I'll make this brief 'cause I gotta go in a second, but doesn't it seem like there's alot of parallels with the '70s and the '00s pop culture in relation to the previous decade?

For instance, the "late 60s" hippie culture peaked from around 1967-1970/71. Same with the boy band culture of 1997-00ish. Also 1971 and 2001 were the years each started to fade away. And, although there were alot of technological and other advances in the world, the overall "feel" of the previous decade was definitely still around for several years. 1971-75 felt simply "less 60s" as opposed to the '70s completely overtaking it. Same in a way, for 2001+.

1976 was IMO, when the Disco '70s really got their own identity away from the '60s. I wonder if '06 will be similar (though I kinda doubt it, unless K-Fed is the "Disco" of the late 2000s). ;D

I agree with that.

The big 1970-1975 trends, like stadium rock (prog rock, glam rock, Southern rock, early metal like Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, etc.), cheesy teen pop and folkpop (John Denver, the Carpenters, Donny and Marie Osmond), singer-songwriters, funk, and Philly-style soul were all evolutions of '60s trends. Stadium rock et. al. evolved out of the psychedelic and British Invasion rock, cheesy teen pop and folkpop was an evolution of '60s bubblegum and things like the Mamas and the Papas, singer-songwriters came out of the '60s folk scene, funk grew out of Curtis Mayfield and James Brown, and Philly-style soul was an even more airbrushed version of Motown. In a way, that part of the '70s was the movement of '60s ideals inwards and away from the social activism of the '60s as the '60s generation grew up, and gave up with the race riots, assassinations, scandals, etc. that dominated the decade turn and destroyed hope. People started saying "me" instead of "we."

In alot of ways, the '70s slowly gained its own identity and then got a totally new trend out of disco, starting in late 1975, at about the lowpoint of American rock. I think the '00s got its own identity around 2003-2004 in a big way, so the '00s is more of its own decade (if a worse one, LOL), than the '70s. And it was earlier.

^bump.

I'll make this brief 'cause I gotta go in a second, but doesn't it seem like there's alot of parallels with the '70s and the '00s pop culture in relation to the previous decade?

For instance, the "late 60s" hippie culture peaked from around 1967-1970/71. Same with the boy band culture of 1997-00ish. Also 1971 and 2001 were the years each started to fade away. And, although there were alot of technological and other advances in the world, the overall "feel" of the previous decade was definitely still around for several years. 1971-75 felt simply "less 60s" as opposed to the '70s completely overtaking it. Same in a way, for 2001+.

1976 was IMO, when the Disco '70s really got their own identity away from the '60s. I wonder if '06 will be similar (though I kinda doubt it, unless K-Fed is the "Disco" of the late 2000s). ;D


You never know, since we're not even at the halfway mark in 2006.

I agree with that.

The big 1970-1975 trends, like stadium rock (prog rock, glam rock, Southern rock, early metal like Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, etc.), cheesy teen pop and folkpop (John Denver, the Carpenters, Donny and Marie Osmond), singer-songwriters, funk, and Philly-style soul were all evolutions of '60s trends.

Yeah, in a way it was something new and something modified at the same time. It was a "70s version of the late 60s" if you know what I mean. Of course, the changes were much, much more noticeable in politics and race relations, for instance. In 1962, there were still "colored" and "white" water fountains. By 1972, I'm sure that already seemed like a happily ancient relic of the past.

In alot of ways, the '70s slowly gained its own identity and then got a totally new trend out of disco, starting in late 1975, at about the lowpoint of American rock. I think the '00s got its own identity around 2003-2004 in a big way, so the '00s is more of its own decade (if a worse one, LOL), than the '70s. And it was earlier.

Very true. The "70s" 70s were maybe late 1975-mid 1979 (with holdovers up to early '81). The "00s" 00s will probably be 2003-11 or so.

Yeah, in a way it was something new and something modified at the same time. It was a "70s version of the late 60s" if you know what I mean. Of course, the changes were much, much more noticeable in politics and race relations, for instance. In 1962, there were still "colored" and "white" water fountains. By 1972, I'm sure that already seemed like a happily ancient relic of the past.

Very true. The "70s" 70s were maybe late 1975-mid 1979 (with holdovers up to early '81). The "00s" 00s will probably be 2003-11 or so.


