Age Group Questions

What age range is considered "middle-age"?

What age range is considered "over the hill"?

What age range is considered "senior"?

Is "over the hill" and "senior" the same thing?

What are the age-based generation names (e.g., Generation X), and what years do they represent?

I've heard different answers to these questions, so I'm hoping that someone can answer them as accurately as possible.

I had no idea that when I turned 40 years old five years ago I was considered middle-aged. Now I'm curious about the different age groups and when I'll hit the "over-the-hill" mark.

I love the generational categories and can't wait to see what comes next!

2000 to present: New Silent Generation or Generation Z
1980 to 2000: Millennials or Generation Y
1965 to 1979: Thirteeners or Generation X
1946 to 1964: Baby Boomers
1925 to 1945: Silent Generation
1900 to 1924: G.I. Generation
Anything before that I have no clue.

this is just my opinion but I consider 50 middle age because I don't see me living past 100 so half that would be middle age

I consider senior 65 and over

To me I think middle age and over the hill are the same thing because I see it as you have gotten up the first half of the hill and are on the downward side now.

Except for the generational names and dates this is just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt

@Raindropvampire

Thank you!

If middle age is 50, then yay, I'm not there yet, LOL. I'm 45.

My daughter was born in 2002, so she is from the New Silent Generation or Generation Z

I'm from Generation X (never heard of Thirteeners before, but okay, I'll go with that).

Both of my parents were born in the Silent Generation.

My extended family members are somewhere in between the Silent Generation and the New Silent Generation.

I wonder why they call those two generations "silent"?

This is so interesting!

@lillib not sure if I'm doing the mention thingy right

The new silent generation I have no idea on but the original silent generation was dubbed that in a Time article. Something about keeping quiet because of McCarthyism and not taking risks.

And if you look up the generational categories I think there is some disagreement on dates and things but that breakdown is the one I go with. Someone else may come along with a different take and that's perfectly okay too.

These questions are often asked from a psychology perspective, where different generations will give unique answers based on their age/generation. As this is how I viewed your questions, I will answer this as someone born in 1992.

What age range is considered "middle-age"? Although the average lifespan varies, I like to believe most people will live to be 100, so my answer is 50.

What age range is considered "over the hill"? I think that is often a joke 60 year olds make at birthday parties while sipping on martinis. I hope NO ONE calls me "over the hill" at any age. So I do not consider anyone "over the hill" because I find it a rude thing to say.

What age range is considered "senior"? Depends on the venue. Most restaurants and cinemas consider 62-65 years old to be "senior status". In my opinion, I always think of 80 year olds as seniors. Or people with fully white hair, not just gray.

Is "over the hill" and "senior" the same thing? For me, "over the hill" means your grouchy about being old whereas seniors are more optimistic and often happily retired and happy in their little routines.

What are the age-based generation names (e.g., Generation X), and what years do they represent? I honestly don't know my own generation name, but I sure as hell do NOT consider myself a millennial! Millennials have such a bad reputation that I hate to be lumped in with that generation. I consider myself a "90s kid". That's my generation.

P.S. This may sound absolutely crazy, but I believe in the pop culture views of the 50's being the golden age, and I have more crushes on those in their 50s than I do with people my own age!

@LiteraryLark

I laughed at some of your answers, but you made good points about others.

I think I accidentally opened up a can of worms, but I like where this is going...

If I were to rename my generation, I would call us the Twilight Zone Meets Prince Era (those born in the 70s). I have no idea if the Twilight Zone even aired in the 70s, so I am being funny here. Why can't they keep it simple and stick to decades being generational (e.g., those born in the 1990s)?

Initially, I asked because I seriously did not know. This could be rephrased into a question for the Games forum, come to think of it.

Not sure about Millennials or Generation Y for my age group. I think thirty and flirty suits me best!

Personally, I think over the hill is kind of a pejorative.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lillib What age range is considered "middle-age"? What age range is considered "over the hill"? 44 - 55 What age range is considered "senior"? 60+ Is "over the hill" and "senior" the same thing? No What are the age-based generation names (e.g., Generation X), and what years do they represent? GenX, according to Douglas Copeland who wrote the novel Generation X, begins in 1962 (to '79).. I was born in late '62 and def not a Boomer. Sometimes '61 - '64 is called the "Jonesers" or the "lost generation." 2000 to present: Generation Z 1980 to 2000: Millennials or Generation Y 1962 to 1979: Generation X 1946 to 1961: Baby Boomers 1926 to 1945: Silent Generation 1900 to 1924: G.I. Generation I've heard different answers to these questions, so I'm hoping that someone can answer them as accurately as possible. I had no idea that when I turned 40 years old five years ago I was considered middle-aged. Now I'm curious about the different age groups and when I'll hit the "over-the-hill" mark. I would call "middle aged" ages 42 to 65.

