snowflakes

I've never heard the term used, either on GN or in general. I have though often heard people described as flakey and have used that term myself to describe someone rather pathetic who can't deal with the least little adversity that life throws at you.

Flaky is quite a different concept from snowflake. And the latter has been used on GN in a derogatory fashion to criticise not only the young but other GNers. It would be nice if we could just agree that its not a good word to use, full stop.

But neither is 'baby boomer' because it lumps a whole generation of people with differing education/personalities/lives/expectations etc all together as well.

Or 'helicopter parents' etc etc.

They all seem to be internet jargon and, if used more on MN than here, then who is accusing whom of being 'snowflakes'


The technical term is selective amnesia
That may describe DH quite well, although the GP described it as 'selective hearing'.
He is not one of the younger generation.

The technical term is selective amnesia
That would seem to describe DH, although the GP did describe it as 'selective hearing'
He is not young btw.

what happened there?
it wouldn't post
sorry, being a bit 'wafty'

I agree Jalima that words and phrases like baby boomer etc are just as unacceptable as snowflake in their different ways. Baby boomer as you say does not describe a whole generation but I do wonder if there is something more 'lip curling' and disdainful about the use of snowflake? Snowflake has been used derogatorily on here no matter who says otherwise- I don't care about its use on MN - and I don't think it should be - whether its aimed at young people or other GNers,

I haven't really seen it and perhaps a riposte such as 'millions of snowflakes can move mountains' - or just ignore if it is aimed at you.

I don't particularly like the use of 'Gen Y' - who coined all these generational terms, was it to set one generation against another?

Exactly - it's divisive and lazy and deflects from serious debate and analysis.

I don't think the generation names are 'internet jargon' as they are used in Psychology and behavior management and, I have a feeling, in marketing too.

This is an example of names that are used.

The Lost Generation/The Generation of 1914: 1890-1915
The Interbellum Generation: 1901-1913
The Greatest Generation: 1910-1924
The Silent Generation: 1925-1945
Baby Boomer Generation: 1946-1964
Generation X (Baby Bust): 1965-1979
Xennials - 1975-1985
Generation Y/The Millennials/Gen Next: 1980-1994
iGen/Gen Z: 1995-2012
Gen Alpha: 2013-2025

Depending on who you reference the names can be different but the date remain very much the same as they are influenced major cultural, political, and economic events.

Although some do refer to those born either side of 2000 as "the snowflake generation" it is unhelpful and pejorative. The idea of understanding 'a generation' is about understanding the greatest influences on their younger years and therefore giving us understanding about how they will behave in a given set of circumstances.

the dates remain very much the same as they are influenced by major cultural, political, and economic events.

Interesting. I never knew I was meant to be Silent - nobody told me.

I am taking note and will now log off

Not meant to be silent Jalima but influenced by growing up in the days when children where "seen and not heard", i.e., "silent". Also seen as the group not in the war but growing up during it. Sometimes called Traditionalists.

38 degrees - the angle at which a pile of snowflakes becomes an avalanche.