I agree. I'd definitely compare the '90s/'00s relation to the '60s/'70s relation.  For instance, the early '00s were different in their own rights from the late '90s, but you can't really deny that they were basically the same era.  Although 2000 is basically like 1999.

And also, the early and mid '60s were ancient compared to the late '60s and early '70s.  Just like the early and mid '90s were much, MUCH more old school than say 1998 or 2001. 

The "real '00s" will probably be about 2002 to 2011.  I think the real '90s went from the last months of 1991 to the 9/11 attacks, with some huge holdovers into 2004 or so.  I think now is finally quite un-'90slike, even if the '90s aren't strictly uncool.  But 2000-2003 is, while in some ways primitively '00s still very, very much like the late 1990s.

I agree. I'd definitely compare the '90s/'00s relation to the '60s/'70s relation.  For instance, the early '00s were different in their own rights from the late '90s, but you can't really deny that they were basically the same era.  Although 2000 is basically like 1999.

And also, the early and mid '60s were ancient compared to the late '60s and early '70s.  Just like the early and mid '90s were much, MUCH more old school than say 1998 or 2001. 

The "real '00s" will probably be about 2002 to 2011.  I think the real '90s went from the last months of 1991 to the 9/11 attacks, with some huge holdovers into 2004 or so.  I think now is finally quite un-'90slike, even if the '90s aren't strictly uncool.  But 2000-2003 is, while in some ways primitively '00s still very, very much like the late 1990s.


Would you also say the '90s will never really be "cheesy" in general, only certain select things themselves perhaps will be (i.e. The Macarena, the early white hip hop look c. 1992, boy bands)?

Also, I just realized -- for the last four decades, the "1" year significantly reduces the feel and pop culture of the previous decade, and for the most part, forms the new one?

1971: End of the excessive Hippie/counterculture era, even if the Disco 70s are still a few years off.
1981: MTV era
1991: Grunge era
2001: 9/11, "90s" stuff starts fading

Would you also say the '90s will never really be "cheesy" in general, only certain select things themselves perhaps will be (i.e. The Macarena, the early white hip hop look c. 1992, boy bands)?

Also, I just realized -- for the last four decades, the "1" year significantly reduces the feel and pop culture of the previous decade, and for the most part, forms the new one?

1971: End of the excessive Hippie/counterculture era, even if the Disco 70s are still a few years off.
1981: MTV era
1991: Grunge era
2001: 9/11, "90s" stuff starts fading


Yeah, I think so.  Certain parts of the '90s are cheesy, but I think that like the '60s they were never be seen as altogether cheesy because they weren't a campy decade altogether, even if certain parts of them were campy just because the '90s were so cosmopolitan.  Plus, if they're not cheesy in 2006, when would they be  ;D

I agree about the "1" year too .. that year always is the real change.  For instance, 1990 wasn't exactly 1984 or 1986, but you have to admit that it really does tie in with 1987, 1988 and 1989.  Sure 1987 wasn't cool in 1990, but 1990 wasn't cool in 1993.  A decade is going to look like the other decade if it's less than a year of two old.

However, throughout 1991 there was a noticeable change.  1991 sort of had the look of the '80s, with the atmosphere and style of the early '90s.  For instance, the drum machines in pop songs, hairstyles, technology, and probably some of the attitudes, issues, etc. were quite '80s, but the year had many primitive '90s elements too.  If it makes sense, the beginning of 1991 was the "Eighties", whereas the end of 1991 was clearly "Nineties".  But overall I'd say the year belongs to the '90s, unlike 1990 which is just the '80s after the calendar rolled over, with a few primitive '90s things.

The same could be said for 2001.  The beginning of 2001 was a lot like 1999, even if it had some '00s elements like Survivor and PS2.  But in some ways December 31, 2001 feels closer to April 30, 2006 than it does to January 1, 2001.

As I've asserted before, I see the biggest parallel between the 70s and 90s. The early 70s lived in the shadow of something vast; in the early 70s it was the Rock music of the counterculture, in the 80s it was Hair-metal and 80s materialism. The two great revolutions were punk in the late 70s, and grunge in the 90s, which are sort of parallel to each other, but differ only in that they happened at opposite ends of the decade. Punk in the latter part of the decade and grunge in the earlier part. The early 70s were quite a stagnant period; both economically, politically.etc and were reflected in the whole music scene being rather mellow and laid back. As velvetoneo said it was dominated by stadium rock, singer songwriters and teen fluff. The late 90s were sort of the same, being dominated by A/C, and the boy/girl group thing, synonymous with the teen-pop phenomena. So in effect, the 'Grunge' and 'Punk' period were seen as periods of significant turmoil, giving rise to politically and socially 'serious' music in the vein of the Dead Kennedy, and a lesser extent the Pearl Jam/Mudhoney school of thought.

