I scored 14 but i still feel thoroughly generation x. I never understood music in the 90s.

I think it’s a bit disingenuous to boil down generational gaps to technology adaption - yes, you won’t find the Wii at a senior center, but that’s also related to the socio-economic status of seniors - most probably can’t afford it.

Young people and the rich have disposable incomes and are easier adopters of gadgets - if Hugh Hefner scored a 12+ on this, I wouldn’t lump him in the GY category - I’d more likely think he’s an outlier or a mutant.

I think it is useful to stretch the concept of generations, but I think it is a huge leap to assume media and technology define us. Yes, there is a strong correlation–I scored 11 and, born in 1967, I feel more Gen-Xy than Boomery. But I’m kind of a geek, so although I’m almost a millennial by this score, I know I’m not in that group. I barely use my cell phone and the only pictures I take with it are screen savers for it because I think it is outrageous to pay as much as I do just for basic service…I just wish I had good reception for the calls I make; don’t need anything else. I don’t use IM anymore because I don’t know anyone I would want to IM. It was neat when it came out like a decade ago, but I got tired of it. Text messaging: again, who would I text? I don’t want people pinging me with instant messages; they can wait. OMG, maybe I’m a boomer! I’m so confused! :)

I find it more useful to consider the values and outlook that define us…I grew up believing I could do anything I wanted and be anything I wanted. A lot of people, in any age group, have such rigid and structured ideas about everything, whereas I feel like I am the quiet rebel. I’m perpetually dissatisfied with everything and feel and urge and responsibility to change it–and frustration that I haven’t done more. I’m open to ideas and I’m always looking for tools to effect change–can we use a wiki to revitalize community? Can a blog form a sustained form of community? Are online micro communities a symbol of fragmentation of our society or can they be a revitalization when leveraged by the enabling media such as social networking sites? I think that kind of attitude–maybe not the specific technology details–is closer to a definition of Gen X than age or media alone.

Penelope,

Ok.. I scored a 12, which make me an Xer, right on the verge of being a Yer.

But I’m 46 years old (born in 1960). By historical definitions, I have fallen solidly in the Baby Boom Generation, although I noticed that Wikipedia has recently defined Gen X as anyone born from 1960 to 1978. To confuse matters more, it also defines Baby Boomers as anyone born between 1946 and 1964.

And therein lies the rub. I could be a part of either group, but neither group correctly defines me.

I’m told, as a boomer, that I should be looking toward the end of my career and retirement, but I feel more creative, productive, effective, and energetic than I have at any time in my life.

I’ve been taught that I should be planning for retirement, but to me retirement is an obsolete concept. Health willing, I hope to have 25 more years to work. Even if retirement was available, I’d rather cash flow my life and find some career happiness and fulfillment through rewarding and satisfying work.

Although I do share one distinct boomer trait: I did sacrifice happiness, work-life balance, and work-family balance, for a better life at some undetermined future date at an earlier time in my life, I’ve come to live a life in support of what you describe as the “New American Dream” of Xers and Yers: the dream of fulfillment. I’ve been able to make that shift and live that life.

Many people are in the same boat I’m in, especially those that are thought of as being Boomers. They don’t identify with the stereotypes of that generation. They want fulfillment, too, but aren’t quite sure how to get it.

They applaud the ideas, creativity, energy, and optimism of Xers and Yers, especially the effect they’re having on today’s corporate culture. At the same time, they know that they have much to offer, and that they want the happiness and fulfillment others are finding, and NOW.

Thanks for giving them permission to do just that.

Wow — born in 1971 and have always seen myself as part of Gen X… BUT — I scored 18 on this test (20 if you count texting parents when cell phone calls won’t go through) which puts me deep into Gen Y territory. Interesting.

I was born in 1966 and scored 9 points, so I’m Gen X on both accounts.

Agree behavior a better gage than calendar, but you didn’t fully do homework on some generalizations.

I got 1,210,000 hits googling Wii Senior Center. One popular game is bowling, for people who have decades of memories, cooridination, but not strength or commuting time to get out to bricks & mortar bowling ally.

Been distracted by repairs on elderly car, but should move from 10 to umpteen later this summer.

