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50 People From Various Generations Don’t Hold Back Confessing Their Most ‘Boomer’ Takes
Interview With Author
There’s a running joke among some of my friends that I’m sometimes a ‘boomer’ in all but age. I still think that I can earn my very own white picket fence if I just work hard enough. I think that quite a few of the movies and TV shows that are released in this day and age fall incredibly short of the mark. And I have a very old-fashioned approach to technology: I’m writing this while listening to music on my iPod while lamenting the disappearance of headphone jacks on phones. The best part? I’m not alone!
There are quite a few ‘baby boomers in disguise’ out there, and odds are that you and pretty much everyone you know has at least one ‘boomer opinion’ about life, work, and technology in the 2020s.
Internet users shared their boomer opinions in a very entertaining and enlightening r/AskReddit thread that proves progress isn’t linear—just because something’s new doesn’t automatically make it better! If we're really honest, replacing buttons with touchscreens everywhere might not have been the brightest idea in some cases. And who needs smart fridges anyway?! Upvote the opinions you agree with as you're scrolling down, dear Pandas.
Bored Panda wanted to learn about the things that technology and app creators should prioritize, so we reached out to Matt Johnson, Ph.D., for a few insights. He explained to us that products are only valuable when they're valuable to the consumer, and shared his thoughts on how we might be seeing an 'analog renaissance.' Plus, he explained why, in some cases, a simple pencil and paper might trump smartphones and computers.
You'll find our full interview with the expert below. Johnson is a professor of consumer psychology at Hult International Business School and Harvard University, the host of the Neuroscience of Branding blog, and the author of Branding that Means Business.
Meanwhile, we also got in touch with the author of the r/AskReddit thread. Read on for our interview with them as well.
This post may include affiliate links.
Let me buy something and own it. I don’t want to pay a monthly fee to use something
"One of the most important elements to keep in mind in product development is the ultimate user experience. This sounds obvious, but many times, creative teams and developers become overly enamored in their own ideas about the product that they lose sight of how it’ll ultimately be used by the end user," Professor Johnson, the founder of the Neuroscience of Branding blog, explained to Bored Panda.
"Products are valuable when, and only when, they’re valuable to the consumer. This ultimately comes down to empathic design, as well as the practice of co-creation with consumers. Instead of simply guessing what will be appealing to consumers, many brands have begun to invite them into the creative process itself," he noted that there's far more interaction between creators and consumers than before.
Just give me the f*****g recipe. I do not want to read your life story.
I like being able to read articles and stuff online without being asked to enter an email, create an account, give my phone number, etc. Also, not everything needs to have an app / be automated with Alexa.
There are sites that are made for getting past paywalls and account locks, they are very useful.
"Crucial to this process is the intuitive nature of the user experience. Products—especially technological products—should be instantly intuitive. This again comes back to empathic design and co-creation. And in addition, a third component is especially important: making the consumer feel smart. The ‘smartness’ of the product experience isn’t merely the technology, but how it makes the user feel. Here, there’s an analogy to good, empathetic writing: good writing makes the writer feel smart; great writing makes the reader feel smart. The same can be said for technology products."
Meanwhile, we were very interested to get the professor's opinion on the advantages and disadvantages of 'smart' devices, compared to 'dumb' (aka analog) ones.
"There’s a lot of speculation that there may be something of an analog renaissance. There’s clear recognition that technology has its benefits in a number of areas of life. However, in others, it may have overstepped its bounds, and that analog (or dumb tech) products may actually be beneficial," Johnson pointed out to us.
Turn your f*****g music down. Your music should not be shaking my car windows. I should not be able to hear your music inside my house. I should be able to talk to my friends inside this bar or restaurant without yelling. This brewery does not need a live band or DJ. Turn your f*****g music down.
I just want a real person on the telephone when I have to call a business.
"Please listen carefully because our menu options have changed." NO THEY HAVEN'T.
Usually it's the button for the operator that's changed and they switch it to some odd one. Should be 0 by default but they put it to 4 or 9, or some other weird area.
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How about those that keep listing 10 other options even when you reached option you need and already pressed it.