Would you also say the '90s will never really be "cheesy" in general, only certain select things themselves perhaps will be (i.e. The Macarena, the early white hip hop look c. 1992, boy bands)?

Also, I just realized -- for the last four decades, the "1" year significantly reduces the feel and pop culture of the previous decade, and for the most part, forms the new one?

1971: End of the excessive Hippie/counterculture era, even if the Disco 70s are still a few years off.
1981: MTV era
1991: Grunge era
2001: 9/11, "90s" stuff starts fading


I think what is viewed as cheesy, such as the things you mentioned, already are.  Most of how passe and uncool the '90s are, largely, because people this decade have this very "Get Rich or Die Tryin'", superstylish attitude and the '90s, being very silly, relaxed, grungey, and down-to-earth, are the utter opposite of that. They weren't metrosexual or emo. They're sort of avoided...the '80s are chic right now.

In my mind, though 1991 really belonged to the '90s, even 1989 and in some ways 1988 had ALOT of '90s things. Like R.E.M's Green and Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation, and 10,000 Maniacs and all this college rock and alt rock-styled music being extremely popular, and rap and "urban" culture starting to get big. In my mind, the '80s weren't fully outre until 1993...there were still some things sticking around in 1992 style-wise, like the women's suits with double breasts and shoulderpads.

The '00s started feeling really '00s in late 2003 or so. Before that, they were just the updated late '90s, ultimately.

I think what is viewed as cheesy, such as the things you mentioned, already are.  Most of how passe and uncool the '90s are, largely, because people this decade have this very "Get Rich or Die Tryin'", superstylish attitude and the '90s, being very silly, relaxed, grungey, and down-to-earth, are the utter opposite of that. They weren't metrosexual or emo. They're sort of avoided...the '80s are chic right now.

In my mind, though 1991 really belonged to the '90s, even 1989 and in some ways 1988 had ALOT of '90s things. Like R.E.M's Green and Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation, and 10,000 Maniacs and all this college rock and alt rock-styled music being extremely popular, and rap and "urban" culture starting to get big. In my mind, the '80s weren't fully outre until 1993...there were still some things sticking around in 1992 style-wise, like the women's suits with double breasts and shoulderpads.

The '00s started feeling really '00s in late 2003 or so. Before that, they were just the updated late '90s, ultimately.




1988 to 1991 is the "Nintendo era".  In the most extended sense this could be about 1986-1998.  During the Nintendo era, it wasn't grungy get, but it wasn't really glam either.  It was sort of like a less over-the-top '80s, althoguh whether it's more "Eighties" or "Nineties" depends on the way you see it.  Personally I think prior to about Sept of 1991 is more "Eighties".

1988 to 1991 is the "Nintendo era".  In the most extended sense this could be about 1986-1998.  During the Nintendo era, it wasn't grungy get, but it wasn't really glam either.  It was sort of like a less over-the-top '80s, althoguh whether it's more "Eighties" or "Nineties" depends on the way you see it.  Personally I think prior to about Sept of 1991 is more "Eighties".


It's definitely a mix...in some ways, the 1990ish period was very much its own era, characterized by college rock and earlier "alternative rock" (10,000 Maniacs, R.E.M, Sonic Youth, Camper Van Beethoven, RHCP, Husker Du and the Replacements in post-breakup popularity, Dinosaur Jr., Suzanne Vega, Tracy Chapman), the rise of positive, artful, and afrocentric urban culture (Spike Lee, A Tribe Called Quest, "golden age hip hop"), and the rise of things like indie film that occurred even later in the '90s at its peak, peaking like 1992-1998 or so, before the whole formula of "indie film" got horribly cliche. It also had its own styles, largely associated with yuppies, the "alternative" culture, things like the early OFF, and afrocentrism (the flat-top cut, squiggles and triangles), neon, etc. I like the period alot, in its own underground culture. 

1988 to 1991 is the "Nintendo era".  In the most extended sense this could be about 1986-1998.  During the Nintendo era, it wasn't grungy get, but it wasn't really glam either.  It was sort of like a less over-the-top '80s, althoguh whether it's more "Eighties" or "Nineties" depends on the way you see it.  Personally I think prior to about Sept of 1991 is more "Eighties".