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I really don't get why these genirations are called what they are

for me you're born in a year, and that's that. I don't really understand the names

"new silent geniration" makes no sense at all. what's silent about it?

as for seniors, I remember a time where 50 was thought of being senior

now it seems that 50 is thought of middle age

I'm not sure about the new silent generation (I hadn't heard of that one!) - but I think the reason they name generations is because people born in the same general time-span are usually influenced by the same events growing up, and tend to share some similarities (in values, outlook, actions) that they don't necessarily share with other generations.

I recently had to do some google-research on Millennials for work... and found that, for example, where older generations really saw "owning things" (houses, cars) as marks of success, a lot of people from the Millennial generation don't seem to think that way, or value those things. Probably because of things like ride-sharing, which wasn't a thing when I grew up (Gen X, mid-40s!). I don't have detailed research, sadly, b/c again it was just googling to see what I could find - but it's really interesting to look at how the time frame when you grew up affects your values and who you are!

This ends up being important if you're in marketing, because if you keep trying to market to a younger generation using the same messages that you did for an older one, you will fail - your message won't resonate!

In other crazy stuff, I'm in my mid-40s too, and feel sooo old, now that I'm old enough to look back and say, "wow, this thing that is so incredibly common now - like cell phones - didn't even exist when I was growing up!" Soooo old feeling. I don't think cordless phones were even a thing at that point - I remember having to grab the phone off the wall in the kitchen, and walk around the corner, pulling the cord as far as it could go, to get some privacy

Quote:

Originally Posted by guilloche I'm not sure about the new silent generation (I hadn't heard of that one!) - but I think the reason they name generations is because people born in the same general time-span are usually influenced by the same events growing up, and tend to share some similarities (in values, outlook, actions) that they don't necessarily share with other generations. I recently had to do some google-research on Millennials for work... and found that, for example, where older generations really saw "owning things" (houses, cars) as marks of success, a lot of people from the Millennial generation don't seem to think that way, or value those things. Probably because of things like ride-sharing, which wasn't a thing when I grew up (Gen X, mid-40s!). I don't have detailed research, sadly, b/c again it was just googling to see what I could find - but it's really interesting to look at how the time frame when you grew up affects your values and who you are! This ends up being important if you're in marketing, because if you keep trying to market to a younger generation using the same messages that you did for an older one, you will fail - your message won't resonate! In other crazy stuff, I'm in my mid-40s too, and feel sooo old, now that I'm old enough to look back and say, "wow, this thing that is so incredibly common now - like cell phones - didn't even exist when I was growing up!" Soooo old feeling. I don't think cordless phones were even a thing at that point - I remember having to grab the phone off the wall in the kitchen, and walk around the corner, pulling the cord as far as it could go, to get some privacy

I thought I was old when I was in my mid-forties. Wow. Yeah. I felt physically terrific, but in my mind...I knew all about life!

Then I hit 50. Ouch. I mean, literally: ouch. Never mind how I feel inside my mind...my body is telling it all. I'm nearing 57 and everything hurts. Movement is, to one degree or another, an effort. I know what zodiac sign my physical therapist is.

Am I ever burned by this rude assault upon my body! And I am pretty sure that it's physically downhill from here. So I'm working on developing a more resilient mental attitude. So far, my accomplishment in that area isn't exactly stellar, but I have hope, so I keep trying.

@BethRags

I hope you feel better! I love your responses on this thread! (((hugs for the pain)))

Your resilience amazes me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lillib @BethRags I hope you feel better! I love your responses on this thread! (((hugs for the pain))) Your resilience amazes me!

Thank you I think we all get an "A+" just for surviving.

@BethRags

Yes, you are right! We deserve to reward ourselves with kindness for surviving!

Thank you so much for the affirmation, and the reminder!

I hope you have a good day today! (((safe hugs)))