There are some things that won't connect you without getting a correct postal code first. The absolute worst. They trip on my Malay accent, they trip on my sister's heavy Cumbric accent. Can't win!
Lol me shouting my national insurance number NO I DIDN'T SAY N! NOOOOO NOT N M! F**K YOU. In a Salford accent that it also hates
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On some systems if you repeatedly mash 0 or # or any key, it dumps you out of the menu and puts you through.
On others you get disconnected and are number 32768 when you call again, wannabe hacker!
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I think there should be both options, I personally have crippling anxiety about calling and talking to a real person I don't know, so being able to make an appointment or whatever without talking to a potentially judgemental person is very helpful to me. I understand how it can be frustrating, but it does help people on all sides in multiple ways. The company can save manpower and reduce the number of people on the payroll, customers don't have to wait for a representative, and people like me can be much less stressed overall when we need to call the bank.
I have crippling anxiety over talking to ANYONE on the phone. I can't call my best friend without absolutely freaking out
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"I'm sorry. I did not understand this entry. Please try again." *1* "Please listen to the entire menu before making a selection." AAAAAAAAH
Try hammering the star or pound button. Sometimes it skips the entire menu and sends you to an operator.
"hello this is mental health hotline, press 1 if you are delusional and you will be sent through to the mother ship. Press 2 if you are by polar and then 3 and 4, press 5 if you are paranoid and we will know where your location is." Mental health hotline. Ringtone. And yes I have bipolar. And yes I get a kick out this ringtone. But Lord when you answer to a non person you feel like your on the mental health hotline 🤬
I do that too. Been doing it for years. Sometimes you only have to say it 2 or 3 times and you're in and talking to a real live person.
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Yes! Rather than deal with their wonky website! Nothing worse than coming up to a brick wall, when all you want is a simple fix..
Comcast is the worst about this. They make it incredibly hard to find the phone number in the first place, and when you do call, it takes an act of congress to get to a live person.
Took 4 phone calls, two visits to websit and three chat sessions and 4 hours to activate my new modem last Saturday.
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oh yes, this! and someone who speaks my language in a way that means we can understand each other, i hate all that robotic shite...
I go to an interventional pain management doctor who is a part of a very large medical group. Their entire computer system has been down for a week, so they won't refill any prescriptions. There is a large number of people in excruciating pain, me included. Even if the system comes back I will be away for almost a week. Afriend is housesitting.
Used to be able Press 0 or *0 for a real person. Now they just hang up on you when you do this! Lol
This one pisses me off to no end. Don’t tell me that these greedy corporations can’t afford to hire and train real humans to communicate with their customers.
I’m sorry, I could not understand your command please speak more clearly…
Had this recently. Trying to buy a GC for a friends birthday. Wanted to get one from the local coffee shop down the street from her. Called a dozen times to see if they actually sell GC. Nobody ever answered the phone. Tried various times on 3 days. GC Star*ucks will get the money instead.
OR...how about getting someone without a thick middle eastern accent.
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There's nothing more aggravating than automated responses. That is not customer service.
A real person who doesn't have a thick, unintelligible accent would be nice too. If that's the case I'll just use your web chat. I have issues deciphering voices so phone calls are really hard for me when I can't understand the other person, it's really stressful.
No kidding! And I’m not trying to sound biased, but can it please be a person that speaks English to where I can understand them? It is so difficult trying to talk to someone who does know my native tongue, but they know it with a very thick accent. I hate calling a place trying to get an order canceled, and I’m praying to the call center gods that they understood i wanted my order to be canceled. Then, come to find out, 3 days later I received that order and now I have to call back again to get a return label 🤬🤬🤬
Preferably in the state/country you are calling in. Trying to sort out a problem with an online store and I couldn't understand a word this guy was saying and asked to speak with someone who actually spoke English. He tells me "I speak English". And I'm like, no buddy, you really don't.
Being partially deaf makes it very difficult for me to understand someone with an accent. Some accent I have no problem with, but others just make no sense, so making phone calls with someone from India/Pakistan/South Africa etc means I just get garbled sounds in my ears. Then I sound racist if I ask for someone to talk to who does not have that accent.
I have never, never called a business and been helped by the automated system. There is a reason I want to talk to a rep. and it's because the robo-lady can't answer my questions...ever.