I agree. 1988-1992 was a very unique era that was a mix of 80's and 90's trends the peak year of which was 1990. I also agree that about Sept of '91 was the beginning of a different feel although I think there was a more noticible change in early 1992.

The release of Nirvana's 'Nevermind' was the real turning point, sometime in '91 I forget which part of the year exactly...

sometime in '91 I forget which part of the year exactly...

"Nevermind" was released in September 1991 and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" peaked on the Billboard Chart in January 1992

As for this debate, I have absolutely no interest at all in any decade before the 80's.  I find anything before the 80's very boring and not very interesting to me at all

"Nevermind" was released in September 1991 and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" peaked on the Billboard Chart in January 1992

As for this debate, I have absolutely no interest at all in any decade before the 80's.  I find anything before the 80's very boring and not very interesting to me at all


Is this a common attitude among your peers? I thought 86ers were supposed to be the first year which really 'escaped' emo and 80s-nostalgia. We're supposed to be nostalgizing the 70s, and a lesser extent the 60s. I personally am MOST interested in either the 60s, 70s or 90s. The 80s hold relatively little fascination for me.

Is this a common attitude among your peers? I thought 86ers were supposed to be the first year which really 'escaped' emo and 80s-nostalgia. We're supposed to be nostalgizing the 70s, and a lesser extent the 60s. I personally am MOST interested in either the 60s, 70s or 90s. The 80s hold relatively little fascination for me.


I don't know why really, I just have no interest in the 60's or 50's or anything.  It's completely boring to me.  Boring Bland Music and Black & White Movies that Suck, lol.  Boring

I'm only Nostalgic about the times that I lived in, mainly my childhood.  My main nostalgia, far and away, is the 90's.  With the 80's as a distant 2nd

I don't know why really, I just have no interest in the 60's or 50's or anything.  It's completely boring to me.  Boring Bland Music and Black & White Movies that Suck, lol.  Boring

I'm only Nostalgic about the times that I lived in, mainly my childhood.  My main nostalgia, far and away, is the 90's.  With the 80's as a distant 2nd


Not even the 'cool' 60s? The 60s of the Doors, Hendrix, the Dead, the counter-culture, drugs?

Is this a common attitude among your peers? I thought 86ers were supposed to be the first year which really 'escaped' emo and 80s-nostalgia. We're supposed to be nostalgizing the 70s, and a lesser extent the 60s. I personally am MOST interested in either the 60s, 70s or 90s. The 80s hold relatively little fascination for me.


I guess, assuming memory begins around age 3, a 1986er is the younger person who can remember the '80s.  A 1987er's memory would begin somewhere around 1990, so that probably makes a difference.

I don't really care much for the '80s either, I like the '90s much better.

I guess, assuming memory begins around age 3, a 1986er is the younger person who can remember the '80s.  A 1987er's memory would begin somewhere around 1990, so that probably makes a difference.



That's possible. My memory starts in 1990 and the 80's are my peak decade of intrest.

I guess, assuming memory begins around age 3, a 1986er is the younger person who can remember the '80s.  A 1987er's memory would begin somewhere around 1990, so that probably makes a difference.


I have a handful of memories (more like two or three tops) from 1989 - and I remember zilch of the pop culture of the era.

That's possible. My memory starts in 1990 and the 80's are my peak decade of intrest.


That's partly why I think of the Class of 2006 as being the archetypical Gen Yers ... if you can remember the '80s, even if only one thing from 1989 you're definitely one of our elders.  Plus the class of 2006 was 16 around 2004.

I have a handful of memories (more like two or three tops) from 1989 - and I remember zilch of the pop culture of the era.


For comparison I'm probably about the same for 1993.  Clear memories is maybe 1996 or '97 onward. 1998ish-now is like yesterday.

I can remember a couple things from 1989, nothing substantial at all, but a couple small memories.

I tend to divide the memory of my life so far into 'Old' and 'New.' 'Old' is before 1998, 'New' after 1998. To me they're world's apart, one I associate much more with positive memories. I'm sure you can guess which half that is.

I tend to divide the memory of my life so far into 'Old' and 'New.' 'Old' is before 1998, 'New' after 1998. To me they're world's apart, one I associate much more with positive memories. I'm sure you can guess which half that is.


