Generational Styles

From Gothpoodle

Latest revision as of 19:00, 28 January 2016

Memetics has discovered the mechanisms behind a long-observed phenomenon: the fact that older human beings think differently than younger ones do. The period of childhood and early adulthood is when the human mind is most susceptible to new memes; after that time one increasingly tends to cling to old ideas and habits of thought. This means that human beings exhibit generational styles, specific patterns of behavior that are strongly correlated to the historical period in which one came of age. A human being tends to keep his generational style throughout his life, and it conditions how he reacts to events (and to other humans of a different age).

One of the more popular schemes for understanding generational styles actually predates modern memetics. In the United States, pop-memetics usually identifies five styles currently active in the population.

Relic Generation (born pre-2003) - age 98 and older

Wealthy, powerful, and super-elderly, the Relics have managed to survive even though the most advanced medical technologies were not available until they were already old. Relics (and their long-deceased contemporaries) did most of the work involved in the surge into space and the end of the early-century technological slump. Most of them look back fondly on the “heroic age” of their youth or first maturity. This generational history gives Relics a sense of personal entitlement – they are very jealous of their wealth and social influence. Although there are few Relics remaining in visible positions of power, they exert vigorous influence from behind the scenes. Most Relics are very conservative in their opinions – although a few influential individuals (notably the Old Transhumanists, some of whom are still alive and active in 2100) are quite progressive in sentiment.

Millennial Generation (born 2003-2024) - ages 76-97

Millennials were born in the “crisis years” following the turn of the century. As children, they were sheltered from hardship as far as their parents could manage. As adults, they arrived on the scene just too late to play the kind of heroic role that their elders enjoyed. In response they tend to quietly support existing social institutions, emphasizing balance, compromise, and fairness. Until recently, Millennials dominated most public institutions, showing little passionate initiative, concentrating instead on the competent management of society. Today they are in the process of giving way to the following Outbreak Generation.

Outbreak Generation (born 2025-2049) - ages 51-75

Outbreakers were born during the economic and technological boom of the second quarter of the 21st century. In youth they enjoyed economic affluence, but chafed under the social conformism of the time. The Outbreakers burst onto the world scene in the early 2050s, providing much of the passionate anger behind the era’s social unrest. Many of the generation were radical Transhumanists, while others filled the ranks of radical Preservationism and the Majority Cultures movement. Today the Outbreakers have moved into positions of social responsibility: “middle management” positions, a significant minority of seats in national legislatures and corporate boardrooms, and so on. Although some of the stridency of their positions has vanished, Outbreakers still tend to be moral absolutists, judging all matters with respect to the ideological positions they once fought for in the streets.

Overturn Generation (born 2050-2071) - ages 29-50

The Overturn Generation came of age in the aftermath of the turbulent 2050s and 2060s, at a time when passionate social activism had apparently soured. At the time, theirs was the most engineered generation in human history, subject to extensive genetic and memetic manipulation by their elders. Despite this investment, few Overturners have reached positions of real power; those who have are usually risk-taking entrepreneurs who have succeeded despite elder opposition. As a result, Overturners are often cynically angry, distrustful of established ideologies and institutions. They tend to be more interested in pragmatic results than moral correctness.

Transhuman Generation (born post-2071) - age 28 and younger

This generation has come of age since the Pacific War, and has been the beneficiary of another generation of development in cybernetic and genetic technology. They are also the heirs of the social transformation begun during the Transhuman Awakening of the 2050s. Unlike their elders, they are quite comfortable with today’s full range of social and technological diversity. Indeed, the Transhuman Generation displays more variety than any in human history, including millions of bioroids, uplifted animals, parahumans, and sapient AI. Transhumans tend to be conscientious and good at working in teams. Most of them have absorbed Transhumanist ideas almost from birth, often taking them for granted. So far the Transhuman Generation has little overt political or social influence, but this seems not to disturb most of its members. The activists among them are quite capable of using subtle “networked” strategies to promote their ideals. Meanwhile, the rest can look forward to very long lifespans, and seem content to wait for their day to come.