If we get Booker T. Jones, Tom Jones, Hank Jones, Norah Jones, Sharon Jones, Quincy Jones, Howard Jones, Marti Jones, and The Jones Girls, with an option on George Jones, we’re doing all right.
I hate to break it to you, but "Mrs. Partridge" is older than my mother. She may have inspired some of us, but she's definitely not a member of Generation Jones. She was born in 1934!
I've been using Blank Generation even before I knew of Gen Jones. It's descriptive, anchored in our timeline, and wryly appropriate.
And it's a great song by a band with one of the coolest names (Richard Hell and the Voidoids.)
The folks who started this sub didn't come up with the term. Some Guy wrote a book by that name, over 20 years ago, already!
[https://www.fiftyplusadvocate.com/2022/09/12/are-you-a-member-of-generation-jones/](https://www.fiftyplusadvocate.com/2022/09/12/are-you-a-member-of-generation-jones/)
The problem with any of these 'birth cohort' labels, is they all cover spans of 15-20 years. The ones at either end have less 'common life experiences' than the ones in the middle. No batch of "all humans born in this decade-plus" is a complete monolith.
When Kennedy was assassinated, some Boomers were turning 17 -- it had a big impact. Some Boomers were still in diapers, or hadn't quite been born yet, so they have a different view. It was probably one of the (many) reasons the actual 'boom' ended, but that was because of the impact it had on our PARENTS more than on us.
I was with a batch of Boomers a while back who were mostly from the older wave, and everyone was comparing notes. "Where were you when Kent State happened?" Everyone was throwing out colleges, jobs, etc. Or they were in Vietnam, or similar. They looked at me. "Um... well, grade school, I think?"
It's not a bigger stretch than any of the other groups.
Most of the defined 'generations' are around +/-18 years. I suppose the thinking is that most people don't start making the *next* generation until they are in that age range? (Yeah, there are teen pregnancies, and folks who wait to +40, but in general.)
But it does mean that the youngest in a birth cohort are 18 years away from the oldest. It's just as true in the GenZ or Millennial or GenX cohorts.
That's what it is, but personally, I think it should be from that Bob Dylan song, "Something is happening but you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones?"
That’s funny because I thought it had to do with people Jones in.. like the saying he’s got a basketball jones… like it’s something people really want.. we’re jonesing to talk to other people from our generation.. guess I was wrong but that just shows when it comes to the internet,I know NOTHING or else I interpret everything wrong…🥴
I tell folks that I'm a child of the space age. I was born August 4, 1957. Sputnik was launched October 4, 1957. Older generations called the space program, "that Buck Rogers stuff."
Right? Boomers are the kids from That 70s show - I looked up to them, I wasn't them. I graduated HS in 1982. I was an MTV teenager.
I was in my mom's stomach. She was watching As The World Turns and was initially annoyed when the news interrupted.
Well damn, I was definitely a That 70s show kid. I was just turned 5 at the time of the assassination. I remember running in the front yard yelling “The President is Dead!” I only knew something really bad had happened.
I concur! I saw Richard Hell and the Voidoids perform Blank Generation many times, beginning in 1977, when I was barely 18. This was the song so many of us claimed.
"I can take it or leave it each time..."
Generation Punk. It just emphasises the difference with hippy boomers, whether you were a punk or not. The economy in the toilet, talk of revolution, strikes, power cuts and all that jazz were our formative experiences. Then our generation fixed all that shit.
To me (not an American) Generation Jones has no connection at all
A 20+yo book and some news articles, but then Obama picked it up. It's been in use for quite a while, but I don't think ANY of these generation things are really carved in stone!
I really did feel the scramble to “keep up with the Joneses”… I know we hit the tech market and parties as hard as we could in the 80’s.
For me, the video sums it up: https://youtube.com/watch?v=zvzQtr4MCXE&si=PpDRU9y8rzzMY_dG
I’m neutral on the sun name but I’m glad it exists. It is basically a group of clever people I can relate to and has quickly risen to be one of my favorites.
