By Ginny Raue
WEST MILFORD — Our time and place on this earth, and the social mores and events of the era, have a significant impact on who we are and how we think. Perhaps that’s why a 75-year old doesn’t understand today’s trend towards instant gratification and a 20-year old can’t relate to a military draft or gas rationing. Time and happenstance divide the generations.
Christopher Kane is a life-long resident of West Milford. He currently lives with his parents, Sean and Anne Kane, and his brothers, Jason and Kevin. He graduated from DePaul Catholic High School then earned a degree in business administration from Rider University. He is employed as a customer support representative for Bloomberg LP.
At age 22, Kane falls into the Generation Y category. Defined as those born between 1982-2002, they are also called Millennials. From the Silent Generation through the Baby Boomers, each generation has its legacy. Kane graciously agreed to speak, from his perspective, about his generation.
Messenger: What’s the most significant difference between your generation and Baby Boomers?
Kane: “The biggest difference between our generations is that mine is far more open to change and progression. Baby Boomers tend to want things to stay as is, not upset the balance.”
Messenger: Do Gen Ys stay up on current events?
Kane: “Although many of my generation, including myself, are not as well versed in current events as we should be, I do think that those who choose the Internet as their source of news are much more up to date because the info is current and fast moving.”
Messenger: Friends and family used to get together, talk on the phone or over a back fence. Technology has lessened face-to-face interactions. Has anything been lost? Is there a disconnect?
Kane: “I do believe that in the modern age we have lost a lot of personal connection with other people through the rise of electronic communication. While this communication is very efficient in the world of business, there are downsides to it. I believe that in previous years people had stronger personal relationships due to their higher levels of personal contact and interaction. These days, with people constantly talking from behind a screen, I believe that some have become desensitized to the needs and complexities of other people.”
Messenger: What do you see in your future? Peace, discord among nations? Is it different from past generations?
Kane: “As sad as this is to admit, I unfortunately foresee many years of unrest and discord between the many nations of this world. I believe that our religious and political differences have driven our societies so far apart that another great war is inevitable. However, this is something we do have in common with the previous generations as they have dealt with this kind of threat before.”
Messenger: Your grandparents probably had to duck under their school desks for atom bomb air raid drills. Can you relate to that?
Kane: “The closest example I can think of in my lifetime would be in high school when we had to perform active shooter drills to deal with the situation of a gunman in the school.”
Messenger: What do you fear most about the future – things older people didn’t have to think about at your age?
Kane: “Our government becoming oppressive and forcing things upon its citizens.”
Messenger: Do you think that older people understand the changes in male/female roles?
Kane: “I sometimes feel like the older generations have had difficulty adjusting to the different gender roles in our society. In my experience, elderly gentlemen have had a hard time accepting a woman in a position of power, no matter what the context is.”
Messenger: Do you think your generation is more accepting of differences among people?
Kane: “I do feel that while my generation may have trouble understanding certain key points in history, I do believe that we are able to see the errors made in our country’s past and have therefore become much more accepting of people who are different from ourselves.”
Messenger: Today a Gen Y with advanced technical skill may be a supervisor over a 50-year-old. How does that play out?
Kane: “I believe that some members of an older generation may have issues with taking orders from someone younger than them as they may view that person as inferior to them. However, in some situations, this is the best possible solution as the job should be given to the person best suited, regardless of age.
Messenger: Do you feel that belonging to an organized religion is as important to Gen Ys as it older generations?
Kane: “I feel that many members of my generation feel that strictly regimented and organized religion is a thing of the past and have opted for a much more open system of worship.”
Messenger: Your generation has been referred to as emotionally fragile, impatient and spoiled. Fair or unfair?
Kane: “I do agree that my generation has become very spoiled and unable to take care of themselves. However, I believe this is the fault of the generation who raised us and it was their job to teach us not only what is right and wrong but how to take care of ourselves. I do not think, however, that we are emotionally fragile because we have dealt with much harsher realities in our lifetime than in the past.”
Messenger: Sum up your generation’s strengths and weaknesses.
Kane: “Our greatest strength would be our ability to absorb and process information and learn new skills. Our biggest fault would be our resistance to accept our mistakes and take help from someone else.”
Messenger: Is your generation less concerned about privacy; Face Book, social networking, etc?
Kane: “My generation has become desensitized to invasion of privacy with a lot of our personal lives broadcast over the Internet. We feel we have nothing to hide from the world.”
Messenger: By 2025 Gen Y will make up 75 percent of the workforce. What changes do you see?
Kane: “Communication will be much more digital and paper publications will be gone. Also, there may be serious shifts in gender and race roles.”
Messenger: Is it important for generations to understand each other?
Kane: “While there are great differences between our generations, I believe that we can learn a lot from each other if we can make the conscious effort to put aside our personal feelings and frustrations and genuinely listen to what the other has to say.”
So there’s a peek at a Gen Y’s thoughts. Perhaps Kane’s insight in his final statement goes to the crux of the matter. From the 90-year-old down the block to the high school kid next door, each generation can learn something from the other - and maybe grow from the experience.