MADISON, WI-- For the ninth time this year, The Onion has run an article lampooning the ironic outlook of Generation X. The most recent story, "Local Man Shows Off His 'Hilariously Bad' Record Purchases," once again mocked the inclination of 25- to 35-year olds to indulge in a cheap sense of superiority toward pop culture. The latest story followed closely on the heels of articles entitled "Group Of Friends Eagerly Await 'Love Boat' Reunion," and "Wife No Longer Finds It Charming When Husband Recites 'Brady Bunch' Dialogue."

These articles share a common target: Gen Xers' habit of seeking out music, movies, and televison shows that they can consume in an ironic way. The implicit premise of these articles is that this ironic, "so-bad-it's-good" way of looking at pop culture is passe, and that the joke is really on those who contuinue to see things this way.

"There are at least two advantages to running these kind of stories," remarked Walter Fleming, a professor of mass media at Stanford University.

"First of all, it makes readers of The Onion feel superior to all the poor slobs being satirized," continued Fleming. "Flattery, especially when it's as artful as this, is always good for boosting readership. Second, it allows both the writers and the reader to sneakily enjoy the same pleasures that are being mocked. Like in the 'Brady Bunch' piece, there were several examples of campy dialogue--readers could secretly enjoy these while ostensibly laughing at those lame enough to think it's still cool to ridicule 'The Brady Bunch.'"

Experts say the glut of stories of this type is also a result of The Onion's notorious closed-door policy toward outside contributors. "The same group of people have to churn out 10 to 12 stories a week," observed media analyst Joseph Willoughby. "It's inevitable that they would need generic filler from time to time. If they were a little more welcoming of the many talented people who would love to write for them, it might help to keep things a little more fresh."

The other favorite topic of writers for The Onion when they are unable to think of any other story ideas is the pathetic and vacuous lives led by the elderly. So far this year there have been stories entitled "88-Year-Old Man Looks Forward To Weekly Discussion Of Weather With Gas Station Attendant," "Elderly Woman Thinks New Sales Clerk At Kmart Is Slightly Suspicious," and "Area Rest Home Changes Flavor of Pudding--Residents Display Little To No Reaction."