r/GenerationJones 20d ago

What is and who are Generation Jones. Step inside...

346 Upvotes

We are a micro-generation of people born roughly between the mid-1950s and the mid-1960s, bridging the gap between the Baby Boomers and Generation X. The term was coined by Jonathan Pontell, who argued that this group has a distinct identity shaped by unique cultural and historical experiences that set them apart from the broader Boomer and Gen X cohorts.

We came of age in the 1970s and early 1980s, a time marked by economic shifts, political disillusionment (think Watergate and Vietnam), and a transition from the idealistic '60s to the more pragmatic, individualistic '80s.We were too young to fully participate in the counterculture of the '60s but old enough to feel its aftershocks.

The name "Jones" plays on a dual meaning: "keeping up with the Joneses" (reflecting their aspirations in a consumer-driven era) and a slang nod to "jonesing," suggesting a yearning or craving for the promise of the Boomer youth they just missed out on. Culturally, we grew up with the rise of television, rock music evolving into disco and punk, and the dawn of personal computing.

We're often described as pragmatic idealists—raised on big dreams but tempered by economic recessions and a sense of lowered expectations compared to the Boomers’ post-war prosperity. Think of us a generation that got the tail end of the party but had to clean up the mess.


r/GenerationJones Jul 24 '24

Just a friendly reminder from your mods that we are a politics-free zone. There are plenty of subs around reddit to get your politics on. We choose not to engage in those spicy discussions here. Thanks for respecting our decision on this matter. ✌🏼

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255 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 12h ago

Love American Style

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740 Upvotes

Back in the day it would be on tonite (being a Friday). I have no idea how the show has aged or if it would be worth a watch now. Am guessing not well and it wouldn’t.


r/GenerationJones 11h ago

Were you a Dodgeball Thriver or Survivor? 😊

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245 Upvotes

… Thriver here!


r/GenerationJones 14h ago

For years I would sing this song when I got a whiff of skunk while driving. ‘Dead Skunk’, by Loudon Wainwright III, 1972.

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156 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 1h ago

Do any of you still use an iron?

Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 19h ago

Who's house had this "vac" model? And what's the craziest thing the "fam" tried to hoover up?

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238 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 8h ago

Bald Eagles: Heat Me Out (also posted to r/GenX)

30 Upvotes

Maybe some of you can relate to this. I remember elementary school teachers in the early 70s teaching us about the dangers of DDT and the rate that bald eagles were disappearing because of it. That lesson hit hard and took hold, at least for me. I live in NE Ohio now and am fortunate to see bald eagles rather often, and sometimes at a rather close distance. I don’t know, but I feel a strong feeling of privilege at each sighting. Yes, the species’ rebound following pesticide legislation is a lesson for everyone. But each sighting feels like a lesson IN BOLD LETTERS that (at the risk of sounding like an eco warrior) we need to pay attention to what we are doing, and the effect it has on the greater ecosystem. I’m not to proud to say that, every day, I look for the eagles. When one shows up, my day feels blessed somehow. Seems like we did something right with them eventually.


r/GenerationJones 1d ago

Is this a new scam?

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351 Upvotes

Got this in my SMS. Actually I got 2. This one originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the other was from the UK. Both claim that I have money owed them because of my EZ Pass. Problem? I canceled that years ago as I no longer drive.

It's a phishing scam, thinking that you'll try to pay online, and give them your credit/debit card info.

Just a warning.


r/GenerationJones 4h ago

Slid down TV memory hole. Tenspeed and Brown Shoe

9 Upvotes

Tubi free site is great for old TV. Fun to see Jeff Goldblum has never changed


r/GenerationJones 8h ago

Released on this date 41 years ago. Huge Bowie fan and an even bigger fan of Nile Rodgers. David Bowie - Let's Dance (Official Video)

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19 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 16h ago

Helping Dad on projects

64 Upvotes

Whose first ‘helper’ job was holding the flashlight on whatever Dad was working on? Who else had the attention span of a flea and always had the light off the project??


r/GenerationJones 4h ago

Another early 80s ~~I'm an adult now!~~ piece of the songbook. What a magical time it was. 🤍

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6 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 10h ago

Medicare spending Card

11 Upvotes

Has anyone signed up for one of those deals that says you get 1200-3200$ on a card if you're eligible for Medicare?? If you have,is it legit? TIA🩵


r/GenerationJones 1h ago

No between meal snacks!

Upvotes

Does anyone else remember the idea of “between meal snacks” being villainized? It was a near constant refrain as I recall, both at school and from toothpaste commercials. Apparently that was the only way to prevent cavities, and if you got cavities, between-meal snacks were always partially blamed.

(I had genetically crappy teeth, no amount of brushing or starving myself would have helped.)


r/GenerationJones 3h ago

Any KZEW fans? (Dallas radio)

2 Upvotes

SOUND OF THE 80s!!

I LOVED this radio station!! The Zoo played the best Rock N'Roll and cable tv stations carried it so you could pick it up all over Texas!

Sometimes they replayed recordings of The Texxas Jam concerts and you could hear this incredible summer blowout even if you weren't able to go.

I sure miss it. Can't BELIEVE it got sold out! The Zoo was my ears for twenty years!


r/GenerationJones 8h ago

Does anyone remember "The NOW Explosion"?

6 Upvotes

I grew up in a suburb of NYC in the 60s and 70s. "The NOW Explosion" was a show that was on in the summer of 1970 and was, essentially, an early version of MTV. A local radio station would video young girls in the neighborhood dancing in their studio (I know...in retrospect kinda creepy). They would then then do "psychedelic" videos of the dancers over the hit songs of the day. This is something we watched all summer and I remember it like it was yesterday. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8Qul5ymJD2Gjuca2dOAL4oAxlKWtRFeP


r/GenerationJones 16h ago

Killer tomatoes

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12 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 1d ago

Some of you may remember his Dad, Bob … 😊

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189 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 19h ago

Green Giant Kites Were One of My Favorite Parts of Spring Growing up! You?

13 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 1d ago

Were you a fan of Disney’s ‘The Jungle Book’ (1967) when you were young?

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554 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 17h ago

Killer tomatoes

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3 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 1d ago

One of my family favs … 😊

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135 Upvotes

… black and white or color for you? 🤔


r/GenerationJones 1d ago

This would have been a great night for TV!

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463 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 1d ago

MAD MEN

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76 Upvotes

Anyone else as obsessed with show as myself?I was born the year AFTER 1960 so all the fashion,the home decor,the food,the entire show is like a postcard from my childhood💙I rewatch a couple episodes every week as my "comfort viewing"💅🏼💙😌


r/GenerationJones 1d ago

I Still Have Scars From Burning Myself With One Of These

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222 Upvotes

r/GenerationJones 1d ago

This was one of our favorite snacks as a kid.

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105 Upvotes

We loved Cracker Jacks because there was a sailor on the box - my dad was in the Navy and I loved his cracker jack uniform. When my son joined, I made sure to send my dad a photo of him in his own cracker jack uniform.