Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Start here, say hello, and tell us a little about yourself.
jdcpapa
Posts: 190
Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 7:38 pm

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by jdcpapa »

Hello everyone,

I was getting myself up to speed on the US$ when I came upon this site. Very enlightening. I am Boomer (55).

Since health care seems to be the last post, about nine years ago, I merged my practice as a Certified Pubic Accountant to take care of my elderly parents. As an only child it proved to be very challenging. I remember all to well the Dr. having a side bar with me when my mother, who had stroked out 2 years prior (in a wheel chair requiring 24/7 care and my father was her caregiver) wanted to put my father on life support. He said: I am not trying to play God but.......Then 4 years later after I worked my mother into Medicaid and assisted living; how assisted living managed her transition and passing on. Thank God for her that I was there to keep them honest. (I gave back to the greatest generation and it took allot out of me) In the end, I believe that they implicitly hastened her death. This is what we as Boomers have to look forward to.

I am an expert witness in the area of business valuations. I put that on the back burner in 2002 to follow my passion for construction. I became a general contractor in 2001 and rode the real estate market until this year when construction crashed for my company. The BLS reported that Private Investigation will grow in excess of 20% in 5 years or so as a result, I just became a PI.

I am a master in tae kwon do. Although, I do not practice much now. I spent time in Korea training. I also went to the DMZ in the North. Quite an interesting experience. You may think, I trained ot break boards. Quite the contrary, at least 50% was the study of the passing on a behavior from one generation to the next. A true revelation. Harmony of mind,body and spirit. Looks good on paper!


Best regards,

jdcpapa

TomChemEngineer
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:01 pm

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by TomChemEngineer »

Hi Folks, this is my second try at my First Posting to the GD Forum. A friend introduced me to this site and I don't know whether to be grateful or upset about that.
I'm living in the southeast, raising a family, working for a mid-sized manufacturing company (increasingly rare in the US), and being concerned about the current state of affairs and directions.
Looking forward to some enlightenment and spirited conversations.

Boson7
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:20 pm

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by Boson7 »

Absolutely fascinating web log. Wish I had the intelligence to make more of what is posted.

Is there a search engine for past log postings? I recall a recent one in which JX mentioned a coming deflation as apposed to hyper-inflation. How could I find it again?

Regards,

Terry

John
Posts: 11478
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:10 pm
Location: Cambridge, MA USA
Contact:

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by John »

Dear Terry,

Welcome to the forum!
Boson7 wrote: > Absolutely fascinating web log. Wish I had the intelligence to
> make more of what is posted.

> Is there a search engine for past log postings? I recall a recent
> one in which JX mentioned a coming deflation as opposed to
> hyper-inflation. How could I find it again?
I mentioned this in:

** 16-Jan-10 News - Greece and Portugal head for financial crisis
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/cgi ... 16#e100116


You can also look at this article:

** Understanding deflation: Why there's less money in the world today than a month ago.
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/cgi ... 10#e070910


There's a sidebar pointing to "Related Articles" that also discuss
deflation.

You can also read through the following two forum threads:

** Financial topics
** http://generationaldynamics.com/forum/v ... p?f=14&t=2

** Inflation, deflation, gold and currencies
** http://generationaldynamics.com/forum/v ... ?f=14&t=12

Sincerely,

John

at99sy
Posts: 182
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:22 am

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by at99sy »

John
Thank you for this truly amazing forum. I have been a reader for over a year now and am continuously fascinated by the articles and insights of you and your many members. I have learned a great deal about GD and everything it relates to from the extreme diversity of threads here. At times I have found myself following links from a post and traveling 8, 10 or even a dozen pages away from your site exploring a thought or idea. The knowledge and intellect your readers bring is awe inspiring.

I am a social studies teacher in NH. I have been teaching for two years and absolutely love teaching high school kids. They are wonderful to work with and I am challenged every day to do my best. Give me a class full of angst, attitude and hormones and I am in my element. Others may enjoy elementary or middle school, but I can’t imagine not teaching high schoolers.

I spent almost 20 years in the building trades and just got sick of the job and dealing with complete incompetents in respect to project managers, architects, engineers, field supers……….. Most of these guys were in the 45-65 year age group. They had worked there way up to the point where they were in charge but they were absolutely clueless about how to run a project properly. Run it into the ground, yes, properly, no. I got tired of constantly fixing there screw-ups and not being rewarded for it I went back to school and now I am in a career that I love.

I have some questions about my generational positioning.
I was born in 1966. My parents were born in 1928 and 1932. Both knew the depression and its hardships. My dad served in WWII. He dropped out of school and lied about his age to join the Navy. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor in 1944. My parents were very frugal and almost completely risk-averse. We always had a huge garden and my mother did a great deal of canning and preserving veggies and fruits. They always paid the bills first and saved as much as they could in case of hard times. I have three much older siblings who are all in their 50’s. Definite Boomers as far as there age.

