3 questions that reveal which generation you belong to

December 1, 2017 at 9:22PM
Sony's first Walkman from 1979. Thirty years ago this month, the Sony Corporation made a huge contribution to human interaction by ensuring there was less of it. No longer would people who did not want to engage the world have to stick fingers in both ears and say, over and over, "La, la, la, I'm not listening!" Thanks to Sony, they now had a portable stereo device called the Walkman, which allowed them to block the sounds of their surroundings with a very private cassette recording of, say, Sup
Sony’s first Walkman from 1979. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

How did you listen to your music?

Baby boomers: LPs and, later, eight-tracks.
Gen X: Mix tapes — on your Sony Walkman.
Xennials: Burned CDs — on your Discman.
Millennials: Pirated tracks — on your iPod.
Gen Z: Whatever you want, however you want, via Apple Music, Spotify, etc.

How did you watch 'Star Wars'?

Baby boomers: It was something your kids made you do.
Gen X: Saw the original trilogy in the theater.
Xennials: Watched the trilogy on VHS, which you taped off the TV or got from a rental store.
Millennials: Saw the prequels in the theater, and thought Jar Jar Binks was cute.
Gen Z: Got your parents to pre-order tickets for you to see "The Last Jedi" next week.

How did you meet friends at the mall?

Baby boomers: Rode there together in your Corvette.
Gen X: Showed up at a specified time and location and hoped they did, too.
Xennials: If they didn't show up, you paged them from a pay phone.
Millennials: Texted them from your cellphone.
Gen Z: The mall?

about the writer

about the writer

Sharyn Jackson

Reporter

Sharyn Jackson is a features reporter covering the Twin Cities' vibrant food and drink scene.

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