Actually I'm about the same, 1998 is the dividing year.  I might say "mid" memory is spring 1998 to mid-2001, when I lived in Montana.

There seems a wierd, almost dream-like quality to my memory before about 98 - like it could have happened in another time and place entirely. I saw the world through eyes of wonder. lol. You must pbly think I'm a bit odd.

I divide it into 3 sections:

Current era: 2001- present
a while ago: 1996-2000
old: up till 1995 or so.

There seems a wierd, almost dream-like quality to my memory before about 98 - like it could have happened in another time and place entirely. I saw the world through eyes of wonder. lol. You must pbly think I'm a bit odd.


Yeah, in a good way :)

Looking back at, say 1994 seems weird to me.  It's funny, because Green Day, the earliest use of the Net, etc., existed even then, 12 years ago.

Even though the internet was around for all of the 90s (and the WWW for almost all of it), when I look back, I remember a 90s where the Web is NOT present. Partly cos I didn't use it as much, but it just seems too new for the 90s.

I can barely remember anything from the 80's, despite being born in May 1986.  I do remember a couple of things.  Such as one time I was sitting in the middle of the floor as a baby and my mom was folding the laundry while watching Oprah.  Also I remember going to "Six Flags" in 1989 and going on some Raft Ride that scared the living daylights out of me, I thought I was going to flip out of the raft and die  :-[

I also kind of remember moving from my old house that I lived in when I was born to the one that I still live in today.  We moved on November 11th, 1989 and I kind of remember the drive up here (8 Hour Drive)

Even though the internet was around for all of the 90s (and the WWW for almost all of it), when I look back, I remember a 90s where the Web is NOT present. Partly cos I didn't use it as much, but it just seems too new for the 90s.


I think 1990-1993 is pretty much 100% pre-Internet.  1994 and 1995 are kind of transitional.  1996-1998 it was definitely present, but it still very much an "alternative" medium, and very primitive compared to the post-dotcom era Net.  1999-2000+ is when it was everywhere, at least in the States.

Even though the internet was around for all of the 90s (and the WWW for almost all of it), when I look back, I remember a 90s where the Web is NOT present. Partly cos I didn't use it as much, but it just seems too new for the 90s.


Yea I did not use the internet before 1995, nor did I know much about it so it pretty much wasn't there for me though I did have a computer.

The earliest I can even remember what the Internet even was, was back in 1996 when we got a "Free AOL Trial" CD in the Mail and I had no clue what it was or what the Internet was for that matter.  I still remember what the CD Case looked like though, it looked like an Indiana Jones rip-off or something

The first time I remember using the Internet was around Late 1997 at a friends house where he showed me it (At the time, the internet was just getting a little popular and he wanted to brag to me about having the internet) and of course the first thing we did was go into a Chatroom

And then the first time I ever got the Internet was in July 1998 (Which feels like it was just yesterday)

I still remember how I would be on the Internet for about 10 Hours Straight through the middle of the night and I would have on MTV "After Hours" (Where they played Music Videos all night long)

Those were the Good Old Days

The earliest I can even remember what the Internet even was, was back in 1996 when we got a "Free AOL Trial" CD in the Mail and I had no clue what it was or what the Internet was for that matter.  I still remember what the CD Case looked like though, it looked like an Indiana Jones rip-off or something

The first time I remember using the Internet was around Late 1997 at a friends house where he showed me it (At the time, the internet was just getting a little popular and he wanted to brag to me about having the internet) and of course the first thing we did was go into a Chatroom

And then the first time I ever got the Internet was in July 1998 (Which feels like it was just yesterday)

I still remember how I would be on the Internet for about 10 Hours Straight through the middle of the night and I would have on MTV "After Hours" (Where they played Music Videos all night long)

Those were the Good Old Days


It wasn't so long ago that we had dial-up. I largely blame Broadband for my recent inthe00s.com addiction.  ;D. But those were the good old days; when loading pages with images took two minutes, when all you could download were midi files/education stuff and the odd low res-porn photo (videos were really shoddy in quality til recently). Vintage web-sites are harder to come by these days.

It wasn't so long ago that we had dial-up. I largely blame Broadband for my recent inthe00s.com addiction.  ;D. But those were the good old days; when loading pages with images took two minutes, when all you could download were midi files/education stuff and the odd low res-porn photo (videos were really shoddy in quality til recently). Vintage web-sites are harder to come by these days.


