My very important build on Strauss-Howe. The reason the “nomad” generations in the cycle (Gilded, X, Lost) get isolated is an oxbow lake formation dynamic. You may call this the oxbow corollary to Strauss-Howe.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss–H
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxbow_lake
Conversation
Replying to
I demand recognition, prizes, and money for this momentous discovery. Strauss-Howe merely did some Keplerian curve fitting. I have discovered a Newton’s laws type dynamic governing their theory of 4 turnings. Bitcoin accepted.
3
1
12
The metaphor of “turnings” is good. There are acceleration stresses that warp generational relationships. The outcome depends on the mass of the generation. Low mass generations trapped between two high mass ones cannot stand the stresses of their turnings and shear off.
3
4
Replying to
Love this. Back to the core of a great ribbonfarm essay:
1) new useful mental model
2) references source material that’s new to me
3) synthesis of many seemingly unrelated concepts
4) funny drawing
5) makes *me* feel contextualized
1
2
Show replies
Replying to
My Theory for why Gen X got lost is all other “Generations are Market labels” - generations as viewed by Capital.
Gen X is generation as viewed by cultural artifact (expressed by Douglas Coupland, adopted by culture).
Gen X is invisible to capitalism. 😂
1
1
10
Culturally, Millennials are the lost generation, between Gen X and Gen Z
1
Show replies
Replying to
This is it. At the very least Gen Z, millennials and boomers have defined identities. Gen X feels partly defined by its exclusion from the others.
4
Replying to
Man of my own heart Venkatesh! I just used the Oxbox lake metaphor to explain the coming marginalisation of Brexit!




