So, to clarify what I was trying to get at: I simply meant that there are some GenXers who'll join the older generations in maligning younger generations (although a lot of those same GenXers will suddenly exempt Zoomers from that exact same criticism, by virtue of being their parents). Obviously, people from the older half of Gen X will be likelier to share these sentiments than those from the younger half of Gen X. As I covered in the my article from two weeks ago on Generation X, that's because so many older Xers have a lot more in common with younger Boomers ("Generation Jones") than they do with Millennials or even some younger Xers. Same thing with younger Xers ("Xennials") -- many of them have more in common with Millennials and Zoomers than they do with Baby Boomers or even older Xers.

Then, there are the individuals from any generational cohort who try to have good relations with others intergenerationally, regardless of the age difference. This is what I strive for, and it sounds as though you do, as well.

I'm hesitant to comment on your brothers since I don't know them personally; it sounds as though their personalities happen to be in line with the negative stereotypes that get foisted upon Baby Boomers as a whole? But I'm sure you've also met other Baby Boomers (similar to your brothers only in age) who were the exact opposite, right?

If you were born in the mid- to late-1970s, then you'd be closer to the "Xennial" microgeneration (older Xers + younger Millennials) than you would be to the "JonesGen" microgeneration (younger Boomers + older Xers). And, if my assumption is correct in your age (I was born in 1982), then it would make sense that it sounds as though you feel guarded around people who identify as Baby Boomers. The goal should never be for any of us to assume that EVERYONE (or "a majority of" those) who happen to belong to a generation automatically embodies the traits attributed to that generation. I view these generational traits more broadly -- in terms of how history and pop culture have collided during each of these time periods to create patterns of thought/attitude amongst a visible cross-section of those who belong to a specific generational cohort.