;D

If you want to look at some Vintage Websites, you're in Luck.  Have you ever been to http://www.archive.org?

All you do is type in the URL of any website and it has a complete archive of that specific website dating back all the way to 1996.  And you can even look at the websites as they were way back then, it's awesome

The earliest I can even remember what the Internet even was, was back in 1996 when we got a "Free AOL Trial" CD in the Mail and I had no clue what it was or what the Internet was for that matter.  I still remember what the CD Case looked like though, it looked like an Indiana Jones rip-off or something

The first time I remember using the Internet was around Late 1997 at a friends house where he showed me it (At the time, the internet was just getting a little popular and he wanted to brag to me about having the internet) and of course the first thing we did was go into a Chatroom

And then the first time I ever got the Internet was in July 1998 (Which feels like it was just yesterday)

I still remember how I would be on the Internet for about 10 Hours Straight through the middle of the night and I would have on MTV "After Hours" (Where they played Music Videos all night long)

Those were the Good Old Days


I first became aware of the internet when I got a new computer in 1995 and it came with a modem, and that caused me to want the internet, which I got not long after that. I can remember the quite primitive internet in 1996, it's amazing how the internet hasa advanced. I remember AOL 3.0 on the Floppy Disk , and the old "channels" screen like yesterday.

It wasn't so long ago that we had dial-up. I largely blame Broadband for my recent inthe00s.com addiction.  ;D. But those were the good old days; when loading pages with images took two minutes, when all you could download were midi files/education stuff and the odd low res-porn photo (videos were really shoddy in quality til recently). Vintage web-sites are harder to come by these days.


You know what's funny, if you think about it pornography is largely what made the Internet popular.  I've just recently gotten into the world of Internet porn. You've gotten be careful ... you don't want to accidentally sponsor incest or something like that.

You know what's funny, if you think about it pornography is largely what made the Internet popular.  I've just recently gotten into the world of Internet porn. You've gotten be careful ... you don't want to accidentally sponsor incest or something like that.


Welcome!  I can recommend some great sites!  ;D

Welcome!  I can recommend some great sites!  ;D


hahaha!  ;D

Welcome!  I can recommend some great sites!  ;D


LOL  ;D I know a couple myself.

LOL  ;D I know a couple myself.


Hahaha  ;D

I usually search Google Images.  That's probably not the safest way to go, though.  LimeWire is good, although be careful if you're looking at porn there.

Hahaha  ;D

I usually search Google Images.  That's probably not the safest way to go, though.  LimeWire is good, although be careful if you're looking at porn there.


Yea I've gotten plenty of viuses from porn websites, lol.

Yea I've gotten plenty of viuses from porn websites, lol.


Haha thankfully I have a blocker  ;D

Haha thankfully I have a blocker  ;D


Yea now I have have a pretty good anti-virus so generally I don't have any problems.

The 1986ers strike me as more '80s nostalgic and pretty peak Gen Y, though...my Gen Y organization is:

-Late 1979-Mid 1983: Early Y. Too young to get into the '80s or early '90s heavily, but old enough to know 'em. COA like 1996-1999 or so.
-Late 1983-Mid 1985: Pre-peak Y...people who COA during the boyband/SP era immediately before 9/11, but not really X at all.
-Late 1985-Mid 1990: PEAK Y. COA (turned 16) in the 2002-2006 very, very '00s period.
-Late 1990-Mid 1993: Late Y.
-Late 1993-Mid 1994: YZ Year, maybe going into mid '95.

'85-'86 is pretty peak Y, but '87-'88 who COA in the 2004 period totally are THE biggest Y stereotypes. I think '80s nostalgia, from my observation, starts big-time outside of hipsters (who love early '80s new wave stuff) around 1983-1984, from knowing some people about that age.

The '90s always seemed very pre-internet to me, up to about 1999-2000. Like it was still sort of alternative until I was in 4th grade or so...I didn't spend much time on it, honestly, until 2000-2001. Kids only went on the internet to play games back then, and under 10 didn't go on the internet 1994-1998, honestly, at all. We didn't have the patience, things being dial-up. We got a computer in spring '97.

The 1986ers strike me as more '80s nostalgic and pretty peak Gen Y, though...my Gen Y organization is:


I agree.


