Fellow Gen Xrs: Friend launching digital magazine aimed at Gen X - What should it discuss? (1 Viewer)

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

A Guide on How to Engage the World While Remaining Apathetic, Cynical, and Disengaged.

Would You Like To Play A Game?

Who, Currently, Has the Best Mullet?

Parachute Pants..Are They For You...or Would You Just Go Into Freefall?

The Cos's Top 10 Sweaters....#8 Will Repulse You!

Why Did The Fonz Really Jump the Shark?

 

[msudaisy26]

I am not your google. 

So you have no reason? 

Also, I wanted to know your reasons, sorry I can't Google that. 

 

[Doctor Detroit]

How did they screw us over?

Spending like drunk sailors and raising their kids to be #######.  HTH

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I'd like to blame millennials for all out troubles, but they never had much contact with the Greatest Generation like Gen X dd.  That really is the difference, the Greatest Generation raised their grandkids like they wanted to, not like society wanted them to. 

My grandparents were from the greatest generation, they instilled in me respect and caution.  They knew they ####ed up with their kids (Baby Boomers) so they tried to save humanity with their grandchildren.  Millennials are too young for this, but the best of them had GG influence. 

 

[Riversco]

Generation X was the first generation to grow up in broken homes.  Most of them lacked the relative stability of the family unit.  Millennials grew up in broken homes and also without religion, which is probably why the nazi message is resonating with them so damn well.  They have no moral base, so the crimes committed by the nazis actually get shrugged off.  Millennials are not just selfish but have no moral grounding to prevent them from blaming a minority for their problems.  I see more anti-semitism among millennials than I've ever seen in my life.  I see quite a lot of millennials rant about jews like every day now.

You start talking about the crimes the nazis committed and millennials give you a blank look and say #### you.

 

[msommer]

Generation X was the first generation to grow up in broken homes.  Most of them lacked the relative stability of the family unit.  Millennials grew up in broken homes and also without religion, which is probably why the nazi message is resonating with them so damn well.  They have no moral base, so the crimes committed by the nazis actually get shrugged off.  Millennials are not just selfish but have no moral grounding to prevent them from blaming a minority for their problems.  I see more anti-semitism among millennials than I've ever seen in my life.  I see quite a lot of millennials rant about jews like every day now.

You start talking about the crimes the nazis committed and millennials give you a blank look and say #### you.

If this doesn't start a civil war, nothing will

 

[KCitons]

Consumerism, the transition to a disposable world, and the fact that everything we grew up eating, playing with, or wearing became man made synthetic crap. And if that wasn't enough, super size it. 

 

[PIK95]

I'd like to blame millennials for all out troubles, but they never had much contact with the Greatest Generation like Gen X dd.  That really is the difference, the Greatest Generation raised their grandkids like they wanted to, not like society wanted them to. 

My grandparents were from the greatest generation, they instilled in me respect and caution.  They knew they ####ed up with their kids (Baby Boomers) so they tried to save humanity with their grandchildren.  Millennials are too young for this, but the best of them had GG influence. 

 This.

 

[jvdesigns2002]

You can't possibly have any logical reason to believe that about Millenials, and how did the boomers screw us?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/11/05/baby-boomers-are-whats-wrong-with-americas-economy/?utm_term=.eef4970664fe

I would have written my own answer--but this article hits on a lot of the ways that the boomers essentially enjoyed the fruits of the best economic run in American history--and did nothing to pass on any of the benefits of this run to the next generation. In fact--they are still sabotaging the economy for the gen x'ers/millennials by sapping up resources through Medicare and social security.  Gen x'ers will probably have to retire later or settle for fewer social security benefits if we are lucky enough for it to still be solvent when we are eligible.    While the baby boomers did a lot of great things--they also were a very selfish generation in regards to how they treated themselves economically and through the policies that occured under their watch.   

 

[mr roboto]

I'm an older millennial (83) but had gen x older brothers (73 and 74). So they were the people I looked up to. 

I definately feel more like an x-er 

 

[EYLive]

I'm an older millennial (83) but had gen x older brothers (73 and 74). So they were the people I looked up to. 

I definately feel more like an x-er 

I was born in 79 but don't find I have much in common with people that identify at Gen-Xers. And I dislike millennials quite a bit.

 

[rodg12]

I'm an older millennial (83) but had gen x older brothers (73 and 74). So they were the people I looked up to. 

I definately feel more like an x-er 

I was born in 79 but don't find I have much in common with people that identify at Gen-Xers. And I dislike millennials quite a bit.

We're Xennials.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/06/28/xennials_a_23006562/

ETA:  I actually think the upper bound is more like 85 than 83, IMO.

 

[Koya]

Is this a vanity project?  

Why does she think a magazine, even a digital one, is a good idea in this market?  Is there a market hole or need for this?  

Assuming gen x'ers have plateaued into some stability, what is there that demands magazine content?  As a borderline gen xer, there is No real need for culture content. Maybe parenting, health, retirement and/or elder care news?

but I can't see reading something like.  Tell her to start a YouTube blog and get it out of her system for a lot less money 

She's a successful, accomplished writer, local/regional media personality with a success in publishing circles.  Looking to serve a niche that to my knowledge, has not been directly explored.

Ill pass along your GenX skepticism, though.

 

[Koya]

That is easy. Gen Xers think they are better than Boomers and Millenials, so they want to exclude as many people as possible or fit into the Gen X window. 

Not so much better as opposed to neither rancidly selfish and destructive on one end nor ineffectual narcissists on the other.

 

[Koya]

We're Xennials.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/06/28/xennials_a_23006562/

ETA:  I actually think the upper bound is more like 85 than 83, IMO.

