You Know You're a Child of the 70s if...

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Created on Wednesday, 17 August 2011 18:46

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 September 2011 13:26

Written by Melanie Wilt

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by Melanie

Who hasn't received a Facebook page or a forwarded email that starts "You know you're a child of the 70s if..." and it goes on with a list of phrases that end the sentence with "you wanted to be on StarSearch" and "... you know what 'psyche' means."?

Fill in your decade.

We all get a good laugh about the things we thought were "cool" (or "hot" or "neat") at one time. Those generational influences are important in who we are and how we relate to society and culture. Each generation is shaped and influenced by different events, technologies and societal values. All of these things impact how we communicate and how we react to what we see, hear and feel. While we have our individual characteristics and genetic predispositions, we are largely shaped by our environments. 

I bring this up because we can effectively communicate across generations; we just may have to work a little harder. I'm no longer the youngest one around the office anymore, and when I hear things like "I read the first Harry Potter book when it came out - I was in the 4th grade," from one of my full-time, college graduate employees, it is hard not to retreat to my office and cry about how old I've gotten. And, when my 80+-year-old (amazing) grandparents wonder what the heck I do in a field as broad as PR, I should try to help them understand instead of flipping my wrist and thinking "They'll never get it."

Admittedly, I still struggle with my parent's generation. Maybe we all do. But, as a professional communicator, I do know what shaped their views and that Baby Boomers are our most influential generation in the marketplace. They vote. They buy. They even use Facebook. 

I'll work hard to stay relevant to my 6- and 3-year-olds who can't understand how any child lived without Disney on demand via DVD. (We had to wait until Sunday night's Wonderful World of Disney.) I have to listen and learn about their perspectives, because theirs are as valid as mine, albeit from another dimension in time.