I however, being born in ’66 and have never felt a connection to ANY generation am confused as to where I fit in best. I can’t relate to the boomers and feel that they are to blame for many of the problems we have today and would have been the primary cause for our country’s financial collapse had the current mess not preempted that eventuality.
The sheer numbers of entitlements from SS and Medical programs, M-aide and M-care, not to mention the catastrophic health care costs for continuing to care for a rapidly ageing population are staggering. I also feel no connection to the Gen-x group. They seem very self absorbed and narcissistic and completely out of touch with responsibility to others, as well as presenting them selves as a group that prides itself on bashing America and pontificating the glory of socialism and any other group that is anti-America.

So just who the hell am I? I have always found that I can lead groups and take charge of situations and have put that to good use in the construction trades and am also finding it useful in the education field, although I must tread with more gentle steps due to the regulated nature of education. I am not risk averse like my parents, my community is important to me, I served my country, I love my country, I find our leadership to be a disgrace-across the board. I can see our country being destroyed from within by corporations, politicians, bankers, and international interests almost daily. I can’t see the current situation ending well. Perhaps I am just getting older and more cynical, but I am at the point where I just cannot sit by and let this keep happening. I am considering getting involved in local politics and try to have a voice of normalcy and reason in this ocean of BS that seems to insinuate itself into every aspect of our lives.

Does my age and background put me into some sort of rogue, outcast sub-class of a generation or am I just a ticked off and disgusted early Gen-xer?

I’ve gone on far too long but I really wanted to say thanks and I look forward to seeing what you think about my confusion.

SY

John
Posts: 11478
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:10 pm
Location: Cambridge, MA USA
Contact:

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by John »

Dear Sy,
at99sy wrote: > So just who the hell am I? I have always found that I can lead
> groups and take charge of situations and have put that to good use
> in the construction trades and am also finding it useful in the
> education field, although I must tread with more gentle steps due
> to the regulated nature of education. I am not risk averse like my
> parents, my community is important to me, I served my country, I
> love my country, I find our leadership to be a disgrace-across the
> board. I can see our country being destroyed from within by
> corporations, politicians, bankers, and international interests
> almost daily. I can’t see the current situation ending
> well. Perhaps I am just getting older and more cynical, but I am
> at the point where I just cannot sit by and let this keep
> happening. I am considering getting involved in local politics and
> try to have a voice of normalcy and reason in this ocean of BS
> that seems to insinuate itself into every aspect of our lives.

> Does my age and background put me into some sort of rogue, outcast
> sub-class of a generation or am I just a ticked off and disgusted
> early Gen-xer?

> I’ve gone on far too long but I really wanted to say thanks and I
> look forward to seeing what you think about my confusion.
Welcome to the forum!

It sounds like you fit the profile of an alienated but pragmatic
Generation-Xer.

However, the reason that you're so confused is because you're
actually capable of thought, and nothing that's going on in
Washington or on Wall Street, or around the world for that matter,
makes a lot of sense, as I've written many times.

I like to believe that the people who read my web site, and the people
who contribute to this forum, are all people who are capable of
thought, unlike most of the politicians, journalists, and analysts you
see on tv and in the mainstream media.

My guess is that your life will really begin to take on meaning when
the regeneracy occurs. There'll be some crisis that will require the
country to fight for its survival and way of life. The difference
between you and the people you're criticizing is that you know what
you don't know, but they have no idea what they don't know. So you'll
have a lot less to unlearn when the crisis hits, and you'll be able to
take a leadership position more quickly.

Until then, all you can do is prepare. And as I always say, treasure
the time you have left.

John

thomasglee
Posts: 686
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:07 pm
Location: Texas

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by thomasglee »

Hello! I just discovered this site today and I'm still reading through to learn more about GD.

I'm a middle-aged (42) white male, protestant; so I guess that makes me the boogie man to many, but frankly, I've been blessed with a myriad of experiences that shaped my life and developed me into the man I am (like me or not!). :-)

When I was 17 I joined the US Army and spent the the next 8 years of my life as an Infantryman visiting exotic (not!) and exciting (sometimes) places. During my travels, I would often notice how countries I visited were in various stages of development and would compare them to stages the US had gone through. I never understood that there was a theory behind all that until I came across this site. I still do not have a full grasp on the GD theory, but my cursory look thus far seems to fit with what I have noticed during my travels.

