私の世代は、最初は「白け世代（しらけせだい）」と呼ばれました。
白ける（しらける）というのは、クールの度が過ぎていて嫌な態度の事を表現しています。
その後も、「無反応」とか「元気が無さ過ぎる」とか「いつもバラバラ」とか、「言う事をきかない」「個性が無い」「常識が無い」「すぐ理屈」「教養が無い」「良い物を知らない（本物を知らない）←私の世代もバブル期だったのに（笑）」など。
とにかく私の世代への呼称や表現、形容は、散々でした。
普通に外を歩いていても、失礼極まり無く突然怒鳴りつけられたり、敬語を子供ながら一生懸命大人に向かって話しているのに、高圧的に即座に言い直されたり（知らない人）、服装の季節が違うと見も知らぬ人から注意されたり。
この世代には何をやっても良い。
こいつらには教育が足りていない。
この人達には注意をして当然である。
という価値観のようでした。
私は自分達の世代から見て、上の上の世代の人達を、今でも基本姿勢として「あ・あの人達だ・・・。」という醒め切った目でまず構えます。
実は、「オタク（おたく）」は、私の世代の、趣味に熱い人達全員への揶揄い（からかい）から始まった言葉なんです。（後にクールジャパンとして世界に名を轟かせたのにねー）
これには理由があって、「あんた」も失礼だし（とても親しい人に言われたら嬉しいし、それ以外に言うときはそう思っているよ、という言葉）、「あなた」は、（私は特に沢山注意された経験があるんですが。）いきなり知らない相手からの注意は「あなたね・・・、」から始まるんです。
本当は綺麗な言葉なのに。
なので言われていた世代の私達独自の価値観は、
「あなた」と言うと、高圧的で慇懃無礼極まり無い呼びかけである。という認識が全員にあるので、「お宅はどうですか？」という言い方をセレクトしていたんです。
「ウチ（家）はね。」（自分の場合は、という意味が強い）という言い方があったので、それで「お宅は」という言い方をしていたんです。（「貴方の場合はどうですか？ 人によって違いますよね。」を言外に語っている。）
気楽で相手を緊張させない、失礼では絶対に無い、呼びかけだったんです。
まあ、後にその人達は世界でギークって呼ばれるんですけど。
最終的に私の世代は、「新人類（しんじんるい）」と呼ばれる事で落ち着いたようです。・・・凄いでしょう？
ご自身達は、やれ本物を知っている。（本当は年代的に後追いでーすーよーねー。）、自分達は、・・・何だっけ？ ロスト・ジェネレーションってゆー、すっごいお洒落で格好良い名前で呼んでいるのに、私達は新人類なんだってー（無表情）。
私の世代だけへの、凄まじい憎しみを感じているし、感じていました。
それで何故私達は、そういう「上の奴らには全反抗で、年齢が下の人達は皆、面倒をみてやるんだ。優しくしてやるんだ。」
みたいな「全対応一色べた塗りの変な考え無し」のことも、「ハマり過ぎ」（自分に酔っている）と言って、自分達は相手によって判断を変えていたかと言うとですね。
何も言わない事で、徹底的にその人達を無効にしていたんです。
相手にする。というのは、相手にしたい奴と相手をさせられる人という、2つの存在があります。
でもいくら一方が向かってこようが、手を伸ばしてこようが、返事をしない。反応しない。意識もしない。
お前などに影響も受けない、のが私達の普通なので、
その後もあっさり忘れて、しつこく論われた（あげつらわれた）事をムキになって言い直したり、言い張ったりもしない。そもそもすぐ忘れちゃう。
というやり方だったんです。
だから黙っている。何を言われても黙っている。目を合わせない。態度も少しだけ力を抜いて、そいつらには永遠に知らない振り。
どんなに怒鳴られようと、机を叩こうが蹴ろうが、私達は単に黙って、「早く終わらないかな・・・。」と別のことを考えている。
実力行使で来たら突然やり返す。
そういう事だったんです。
それで、ロスト・ジェネレーションという名前が本当に素敵なので、私は2025年になって私の世代の事をこのように呼ぼうと思い、今朝書いています。
「沈黙の世代」
「Silence Generation」
レイチェル・カーソンの「沈黙の春」という本を、英語教科書で学んだ世代でも有りますし、なかなか良いと思っています。
私達をその都度助けてくれたのは、すぐ上の世代の人達が主でした。
そして上の上の世代の中の、本当は私達が何者か知っている人達がそれぞれ、適切に、助けてくれたり、その大きな羽根でかばってくれたりしました。
そのまた上の世代の人達は、何故だか、私達には分かるように、ワザとそいつらには分からないように、私達の事でそいつらを注意したり説教したりして下さいました。
あまり気がつけておりませんし、配慮も行き届きませんが。
じゃあ「沈黙の世代」って事で、宜しくお願いしますね。
・・・いい加減気がついてよ。そんな名前を口にしている奴を私達がどう思っているか。
20250604 16:38 文章を直しました。
20260109 18:36 英語版を追加しました。
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My generation was initially called the “disillusioned generation.”
“Disillusioned” describes an attitude that's overly cool and unpleasant.
Later, we were called “unresponsive,” “too listless,” “always scattered,” “disobedient,” “lacking personality,” “lacking common sense,” “always nitpicking,” “uneducated,” “don't know what's good (don't know the real thing) ← even though my generation was during the bubble era (lol).”
Anyway, the labels, expressions, and descriptions for my generation were relentless.
