Yep, things looked positive for a short while after the end of the cold war and the Internet became widespread when we entered the workforce. The advancement of the human race only seemed a matter of time.

But our Boomer parents weren't willing to let anyone else have a bright future, keeping us away from any real power while driving exploitation of nature and people to the max to fill their bank accounts. If you look at the US, this is thill the case, with a gerontocratic political caste that fights tooth and claw to prevent the next generations from enacting change - somewhat like fucking elder vampires.

'88 here. 9/11 sits at such a clear demarcation line for us. Happened in 8th grade where you're still straddling the fence that's childhood, while still capable of grasping the enormity of what was unfolding.

Though I also grew up in the rust belt, so there was always the sense that you were riding a wave that had long since crested.