Don't fall into generational labelling trap!

Beware, the pop psychologists and generational labellers are after you! Now it's "the millennials".

From BNET: The generation of workers born roughly between 1977 and 1995, known as millennials or Generation Y, represents the biggest shift in the U.S. workforce since the baby boomers came of age. Eighty-million strong, they will soon account for the majority of American workers, especially as boomers start to retire.

OK, that sounds fine, doesn't it? This group of people will soon be the majority of workers. But does this matter? And why are we - or they - choosing to look at only this segment of the workforce? Why only people born between 1977 and 1995? What is significant here?

Nothing, absolutely nothing. Look at it this way: they remain human beings. They have the same physiology we have had for perhaps a million years. They have emotions. They also have wants and needs, starting with the basics like food and shelter. They are just like us. So trash this labelling scam, please, and start addressing people as individuals!

Not convinced? Well why don't we include people born in 1976? How are they different? Or 1975? Who decided upon this cut-off and why? Was it because of some genetic shift in our genome? Was there a cultural revolution? No?

Well apparently they are different because "experts" say so. One expert says: millennials are team-oriented, eager to tackle huge challenges, and quite particular about their leaders. “They won’t do something just because you say, ‘I’m the manager,’” Smith says. “On the other hand, they’ll work hard for someone who truly mentors them.”

How odd. Team oriented? That's insane! Imagine that, human beings that are team-oriented. That's never happened before. Eager to tackle huge challenges, too. Like no-one has ever done this before, eh? And choosy about leaders... hmmm. But if you are a good mentor it's OK, you'll get respect. How counter-intuitive. Basically that "expert" has spewed out nonsense that's as convincingly bland as the definitions of astrological sun signs. Folks, this is a con.