51 now. My grandfather got his first computer at 94 and was well on his way through Generation Jones towards Generation X when he hit a hundred.

Hi, this is the aforementioned Margaret, and yes, there are lots of seniors using Wii systems in senior centers; the NYT wrote about it not too long ago, and I think I blogged about it as well. I would hesitate to use the Wii as a measure at this point since it’s pretty new and widely adopted by a various of different types of players, for different reasons.

Virtually everyone uses technology in some way, but what we use and when we adopt it says more about who we are than traditional definitions of Boomer- X -Y - Millenial. I’m a professional woman in my early forties — I enjoy YouTube and GoogleDocs (mmmmmm, GoogleDocs!), MySpace not so much. Then again, I have older friends who are on MySpace mostly because they are musicians and are publicizing their bands, and they’re using the site with less of the social drama and import younger users exhibit with it.

My mother is 75 and she’s getting email for the first time this month. Does this vault her to the head of the class chronologically? Or is she just catching up? And what does that say about email when it’s becoming downright ubiquitous? And what does that say about who we are, how we choose to communicate and socialize and be entertained? Will the Emergency Broadcast System send out emails and text messages in the future, because really, who will be left watching broadcast TV? Should they blast a message to the WoW crowd in the game itself?

Just some food for thought, y’all. Penelope rocks, and rocks hard.

“For example, you probably won’t find the Wii at a senior center,”

Hey, I disagree. If ever there were a videogame system at a senior center, the Wii would be it.

Out of curiousity, at what point do you think we’re going to start seeing a separation from the group of Millenials/Gen Y that are entering the workforce now or are currently in college and the younger group of this generation (which is sometimes listed at going all the way to 2002).

This would also be interesting to examine in light of Weigel’s digital media use metrics. For example, several of my friends (myself included) have MySpace pages but generally use them only to keep in touch with people or post infrequently. My siblings, who are both in high school, use the site as their primary e-mail source. Makes me wonder what site, or simply how, my younger cousins who are 5 years old will communicate with each other.

Interesting post. Thanks, Penelope!

* * * * * * *
This is an interesting question, Danielle. I think people are already starting to think of Gen Y as older and Millenniels as younger. Maybe my next quiz will be to figure out which one you are :)

-Penelope

Well that explains a lot. I live in a smallish, midwestern city that has been losing its young people for decades. Things are largely run by the boomers around here - old-school insurance companies are common, start-up companies are not. So where are all the young people living? Got any stats on that? I’m ready to move.

* * * * *

When it comes to figuring out where the young people live, the two people who know the most are Richard Florida and Rebecca Ryan. You can check out all the stuff on their sites -  they both have consulting companies.

Penelope

“Do you use email to communicate with your parents? (1 point)”

“Did you text to communicate with your parents? (2 points)”

Those two don’t apply to me, because my dad (age 78) doesn’t have a computer. I do use them to communicate with my son, though - does that count?

For the record - born in 1964, scored 6, which I guess makes me a textbook “Generation Jones”-er (a term I’d never heard until a month ago).

Generation Jones???!! I don’t even get a trendy, end-of-the-alphabet initial to identify my “lost” generation? (Hold on. It was here just a minute ago…)Once again, screwed by the Boomers, Xers and Yists.

This is a lot of fun! Of course there are other criteria as well as technology that distinguish one generation from another- Penelope talks about many of these in other posts. I’d love to see a quiz that went into lots more detail, including things like psychological awareness, emotional intelligence, get-up-and-go-ness as opposed to passive attitudes towards authority, etc.

14 or 15. Gad! born in 1964, but behaving like a Gen Y whippersnapper!

I’m not sure if I should be proud that I’m hip, cool and funky or worried that I should be getting fitted for a chest wig and super-huge medallions!

So it’s true - “men come of age at 60, women at 15.”

Can we get over this generation crap? It tells us nothing of meaning or value. It’s a simpleminded way of classification that reveals nothing important.

I don’t care what generation you’re from. I want to know what you know. What have you learned? Are you willing to learn? What ideas do you have? Are you all talk? Do you give up when things don’t go your way? Are you someone who follows through? Can I count on you? Are you smart enought to realize you can learn from others who may not be as cool with technology as you are?

