Gen Z and Beyond Encourage Them or Lose Them
Millennial angst and resentment towards the Boomer generation, particularly the affluent types, provides Generation X with a chance not to miss.
Boomers are astonished that their own generational struggles have become denigrated by the younger generations and this disparity has been an inter-generational sore point for years.(See reference: Hass, 2025 for link to a generational date chart explanation).
Millennials, claim Boomers, have benefitted from their efforts to improve society yet they charge Boomers of being ideological sell-outs. The taunt ‘hey boomer’ is meant to ridicule their efforts as passe and out-of-step with the zeitgeist of the generations after them.
It is quite the put-down for the hippie generation, who thought their hip and groovy ideas (liberal and open minded to emerging social trends) made them cool and rebellious whilst creating a bright and prosperous modern society.
Compared to the lost and greatest generations who were called upon fight and give their lives in the world wars of the twentieth centuries both generations live, and contribute, to a world unimaginable to those early generations, excepting the most visionaries such as Nicola Tesla, or paradigm-shifting physicists such as Albert Einstein.
Notably, Millennials, themselves, are no longer the younger generation with Zoomers in their late twenties while the oldest Alphas have become teenagers.
Constructing a decent prosperous future
Thus, Generation X (and writing as a father of a Zoomer), it could be wise to reduce where possible generational confrontation. This is especially pertinent to avoid elderly nursing care supplied solely by humanoid AI technology with little familial or personal care. By fostering trust, and the provision of useful advice or better still lived examples to empower Gen Z, and the younger Alpha generation, on how to construct a decent prosperous future. A future which will be unfamiliar and better than those of past generations.
By paraphrasing the words of a popular ABC TV programme enjoyed by Xers in the 1970’s- the Six Million Dollar Man- we do now have the technology to rebuild society with the rapid roll-out of artificial intelligence applications and products combined with medical, engineering and environmental advancement too.
Regardless of inevitable investment setbacks which cause markets to fall or even crash for a while as they have over the entire period from Einstein’s birth in 1879. The current boom in AI investment will have its disappointments and losers.
However, since the-then-called information superhighway of the mid-1990s. This innovation has produced incredible growth with resilience to market fluctuations and inevitable regulation. The internet, with web services, and multiple social media platforms dominates the modern economy as much as the rail, motor or petro-chemical industry ever did previously. The connected economy involves everyone alive to play their part in various and varying roles with AI development set to be the greatest innovation ever, (or the harbinger of doom is another point-of-view).
Gen Xers have precious time to waste to offer their support and build Gen Z, and Alphas, before it all becomes too late and bewildering. The opportunity, at hand, is to embody the values and virtues, passed on from previous generations, and most critically to convince those younger to adopt the best of those virtues and habits, and to disregard the worst.
Part 3 of the blog series shall further examine the professional classes and their impact on politics and the shape of society they have created. It will discuss ideas including social trends and career choices effecting younger generations now- see 2026 forthcoming updates.
Narcissus, Icarus, Sisyphus, and Cincinnatus
The ability to reason, find insight to achieve solutions and understand truth have been quest for humanity for millennia and their meaningful lessons learned remain valid, trustworthy and timeless. The myths of the Narcissus, Icarus, Sisyphus, and Cincinnatus stand testament to those lessons. The virtues of courage, resilience, temperance, patience, and humility are worthwhile learning for every generation.
Russell (2004) adds a background for such opportunity as ‘a strong government, to prevent crime, and a wise economic system to prevent the possibility of legal forms of brigandage, and to offer attractive careers to as many young people as possible.’ Russell adds, prophetically of what lay ahead in National Socialist Germany, and Soviet Russia and Maoist China and may lie ahead now in a declining Europe, that opportunity’ is much easier in a community which is growing richer than one which is growing poorer’ (Russell, 2004, p.219).
The quotation above from Bertrand Russell provides a strong moral argument for deploying not only sensible political policies for those influential in contemporary society but to provide sound guidance for a solid social and economic platform for those who will initially bear the consequences of Xers and Millennials actions before their time to shape society beyond Xers influence and comprehension.
Deploy wise counsel
Strive to deploy wise counsel, from personal experience, and repeat the best advice known to result in beneficial outcomes and minimise bad ideas or acts not to repeat. Nevertheless, there remains no guarantee tthat younger heads will listen or learn- the saying that “one cannot put an old head on young shoulders” retains its validity.
Provide real life examples of taking responsibility, in controlling one’s emotions and being consistent in responses to challenges and their rewards. There is more to life than materialism, although piety and chastity are admirable qualities devotion is for the ascetics, not the majority. Embrace and enjoy life -make friends/relationships, talk to people, travel, and work with life’s rich variety not towards a utopia or chimera.
Lastly, as Russell wrote,’ to any person with natural affection for the young, […] so we should teach them to avoid being destroyed by cruel fanatics, and to this end we should seek to produce independence of mind, […] This is the task of a liberal education : to give a sense of the value of things other than domination, to help create wise citizens of a free community’ (2004, p.251).
More Coming in 2026.
LDC Dec 2026
References and Further Reading:
Haas, D. (2025), ‘Chart of Named Generations and Years’, by David Haas; 2025 Source Line Media. Available Online at: Chart of Named Generations and Years
Russell. B, (2004 {1938}), ‘Power: A New Social Analysis’, Routledge Classics London and New York. Available at: Waterstones Bookshops in UK.
Protester Photo by Josh Barwick on Unsplash : Old man working Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash : Greek statue Photo by aitac on Unsplash
Great reflections. This definitely resonates with me and is better researched and substantiated!
As we hand over the reins our job is to shift from leadership to empowering and supporting the next generations.
With AI / technology, disintegration of family, of religion, of society there needs to be something to fill the void. An “inside-out” anchor and compass.
Empowering people one-by-one (change from the bottom up) could have as much impact as government “top-down” – and more lasting. Both have to work in concert.