Bob Hawes |
Wednesday, 30 April 2008 6:00 AM |
The anecdotal, statistical and social evidence proffered on the debate about the generation divide has been recounted in popular media, at dinner parties, pub talk, staff review sessions and so on, time and time again. Whatever the objective or clinical out-take on the generation debate, and whatever the definition of the age bands, it’s interesting to observe how these groupings have made it convenient to categorise behavioural characteristics. The story lines and themes that develop have a ring of familiarity.
Here’s my take on it so far.
The pre-war crowd, now all aged over 60 and numbering about 3.4 million, is shrinking at a fast rate. They have done their bit in the work stakes. They are our retirees shifting about the place in Winnebago style motor homes, on motor bikes, sea or tree changing in the accommodation context. They have a sense that everything shouldn’t be so hard. They have seen it all – depression, wars, Menzies and the rest. For most, technology is too hard – all a bit of a fad. It’s not how things were done in their day. The Cat Stevens song Father and Son says it all.
Next is the lot that seemed to start the debate – the baby boomers. There are over four million of them, with the bulk aged between 50 and 60. They see themselves as the true leaders, the portals of wisdom. Their life experience, invariably self described as tough, has witnessed cyclical change but somehow perversely, it’s deemed perfect, like having mixed good and bad, innocence and experience and they want things to stay that way. Why can’t those that follow see that, they muse? But to those that follow, things aren’t the same. The rules have changed and the baby boomers have a lot to answer for.
Generation X number 4.3 million or so and have zoomed past 30 years-old. They are flexing their muscles, although they haven’t had it too easy either. They have witnessed the boom to bust sequence, prosperity to recession and back again – the dreaded economic cycle. However, for many Xs, things are often just beyond reach and they grow impatient, doing things new ways. The baby boomers have crammed them for space; blocked their way. Boomer way is not the only way – and never mind if it doesn’t work out, there’s the family fortune to inherit.
Generation Y, the younger ones in the 15-30 age bracket at approximately 3.9 million, are the stay-at-home generation. They have well and truly sprouted, yet some behaviour patterns suggest they refuse to buckle down to the task and choose to do things only their way and only when they feel like it. They risk destabilising entire economies, or so we’re told. They’re difficult to motivate; either won’t sit still or won’t move; lack the exposure to TV shows like Hey Hey it’s Saturday and Seinfeld and instead crave reality TV experiences. Technology and their contact with it, of course, is to blame. The prodigy successors of Walkmans (invented by baby boomers) have a lot to answer for!
Generation Z, so far a batch of around 3.9 million, are yet to really get past their teens. Their parents, mostly Xs, cram them for a good education. The Zs are emerging as ultimate consumers. Of course you need a mobile phone, Ipod, DS, Wii, i-toy, lap top, broadband and overseas holiday by the time you’re 10! Well why not if mum and dad want to spend their money that way? In reality, the Z jelly isn’t properly set so it’s difficult to tell the true damage they will reap. However, there will be a price to pay for entertainment driven by technology and virtual continuous after school experiences!
Emerging through these characteristics is the notion that every other generation has it easier than another. It’s shades of the Monty Python Yorkshire men sketch – you know “you were lucky” and “luxury” and having to “wake up before yea went to sleep” – all part of life and spoken of course in thick Yorkshire accents. However, the converse to this ‘truism’ is as old as life itself.
That is, the ‘universal’ belief within each generation that, not only is there after burn from the previous generation, but if their own lot had been in charge of things when the former had the reins, life would have been so much better. The lyrics to the Mike and The Mechanics song The Living Years reflects “every generation blames the one before and all of their frustrations come beating on your door” captures a part of this sentiment in a wider context than why the song was written, but I’m sure you all comprehend.
Understanding the underlying motives and structure of the generations gives us fuel to plan economies and adjust to consumer fashions. As property people, this translates to different forms of accommodation and floor space – making a product the market will actually want.
As a society though, generational differences seem stressful. They are a barrier to those seeking to achieve homogenised outcomes. Ultimately, we all still have our own definitions of nirvana – we sometimes don’t want to know about anyone else’s!
And as each of us reminisce and speak about what was, should or might have been the last words go to the Python Yorkshire men: “just try and tell that to the kids these days and they just won’t believe you.”
Bob Hawes is development partner at Buildev and chairs the Property Council of Australia’s Hunter Chapter.
Bob Hawes |
Wednesday, 30 April 2008 6:00 AM |