Anyway, I find that most people, once they are taught about blogs, webs, texting, etc., learn to embrace it. And it’s not just about knowing how to use technology–it’s knowing how to use it effectively.

And please, a younger generation telling an older genearation to get out of the way is nothing new at all.

While some memebers of the so-called “Generation Y” might be technially with it, some seem to be even more self-involved than some of the so-called baby boomers ever were. That’s nothing to be proud of.

Born in 1987, and scored at between 13 and 16.

I was slightly confused by the fact that my website, my ‘professional’ blog, and my ‘online diary’ are all the same thing.

Is this revealing, or simply white noise?

* * * * * *

I’m glad you bring up the lack of science involved here. I think the most important take away is not if the questions are perfect, but that we can think of our age and our generation in lots of different ways. And, in fact,  I think a lot of us (all of us?) instictively know the generation where we feel the best fit for ourselves — whatever anyone else says about us.

–Penelope

“We should not judge people rigidly by the years they were born,” she says, ”If we want to define people by categories, it should be by behaviors because this is something each of us chooses.”

I think it was perhaps not a good idea to name your ‘behavioural’ categories after age groups :) Perhaps something from the [survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project?]http://www.pewinternet.org/quiz/

Their categories are:
Omnivores
Connectors
Lackluster Veterans
Productivity Enhancers
Mobile Centrics
Connected by Hassled
Inexperienced Experimenters
Light but Satisfied
Indifferents
Off the Network

But of course the biggest problem with this is that people who don’t read blogs in the first place won’t be here to be counted. My late-boomer father would be among them…I write a startup technology magazine and he doesn’t have a clue what I do :)

I just came across this article “Viewing American class divisions through MySpace and Facebook”, which could be relevant to the topic at hand. Notable extracts from the article: “Most teens who exclusively use Facebook are familiar with and have an opinion about MySpace. These teens are very aware of MySpace and they often have a negative opinion about it. They see it as gaudy, immature, and “so middle school.” They prefer the “clean” look of Facebook, noting that it is more mature and that MySpace is “so lame.” What hegemonic teens call gaudy can also be labeled as “glitzy” or “bling” or “fly” (or what my generation would call “phat”) by subaltern teens.”

More: http://www.danah.org/papers/essays/ClassDivisions.html
Via Bokardo (http://bokardo.com/archives/social-classes-on-networking-sites/)

* * * * *

Oh. Great find, Rahul. Danah Boyd is doing such interesting research. I have interviewed her on this blog before. She’s so on the bleeding-edge of the internal lives of young people. Thanks for giving us a link.

-Penelope

I agree with Tim that the whole concept of generations is vastly over-rated. It exists - there’s no denying that growing up during the Depression (for example) changes your outlook on the world - but it’s overdone as a useful means to tell you about someone.

Most sociologists would argue that other factors - gender and class and educational status and ethnicity and nationality - have a greater bearing on someone’s outlook and behaviour. The thing is that because they are genuinely important they are also far more sensitive. People are prone to make generalisations about generations because it’s safe, unlike making generalisations about race or class, which is a hot potato.

I still did the test though. I scored 20, putting me firmly in Gen Y territory. Hmmm… I’m 31 and I guess by conventional standards I’m on the cusp of Gen X and Gen Y. I always identified as Gen X though, I guess because I came to age in the era of Nirvana and Reality Bites and also because I have been in the workforce for 10 years and I lived through the whole dotcom boom and crash.

Now that I am 31, I have no problem with being in a younger generation but when I was 18 I wanted to be the older, cooler Gen X. Grouping myself in Gen Y (or the Nintendo Clan as I remembered it being called at the time) would have lumped me in with kids who were still in high school.

I think siblings also have a bit to do with it, especially for people like me on the cusp of generations. I think if you have older siblings that had a big influence on you then that makes you more likely to fit in with the generation above you and vice versa.

* * * * *

Caitlin,
Well, generations are not there to describe people, they are there to describe history. I think there’s value in understanding individuals and value in understanding groups and trends. And if you talk about the group you have to ditch the nuances of the individuals. I think it’s okay.. well, of course, I think it’s fascinating since I write about it all the time.

