Our age is one of the most common prognosticators of differences in attitudes and behaviors. Our views on issues ranging from social reform and foreign policy to politics and popular culture, age differences in attitudes can vary greatly and give us insight into how a generation thinks, acts, votes and lives. Age also defines two important categories, our place in the life cycle and our membership in a group of those born in a similar time.

It’s just human nature. We are social creatures, and we like to categorize things, especially ourselves. A “generation” is defined as a group of people born in the same time period, and generational names, slapped on by researchers and popular media, for the different age groups are often based on historical events and social trends.

Some quick internet research yielded this list of generations. Although there is some differing opinions on the years by just one or two, they are mostly in agreement. There is: The Lost Generation, born 1883-1900; The Greatest Generation, born 1901-1924; The Silent Generation, born 1925-1945; Baby Boomer Generation, born 1946-1964; Generation X, born 1965-1980; Generation Y, born 1981-1996; Generation Z, born 1997-2012 and Generation Alpha, born 2013-2025.

Being born in January of 1965, I technically fall into the Generation X category. Depending on the day and situation, I feel a little more closely aligned with the Baby Boomers. When it comes to technology, I know just enough to be dangerous. Ask my wife, she will tell you I have messed up more TV remotes in my lifetime than I care to admit.

Boomers get a bad rap when it comes to technology. One school of thought is that Boomers have a very different relationship with technology than their younger counterparts; being the generation least likely to buy new technology products as soon as they’re available, or feel confident in using it.

In that regard, I am a camera Boomer this month. My first camera in 1983 was a Canon AE-1 Program. A trusted film camera with was easy to use. Point, focus, press the shutter and advance the film. Over the years, I have owned more than 100 film and later digital cameras. As of late my kit has contained 8 bodies and 12 lenses that range in age from 5-17 years old. In camera years, I was shooting what amounted to wet plate photography from the Civil War.

Just like the Boomers, I am not an early adopter. I wait until the bugs are worked out and, more importantly, the price drops. In what I described to my wife as a moment of technological weakness two weeks ago, I sold all 20 of my cameras and lenses to purchase two mirrorless bodies and four lenses. Even with the rebates and revenue from the old gear, I took a big hit.

That was not the worst part of it by a long shot. I had done my research and watched countless YouTube videos and read hours of articles on how to operate the same cameras that NASA is sending into space with their astronauts. On my first assignment, I felt like my 82-year-old mother on her iPad. I was dumb-thumbing the controls while shooting a Hot Rods game last Sunday.

My frustration level was rising with each inning. I spent more time trying to read the instructions on my iPhone and scrolling through menus as great plays were happening in front of me. I finally gave up and in the fifth inning, reset all of the settings and turned on “Boomer” mode. I set the camera to the simplest mode I could find and just pointed the lens at the play and pressed the shutter.

The camera must have known there was a rube behind the shutter because it started beeping and blinking like R2D2 in Star Wars. Lights were flashing and warnings were going off. I thought for sure I heard HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, dryly saying, “Joe, I am trying to help you, are you really a photojournalist?”

Mercifully, the game ended and I was able to squeak out three or four pictures I wasn’t embarrassed to put my name on in the paper. If you don’t see me out and about this weekend, it’s because I will have my face buried in the 120-page user manual. At this point, I have $25,000 worth of bricks in my camera case.

The next time my mom calls with iPad or remote issues, I will be much more patient and helpful.

– Daily News General Manager Joe Imel can be reached at (270) 783-3273 or via email at joe.imel@ bgdailynews.com.