People across all generations are separated by nothing but pop culture, and I can prove it:
Let’s say you’re 14 years old and you say, “Justin Bieber rules!”
Here are three potential responses and what each says about me, from your point of view:
- I volley back with, “Baaay-bee, baaaay-bee, baaay-bee oooh… grow a brain!”
We can disagree about Bieber and still be friends. - I say, “Isn’t he that 12 year old Canadian guy?”
Our relationship, if we have one, will be marked by you periodically making fun of me for being “out of it.” Ditto if I respond, “Is that guy still around,” setting up a “Justin Bieber, not Timberlake!” retort. - I look at you and say, “I don’t know who that is and I don’t care.”
You see me as hopeless. We’re off to a very bad start.
The scenario is equally hopeless if I say, “Tribe Called Quest rules!” and you come back with, “Tribe called what? Is that a Seth Godin thing?”
Maybe more so.
And that, my friends, is about as real as the generational divide gets.
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I'm Jason. I make people shine. My mission is to help 1 million people tell their stories better. 
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@Willy—Best. comment. ever.
A very big divide indeed because this is the first time I have _no_ idea or understanding of what you wrote!
Thomas
This.
And to add: it goes both ways. If someone were to say “Let’s make a SHOW!!” you can imagine whose memory would instantly reference the legendary pairing of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.
@Thomas—Thanks for helping me make my point!
@TheJillianSays—Judy Garland? Don’t you mean Dorothy Gale?
Tribe Called Quest does rule!
I agree! A quick glance at People magazine gets me ready to bond with the young folks at family gatherings and other social events. As I get older, I have noticed that the “young folks” get older too. It used to just be the under 15-years old crowd who looked at me as if I were the Crypt Keeper if I mentioned being alive and having a personal recollection of JFK’s assassination. ( “You were alive THEN??” ) Now, folks in their 40s have that reaction. For the record, electricity preceded me.
@Hollster—I can find El Segundo on a map b/c of those guys.
@Jim—People, huh? Might I suggest Us? Or Star? You’ll want to shoot yourself in the face, but at least you’ll have an ability to connect with them young ‘uns.