Interesting point about siblings, though. I think you’re right that it has something to do with this. I have Gen Y brothers who, on this test, are Gen X. I bet that if they had younger siblings instead of older siblings they’d be scoring points on the test for things like remixing video — something their older siblings would never do.
Penelope

I ended up with thirteen points–Generation Y. I’m not about to say when I was born, because it might ruin my image if people knew I was really eighty-eight years old. Oops.

My dad really got with it, and after retirement, is now making tons developing online coursework. Too bad he waited until retirement.

Interesting thoughts, but don’t you think it’s a bit American-centric?

Still, born in 1982, this confirms what I’ve always suspected - that with 10 points, I’m more an Xer than a Y.

* * * * *

The whole idea of dividing US history into generations is America-centric. No way around that.

- P  

At 41 years old I am way too old to fall between Gen X and Y…so thanks for the quiz, as it made me feel young for a few seconds

Using this criteria, my 73 year old mother is a Generation Jones(er).

I agree that class, education, ethnicity, et al. have a much bigger influence on who we are than what generation we fall into, but as Caitlin pointed out, those issues are far more sensitive and no one wants to talk about them.

23!
(If only I bought music on iTunes)

I think you missed a big one here Penelope - Gaming. When put in front of a PC/Console - does it take less than 1 minute to pick up how the game plays? (Or a question along those lines)

(oh - and I always find it interesting in reading any financial news source that talks about the “gaming industry”.. It gets my attention until I realize they are talking about the “gambling industry” - which has done a great job of re branding itself to something that sounds nicer..)

* * * * *

Great point, Rob.
Margaret actually made a big point of this. She said such interesting things. For example causal games, like solitare, are not generally social. But “big games”, which are arranged between people who don’t know each other, via cell phone, are very social, because you have to talk with people when you meet them in person.

I didn’t use games as a test question because while both genders in gen Y play games, older people who play games are mostly men.

Penelope

Penelope, there’s a variety of research that states that the “older” community of casual game players is a 50/50 split between genders, especially in the case of simple online games such as Bejeweled and comparables (your Solitaire example would fit the bill).

So it depends on what you classify as “games”. I wouldn’t take Xbox 360 particularly seriously in trying to define what generation someone is from, but whether or not they play simple web games could be a pretty important metric, all things considered.

I don’t agree with Jillian (or Penelope!) that this is at all US-centric.

Generations are defined usually by epochs in history - and these days these are largely global. WWI was a global war. The Great Depression was a global recession. WWII was a global war. The feminist and social revolution of the 1960s and 1970s happened all over the world (plenty of bra burning in the UK and Australia!). The internet is a global phenomenon.

To take one example: Baby Boomers exist all over the world. World War II was not something that just happened in America (in fact you were late into the war). The war was fought in Europe and Asia and also involved millions of men from Commonwealth nations such as Australia and Canada and former British colonies such as India and Jamaica. The Baby Boom that resulted happened everywhere, from Singapore to Germany, not just the US.

It’s interesting to see how much traction the concept of Generation Jones (what an awful name!) has received already. It was invented by a media agency (which buys advertising) called Carat at some point last year. There’s a lot of research behind it of course.

Besides these questions I will put more weight on general attitude to conclude where do we belong. I read/write blogs, download in bittorrent endlessly and use all the so called web 2.0 sites, and I am closing 40. But the point is I see my colleagues in peer group so ignorant of all these and the fallout is - they don’t understand usability in any tool and introduce prehistoric tools everyday in business; they don’t understand the value of collaborative tools and urge to send everything by mail; they don’t understand a free culture can give excellent output and insist on dress code and strict timings. (maybe i am seriously offtopic:)

Here’s the Globe/NYT article on use of Wiis in Senior Centers, for those who were curious:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/06/16/games_seek_to_bring_seniors_to_their_feet/

When I think of how much trouble I had getting my dad used to a mouse, this seems a bit scary to me. :)

Hurrah, 17. So far your survey puts me in the correct bracket.