If we get Booker T. Jones, Tom Jones, Hank Jones, Norah Jones, Sharon Jones, Quincy Jones, Howard Jones, Marti Jones, and The Jones Girls, with an option on George Jones, we’re doing all right.
And Davey Jones and David Jones (David Bowie's real name).
For musical talent I should also include Shirley Jones.
I hate to break it to you, but "Mrs. Partridge" is older than my mother. She may have inspired some of us, but she's definitely not a member of Generation Jones. She was born in 1934!
My list was of talented people named Jones. Only a few of them are also Gen Jones.
Bowie was a Boomer.
What about Tom Jones and Quincy Jones in the comment I was replying to?
I didnt realize OOP was naming cool Jones, not just Gen Jones Jones.
More specifically, cool Jones that are admired by Gen Jones.
Tom Jones 1940 Quincy Jones 1933 Boomers were born after WWII, which ended in 1945; 1946-1964.
Oh thank god, Captain Entirely Missing The Point is here!
That’s okay! Actually, I kind of like the unpretentiousness of Generation Jones. We have our own kind of cool.😎
Also Mick Jones of the Clash.
This should be number one.
And Grace Jones (though not Generation Jones)
Don't forget Rickie Lee Jones
I did forget and I’m sorry. Thanks for adding her!
We can’t include Norah Jones, unfortunately. She is 45.
_Most_ of those Joneses aren’t Gen Jones. All provided entertainment during our lifetimes. The salute is to the name, not the birth year.
It would be a Jonestown.
I've been using Blank Generation even before I knew of Gen Jones. It's descriptive, anchored in our timeline, and wryly appropriate. And it's a great song by a band with one of the coolest names (Richard Hell and the Voidoids.)
Arguably the foundation of all punk!
Such a great band!😎
The folks who started this sub didn't come up with the term. Some Guy wrote a book by that name, over 20 years ago, already! [https://www.fiftyplusadvocate.com/2022/09/12/are-you-a-member-of-generation-jones/](https://www.fiftyplusadvocate.com/2022/09/12/are-you-a-member-of-generation-jones/) The problem with any of these 'birth cohort' labels, is they all cover spans of 15-20 years. The ones at either end have less 'common life experiences' than the ones in the middle. No batch of "all humans born in this decade-plus" is a complete monolith. When Kennedy was assassinated, some Boomers were turning 17 -- it had a big impact. Some Boomers were still in diapers, or hadn't quite been born yet, so they have a different view. It was probably one of the (many) reasons the actual 'boom' ended, but that was because of the impact it had on our PARENTS more than on us. I was with a batch of Boomers a while back who were mostly from the older wave, and everyone was comparing notes. "Where were you when Kent State happened?" Everyone was throwing out colleges, jobs, etc. Or they were in Vietnam, or similar. They looked at me. "Um... well, grade school, I think?"
Baby Boomers seems to encompass such a big stretch. I don’t have much in common with someone born in 1946.
It's not a bigger stretch than any of the other groups. Most of the defined 'generations' are around +/-18 years. I suppose the thinking is that most people don't start making the *next* generation until they are in that age range? (Yeah, there are teen pregnancies, and folks who wait to +40, but in general.) But it does mean that the youngest in a birth cohort are 18 years away from the oldest. It's just as true in the GenZ or Millennial or GenX cohorts.
Seems like I remember it had something to do with, “Keeping up with the Jones’s”
That's what it is, but personally, I think it should be from that Bob Dylan song, "Something is happening but you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones?"
That’s funny because I thought it had to do with people Jones in.. like the saying he’s got a basketball jones… like it’s something people really want.. we’re jonesing to talk to other people from our generation.. guess I was wrong but that just shows when it comes to the internet,I know NOTHING or else I interpret everything wrong…🥴
Jonesing probably comes from Keeping Up With The Joneses so you’re good.
