Generation Y

My generation has two labels that are often used interchangeably: Generation Y and the Millennial Generation.  For reasons I don't fully understand, I don't mind Generation Y and I despise the term Millennial.

The term Generation Y originated as the logical follow up to Generation X.  This makes sense to me.  Plus, I like the potential for "Generation Why?" as a play on words.  Millennial sounds much more like it was created as a marketing tool.  "Millennial" sounds "hip" and "cool" and kids will "dig" that "noise."  [Vomits.]  Sorry, that just doesn't open quote jive close quote with me.

Maybe part of the reason I don't like Millennial is because I'm at the beginning of my generation.  Depending on who you ask, Generation Y begins around 1982 (though possibly as early as 1979 or as late as 1983) and ends around 2000, though it's hard for me to think that a thirteen-year-old and I are in the same generation.  The term Generation Y appeared first, back in 1993, and I was exposed to it first.  The term Millennial appeared in, you guessed it, 2000.  I feel that the older term fits better, but it seems to have fallen out of favor.  Being an older member of Generation Y, I think I may be set in my ways.  Millennial sounds too new.  I'm in my thirties and I don't think too many new things apply to me.  Personally, I feel that the generation should be split and Generation Y covers the first half (including me) and the Millennial Generation covers the second half.

Either way, we're not the best group of people.  Based on my readings, Generation Y-ers or Millennials tend to be more narcissistic than previous generations.  We tend to be more tolerant and accepting of others.  We tend not to have strong philosophical views or to be very religious.  Entitlement is a major issue with my compatriots as is procrastination.  We tend to delay both getting married or starting careers when compared to past generations.  We also tend to put a very high value on entertainment.  Anxiety in some form is more prevalent than with previous generations.

Ultimately, I think I like Generation Y better because I adopted the term when I heard it and I feel that Millennial was thrust upon me.  And, as is common among my generation, I don't like being forced into anything.