Actually, technology adoption is not a primary factor in generational identity. In the sociological model of “age-period-cohort,” technology opportunities and adoption reflect only the period dimension. Take music for example: Boomers have generally and easily adopted 45 RPM records, LPs, 8-track stereos, cassette players, CDs, MP3 players, and now XM Radio. Yet, we’re still rocking to “I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction)” through these playback devices. Generational identity is driven more by the cohort dimension, which includes adoption of values early in adulthood based on “collective mentalities” around historical events. (As a result of many feminist activities of the 60’s, Boomers widely adopted and then institutionalized gender equality as a keystone value, and this permeates the Luddites and the techies.) This is a complex topic for a quick post, but I have more insights about generational and sociological theory at http://boomers.typepad.com.

To Caitlin’s comment about Generation Jones, Caret did not create this generational conceptualization. This is the creation of Jonathan Pontell, and Caret simply adopted the construct. Many of us in the area of generational marketing have recognized the difference between generational cohort and a demographic generation. The post-World War II baby boom is a demographic phenomenon. A cohort often occupies much less time, say five years either side of your birth year. If you’re a Joneser and interested, check out www.jonathanpontell.com. Also, to those who doubt the effectiveness of marketing to generations, I’m firm on the point that it works. Consider Ameriprise and its Leading-Edge Boomer-themed launch campaign. The brand began in October 2006 and opened at $24 per share. One year later (and after millions invested in targeting Boomers with cohort-themed messages), the share price was over $48. Today it’s over $60. Boomers voted in favor of this generational marketing approach with their investment dollars.

Excellent! I got younger as I read your post! Boomer to Joneser to X-er in less than 5 minutes!

Cool! I’m getting younger every day!

I am a textbook Joneser, born in 1964.

Some interesting ideas in there, but they certainly don’t take into account many of the specific wrinkles of my situation, and I doubt that I’m the only one. I was born in 1957, which puts me firmly into Generation Jones, but I have always been an early adapter (first home computer bought in 1978). That experience as well as some lively privacy concerns/paranoia (the result of too many “spooky” jobs) has kept me away from most of the texting/IM areas. I’ve had a personal web page and built some for folks, but in the end determined that I didn’t want to share my interesting info with the world. What I was willing to share wasn’t worth the effort of updating/keeping current, so those efforts lapsed. Same thing with the phones - where I work, I usually can’t use my phone (or even have it with me), when I’m on the road, I can’t answer or use the phone (motorcyclist), and when I get home, I don’t want the electronic leash to bother me. Even thought I’ve had a cell phone for years, and even went for several years with only a cell, no landline, I always purchase the device with the fewest features and turn off messaging, web connectivity, down-loadable ring-tones, etc. I use the phone when I need it, and ignore it the rest of the time (or turn it off). Similar issues with music - I’d rather buy a CD and rip the music to my MP3 player/desktop/laptop than buy the music online and deal with all the DRM hassles. Same sort of issues with MySpace, FaceBook, and blogs. I have no need to reach a large audience, so I don’t see any benefit to putting myself out there on the blogosphere.

Brent, I stand corrected. I didn’t mean to credit Carat with Jonathan Portell’s work. I am a UK-based media journalist and I was told about by Carat UK. I had the impression it was their work but this could easily be a misunderstanding.

I didn’t mean to be too brazen, Caitlin. ;-} I just wanted to add some insights to the discussion. I know Jonathan Pontell personally, and you might want to contact him sometime to understand the evolution of Generation Jones. It’s an interesting story — one that has been embraced in the UK and Europe but is now just gaining traction in the US. I know from speaking to thousands during keynote addresses, incidentally, that Generation Jones is a self-identifying construct with strong gut appeal to many in a so-called “lost generation.”

19

And i’me a late babyboomer :-) so go figure

I scored 5 points on thia quiz, which fits the fact that I was born in 1960–I am a true GenJoneser. I’ve been seeing lots of media stuff about generation Jones, and am so glad for it–finally our long-ignored generation is getting some well-deserved attention! It’s funny, I was just talking with some old high school friends about GenJones a few days ago–we were laughing at ourselves about how into this whole Generation Jones movement we are, I think most of us Jonesers are just fed up with being left out of the national debate, so it feels good to finally have a collective identity (and “Generation Jones” is such a cool-sounding name!). Thanks for the quiz, I enjoyed it…

I scored 1 point for downloading music. I guess that makes me a 33 year old Baby Boomer. Many of the items on the list are just high tech ways to waste time.

