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Gen X's Midlife Crisis: From Tuna Casserole to Political Rage
The Aldi Assassin
Okay, let's be real. A dude in Aldi spouting off about political assassination? That's not just some random Tuesday. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is all worried about racism becoming socially acceptable again. Give me a break. It never went away. It just got a new mask – a midlife crisis.
Gen X, born between '65 and '80, is apparently having a moment. A real moment. We're talking 19% of British fiftysomethings voting Reform UK at the last election, and a third of those aged 50-64 saying they'd do it now, according to YouGov. And across the pond, we’re the "Trumpiest generation." Fantastic. Just freaking fantastic.
What happened? We were promised grunge and irony, not… this.
Conspiracy Theories and Comfort Food
The Smidge project is sniffing around, trying to figure out how conspiracy theories and disinformation spread among 45- to 65-year-olds. Good luck with that. Maybe they should just look at our dinner tables.
Tuna noodle casserole, Kraft Mac & Cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, sloppy joes, banana pudding, shepherd's pie, green bean casserole, dump cakes, grilled cheese with tomato soup, meat loaf… all that processed comfort food we grew up on. Now, it's like the internet is serving up a digital version of the same crap, but instead of empty calories, it's empty promises and rage bait. For many Gen Xers, these dishes are more than just food; they're a direct link to childhood memories and simpler times. 10 Old-School Comfort Foods Gen Xers Grew Up On (And Still Make Today) - Tasting Table
Kraft Mac & Cheese, a must-have pantry staple, held over 40% of the boxed mac and cheese market share in 2024. Was it the cheesy flavor or the stability it represented during economic uncertainty? And what does it say that people are turning to political extremism now instead of a warm bowl of childhood nostalgia?
It's like we’re all mainlining nostalgia while simultaneously worrying that the world is changing and leaving us behind. We thought we were so cool and alternative, and now we're just… angry. Angry and confused.
I mean, I get it. Life didn't exactly turn out how we planned. We're staring down the barrel of climate change, economic instability, and a political landscape that looks like it was designed by a committee of chimpanzees. Is it any wonder some people are seeking an outlet for bottled-up rage and disappointment?
And honestly, who isn't voicing their interior monologue in public these days? Maybe the Aldi dude just skipped his meds that morning. Maybe we all need to lay off the internet for a while. Or maybe I'm just making excuses for a generation that's lost its damn mind.
From Irony to Ire
We were the generation of irony. We were supposed to be detached, cynical, above it all. So how did we end up here? How did we go from laughing at the absurdity of the world to becoming active participants in its downfall?
Maybe it's because irony is a defense mechanism. And when you're constantly defending yourself, you eventually run out of energy. You get tired. You get angry. You start looking for someone to blame.
And the internet? The internet just amplifies everything. It takes your little spark of discontent and fans it into a raging inferno. It connects you with other angry people, validates your feelings, and tells you that you're not alone. Meet gen X: middle-aged, enraged and radicalised by internet bile | Gaby Hinsliff - The Guardian
The problem is, being "not alone" doesn't necessarily make you right. It just makes you louder.
So, What's the Real Problem Here?
It ain't just the internet, and it ain't just the economy. It's a generation that feels like it's been sold a bill of goods. We were promised a future, and all we got was a participation trophy and a mountain of debt. Now, some of us are lashing out. Others are doubling down on comfort food and conspiracy theories. And the rest of us are just trying to figure out how the hell we got here. Typo's and all.