-Late 1979-Mid 1983: Early Y. Too young to get into the '80s or early '90s heavily, but old enough to know 'em. COA like 1996-1999 or so.


I'd begin Y in late 1981.  Late '70s is too early. IMO if you graduated high school in the '90s, you're a Gen Xer.


The 1986ers strike me as more '80s nostalgic and pretty peak Gen Y, though...my Gen Y organization is:

-Late 1983-Mid 1985: Pre-peak Y...people who COA during the boyband/SP era immediately before 9/11, but not really X at all.


I agree here.  These people are firmly Y, but they're more grunge kid/third-wave ska/early Eminem Y than emo kid/boyband lover Y.


-Late 1985-Mid 1990: PEAK Y. COA (turned 16) in the 2002-2006 very, very '00s period.


I agree that this is the absolute peak.



-Late 1990-Mid 1993: Late Y


Begins in late 1990 yes.  I would end it at the summer of 1994.  Fall 1994-maybe summer of 1996 is the YZ cusp I'd say.

I agree.

I'd begin Y in late 1981.  Late '70s is too early. IMO if you graduated high school in the '90s, you're a Gen Xer.

I agree here.  These people are firmly Y, but they're more grunge kid/third-wave ska/early Eminem Y than emo kid/boyband lover Y.

I agree that this is the absolute peak.


Begins in late 1990 yes.  I would end it at the summer of 1994.  Fall 1994-maybe summer of 1996 is the YZ cusp I'd say.




Yeah, I think that Gen X is like roughly this...

Late 1962-Mid 1964: Boomer-X cusp falling on the boomer side.
Late 1964-Mid 1966: Sort of "early" Gen X, I'd say. Still some boomerish elements to them, though.
Late 1966-Mid 1972: The "Brat Pack" sort of X. Valley girls, Madonna clones, MTV generation, Lauper and A Flock of Seagulls teenyboppers, John Hughes fanatics. COA like 1983-1988, the "screaming '80s" period.
Late 1972-Mid 1975: The beginning of the second half of Gen X.  COA like 1989-1991 or so, a transition between the super-'80s sort of Gen X and the "'90s part of Gen X"...more likely to have been into alt rock and hip-hop than prior.
Late 1975-Mid 1981: COA about 1992-1997...the "'90s", Lollapalooza, alt rock and gangsta rap sort of X. About late 1979 on cusps with Y.

Yeah, I think that Gen X is like roughly this...

Late 1962-Mid 1964: Boomer-X cusp falling on the boomer side.
Late 1964-Mid 1966: Sort of "early" Gen X, I'd say. Still some boomerish elements to them, though.
Late 1966-Mid 1972: The "Brat Pack" sort of X. Valley girls, Madonna clones, MTV generation, Lauper and A Flock of Seagulls teenyboppers, John Hughes fanatics. COA like 1983-1988, the "screaming '80s" period.
Late 1972-Mid 1975: The beginning of the second half of Gen X.  COA like 1989-1991 or so, a transition between the super-'80s sort of Gen X and the "'90s part of Gen X"...more likely to have been into alt rock and hip-hop than prior.
Late 1975-Mid 1981: COA about 1992-1997...the "'90s", Lollapalooza, alt rock and gangsta rap sort of X. About late 1979 on cusps with Y.



I agree. I'd say 1979-1982 is the XY cusp.  However some people born 76-78 might see themselves as Yers because the term originally referred to latter Gen X, and not to the South Park generation.

I agree. I'd say 1979-1982 is the XY cusp.  However some people born 76-78 might see themselves as Yers because the term originally referred to latter Gen X, and not to the South Park generation.


Yeah...overall, though, they're sort of the absolute peak of the type of Xer parodied in the Simspons' episode "Homerpalooza"...like stereotypically full of piercings, loving alt rock like the Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth, cynical and overly sarcastic, going around with that parted haircut...very, very '90s.

;D

If you want to look at some Vintage Websites, you're in Luck.  Have you ever been to http://www.archive.org?

All you do is type in the URL of any website and it has a complete archive of that specific website dating back all the way to 1996.  And you can even look at the websites as they were way back then, it's awesome


Thanks, I'll check it out.

Bump...

