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The Cheapest Generation

theatlantic.com

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Re: The Cheapest Generation

#51

Post by eli_gottlieb »

sliverstorm wrote: post #33
cenhyperion wrote: post #28

“We just think nobody truly understands them yet.” I don't think that's true. I think that auto manufacturers don't want to accept that millennials don't associate cars with freedom, independence, maturity, and sex in the same way that cars were viewed by previous generations. At most they're a way to get from point A to B for most millennials, at worst (if you're a car maker) they're viewed as dirty machines that th…

It's always weird to hear other GenY say this. At least for me, growing up cars were exactly all of those things.

If I want the "freedom feeling" of the open road and the wind in my hair, I'll get a moped or motorcycle, and ride it in some backwoods location where joyriding doesn't actually mean getting hit by an irritated commuter.

Re: The Cheapest Generation

#52

Post by cylinder »

carsongross wrote: post #14

You have to love the media: "The boomers voted themselves healthcare on their kids backs, made their kids go into crushing debt for education, put basic housing out of reach for them and look to be financing their retirement via them. How come those darn kids aren't buying cars?"

Boomers didn't enact Medicare or Social Security. Basic housing is still very much in reach; nobody is entitled to live in McMansions in high-value neighborhoods. But "basic housing" is certainly available and FHA loans should cover their purchase.

Re: The Cheapest Generation

#54

Post by narrator »

angersock wrote: post #7

Here are some scattered observations and opinions as somebody in this generation. I'm basically just dumping gut feelings here--don't expect a lot of well-written explanations. There is not a lot worth buying that is long-lasting. Most everything feels mass-produced and cheap, and the things that aren't are pretty obviously marketed at people trying to buck that trend. I don't want to pay 10x more for something witho…

>Our parents set our city planning up for failure.

The primary reason for anti-walkability is to keep "riff-raff" out of the nice suburbs. The white flight from the cities in the 60s and 70s was a huge event in American urban planning and those whites who wound up in the suburbs don't want any of that inner-city stuff they got away from downtown from mucking up their suburb. It's horrible but it's the truth. It's one of those awful little secrets of the polite suburbs, like why people get divorced, that everybody knows about but nobody wants to talk about.

Re: The Cheapest Generation

#55

Post by h0w412d »

angersock wrote: post #15
Zigurd wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That should be a TED talk

Nah, I forgot to bitch about healthcare too. :) Anyways, without a better sampling of what my peers believe, it could well be just me being grumpy. I hope that my points reflect reality, but without numbers that's just supposition.

Rationally questioning your own views first? Obviously that's a rare quality in the population or we wouldn't be in the messes you outlined above.

Re: The Cheapest Generation

#56

Post by toomuchtodo »

jseliger wrote: post #50
exit wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> in starting families the only part you lost me on. everyone i know considers the world far too precarious to start a family.

considers the world far too precarious to start a family By virtually every metric, the world is a much safer, healthier place than it used to be: http://www.amazon.com/The-Better-Angels-Our-Nature/dp/014312... .

Safer? Yes. Healthier? Yes. Stable? No. Between income/job volatility and lack of proper social safety nets (at least in the US), its a dangerous gamble to start a family unless you're in the right situation.

Re: The Cheapest Generation

#57

Post by dsugarman »

angersock wrote: post #15
Zigurd wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That should be a TED talk

Nah, I forgot to bitch about healthcare too. :) Anyways, without a better sampling of what my peers believe, it could well be just me being grumpy. I hope that my points reflect reality, but without numbers that's just supposition.

team up with Survata to gather data and publish a blog

Re: The Cheapest Generation

#58

Post by adamb_ »

One possible explanation for why Gen Y and younger aren't interested in buying cars is that the smartphone has replaced what the car once was: The primary tool for social interaction & experiencing the world.

Re: The Cheapest Generation

#59

Post by [deleted] »

angersock wrote: post #7

Here are some scattered observations and opinions as somebody in this generation. I'm basically just dumping gut feelings here--don't expect a lot of well-written explanations. There is not a lot worth buying that is long-lasting. Most everything feels mass-produced and cheap, and the things that aren't are pretty obviously marketed at people trying to buck that trend. I don't want to pay 10x more for something witho…

[deleted]

Re: The Cheapest Generation

#60

Post by krstck »

exit wrote: post #38
angersock wrote: post #7

Here are some scattered observations and opinions as somebody in this generation. I'm basically just dumping gut feelings here--don't expect a lot of well-written explanations. There is not a lot worth buying that is long-lasting. Most everything feels mass-produced and cheap, and the things that aren't are pretty obviously marketed at people trying to buck that trend. I don't want to pay 10x more for something witho…

> in starting families the only part you lost me on. everyone i know considers the world far too precarious to start a family.

I'd love to start a family, but my partner and I won't be able to afford it any time in the foreseeable future due to student loans.
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