A comment to one of my previous postings about the Net Generation was a good reminder ... while generations as a whole may take on various characteristics, not everyone in the generation takes on every characteristic that is ascribed to that generation.
Some research I found interesting labeled Net Geners as consumers who (because they are typically still young) are good at spending their parent's money. The comment pointed out that this particular Net Gener had worked 4 jobs so he did not have to ask his parents for money to go to college. I'm sure there are many like him. But there are obviously many who are not like him as well.
My daughter is a Net Gener in many ways, but she's never used or read a blog and didn't know what a wiki was. I'm sure there are many like her ... and many for whom blogs and wikis are part of everyday life.
I work with a Gen X'er who is into blogs, wikis, bulletin boards, online gaming -- you name it. He's on FaceBook and has everything imaginable on his cell phone. He's an X'er, but he acts more like the Net Generation.
I'm one of those lucky people born between generations. I'm not a Boomer, but I'm not truly an X'er either. When I look at descriptions of these two generations, I see myself in both and I can remove myself from both.
We need to remember that when we describe groups (generations), we are generalizing. It's natural to do so, but when we meet a member of that group, we shouldn't assume all the things we've heard are true about him/her. Individuals will always be unique.
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