Strikethrough?

[eumaas]

Yeah, Track Changes or Reviewing mode—I use it all the time when I'm just copy editing for clients (as opposed to also doing layout work for them). But I'm talking about posts on a blog or a message board—what's the point of seeing what a person decided against posting, other than as part of a gag, like Wolter mentioned?

If the purpose is to show the revisions being made, like as illustrative of how revision works or something. I'd say it's a pretty limited audience, but there are blogs out there on developing writing and editing skills and so forth.

You're being disturbingly contrary today. You're right, but stop it when grandpa's being a scold.

These damn fairhanded and even-keeled Millennials will be the death of us, Doc.

Bah, fuck those guys! I've been an extremist all my life.

[Dr. Medulla]

Yeah, Track Changes or Reviewing mode—I use it all the time when I'm just copy editing for clients (as opposed to also doing layout work for them). But I'm talking about posts on a blog or a message board—what's the point of seeing what a person decided against posting, other than as part of a gag, like Wolter mentioned?

If the purpose is to show the revisions being made, like as illustrative of how revision works or something. I'd say it's a pretty limited audience, but there are blogs out there on developing writing and editing skills and so forth.

You're being disturbingly contrary today. You're right, but stop it when grandpa's being a scold.

These damn fairhanded and even-keeled Millennials will be the death of us, Doc.

Bah, fuck those guys! I've been an extremist all my life.

You're an outlier whom all generations can agree should be feared and loathed.

[Wolter]

If the purpose is to show the revisions being made, like as illustrative of how revision works or something. I'd say it's a pretty limited audience, but there are blogs out there on developing writing and editing skills and so forth.

You're being disturbingly contrary today. You're right, but stop it when grandpa's being a scold.

These damn fairhanded and even-keeled Millennials will be the death of us, Doc.

Bah, fuck those guys! I've been an extremist all my life.

You're an outlier whom all generations can agree should be feared and loathed.

True. Now let's get back to an ironic appreciation of 1970s game shows, Hooks.

[Dr. Medulla]

You're being disturbingly contrary today. You're right, but stop it when grandpa's being a scold.

These damn fairhanded and even-keeled Millennials will be the death of us, Doc.

Bah, fuck those guys! I've been an extremist all my life.

You're an outlier whom all generations can agree should be feared and loathed.

True. Now let's get back to an ironic appreciation of 1970s game shows, Hooks.

Bow down before the power of cross-thread pollination!

Hello, I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such films as "The Boatjacking of Supership 79" and "Hydro, the Man With the Hydraulic Arms". Coming up this hour on the Impulse Buying Network, your chance to own a piece of Itchy and Scratchy, the toontown twosome beloved by everyone, even cynical members of Generation X!

Pfft, yeah. "Groovy".

[eumaas]

If the purpose is to show the revisions being made, like as illustrative of how revision works or something. I'd say it's a pretty limited audience, but there are blogs out there on developing writing and editing skills and so forth.

You're being disturbingly contrary today. You're right, but stop it when grandpa's being a scold.

These damn fairhanded and even-keeled Millennials will be the death of us, Doc.

Bah, fuck those guys! I've been an extremist all my life.

You're an outlier whom all generations can agree should be feared and loathed.

Do I match up with any other generations?

[Dr. Medulla]

You're being disturbingly contrary today. You're right, but stop it when grandpa's being a scold.

These damn fairhanded and even-keeled Millennials will be the death of us, Doc.

Bah, fuck those guys! I've been an extremist all my life.

You're an outlier whom all generations can agree should be feared and loathed.

Do I match up with any other generations?

Not easily, no. Here are the four types (the names were changed since Generations was published; these are from The Fourth Turning). For you, I can see evidence of every type except, curiously enough, your actual generation (Hero, or Civic in the old system). I'd say you're probably a weird amalgam of Nomad (like Wolter and I) and Artist (those born roughly between WWI and II).

[Wolter]

I was going to point out, probably due to my oddly strict upbringing in my early years, I have elements of the Artist persona, though by my late childhood/teen years I drifted into normal Nomad childhood, which puts me squarely in time with my generation.

[Dr. Medulla]

I was going to point out, probably due to my oddly strict upbringing in my early years, I have elements of the Artist persona, though by my late childhood/teen years I drifted into normal Nomad childhood, which puts me squarely in time with my generation.

That is potentially one of the problems with their work. It's strong when talking about collective identities, but collapses the closer you get to the individual level. No person lines up perfectly with any single generation. As I've hit middle-age, I see the Nomad qualities stand out better, but as a teenager or young adult, I wasn't the risk taker that they idealize.

[Wolter]

I was going to point out, probably due to my oddly strict upbringing in my early years, I have elements of the Artist persona, though by my late childhood/teen years I drifted into normal Nomad childhood, which puts me squarely in time with my generation.

That is potentially one of the problems with their work. It's strong when talking about collective identities, but collapses the closer you get to the individual level. No person lines up perfectly with any single generation. As I've hit middle-age, I see the Nomad qualities stand out better, but as a teenager or young adult, I wasn't the risk taker that they idealize.

They didn't really appear for me strongly until my 20s.

[Wolter]

And yes, the problem with any generalized predictive/analytical model is that it only works for trends, not individuals.

[eumaas]

Prophets are values-driven, moralistic, focused on self, and willing to (see other people) fight to the death for what they believe in.

Values-driven? Uh, I'm fairly principle-driven. I consider myself moralistic but that's faded over time. Willing to fight to the death? Yep. Less than willing to send others on my behalf. Actually, find that rather offensive if I'm not willing to go with them.

Nomads are ratty, tough, unwanted, diverse, adventurous, and cynical about institutions.

Hell yeah to cynicism and diversity. Also a nod to adventurousness although that's only shown up recently. I don't know what tough means. I'm sometimes hypermasculine. Probably compensation for a shitty grandfather. If it's macho, I'll probably do it.

Heroes are conventional, powerful, and institutionally driven, with a profound trust in authority.

Fuck no to every part of this. Actually, this whole category offends me.

Artists are subtle, indecisive, emotional and compromising, often having to deal with feelings of repression and inner conflict.

Yep, that's my inner me, especially the indecision and compromise. Less so repression in terms of authority-driven repression--I think what I feel as repressive is more an inner conflict.

[Silent Majority]

The names of the types are really poor, seem almost random.

Their definition of "hero" and mine could not be further from another. Kissing authorities arse? Belief in institutions? Trash.

[Dr. Medulla]

The names of the types are really poor, seem almost random.

Their definition of "hero" and mine could not be further from another. Kissing authorities arse? Belief in institutions? Trash.

My recollection of their choice for hero is that that generation tends to do the heavy lifting and sacrificing during their cycle's crisis—e.g., the Revolutionary War's soldiers, World War II's GI's—and are lauded for those deeds for the rest of their life.

[Silent Majority]

Right, right, that makes sense.

So a better name would be "drone" then.

[eumaas]

I wasn't on board with generational theory until the Obamamania got the guy in office. Now I think it might have some merit.