A mom in her 50s has shared on social media why Generation X members are considered the "most dangerous" people, and plenty of people seem to agree.
Stand-up comedian Whitney Cicero, 54, from Los Angeles took to Instagram to reveal all the quirky reasons why her generation (people born between 1965 and 1980) are some of the toughest and most hardy people out there.
She told Newsweek that Gen Xers "can survive anything" because of what they've been through and how useful they are.
The Instagram video features audio from a 2022 clip by Dan Edmund (@danbedmund), who explains that Gen Xers were raised by baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) and were young enough when technology developed to understand how to use it. He thinks this allows them to cherry-pick the best elements from boomers and millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996).
Edmund's clip also jokes that Gen Xers have overseen some of the biggest cultural changes in the past 50 years, which makes them so dangerous.
Cicero's "middle-aged mom update" has delighted social media users since she posted it (@thenewstepford on Instagram), with more than 6.9 million views and 185,000 likes so far.
"I had no idea it would be as popular as it was. Clearly, a lot of people relate to it," Cicero told Newsweek.
She continued: "If we have a zombie apocalypse, Gen Xers are going to be a precious commodity. We know how to use a Thomas Guide, read cursive and open combination locks. We can survive on Zima and Tang and make a cake with a Holly Hobby oven and a light bulb."
While Cicero agrees with many of the characteristics listed in the video, she believes that Gen X is more useful than dangerous. Indeed, she urges members of Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) "to adopt us" so they can work together as a team.
Another trait she thinks most Gen Xers possess is that they don't take themselves too seriously. Cicero says they will often make fun of themselves.
Many of these traits were echoed by Therese Caruso, a generational research expert for communications agency Zeno Group. Much like Cicero, she believes that despite all the stereotypes that surround Gen X, it's one of the most useful and pragmatic groups out there.
Caruso, Zeno's global chief strategist, told Newsweek that Gen Xers can adapt to anything and find humor in just about any situation. Also, "there is no better friend than an Xer."
She continued: "Gen X is the most practical generation I have ever studied, and many of the stereotypes are true. They are extremely adaptable, and I always say they're marching through midlife laughing at themselves with their characteristic ironic humor.
"The stereotype of slacker is completely false. Xers are shaped by their DIY childhoods and early economic upheavals and approach their careers with a potent blend of pragmatism and hidden idealism. This makes them the silent workhorses, valuing efficiency and teamwork," Caruso said.
Sometimes, Gen Xers can be misunderstood however. Caruso blames their characteristic dry humor, cynicism and directness, which can often come across as "harsh."
Nonetheless, she agrees with Cicero that younger generations can learn a thing or two from Gen Xers. She feels they're "incredibly knowledgeable" and have plenty of wisdom to pass along.
Caruso told Newsweek: "They can learn how to work hard; to balance work, family and community; to roll with change and adapt to the societal challenges; the value of friendship; to be practical about finances; and to maintain calm in the face of chaos."
Another telltale sign of Gen Xers, according to Caruso, is their ability to "use humor as a weapon" in overwhelming situations.
Social Media Reacts
In sharing her video, Cicero wasn't trying to weigh in on the generation wars (which can sometimes seem rather ferocious). Instead, she hopes it will spread joy and give her fellow Gen Xers plenty to laugh about.
"I refuse to take the generation wars on social media too seriously," she said. "We are all in this together, after all. We should learn from our previous generations and be grateful for the advancements they made, and hopefully we can continue to improve the world."
She went on: "The purpose of my channel is to make people laugh and to make them feel normal. Life is hard, weird, unpredictable and funny, but you get to choose every day which lens to view it through. I want people to know they are not going through anything alone, and hopefully I can nudge them into finding joy."
Many people found the clip hilariously relatable, leading to more than 3,300 comments on the Instagram post. The comments section is filled with people sharing their own experiences of growing up Gen X—some good, others not so much.
One comment reads: "1972 here. We lived in the best generation out there."
Another Instagram user wrote: "We had magazines, imagination and home economics!"
Another commenter added: "Born in 1972. I can attest that this is all true."
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