At 32, I've never felt myself particularly old, but a recent conversation with a couple of 13 year olds clearly showed me that the 20 years difference is a huge gap.
The three of us were talking about the same thing; video games, which, if one were to look back in this rather ancient blog, is something that has been a significant part of my life. Yet despite the fact, I was, for the most part, on a completely different page than the other two.
It's not just about enjoying different types of games, which we did, but even the way we talk about video games is different. 'Character shipping'; the idea of pairing a character to another character for instance, is all the rage with young gamers these days. I mean, we had fanfiction back in the days but this is something else. It's like glasses: they're glasses in the 80s, 90s and so on but it's not the same style is it. So to is the way how conversations surrounding video games has changed for the younger generation.
Now if I were to talk with someone else about video games, or read about it on websites (one of my favourites being Kotaku) it is something I can easily relate to because the author(s) are roughly around my age. But these are not the sources younger kids go to, I now realised. Their primary source of information is Youtube, from younger, like minded internet celebrities these days called Youtubers.
Ok, so what is the point that I am really trying to drive home here really?
Truth is, I am SCARED. I wonder just how much of a gap there would be between my own children and I in 10 years down the line. Will I even be able to relate with them anymore? Will they think me as an ancient creature who has no idea what they're talking about?
Probably yes.
And I don't want that to happen. I'll certainly need to try and do something about it. But I wonder if it's all but impossible. Is generation gap a rift that once opened can never hope to be closed again?
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