What do you guys think?

I've heard of the term "Cold Y" to describe early Millennials

I think 1980-1983 babies were the last ones to rememeber the Cold War fully. 1984-86 babies were early 90s kids, so they'll probably have most of their childhood after 1991.

Having been born in 1981 in West Germany I remember the cold war pretty well because we've had relatives living in East Germany who we could only visit once per year (IIRC) and crossing that border was always quite an ordeal that took hours. I lived relatively close to the border (about 30 miles away) and could actually see East German (Warsaw pact) territory when I climbed up a little hill next to our house.

I've heard of the term "Cold Y" to describe early Millennials


Are the rest of us Hot Y?  8)

I only started caring about politics when I was 10/11 personally. So I imagine those born 1980/1981 would be last to care for it and understand the intricate details of the Cold War. But with Russia pulling out of Afghanistan in 1988 and the Berlin Wall being torn down in 1989, one can argue that most the Cold War ended earlier than 1991.


Having been born in 1981 in West Germany I remember the cold war pretty well because we've had relatives living in East Germany who we could only visit once per year (IIRC) and crossing that border was always quite an ordeal that took hours. I lived relatively close to the border (about 30 miles away) and could actually see East German (Warsaw pact) territory when I climbed up a little hill next to our house.


Interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

But I thought I was an X-er? Make up your minds people, you either blow dry or use curlers! Lol. Like my mother says, hahaha.

But I thought I was an X-er? Make up your minds people, you either blow dry or use curlers! Lol. Like my mother says, hahaha.


Well, I pretty much think anybody born in 1980-81 is an X-er. So, don't worry about it.

But I thought I was an X-er? Make up your minds people, you either blow dry or use curlers! Lol. Like my mother says, hahaha.

You're an Xer don't worry! ;D ;)
He was just saying you are a late Cold War Kid! ;D :)

I think 1980-1983 babies were the last ones to rememeber the Cold War fully. 1984-86 babies were early 90s kids, so they'll probably have most of their childhood after 1991.


I agree. All kids are different, of course, but I really think that, on average, you have be at least around age 9 or 10 before you start to have a clear understanding of world events. For example, the first major news story that I can remember fairly well is the Oklahoma City Bombing, which happened a few months before I turned 8, but even at that age I wasn't really old enough to comprehend the importance of what had happened. On the other hand, I was in middle school by the time the whole Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky thing really got going, and I followed that pretty closely.

The Cold War was effectively over by the time the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, though the Soviet Union itself didn't cease to exist until December 1991. Either way, I'd say that referring to anyone born past the early '80s as a "Cold War kid" is pushing it a little bit.

Well, I pretty much think anybody born in 1980-81 is an X-er. So, don't worry about it.


What about people born before 1980? ???

What about people born before 1980? ???


I already said that 1980 babies were X-ers.

What do you guys think?


People born in 1980-1983, yes without question. 1984-1986 is a little iffy, but at least they were at least in pre-school when the Berlin Wall fell and in elementary school when the Soviet Union collapsed. People born in 1987-1989, I would say no; they were either babies or toddlers when the Berlin Wall fell and none of them were even at elementary school yet when the Soviet Union collapsed.

You could make a lot of good arguments about why 1985/1986 borns could relate more to their 1983/1984 born counterparts rather than their 1987/1988 born counterparts. I would also say that 1986 is the last "early Y" year.

People born in 1980-1983, yes without question. 1984-1986 is a little iffy, but at least they were at least in pre-school when the Berlin Wall fell and in elementary school when the Soviet Union collapsed. People born in 1987-1989, I would say no; they were either babies or toddlers when the Berlin Wall fell and none of them were even at elementary school yet when the Soviet Union collapsed.

You could make a lot of good arguments about why 1985/1986 borns could relate more to their 1983/1984 born counterparts rather than their 1987/1988 born counterparts. I would also say that 1986 is the last "early Y" year.


Such as? As an 87er I'm genuinely curious. I don't really get the Cold War thing. Like mach!ne_he@d said, kids under the age of 10 don't usually follow current events... and definitely not preschoolers.

