To refresh your memory, a third of the
Boomers had monumental effect on virtually every American institution throughout their lives such as media, education, politics and consumerism.
We were a force to be reckoned with.
What about now? Are we still a force to be reckoned with?
Yes, I think so. But the tag “baby boomer” is meaningless to us. Today the term seems archaic. It described who we were then, not who we are now.
Who are we, we baby boomers and what are we like today?
Our ages today are about 50—65, give or take a few years on both ends. Not yet seniors, we are pre-seniors. (The terms “pre-senior” and “senior” or “senior citizen” can often be a state of mind and need not coincide with a person’s actual numerical age. How one perceives oneself is the key).
So, here’s what I propose: From now on, start calling us by a term we can identify with. Are you ready? We are YAPS. Y-A-P-S. Youthful, Active, Pre-Seniors. (You can call us “Yappies”, if you like.)
What YAPS are like:
YAPS are youthful in appearance and attitude. We try to stay active. We exercise, watch our diet and eat healthier than those Gen X-ers half our age. As the NY Times has pointed out, the average age of the 5 directors nominated for Academy Awards this year is 60. Clint Eastwood, the winner, is 71.
We still listen to rock ‘n roll (classic rock, not rap or hip-hop), are fashion conscious, get nipped and tucked when need be and have romantic inclinations.
YAPS lead active sex lives and are Viagra’s prime market. We are prominent in the work force, are politically motivated, surf and shop the internet, play video games (really), take vacations, frequent restaurants, travel, buy luxury items (more than any other demographic) such as plasma TVs, new cars, boats and houses.. We help provide for our children, spoil our grandchildren, and today more than ever, take care of our aging parents.
YAPS are a demographic.
The YAPS demographic is growing faster than you can shake a stick.
When you consider that every 7 seconds someone turns 50, that means the “YAPPIE” population increases every 7 seconds. The mind boggles at our numbers and the power we can (still) yield.
Sadly, we are a virtually untapped market. So marketers, wake up and start tapping. We are tired of being ignored. YAPS will spend upward of three trillion dollars in 2005 on anything and everything that prolongs our (forgive me) yappiness.
We do NOT roll over and play dead once we turn 50. We are still that “narcissistic, self indulgent group” we were when we were baby boomers, and we still believe the world owes us a living. We are alive and kicking, and don’t you forget it
Fitting into pop-culture
We think the time is right for our segment of the population to be recognized, appreciated and have our very own pop designation.
There were hippies, yippies, and yuppies.
2005 is definitely the year of the YAPS!
Long live the ‘Yappies!’ <<
Thanks for determining what I have been feeling by giving it a name. I am a YAP! I don’t look my age, I am healthier than the 25 year olds around me, I do work out an hour a day or more when I feel up to it or have the time.
I still think like a 26 year old but with my own “style”. I can still wear trendy cool clothes and hot jeans if I wish.
I love rock and roll AND I like some of the current music. I like Beethoven too! I am not *stuck* in a timewarp like so many kids want to put me. Sometimes I think THEY think like old people, oh let’s just put you in a category because we can’t possibly imagine that you might still have desires, personal likes, and goals you are working on. Gosh you should be just placed in the box called _ancient_.
I am better now with my skills than I was at 25 by a long shot. I have the young coming to me and asking me to teach them “how to” do what I do.
I like a lot of what the Millenials like today. And by the way, everything they enjoy today was something we and our predicessors came up with. As kids we thought to ourselves, “wouldn’t it be cool if we could talk remotely to each other like on Star Trek?” or wouldn’t it be neat to be a virtual someone else and talk to each other that way? Along come cell phones and the internet.
Our predicessors showed us worlds we wanted to create, so today you have a burst of technology that is so fantastoc compared to precomputer days.
So please don’t put us in the wastebin. Because one day a Millenial will hear, “oh you are so 5 minutes ago what do you know?”
I actually think it is great to get to 50 soon. I have lost many friends already to cancer and accidents. They didn’t get old and the price was too high.
So yes, please think of us when we are shopping. I get tired of being told, “oh that’s for the younger crowd.” I am asking for the item you sell and YOUR prejudice just lost a sale and all my friends who would be interested.
Don’t waste a good thing out there!