If you cuss, you get a real person real fast. Tried and true. "You seem frustrated. Let me direct you to one of our associates." 😈 They'll hate me now! 😁
Navigating through one hour of robot menus to finally get an agent with the cable company is almost enough for me to cancel the service.
Or to reach a representative, dial 8. Then that just puts you in another telephone rodeo. THEM: (recording) "to serve you better, please tell us your problem." ME: "My WiFi /internet is out." THEM: "You may be able to solve your problem faster by going to www.spe*trum.com." ME: "@#%&*!! My WiFi/internet is OUT! If I could do that, I wouldn't need to call you now, would I??!!" ME AGAIN: "Do we have any Jack Daniels left?"
Amen, long gone are the times when someone answers the phone. This is one new gen idea that I don't get.
Many times if you press 0 it will send you to a person, but not always
...there's a reason there is no prompt in the menu for leaving a suggestion message.
Please....so much faster Hello this is corporate ball blah how many I direct the call. Genius AND employment. Gen X.
The same with Help Chats on Sites. 'Agents' are bots that give you very limited question choices, and not all pass you on to a 'real' agent if they can't answer your query - or you're waiting to be connected and it times out after two minutes or so.
If you don't want to hold, PLEASE PRESS 1. We'll save your place in the que and call you back. Me presses 1 and is immediately disconnected.
This is a multi-generational (at least 2-I'm Gen X). I've both lost my temper and ended up in tears-or both. REP-RE-ZEN-TA-TIVE!!!
This is even more frustrating when you're trying to reach your doctors office or following up on a job application. Press 1 a thousand X's if you're really frustrated.
I get that businesses may need an Auto Attendant, but it should NEVER be more than 2 levels deep, and it needs to be short!! I dont want to hear about what youre offering... just tell me what i need to know. Thank you for calling business name. Press 1 for sales 2 for accounting 3 for .... And get me to a person. Thats It! My time is valuable! Stop wasting it!
I keep pressing zero. If that doesn’t work I won’t purchase from that retailer ever again.
Hate the ' creepy ' voice guy that repeats your entry ! then says Press 1 if correct
If you know your party's extension enter it now...haha good luck with that 😉. You have now entered the telephone twilight zone🎶🎶
To me having to phone the company is by itself "boomer". I prefer to do things online.
Paper books are better than E-books. There is just something about reading on paper- it feels more real.
"Take communication, for example. Zoom has been a huge tool in the pandemic, and is great for communication types requiring a visual referent, such as a presentation. However, there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that a simple phone call is better for building empathy and trust," he explained. "And while digital forms of typing, either on mobile or on the computer, come with their own conveniences, 'dumb' writing products—like simple pencil and pad—have been identified to hold several benefits such as enhanced creativity and better memory retention." Anecdotally, we can definitely confirm this. It's why yours truly still takes a lot of notes by hand; it might be slower, but it works so much better than doing everything digitally.
Professor Johnson, the author of Branding that Means Business, pointed out that smart devices will "likely proliferate in certain areas, but may dissipate in others."
"Predicting exactly which kinds of devices will proliferate is difficult and speculative. Generally speaking, technology over the past 15-20 years has been incredible at enabling consumers to do things better, easier, and faster than ever before," he said. "Technology is great for doing things. But it isn’t great at providing enjoyable experiences, or enhancing existing ones. It’s in this domain of where a return to ‘dumb’ technology may be most pronounced."
Just because you can contact me immediately by phone and text doesn’t mean I should be expected to respond and be constantly accessible. I miss the days where you just turned the answering machine on and went and lived life.
As a mentally ill person, I say: Your mental illness is not your fault, but it is your responsibility to manage. Your mental illnesses can cause you to make mistakes and treat others poorly, and you certainly deserve some grace and understanding when you f**k up (as all humans do). But that doesn’t let you off the hook for the behavior, and it doesn’t make the recipient of the bad behavior the bad guy for setting boundaries or calling you on your behavior.
"No! No, BoJack, just stop. You are all the things that are wrong with you. It’s not the alcohol, or the drugs or any of the s****y things that happened to you in your career or when you were a kid. It’s you. All right? It’s you."