Although I do not profess to be an expert at anything, I have been traveling throughout Asia for over 20 years now and I feel I am somewhat more expert than many (non-Asians) at understanding the Asian cultures and nuances. I spend most of my time in Korea, am married to a Korean and speak the language, so if I'm more knowledgeable about any area in Asia, it will be Korea. I deal with large Korean corporations or "chaebols" regularly as well as with Korean government agencies, universities and SMB's working within Korea's high-tech electronics industries (mainly defense, some commercial).

I won't spend a lot of time in the forums chatting, but I will read through the forums and contribute whenever possible.

Thank you for providing this forum on such an interesting topic.
Psalm 34:4 - “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

thomasglee
Posts: 686
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:07 pm
Location: Texas

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by thomasglee »

at99sy wrote:John

I however, being born in ’66 and have never felt a connection to ANY generation am confused as to where I fit in best. I can’t relate to the boomers and feel that they are to blame for many of the problems we have today and would have been the primary cause for our country’s financial collapse had the current mess not preempted that eventuality.

The sheer numbers of entitlements from SS and Medical programs, M-aide and M-care, not to mention the catastrophic health care costs for continuing to care for a rapidly ageing population are staggering. I also feel no connection to the Gen-x group. They seem very self absorbed and narcissistic and completely out of touch with responsibility to others, as well as presenting them selves as a group that prides itself on bashing America and pontificating the glory of socialism and any other group that is anti-America.

So just who the hell am I? I have always found that I can lead groups and take charge of situations and have put that to good use in the construction trades and am also finding it useful in the education field, although I must tread with more gentle steps due to the regulated nature of education. I am not risk averse like my parents, my community is important to me, I served my country, I love my country, I find our leadership to be a disgrace-across the board. I can see our country being destroyed from within by corporations, politicians, bankers, and international interests almost daily. I can’t see the current situation ending well. Perhaps I am just getting older and more cynical, but I am at the point where I just cannot sit by and let this keep happening. I am considering getting involved in local politics and try to have a voice of normalcy and reason in this ocean of BS that seems to insinuate itself into every aspect of our lives.

Does my age and background put me into some sort of rogue, outcast sub-class of a generation or am I just a ticked off and disgusted early Gen-xer?

I’ve gone on far too long but I really wanted to say thanks and I look forward to seeing what you think about my confusion.

SY
Sy,

You sound a lot like me! I was born in '67 and my parents in '32 and '39. My parents were much like yours and I too can't understand boomers and feel out of place with Gen-X'ers. Both my parents were the "babies" of their families (large families... dad was youngest of 12 and mom youngest of 13) and very poor when growing up. They themselves didn't recall too much the depression or even WWII (my dad remembered seeing all his older brothers leave and his sisters crying over their husbands/boyfriends going off to war), but they sure new of the hardships of it. I guess I too am an "alienated" Gen-X'er having been raised by parents that weren't boomers but I guess were the silent ones of their age.

I work in international business and travel a lot. I often think teaching would be a great experience and have considered it. I think I would have to teach HS aged kids too as I enjoy feedback and many of our high-school aged kids of today are clearly going to be the next "Greatest Generation".
Psalm 34:4 - “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

at99sy
Posts: 182
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:22 am

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by at99sy »

thomasglee wrote:

I work in international business and travel a lot. I often think teaching would be a great experience and have considered it. I think I would have to teach HS aged kids too as I enjoy feedback and many of our high-school aged kids of today are clearly going to be the next "Greatest Generation".
[/quote]

I love teaching the HS kids. They are more in touch with many things than there parents are. These kids recognize that something is completely
whacked and it is getting their attention. It really got there attention one day when we had a class discussion about the massive govt. debt. A student asked who was going to pay for it. When I said that she was, the entire class latched onto the unfairness of the entire Fed,treasury,congressional ponzi scheme. I had to settle them down as I felt like they wanted to storm the WH and burn it to the ground. And this was two years ago,in a poor school district with some very bright but economically disadvantaged compared to many near by districts. Prior to the '08 meltdown.
I have very high expectations for my students and they know it. These are going to be some pretty tough nuts to crack in a few years.

richard5za
Posts: 893
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:29 am
Location: South Africa

Re: Welcome to the Generational Dynamics Forum!

Post by richard5za »

Your work is appreciated, John
I live in Johannesburg, am 63 years old, retired from corporate life, and now work for a charity in Early Childhood Development for the under privelidged. I do their administration, finances and general management. I tried taking a sabatical but was miserable within 4 months and needed to go back to work, but not the very demanding CEO job I had with a corporate. This charity job is an 8 to 5 job that I can do until I'm old, assuming that my health holds.

Each morning when I arrive at the office I spend the first half hour catching up on International news, especially the financial news, and I must say that John's work is a very useful part of my morning read.

Like a number of other people, John, I wanted to say just how much your hard work is appreciated. Thank you.

Richard

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