* * * * *

Well, here’s an interesting way to look at things. How you choose to waste time is a good way to define which generation you fit into. I mean, everyone wastes time in some way, right?

PS Communicating with parents as a time waster? Moms and dads around the world are cringing!

Penelope

No Penelope, I either pick up the phone and call or drop by and visit. Either way, I don’t check in every hour like some Gen Y still attached to the cord.

Awesome. “Some Gen Y”. Profileration! Recognition! Gimme more of these doggone insults!

Interesting quiz. For giggles, I scored both myself and my husband, and it confirmed what I already knew: that despite being only five years older than me, my spouse acts and thinks about two generations older. He scored as a Baby Boomer, while I scored as Gen Y. I’m 35 and he’s 40.

However, this gap is accounted for when you consider that he was the youngest of five children, the oldest of which is nearly old enough to be his mother. He was born Gen X, but -raised- in a Baby Boomer household. His parents are my grandparents’ ages.

The upshot is that often he acts far, far older than he is. He carries old fashioned notions that grate on my nerves and strike me as ’stodgy’, while my very young attitudes strike him as ‘irresponsible’. Somehow, we manage to meet in the middle, with him grounding me and me dragging him kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Fun quiz and article - thanks!

I scored a 12… at the high end of my Generation (Gen X). I sometimes feel like I am part of both Gen X and Gen Y. Most likely because I was born right near the end of the Generation X years (1972).

Love the quiz!

The Generation Jones stuff is very interesting to me. I was born in 1965 and feel like I don’t belong to either the boomer of Gen X’s I work with.

BUT I did score 16 on this quiz which makes me a 40-something Gen Y!

Great quiz.

I scored 10 — not bad for someone in a 40-something baby boomer.

I found the test quite interesting but meaningless. As I type this, the only internet connection available is a dial up modem and there is no cell phone service. All the talk about the modern tools supposedly available, aren’t available to all. Second, at my federal work place with high speed internet, use of facebooks, downloading of video and downloading of audio is prohibited. I can do all the things listed in the list, but have no way to do it at home. BTW, I started programming computers in 1967 and kept up with the changes since then so I am not technologically illiterate.

* * * * * * * *
This is actually a good description of why the test works: A gen y worker would do everything they possibly could to get out of a work situation that had a dial-up modem. So that the dial-up modem makes you unable to get points on the test seems right to me. Your age is revealed in the fact that you are willing to stay in the office you’re in. It’s not a bad thing that you’re staying. It’s that a younger person wouldn’t want to because of the technology issues.

–Penelope

I failed to indicate I was blogging from home on my dial up modem. Now retired, my former workplace, a federal agency has high speed internet, but as I did clearly state, accessing face books, downloading pictures, movies, or streaming audio or video or any of those questions mentioned in the test are both blocked and prohibited and could be grounds for firing. Many facilities in rural areas have only dial up access. Your comment of “It’s that a younger person wouldn’t want to because of the technology issues. ” logically follows that no self respecting GenY individual would want to work for the federal government, state agencies and many large businesses because of restrictions on internet access at work. I could have answered yes to all the questions since I have done all of them in other locations, but as I stated, without access to high speed internet and no hope of ever getting one in these rural areas, it is not likely I will ever get tp use it. This is why I thought the test was very short sighted. It is a perfectly valid test for those who have high speed access but completely invalid for those who live where such access is not available, which at the current time in the US accounts for almost 25% of the population from the last survey I read.

Interesting. I was born in 1966 and scored a 4. That sorta would put me in the generation jones group. But I own 5 pc’s connected to the internet, a 360, ps3 and a wii.

I make video games for my job and am very tech savey. My wife has a blackbury so why text her when I can send her email. I use a small digital camera the photo quality of phones is just crap. I don’t really download music but I have downloaded movies and play them on my TV through my 360 when I have a chance to watch TV. I have young twins and play a MMOG they togther take up my time so I don’t have time for myspace or a blog.

I scored a 12, but I’m def gen X. This quiz is stupid.

oh crap… I thought I was lost before… now I take this test and it confirms that I really am lost. I scored a 6 - so does that mean I’m a gen joner and/or gen Xer… or am I still a gen unknowner?

