paycheck.

"His mind is still there" ...
indeed it is... YIKS !

[dave]

I suspect that you are right Deb...in hopes of entertainment.