Such as? As an 87er I'm genuinely curious. I don't really get the Cold War thing. Like mach!ne_he@d said, kids under the age of 10 don't usually follow current events... and definitely not preschoolers.


I know that pre-schoolers and most "under 10s" could not follow current events. Even though it's all subjective, here's a few examples:

1. Not being able to vote until 2008's election.
2. Not becoming teens until the 00's
3. Graduating in the latter half of the 00's
4. Being born in the late 80's
5. Going to high school post-9/11

In general you could also make a lot of good counterarguments, stating why 1985/86 borns would relate more to their 1987/88 born counterparts. I think that these posts that I made on this topic were stupid anyway.

I know that pre-schoolers and most "under 10s" could not follow current events. Even though it's all subjective, here's a few examples:

1. Not being able to vote until 2008's election.
2. Not becoming teens until the 00's
3. Graduating in the latter half of the 00's
4. Being born in the late 80's
5. Going to high school post-9/11

In general you could also make a lot of good counterarguments, stating why 1985/86 borns would relate more to their 1987/88 born counterparts. I think that these posts that I made on this topic were stupid anyway.


I can agree with you on #1. 2/3/4 are all numbers-based and don't really mean anything. As far as #5, only people born in the first half of 83 were out of high school on 9/11. I guess I can kind of see your point in that we (87/88ers) were either in 8th grade or just starting high school when it happened.

FWIW I don't really believe in generations/sub-generations. It's interesting to talk about, but at the end of the day none of it can be proven/disproven.

I think the last true batch of Cold War Era Kids would be those born in 1984, since they were in Kindergarten when The Berlin Wall Fell and were in 2nd Grade when the Soviet Union officially collapsed, thus making them the last to truly remember both events, aka the tail end of that era in World History. So that's half of their elementary school years right there, and going by the widely accepted age 3-12 rule in defining childhood, that's half or (in the case of those born January-June 1984) more than half of their childhood spent during the Cold War Era.

However I would say overall that you would've had to have been born in 1981 at the earliest to truly grow up under that fear of nuclear holocaust.

Now the last to have vivid memories AT ALL of the Cold War Era would probably be those born in 1985/1986, since they were 5/6 years old when the Soviet Union dissolved.

While those born in 1987/1988 at the very latest could have some vague memories of it. But for anyone born after that having memories of the Cold War is practically impossible

I think the last true batch of Cold War Era Kids would be those born in 1984, since they were in Kindergarten when The Berlin Wall Fell and were in 2nd Grade when the Soviet Union officially collapsed. So that's half of the their elementary school years right there, and going by the widely accepted age 3-12 rule in defining childhood, that's half or (in the case of those born January-June 1991) more than half of their childhood spent during the Cold War Era.

Now the last to have vivid memories AT ALL of the Cold War Era would probably be those born in 1985/1986, while those born in 1987/1988 at the very latest could have some vague memories of it. But after that, having memories of the Cold War is impossible


Kindergarten/Grade 2 is not really a good age to understand politics though. I myself was 8 years old when 9/11 happened, and I remember thinking planes crashing into buildings was normal. My perception of 9/11 was completely infantile. I imagine most 1982-84 borns perception of the Cold War would have been similarly infantile/immature. 10/11 is a more appropriate age for understanding world events. For me the first world political event I feel I deeply understood was the Iraq War.

Kindergarten/Grade 2 is not really a good age to understand politics though. I myself was 8 years old when 9/11 happened, and I remember thinking planes crashing into buildings was normal. My perception of 9/11 was completely infantile. I imagine most 1982-84 borns perception of the Cold War would have been similarly infantile/immature. 10/11 is a more appropriate age for understanding world events. For me the first world political event I feel I deeply understood was the Iraq War.


True but we're talking about how kids react to things and how they see them. Yes they wouldn't truly understand the significance of it, but they surely could remember the fear and optimism that went hand in hand in the late 80's/early 90's surrounding it.

For instance there were many people my age and a little older who remember 9/11, but through the lens of a child. We obviously don't remember the political significance of the event, but many children my age probably did have nightmares or fears that planes could crash into their houses or apartments buildings. And lets not forget the post 9/11 American Patriotism (which undeniably led up to the invasion of Iraq).