As you mentioned in your preamble this will still not really categorize people well (thank goodness). I scored only a 1 but I am in complete sympathy with, an pretty much work like, your profile of the Gen Y crowd - even though I was born in 1955.

This is not a generation test. This is a dork test. I mean come on seriously… how retarded is this test people?

This quiz is lame. Born in 1980 and only scored a 1. So I’m a baby boomer? I think not. How about some other criteria besides tech stuff? I don’t have a webpage or download songs because I HAVE A JOB and more importantly, I HAVE A LIFE (hiking, kayaking, travel, etc)–who has time to download 400 songs into their iPOD? And why would you email your parents? Pick up one of your 4 cell phone/mp3 player/camera things and CALL THEM! It’s nice to hear a human voice once in awhile. And I don’t have a personal blog, because…hello! it’s personal! A lot of people seem to have verbal diarrhea–too much information! Try keeping some things to yourself. Or try this: find a real true friend to bare your soul to, not strangers on the internet.

Well I was born in 1956 and scored a 16 on the test. I never did identify with the boomers anyway, except for the music like Cream, Hendrix, etc.
But hey, I’ve been involved with the Internet longer than some Gen Y’ers have been born, though it was Arpanet back then.
I’m heavily involved with Second Life, been through 17 Internet related startups.
So labels to me are irrelevant.

I suppose gen x would be asked ” did you tape Friends this week” hehe, hilarious, really. How about questions like “are you able to evade all taxes except sales and service taxes?”

There is more to what generation you are a part of than how much technology you use. I think it has alot to do with your personality and the way people see the world.

It really depends on which culture you are born and raised. Its so funny that here in the US we make a big deal about text messaging. Back in the Philippines we used text messaging since 1994, and text messaging I believe became mainstream in the US back in 2002? So what’s the fuss all about? I came to the US in 2001 and when I saw a commercial on the TV regarding how “cool” text messaging is (this was back in 2002), I was stunned, this was ancient news to me, we’ve been texting back home since 1994! Its not how savvy you are regarding new technology (I am not dismissing that these new technology does not help making our lives more convenient), but its a matter on how you get the job done and your outlook in life…

i’ve always identified with gen x. we were the disenchanted ones that everyone thought we were a bunch of freaks but are now people that are running companies and defending your freedom. yes i have piercings and tattoos and listen to punk and jazz and drive a saturn and i’m on myspace (and so are most of my 30 something friends) and i have and regularly use my cell phone. i use technology where it makes my life easier and saves me trouble, and dont where it makes it more difficult,
and i still show up for work everyday and pay my bills on time and have a 401k.

I was born in 1976 and scored a 10. I’m glad to see I’m still an Xer.

This test tells you nothing. I don’t believe technologically literate people belong to just one generation. Individuals must adapt to understanding such things as text messaging, mail mergers, etc. If we didn’t, we’d all be out of a job.

I scored as a Gen Y person, which I find amusing because I am actually 43, can (for the most part) spell correctly, and can keep a job for more than week before declaring that my boss is a doofus.

Some of this test seems to be right out of the cell phone marketing manual. Not all Gen Y is a fool for cell phone gimmicks that add costs without making your life better

Funny! I’m 57 and retired, but I scored 14, which puts me in GenY. Funnier still, I can think of a number of friends my age or older who would score similarly on this quiz. Common factors: all of us are fulltime RVers equipped with lots of solar panels, all of us use Macs pretty intensively, and all of us have satellite internet setups that give us broadband access wherever we go. Gee, it’s fun to break stereotypes! ;-)

Interesting!This list would make almost every person in Japan from 60-12 a generation Y cuz the questions only cover how tech-savvy you are.

I agree with Ginny. Do we seriously have to pay for texting and sending pictures from our phones to be considered part of the newer generation? I choose instead to call friends (mostly on nights and weekends, so I can talk as long as I want for free), and use AIM and facebook (also free). Many people of the newer generation have not yet had the chance to make tons of money that they can throw away on cell phone plans.

* * * * * *
There are lots of ways for you to score in Gen Y without texting. And sending photos from your phone is free. My husband sends me photos to my email box every day.