Does anyone feel there's an unusually large divide among Xers? Generation X strikes me as having been full of early Xers and "brat packers" who got into the "alternative", sort of '90s hipster culture and stuck around in places like Seattle through the '90s working in dead-end sort of service jobs, waiting a really long time to start a family and such, until the early '00s. There's also something in saying that there are some older Xers who changed over after high school from liking new wave and such to liking "alt rock", though alot of people in the "early second half" who came of age (turned 16) c. 1990 were already into hip-hop and alt rock like Sonic Youth by the time the decade began, and got more heavily into the stuff later.

I don't really know any GenXers/know much about Gen X culture, so I can't really comment...

It sounds to me most of them are not very nostalgic at all, seeing as a surprisingly number of even 30-somethings still follow Top40 radio. I don't think they really idealised the 80s and 90s at all.

That's partly why I think of the Class of 2006 as being the archetypical Gen Yers ... if you can remember the '80s, even if only one thing from 1989 you're definitely one of our elders.  Plus the class of 2006 was 16 around 2004.



You mean '88ers? Yeah they seem like peak Y to me as well. I think I may be able to remember one thing from '89 but it's not really clear considering I was only 2 at the time.

Yeah, even the '86ers, many of them, probably don't remember much before 1990, though they remember the early '90s pretty clearly and the mid-'90s very clearly.

I get this impression that Gen X, from the Gen Xers I've met (particularly the older ones, actually), are full of very relaxed people who aren't as into the whole "success" game and are just doing their own thing. Like they're sort of cynical about commercialized American life and all that, still rebellious and defiant of tradition at 40 explicitly, and seem to just be waiting around like they're in their 20s alot for years, fairly happily, not living their life with much stress and having alot of "fun." I don't think they're quite as cynical as they're made out to be, though alot of times they like to flagrantly defy tradition and "rebel" more...they're sort of always actively looking for something, though their whole generation has slackerish tendencies.

I agree that 1981-1982 is the first year that's really Y and not that much X, from the 1982ers I've met. Maybe it comes from not being able to remember that "electric '80s", pre-VHS/CD atmosphere well, and coming of age in 1998, which was the first at least substantially "Y" year.  I think the transition goes like this:

1976-100% X.
1977-98% X, 2% Y.
1978-95% X, 5% Y.
1979-85% X, 15% Y.
1980-75% X, 25% Y.
1981-60% X, 40% Y.
1982-75% Y, 25% X
1983-95% Y, 5% X.
1984-100-98% Y, 2% X at most.
1985-100-98% Y, 2% X at most.
1986-100% Y.
1987-100% Y
1988-100% Y.
1989-100% Y.
1990-100% Y.
1991-97.5% Y, 2.5% Z.
1992-95% Y, 5% Z (classic rock affection, etc.)
1993-95% Y, 5% Z (classic rock affection, etc.)
1994-85-90% Y, 10-15% X
1995-50-60% Y, 40-50% Z.
1996-80% Z, 20% Y.
1997+-At least mostly Z.

^I agree. I think the X influence does end around 1985ish and the Z inflluence begins around 1991/1992. I also agree that 1996ers or '97ers would be the first to be more Z than Y as far as influence goes.

I'm an old 86er (being born in January), does that mean I have at least 1% Gen X in me?  :D

I'm an old 86er (being born in January), does that mean I have at least 1% Gen X in me?  :D



.5% ;)

.5% ;)


Better than nothing.  ;)

Better than nothing.  ;)



It's better than me as an '87er. I get like .000000001%

It's better than me as an '87er. I get like .000000001%


I don't really agree with velvetoneo's assessment anyway. I think anyone who watched a cartoon like 'the Smurfs' as a kid does contain a fragment or piece of Gen X in them, even if they saw it in the 90s. One can absorb things from the past, which become part of one's sense of identifying with different periods in history.

I don't really agree with velvetoneo's assessment anyway. I think anyone who watched a cartoon like 'the Smurfs' as a kid does contain a fragment or piece of Gen X in them, even if they saw it in the 90s. One can absorb things from the past, which become part of one's sense of identifying with different periods in history.



Agreed. Since Gen's deal with generalizations there will always be some that dont fit in. I think I have a few more Gen X qualities than most of my peers.

Agreed. Since Gen's deal with generalizations there will always be some that dont fit in. I think I have a few more Gen X qualities than most of my peers.


I think I have many 'Romantic'/late Renaissance qualities than my peers...I'm a romantic at heart!

I think in terms of my values/ideals I'm closer to a child of the '90s, born like 1975-1982 or so...like a late Xer or an XY cusp type. Though I'm peak Y, of course... ;D