WHAT GENERATION ARE YOU FROM?

Gosh, these days it's impossible to turn on the television without first concentrating on a collection of gadgets. Playing the radio in the car by flipping one switch became a forgotten pleasure.

For those dinosaurs still using landline house phones, you can no longer answer the telephone simply by picking up the receiver and saying “hello.” Now, there are tiny buttons to find and press. Forget about retrieving messages on the phone. There’s an appropriate Yiddish expression here, “oy veh.”

Over the years, Is (short for Isadore) asked his son Arnee what a staple remover was, and Bryan asked his brother Arnee, “What’s a scanner?”

Today marks 53 years since my first date with my husband, Arnee. It’s remarkable how much the world has changed in such a seemingly fleeting time.

We’re both from the 50s generation, and we remember when it was simple to turn on the television. Admittedly, though, we had to deal with all kinds of interference, flickering on the screen and tin foil on the indoor antenna. The protruding rods atop the tv sets were called rabbit ears. In our childhood years, the shows appeared only in black and white.

As for the car radio, you could instantly switch it on. Then the trouble started. There was constant static to contend with, and you had to keep trying to wiggle the tuner for clearer reception.

And, back in the day, telephones were easier to use but had their share of annoyances. You could answer by simply picking up the receiver but then had to deal with stretched-out cords, intrusive party lines, and, once again, interference in the form of static.

In our early marriage years, Arnee’s mother felt challenged by the newest invention and had difficulty setting up her VCR to record a television program. Tasked with showing her how easy it was, I pressed the same two buttons...again and again. Now, my generation relies on the next to figure out all modern-day gadgets, such as cell phones and computers.

Things were supposed to be getting easier. Instead, we waste precious time each day trying to figure out the new-fangled technology. In one generation after the next, the youngins think they’re so savvy. Been there, done that.

The current sandwich generation is the first not to frequently solicit the advice of their parents. They prefer, instead, to try getting their wisdom from the internet. In my blog post at sharonmarkcohen.com, The Lost Art of Communication, dated January 14, 2020, it’s clear to see the changes in Generation X and older Millennials. They don’t listen or talk; they type.

On the other hand, Baby Boomers in my circle still chat on the phone and get advice the old-fashioned sociable way, from family and friends. The sage advice and give and take make for priceless memories not found on the internet.

With each new generation, there are sure to be new gadgets that baffle seniors. Along comes gen-Z, Gen Alpha, COVID babies, and beyond, sure to have a better handle on the latest inventions.

We look at our grandchildren and smile at the thought of them enlightening their parents as they so effortlessly adapt to the technology of their generation. Wait, or will their parents just look it up on the internet?

  Generational Differences Chart

Traditionalists Birth Years 1900-1945

Baby Boomers Birth Years 1946-1964

Generation X Birth Years 1965-1980

Millennials Birth Years 1981-2000 (1977-1994)

Depending on which charts you look at, they could include the Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, gen-Z, gen Alpha, COVID baby, and more - Some charts show no Traditionists and no Millennials

…and for another memory mixed with humor, I copied something that was posted on Facebook: