We aren't whiny afterall...

So let's be honest: we ALL know there's a generation gap. Those who text without looking vs. those who fondly remember the rotary phone. You know which camp is yours.

And as a Millennial, I've put up with my fair share of snarky comments from co-workers, family and friends born pre-MTV's '81 launch. Worse yet, I've conceded the whining inherent with my tech-savvy, web-voyeuristic compatriots.

But I'm not taking it any more. Why? (you might ask... especially if you were born post-disco.)

Because I finally have research and The Economist on my side. Frankly if science and Brits are on-board, the rest of the critical, sardonic world should come around.

The Nov. 13th edition of The Economist ran a story profiling author Don Tapscott and singing the praises of the "net generation." Tapscott recently completed a study of 8,000 people in 12 countries born between 1978 and 1994 and has published his findings in a new book "Grown Up Digital."

His research shows a generation that is optimistic, entertaining and convincing. Tapscott argues, "The problem is not the net generation but befuddled baby-boomers, who once sang along with Bob Dylan that 'something is happening here, but you don’t know what it is', yet now find that they are clueless about the revolutionary changes taking place among the young."

Contrary to the claims that Wii, Facebook and the dreaded text message have robbed today’s young of the ability to think, Tapscott believes that “Net Geners” are the “smartest generation ever”. Yup. That's right. The smartest generation ever.

Tapscott identifies eight "norms" that make this generation so smart:

• We value freedom and choice in everything they do.
• We love to customize and personalize.
• We scrutinize everything.
• We demand integrity and openness, including when deciding what to buy and where to work.
• We want entertainment and play in work and education, as well as social life.
• We love to collaborate.
• We expect everything to happen fast.
• And we expect constant innovation.

Since innovation is a big part of my daily life, I found the eighth Net Gen norm to be great news, though not surprising. “These empowered young people are beginning to transform every institution of modern life.” With financial crisis and global climate change, I think we all hope this transformation is in the near future.

Now neither Tapscott's research (nor I) make any excuses for the group of Millennial celebrities and everyday idiots out there making indiscrete choices and posting them online. But let's be fair, those choices aren't new. Just more widely communicated.

All-in-all, this article reminds me to be a proud member of the generation who grew up watching TGIF, worshipping Michael Jordan and knowing my friends by their screen names.

If you'd like to read the complete article, check out: http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12591038.

And thanks Mr. Tapscott, I've already texted all my friends with this fab news.