How Gen Y are you?
May 24th 2009 08:45
"You are so Gen Y," my friend Cathy told me yesterday.
I didn't know whether to say thank you or argue. I didn't really know what she meant. Until fairly recently, I didn't even know what the term Gen Y meant.
I decided on an intelligent and diplomatic response delivered in a friendly but enquiring tone. "Huh?" I said.
Before giving her reply, I should explain the circumstances. We had been discussing business. Cathy runs a consulting business of the mature and established type. She provides and implements marketing and promotional strategies to government, semi-government, public, private and intergalactic organisations. When it comes to business contacts, Cathy knows everybody.
I run a corporate blogging business which has been around for quite a few weeks now and provides a great deal of hope that some day we may do business with government, semi-government, public, private and intergalactic organisations. As for business contacts, I know Cathy.
So while she spends her days ruling the world for her clients, I spend mine writing blog material for potential clients. I work hard at it, and on occasions, when deep in meaningful word smithing, I ignore the phone because I don't want to disturb the creative flow.
"Why don't you answer your phone any more?" asked Cathy.
I tried to explain the need for prioritising creation over conversation. I have a business partner whose job is to sell our blogging service. My job is to write, and I can do it more effectively when uninterrupted. Cathy was silent for a moment so I added, "You can always email me," I said. "I prefer emails to phone calls anyway."
Oops. That's when she accused me of being Gen Y. Huh? "Because," she said, "Gen Y people prefer social media and texting to phone calls."
I still don't know whether to say thank you or argue. How Gen Y am I? How Gen Y are you?
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Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
Adventure Toes
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Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I have had friends say how irritated they are when people leave "urgent emails" and assume they are sitting at their computers.
This whole thing is causing a big communication break down even though there is much more communication ability in place these days.
I think (for what it is worth) that, even though it seems like double-shuffling, that people should contact people by phone as well - or text them if something is urgent. Not everyone is sitting by their computers every minute and if they are, it doesn't mean that they will go into their emails every minute they are sitting there.
It's not a generation thing. It's a practical thing.
There - that my two bobs worth.
Comment by samaritan
Fringe Faith
Samaritan's Stories
That said, I think there also has to be real communication. You just don't get the same sense of speaking to someone through emails. My sister has spent a lot of time overseas, and even though we might write emails to each other all the time, there is a big difference when we actually manage to speak on the phone with each other. It's nice to hear someone's voice, I think.
Samaritan
Comment by Chris Champion
LettersToNorm
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
You and me together, honorary members of Gen Y. I'm speechless too
Hi Janet,
I think the real issue for me is the assumption by some people that we all should be available all the time.
Hi Samaritan,
As I said to Janet, busy people can be annoyed when they can't cross "Call Bill" off their To Do List because Bill won't answer his phone. Where the heck is Bill?
I'd get rid of my mobile phone, truly I would, except I really want an iPhone
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
if i get an email or sms or voicemail or PM or even IM from someone i do want to talk i pick up the phone and ring them, its much easier typing, and i like to ask questions
i talk on the phone for hours every day, but only to a select few . . . if i really like you ill knock on your front door
Comment by Chris Champion
LettersToNorm
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
There is a scene in West Wing where President Bartlet says to a visiting leader, the president of Russia or China or some such, something like, "Let us sit and talk as men do."
Not even the great Aaron Sorkin could make that gender correct, but politically correctness be damned when sentiment of such profound significance is being expressed. At all levels of life, humans must "sit and talk as men do". If we did not, we'd spend a lot more time dropping bombs on each other.
It's about connecting and understanding, and that's just what you do on the phone each day. That's normal.
But here's the thing: I'm not normal. I don't like spoken communication. In my script, Jed Bartlet would have said, "Let us sit and email as men do."
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
i think Kevin Rudd should take up emailing so he doesnt have to jet-set around the world so often
i bet theres a few people you indulge in spoken communication with, just maybe not work related
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
You had me at the picture, but your response even more priceless!
Y not?
Lilla . .
Comment by Chris Champion
LettersToNorm
Vyoos
Zoomies
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I hadn't thought of it as a good line until you pointed it out. Now I'm really proud of it