Even just walking outside normally, people would suddenly yell at us with extreme rudeness. Even when we kids tried our hardest to speak politely to adults, they'd immediately snap back at us in a high-handed way (strangers). If our clothes weren't seasonally appropriate, complete strangers would lecture us.
It seemed like the prevailing value was:
You can do whatever you want to this generation.
These kids just aren't educated enough.
It's only natural to correct these people.
Even now, when I see people from the generation above mine, I still adopt a fundamentally detached attitude, thinking, “Ah... those people...” with a completely cynical gaze.
Actually, the term “otaku” started as a teasing, mocking word for everyone in my generation who was passionate about their hobbies. (And yet, it later became famous worldwide as part of Cool Japan, huh?)
There's a reason for this: “Anta” is rude (though it can be flattering when said by someone very close, implying “I mean you when I say that”), and ‘Anata’ (I've been scolded with this a lot myself) often starts reprimands from strangers with “You, now...”
It's actually a beautiful word.
So, for our generation who grew up hearing it, we developed our own unique perspective:
Saying “you” is perceived as an extremely high-handed and insincerely polite address. Everyone shared this view, so we chose to say “How about your place?” instead.
Since there was the expression “My place, you see...” (which strongly implies “in my case”), we used “your place” based on that. (Implicitly saying, “How about you? It varies by person, right?”)
It was a relaxed way to address someone, not making them tense, and absolutely not rude.
Well, later those people got called geeks around the world.
Ultimately, my generation settled on being called “New Humans.” ...Pretty amazing, right?
They themselves were like, “We know the real deal.” (Though really, generation-wise, they were just latecomers, right?), while we were... what was it? They called themselves the Lost Generation, this super stylish, cool-sounding name, but we were just New Humans, huh? (expressionless).
I felt, and still feel, this intense hatred directed solely at my generation.
So why did we get labeled as “too obsessed” (drunk on ourselves) for having this “all-or-nothing, one-size-fits-all, weirdly thoughtless” approach like, “Total rebellion against the older folks, but we'll look after everyone younger. Be kind to them.”
Did we change our stance based on who we were dealing with?
No. By saying nothing, we completely invalidated them.
“Disillusioned” describes an attitude that's overly cool and unpleasant.
