Caution

I perhaps get too much of my material from Mystery Science Theater 3000. Still, the collection of older movies watched collectively in the 3rd and 4th Turnings yields interesting context and comparisons. One surprising revelation came watching "Hired!," a training short for car salesmen.

The newly hired young Chevrolet salesperson trying to put together lead lists is reminiscent of other Grey Flannel Suit men from the 1T. He is having some trouble getting sales, mostly attributed to insufficient training from his boss. The state of the economy isn't mentioned, which is surprising because it's not from the First Turning: It was released in 1940. The Great Depression is just barely over (people might not even realize it), Germany has just marched into Poland, and the Battle of Britain is ongoing. The economy has nonetheless recovered to the point where people are back to selling cars, hiring new salesmen, and training them and their bosses.

(The generational breakdown, though, is right in line with late 4T. The boss is a Reactive griping about the young Civic who is unable to sell effectively. Complaining to his father (evidently a Missionary (Prophet)), gets him an earful about the training his mentor gave him. The advice turns out to be appropriate to today's Xers and Millennials, too.)

The Crisis happens different ways in different places, and at different times. Just as it was hard to say when it started, we should expect the end to be hard to see as well. Watch out when you think we are done. The really hard part might still be ahead of us.