–Penelope

Hmmm…I take issue with your scoring generations based on technology. I scored 14 and I’ll be 40 this year. My 68 year old mother scored 7…

Wow!
I scored ‘Generation Jones’ (5 points), and I’m 13. I do not IM, text, I don’t use MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, etc. I don’t send pictures from my phone, I don’t blog, and I use my phone to keep in contact with my parents.
I only scored points for making a webpage for another person, downloading illegal music, and taking pictures with my phone.
* * * * * *
<I>Hm. Interesting. I did not expect such young people to be taking the test. But I am happy to hear from you. And your results sort of make sense because you are not Generation Y. You are something else. Makes sense that you would communicate in patterns that older people would not dream up for a test like this….
Penelope</I>

Wow, now we can judge the sophistication, intelligence and maturity, of people by the gadgets they use. Then we can neatly place them into labled boxes so we can judge them as a group as to their productivity, chances of success, etc.

“Hm. Interesting. I did not expect such young people to be taking the test. But I am happy to hear from you. And your results sort of make sense because you are not Generation Y. You are something else. Makes sense that you would communicate in patterns that older people would not dream up for a test like this….
Penelope”

Well, the thing is, most of my classmates would score in Generation Y. It’s almost as if they’re addicted to IM, MySpace, cell phones, etc.

I found this site on the web that seems to have something similiar with regards to identifying ones generational affiliation…

www.generationalprofiles.com

According to the test I’m in Generation Y and that’s without a cellphone and both parents being deceased.

The description of Baby Boomers as delusional, self-centered, money-hungry people I take offense to as I am none of the above.

Baby Boomers are born from 1946 (Mothers got pregnant after World War II giving birth in 1946) to 1959. Anyone born after that may consider themselves a Baby Boomers (as my brothers do vehemently) but that’s only because nothing is cut and dry in generational flows. The Baby Boomers being so influential extend that clout into 1963/64 and some experts say even into 1966. Geez! but these are called “Shadow” boomers mainly our little brothers & sisters that follow us around EVERYWHERE!

In 1946 only 33% of Adults had their high school diploma versus 85% today and only 5% had a 4 year college degree versus 28% today. Check out the U.S. Census for more fun facts about “us” (http://www.census.gov)if you’re a woman driving playing sports, driving your own car, earning your own money thank Boomers. If you are American of African, Native, etc. thank Boomers. Boomers have done a whole lot. Yes we have A*holes, but most of us are just hard-working, goal-setting, lovers of CHOICE. Peace.

I scored 17. I was born in june 78. So I’m Gen Y according to this quiz. I feel caught between Gen X and Gen Y though.

I scored 17 and that makes me Y.

Although I will not say when I was born, suffice it to say I finished my Bachelor’s in the early 1990s. So I am supposed to be a Gen-X. A random classmate even made it to a cover story about Gen-X way back in the late 1990s in India.

How does this compute? Well I trained originally to be an engineer, so I take to technology swiftly so all tech-centric questions are bound to push me that way.

Ask some other questions about values, lingo used (not lingo familiar with, because Gen-X is sharp and we get it all, though we may not adopt it all), views on politics/ religion etc and that will begin to scratch the surface a bit more.

Any more quizzes coming then, Penelope?

How odd, I scored a 7 and I was born in 1982. I’m definitely too young to be a “Generation Jones” whatever that is. I’m thinking I’m just technologically behind for my age. Technology doesn’t necessarily reflect mindset, ideals etc usually associated with a generation.

Yea, well I scored 13 and I was born in ‘52. But my wife scores less than 6 for sure. My Dad was born in 1920 and he scores 1. Where do you put him? He uses Skype too. With a Webcam.

The premise is on target, but of course to be anything more than a parlor-game would take a lot more questions. Like I’d probably lose points for using a spell-checker. Real Gen-Yers are way ahead of the machine in that respect.

Interesting test, but you can’t change the biological statistics of when you were born just because you want to. You may identify more with one generation than another, but facts are facts. The baby boom generation ends in 1964 because the birthrate fell dramatically in 1965 from what it had been. That’s a proven statistic. Therefore, those born in 1965, 66, and 67 (who are often lumped in with young boomers) are Generation X. The so-called Jones generation is a new thing that was made up by a baby boomer who wants to have younger people in his generation so he can feel young himself. Why do you think 50 is the “new 40″?

yup, I’m a millenial. :)