Letters: Jun. 30, 1997

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No, we Boomers aren't in shock. We're not even much surprised. After all, these are our kids. May they continue to defy their detractors' expectations! STEVEN J. SWEENEY Turramurra, Australia

There's enough of the slacker in me to wait for some E-mailer to present my viewpoint. But my views are not reflective of the greedy self-interest that apparently drives my fellow Xers. Most of the X Generation cannot realistically afford laptops. Certainly those I know who are members of minority groups can't--and I can't. Those Xers who do not see that their PCs separate them from the mainstream even more than television does should turn off their PCs and TVs and look outside. JOHN STEENHOEK Wyoming, Mich.

The real story about Gen X is that Xers are radically altering the workplace, the employer-employee bargain and the nature of work. We are showing all workers that everyone is, ultimately, a sole proprietor in today's world, and in doing so we are helping to change the rules of the game at work for all Americans forever. Industry leaders know this, and that's why they have put Generation X on the front burner of their corporate agendas. They know that Generation X is a lens through which to see the future of work, and can act as a compass to guide business leaders into that future. BRUCE TULGAN New Haven, Conn.

The folks most willing to believe the slacker charade seem to be those who want a piece of the action. The young hipsters profiled by TIME as examples of youthful ingenuity and exuberance have no more going for them than a knack for recognizing trends and capitalizing on them. There's nothing extraordinary about young people forging into new territory, economic or otherwise--it happens in every generation. The presumption that people under 30 nowadays spend their time vacillating between doldrums and self-absorption while playing video games and munching on Hostess cakes and Ding Dongs is preposterous. CHRISTIAN M. COGAN Oakland, Calif.

Generation X has been shaped by a cold and dark world. Society turned its back on us; now we are turning the tables on it. We are here to redefine American values. Our vision of the American Dream is not only to solve America's problems but also to make our nation stronger for the generations that follow. JOEY HIMPELMANN Waukegan, Ill.

THE DEFINITION OF X

I don't believe that a generation can be described as having a set of traits and a personality [SOCIETY, June 9]. We are talking about 45 million individuals with different experiences and genes. But, hey, don't let me rain on your media wonderland. No, I'll scratch my baby-boomer head and say, "Gosh, I thought those Gen X kids were lazy, ignorant losers, but I guess I was wrong. They're actually brilliant, ambitious, ironic folks who live at home till they're 30 and watch as much TV as they can!" I hope I'm not going to be redefined next issue. ROB GLASER Chicago