FWIW, I updated my post, I agree that I think people born in 1981 are possibly the last to truly remember the fear that the world could end at any second. But to say people born from 1982-1985/1986 cant remember nothing from that era at all, isn't really accurate.

Kindergarten/Grade 2 is not really a good age to understand politics though. I myself was 8 years old when 9/11 happened, and I remember thinking planes crashing into buildings was normal. My perception of 9/11 was completely infantile. I imagine most 1982-84 borns perception of the Cold War would have been similarly infantile/immature. 10/11 is a more appropriate age for understanding world events. For me the first world political event I feel I deeply understood was the Iraq War.


On a similar note, I was 8 years old when George H.W. Bush was elected president (1988); I was in 3rd grade, and I don't think anyone in my class understood politics, but we studied the election and the two major candidates (Dukakis and Bush), but not in great detail. However, four years later, when Bill Clinton was elected, I was in the 7th grade, and I had a better understanding of the political party system.

And of course in between, during Bush Sr's presidency, the Gulf War was going on, and I remember it fairly well, being 10 years old when it started.

True but we're talking about how kids react to things and how they see them. Yes they wouldn't truly understand the significance of it, but they surely could remember the fear and optimism that went hand in hand in the late 80's/early 90's surrounding it.

For instance there were many people my age and a little older who remember 9/11, but through the lens of a child. We obviously don't remember the political significance of the event, but many children my age probably did have nightmares or fears that planes could crash into their houses or apartments buildings. And lets not forget the post 9/11 American Patriotism (which undeniably led up to the invasion of Iraq).

FWIW, I updated my post, I agree that I think people born in 1981 are possibly the last to truly remember the fear that the world could end at any second. But to say people born from 1982-1985/1986 cant remember nothing from that era at all, isn't really accurate.


I don't think kids would feel fear/optimism about world events, though they may see the fear/optimism of others. Kids in general do not understand the concept of the consequential future (how present action can lead to future events), so I don't think they can be fearful or optimistic about it.

It feels wrong to call them Cold War era kids simply because it did not affect who they are as a person. For example, Bernie Sanders is popular among Millennials, including those born 1982-84. I'd imagine for a true Cold War-era kid, the word "socialism" would make their skin crawl. This just isn't the case for those who were under 10 years old during the Cold War.



On a similar note, I was 8 years old when George H.W. Bush was elected president (1988); I was in 3rd grade, and I don't think anyone in my class understood politics, but we studied the election and the two major candidates (Dukakis and Bush), but not in great detail. However, four years later, when Bill Clinton was elected, I was in the 7th grade, and I had a better understanding of the political party system.

And of course in between, during Bush Sr's presidency, the Gulf War was going on, and I remember it fairly well, being 10 years old when it started.


Yes! That makes you, mach!ne_he@d and me who started following/understand world events around the same time, at the age of 10. It seems to be a good rule-of-thumb. I wonder if there are any scientific studies on it.

I don't think kids would feel fear/optimism about world events, though they may see the fear/optimism of others. Kids in general do not understand the concept of the consequential future (how present action can lead to future events), so I don't think they can be fearful or optimistic about it.

It feels wrong to call them Cold War era kids simply because it did not affect who they are as a person. For example, Bernie Sanders is popular among Millennials, including those born 1982-84. I'd imagine for a true Cold War-era kid, the word "socialism" would make their skin crawl. This just isn't the case for those who were under 10 years old during the Cold War.


But isn't Bernie a democratic socialist? That's not really the same kind of socialism/communism that the USSR used before Gorbachev's rule.

It feels wrong to call them Cold War era kids simply because it did not affect who they are as a person. For example, Bernie Sanders is popular among Millennials, including those born 1982-84. I'd imagine for a true Cold War-era kid, the word "socialism" would make their skin crawl. This just isn't the case for those who were under 10 years old during the Cold Wa

What about those under 10 who lived in the Soviet Union or other Eastern Bloc Countries ?I think it  would have had effects on their personalities.