Later, we were called “unresponsive,” “too listless,” “always scattered,” “disobedient,” “lacking personality,” “lacking common sense,” “always nitpicking,” “uneducated,” “don't know what's good (don't know the real thing) ← even though my generation was during the bubble era (lol).”
Anyway, the labels, expressions, and descriptions for my generation were relentless.
Even just walking outside normally, people would suddenly yell at us with extreme rudeness. Even when we kids tried our hardest to speak politely to adults, they'd immediately snap back at us in a high-handed way (strangers). If our clothes weren't seasonally appropriate, complete strangers would lecture us.
It seemed like the prevailing value was:
You can do whatever you want to this generation.
These kids just aren't educated enough.
It's only natural to correct these people.
Even now, when I see people from the generation above mine, I still adopt a fundamentally detached attitude, thinking, “Ah... those people...” with a completely cynical gaze.
Actually, the term “otaku” started as a teasing, mocking word for everyone in my generation who was passionate about their hobbies. (And yet, it later became famous worldwide as part of Cool Japan, huh?)
There's a reason for this: “Anta” is rude (though it can be flattering when said by someone very close, implying “I mean you when I say that”), and ‘Anata’ (I've been scolded with this a lot myself) often starts reprimands from strangers with “You, now...”
It's actually a beautiful word.
So, for our generation who grew up hearing it, we developed our own unique perspective:
Saying “you” is perceived as an extremely high-handed and insincerely polite address. Everyone shared this view, so we chose to say “How about your place?” instead.
Since there was the expression “My place, you see...” (which strongly implies “in my case”), we used “your place” based on that. (Implicitly saying, “How about you? It varies by person, right?”)
It was a relaxed way to address someone, not making them tense, and absolutely not rude.
Well, later those people got called geeks around the world.
Ultimately, my generation settled on being called “New Humans.” ...Pretty amazing, right?
They themselves were like, “We know the real deal.” (Though really, generation-wise, they were just latecomers, right?), while we were... what was it? They called themselves the Lost Generation, this super stylish, cool-sounding name, but we were just New Humans, huh? (expressionless).
I felt, and still feel, this intense hatred directed solely at my generation.
So why did we get labeled as “too obsessed” (drunk on ourselves) for having this “all-or-nothing, one-size-fits-all, weirdly thoughtless” approach like, “Total rebellion against the older folks, but we'll look after everyone younger. Be kind to them.”
Did we change our stance based on who we were dealing with?
No. By saying nothing, we completely invalidated them.
There are two kinds of people: those you want to deal with, and those you're forced to deal with.
But no matter how much one side comes at you, reaches out, you don't respond. You don't react. You don't even acknowledge them.
Not being affected by the likes of you is our normal state,
so afterward, we simply forget it. We don't stubbornly repeat or insist on things we were persistently argued with (or nitpicked about). We just forget things quickly.
That was our approach.
So we stay silent. No matter what's said, we stay silent. We avoid eye contact. We relax our posture just a little, pretending forever not to know about them.
No matter how much they yell, no matter how much they pound or kick the desk, we just stay silent, thinking, “I wish this would end soon...”
If they resort to force, we suddenly fight back.
That's how it was.
And so, because the name “Lost Generation” is truly wonderful, I decided this morning that when 2025 comes, I want to call my generation this:
“The Silent Generation”
“Silence Generation”
We're also the generation that learned Rachel Carson's book “Silent Spring” in our English textbooks, and I think it's quite fitting.
The ones who helped us along the way were mainly the generation just above us.
And within the generation above that, the people who truly understood who we were each helped us appropriately, shielding us with their big wings.
The generation above them, for some reason, would warn or lecture those folks about us in ways we could understand, but deliberately in ways they couldn't grasp.
We weren't very aware of it, and the consideration wasn't always thorough.
So, let's just call it the “Silent Generation,” shall we?
...Come on, get a clue. Think about how we feel about those who use that name.
20250604 16:38 Edited the text.
20260109 18:36 Added English version.
