Hello young people,

A fan here. I do not use the word fan lightly. In my long career, I have studied many generations. You are distinct, not only because of the gifts you possess, but because of the historical context that has forged you.

I decided to reach out to you because I fear you are about to be wronged and misunderstood. This is not due to any inherent malice. In our hyperactive, post-truth moment, form often overtakes substance, and a single unfortunate trigger can colour the image of an entire generation. People are compelled to judge even before they see. I am loath to be so injudicious.

Let me admit that I am biased in your favour. I have seen my two daughters, one from Gen Z and one a cusper, elegantly grow into smart young women. Long debates on everything under the sun are the highlight of my day. Beyond that, my interactions with you have almost always been exceptionally positive, sometimes even awe-inspiring. In my line of work, I meet people of all ages every day. I do not exaggerate when I say I am yet to meet a member of your generation who has not shown me a level of kindness, generosity or deference I have learned not to expect easily.

Those who insist that age is merely a number and dismiss the reality of generations would do well to revisit Karl Mannheim's essay, 'The Sociological Problem of Generations. Mannheim argues that generations become a political reality when they come into "fresh contact" with the defining crises of their time. In other words, a generation is shaped less by its year of birth than by the experiences it is forced to confront together.

You have already lived through more than your share of crises. Yet the context shaping you most decisively, as I see it, is neither political nor........

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