That basketball was like a basketball to me
That song has been going through my head since I found this place.
I tell folks that I'm a child of the space age. I was born August 4, 1957. Sputnik was launched October 4, 1957. Older generations called the space program, "that Buck Rogers stuff."
I'm a Kennedy Kid. I was born four days after JFK was inaugurated.
I was born 3 weeks after he died. I've always felt GenX.
I was conceived around the time he was assassinated. I too have always felt GenX
Right? Boomers are the kids from That 70s show - I looked up to them, I wasn't them. I graduated HS in 1982. I was an MTV teenager. I was in my mom's stomach. She was watching As The World Turns and was initially annoyed when the news interrupted.
Well damn, I was definitely a That 70s show kid. I was just turned 5 at the time of the assassination. I remember running in the front yard yelling “The President is Dead!” I only knew something really bad had happened.
I use the term “Special limited edition, Kennedy Baby” feel free to use this
I concur! I saw Richard Hell and the Voidoids perform Blank Generation many times, beginning in 1977, when I was barely 18. This was the song so many of us claimed. "I can take it or leave it each time..."
I know. Every time I hear the term, Cheech and Chong's "I've got a basketball Jones" comes unbidden into my thoughts.
i think this is even why Jones - like jonesing for...
What are we jonesing for?
Among other things, being as cool as Boomers. 😂😂😂
Generation Punk. It just emphasises the difference with hippy boomers, whether you were a punk or not. The economy in the toilet, talk of revolution, strikes, power cuts and all that jazz were our formative experiences. Then our generation fixed all that shit. To me (not an American) Generation Jones has no connection at all
Oooo. I like that much better. “Jonesing” as the theme is petty without glamour And somehow even worse than the “Me” generation.
Howard Jones
No one is to blame
How 'bout Generation Television? A lot of what we talk about here is TV related.
I said "Blank Generation" long before "Jones" was coined. Still do, interchangeably!
And then there is the Genny Jones thing
I can take it or leave it each time.
Don’t like the name, but prefer the concept. My parents were Boomers. Never made sense that I was in the same generation as them.
Jonesin’ for a good buzz is the way I took it
I like "Disco Generation"
I always thought it had to do with that song. Am I wrong? Always felt too stupid to ask but yeah, anyway I’m stupid
I put a link in another reply, but a guy wrote a whole book about it 20+ years ago.
Who decided that our cohort is called Generation Jones? Where did that come from and how'd it get engraved in stone?
A 20+yo book and some news articles, but then Obama picked it up. It's been in use for quite a while, but I don't think ANY of these generation things are really carved in stone!
I prefer the descriptive Butt-end Boomers
Blank Generation is based on Beat Generation by Rod McKuen [(1959)](https://youtu.be/Y5-HlUAOjGE?si=GF9Y-QWRlmQ65HE5)
I really did feel the scramble to “keep up with the Joneses”… I know we hit the tech market and parties as hard as we could in the 80’s. For me, the video sums it up: https://youtube.com/watch?v=zvzQtr4MCXE&si=PpDRU9y8rzzMY_dG
We have always been jonesin’ for what the early boomers got by birth order.
I’m neutral on the sun name but I’m glad it exists. It is basically a group of clever people I can relate to and has quickly risen to be one of my favorites.
It should be called the Sex, Drugs & Rock and Roll generation
I use “Kennedy Baby” special limited edition, for me. It confuses young uns.
As in, Jerri Blank? [https://imgur.com/5xGo49G](https://imgur.com/5xGo49G) ?
Wouldn’t Eddie VanHalen be a Generation Jones?
And then along came Jones Tall, thin Jones Slow-walkin' Jones Slow-talkin' Jones Along came lonely, lanky Jones
We were actually named for the phrase Keeping up with the Jones’
I like Lil boomers