My wife was born in 85. Not close to the same experience I had growing up 13 years prior. 

 

[Smack Tripper]

She's a successful, accomplished writer, local/regional media personality with a success in publishing circles.  Looking to serve a niche that to my knowledge, has not been directly explored.

Ill pass along your GenX skepticism, though.

do you currently read any magazines?

 

[Koya]

do you currently read any magazines?

Actually yes.  Though I don't think males in a football message board will be her primary audience. It's probably a strongly female demo with whom she'd resonate most strongly. 

But still curious what some ideas may be to shoot her way. 

 

[rodg12]

My wife was born in 85. Not close to the same experience I had growing up 13 years prior. 

That's why Xennials start at like '77, GB.  I also think there is a sliding scale here based on where you grew up.  Trends happen sooner and faster in the big cities and then matriculate to the rest of the country.  I know my experience being born in '83 in Iowa is different than someone born in '83 in NYC, for example.

 

[rodg12]

Maybe that's a good magazine article...defining a Gen Xer.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Actually yes.  Though I don't think males in a football message board will be her primary audience. It's probably a strongly female demo with whom she'd resonate most strongly. 

But still curious what some ideas may be to shoot her way. 

Its not a slight on you or your friend, and believe me Im loathe to say I don't read them any more.  But its just the way it goes, it seems such a slog. 

Would this be something like a jezebel?  Where is she getting writers from?  I would think that would be a better governor in forging a voice than finding topics necessarily.

If she has a following thats great and a big leg up but it just seems like an awful market to get into now.

I get that its digital but next time you're at your newsstand, check out a rolling stone.  Its like a copy of Scholastic America

I feel like people aren't digesting information this way anymore but thats one uninformed opinion

 

[Koya]

That's why Xennials start at like '77, GB.  I also think there is a sliding scale here based on where you grew up.  Trends happen sooner and faster in the big cities and then matriculate to the rest of the country.  I know my experience being born in '83 in Iowa is different than someone born in '83 in NYC, for example.

For me, if someone's first real enduring memories happened in the 90's (I'm looking at you, ninja turtle movie fans), it ain't no Xer. 

A good point was brought up earlier about how it's the context that makes the generation... I believe like genetics vs environment it plays a very important role; but as also noted, having the greatest generation influence us Xers as our grandparents is something unique and important that is exclusive of the environmental context surrounding us. 

To that purpose, there had been such an increased velocity of change in terms of that environment, perhaps that is why 16-20 year generational labels don't work. 

I mean, how much/quickly did technologies and way of life change prior to the Second World War? We come out of an earth shattering world event and the pace just increased, exponentially.

Born in 46 without TV, with one family car (if that), no microwave...  by 1958 that was beginning to turn on its head.

Then we see the pace of change since the 70's onward, and the experience of people born 10 years apart seems generationally defining.

 

[Koya]

Its not a slight on you or your friend, and believe me Im loathe to say I don't read them any more.  But its just the way it goes, it seems such a slog. 

Would this be something like a jezebel?  Where is she getting writers from?  I would think that would be a better governor in forging a voice than finding topics necessarily.

If she has a following thats great and a big leg up but it just seems like an awful market to get into now.

I get that its digital but next time you're at your newsstand, check out a rolling stone.  Its like a copy of Scholastic America

I feel like people aren't digesting information this way anymore but thats one uninformed opinion

I hear ya GB, and don't take it personal at all.  ####, it ain't me launching this.

But she's a friend and colleague who has a proven track record... hell, maybe the F' This - A Blog for Gen X is written by Koya

 

[Foosball God]

I can't imagine reading a magazine anymore, even a digital one.

 

[Smack Tripper]

I hear ya GB, and don't take it personal at all.  ####, it ain't me launching this.

But she's a friend and colleague who has a proven track record... hell, maybe the F' This - A Blog for Gen X is written by Koya

I was an avid magazine reader, when Barnes and Noble and Borders exploded, I was in my glory, when the "lad mags" like Maxim and Stuff were only british imports, those were phenomenal.  I can't even recall the last time I've cracked open a maxim, its gotta be ten years.  But back then I could spend 3 hours or more reading mags there on a weekend

 

[Gawain]

I enjoy the term Oregon-Trail Generation for us 77-83ers (79 here).

Technology has been a big way that we define generations. Gen X generally is seen as having to deal with computers in high school or college.
We didn't have that experience. Sure they were Apple IIe, but there were computers in our lives very early.

While we didn't have the internet from the time we were young, we didn't fully experience the computer coming into our lives ex nihilo.

 

[Sweet J]

A friend of mine who has solid reporting, editing, publishing and PR chops is lunching an online platform aimed at Gen X (and our friends, as if we HAD any with our sardonic sarcasm).

From her email to me and some others she has enlisted: 

"Conceptually, the mag will bring to life how the slacker generation actually has succeeded in living well and doing good for society"

Where else has our generation almost literally grown up together as adults (for us old timers here) as in this message board... and who is doing better and more good than all of us high six figure salaried model wife having FFAers?

Seruously, I want to provide some ideas to her on topics, approach, which hair loss ads are effective.   Have at it...

hmmmmm.  Well, in answering the question, I think of what I would be interested in reading.  Which means looking at what I already read.  And what there is a "need" for.  We have plenty of places that are aimed at GenX men.  And probably plenty (I don't know, I don't read them) that are aimed at GenX women.  But how about something that could bridge the divide.

How about something like:  Esquire/Atlantic (men) crossed with Gawker (women (?) - I will leave out HuffPo, because although aimed at women, it's really a millennial thing).

That's it, I guess.  Esquire crossed with Atlantic crossed with Gawker, with a *slight* hint of HuffPo.  I'd read that.