11. Social Evolution

Since the end of the Second World War social evolution has increased exponentially. Veterans came home to wives who had stepped out of traditional roles and would never voluntarily return... embrionic feminists were created. Television made a stalwart attempt to remind the masses of the roles within a family but the inexorable change had begun.

Increased affluence allowed for the birth of the nuclear family as an extension of the extended one. The value of higher education was recognized and after much saving and labor the 'frat-boy' was birthed. Found most often at keggers and college football fields some of their offspring can still be seen there.

Expected to follow the 'nuclear dad' into taking over the farm or insurance underwriting, some frat-boys followed the lead of change and plotted their own course. A sharp increase in the franchise opportunities were noted during that period of time.

Others, having become disillusioned with the state of society in general, evolved into 'hippies'. Found most often at staring glassily into space at rock concerts, working their small garden plots and creating flowered wreaths they still exist in BC's green triangle. Their mode of social expression was at such odds with accepted norms that they were looked upon as less than sane early in their growth.

Those with a measure of political sensibility shifted one shade further and were later identified as 'yippies'. Found at a variety of political protests they generally yelled themselves hoarse encouraging others to 'steal this book' and making themselves targets. In the time that followed they generally became writers or ran for political office.

Further generational lines brought forth further change. Yuppies became the nouveau riche. Between conspicuous consumption and popping out preppies, this group was eventually driven to extinction by a variety of financial crises and tsunamis of good taste.

The progeny from the yuppie generation mutated with hitherto unseen speed. Punks, goths and emos sprang up and created new spaces for themselves to fill. Skaters, snowboarders and mountain bikers bespeckled sidewalks, alpine meadows and mountain trails. Nerds became fashionable and off the grid builders became envied.

With such a blossom of change one would think a breathing space might accrue in order to assess and take in the newest crop, but alas the thought is a misstep. Already another caricature has stepped forward.

The 'hipster', an educated collage of thrift store clothing riding on a vintage bike headed for a wifi coffee house in a trendy neighbourhood to count tweets and take digital photos for the 'cause' of the 'week. 

A blend of all that has come before with little originality I am concerned the social evolution has run out of steam... or harbour a hope that this bland mutation is simply an aberration that will die a quick quiet death.... or perhaps. at sixty, I am simply getting tired.