Giving your kids "unique" names is a sign of immaturity, selfishness and narcissism.
Think before naming your kids as they're the ones that will have to live with it
I'm sure Niveah - Hayden - Jaydehn - Schaydhenn will absolutely understand while they are getting the c**p beat out of them in middle school. And then again when they are trying to be taken seriously in a career.
Meanwhile, the author of the original r/AskReddit thread, u/Poopooplatta69, was kind enough to share a few of their thoughts with us.
"I believe that all of us have opinions that go against the grain and that some of these opinions aren't necessarily wrong," they told us a bit about what inspired them to start up the thread in the first place.
According to the redditor, a boomer "doesn't necessarily mean age."
"I know some young conservatives that I would view as boomers. To me the 'ok boomer' crowd is out of touch and refuses to try to understand that things are different now," they told Bored Panda.
In their opinion, social media is "easily" the most recent technology that has made life harder rather than easier. "We're addicted to it and it's making us mentally ill," they said.
It’s rude to be on your phone while in the company of others. Makes you look bored to be hanging out with them
It is actually spooky to see 6 friends around a table in a restaurant all staring at their phones and not talking to each other at all.
Spelling and grammar matter.
I heard a YouTube guy say "punctuation saves lives, people" and got a big kick out of that.
Baby boomers, aka boomers, are people born from 1946 to 1964, and tend to be seen as having ‘old-fashioned’ beliefs about work and life. Being called a boomer in a non-academic context is a synonym for someone who’s behind the times. It’s typically used as a gentle insult (e.g. using the dismissive phrase, ‘ok, boomer!’). Quite paradoxical, considering that boomers themselves tend to see themselves as ‘the greatest generation.’
No generation is perfect: each one has its specific pros and cons, as well as very distinct perception of what the world ‘should’ be like.
Similarly, boomers tend to look down on zoomers (born from the early 2010s onwards), but often call them millennials (born 1981-1996) by mistake. Speaking generally, boomers tend to believe that the younger generations are slacking off and should be working harder.
However, boomers often get criticized for not taking the economic situation into account. They grew up in a time of affluence and prosperity when it was relatively easy to save up enough money to own your own home.
Five year olds don't need Smartphones
I knew a 6 year old girl who had her own Apple Watch and the latest version of the iPhone.
From an elder Gen X:
Gender reveals are ridiculous. "Let's have a party for everyone to celebrate a baby's genitals"
As someone who grew up in the 70's and learning about women's liberation I would not think people would be still so attached to the whole pink/blue clothes,toys, etc.
Having your own home is still seen as a sign of success by the majority of young people. However, the problem is affordability. It’s not enough to work hard. Financial stability and home ownership aren’t as guaranteed as they used to be half a century ago. This, of course, leads to a certain amount of cynicism among the millennials and the Gen-Z cohort, as well as tension between them and the older generations who (from their perspective) may have had it easier.
As we grow older, our tastes change and develop. At the same time, we also cling to certain technologies and attitudes that used to get us good results. Why switch to a high-tech TV, computer, or phone when the one you have works perfectly fine? It’s eco-friendly and financially savvy to avoid upgrading to something new just for the heck of it… so long as you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Unfortunately, the reality is that some people are resistant to trying new tech. They might be scared to break something. Or they might be unwilling to learn something new—perhaps due to their pride or out of fear that it’ll take them far too long. It’s a question of attitude, as well as adaptability. Do you embrace the new so that you can keep up with a rapidly-changing world or do you cling to the past, daydreaming of the ‘good old days’?
Physical buttons to push, especially in cars, I hate touch screens.
I just bought an air fryer with 2 knobs and not a touch screen. It's an entry level appliance. The only low review was of the knobs - the fear they might break off. They hadn't broken off. Incredible. A low review based on a fear of knobs failing. Our species is doomed.
People share way too much on social media.
thegigglepickler replied:
Similarly, you don’t need to record every second of your life. Live in the moment every once in a while.
They need to bring back home economics class in school.
Agee they need to teach life skills besides just cooking. Budgeting a basic idea of what is involved in being an adult.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. But if we spend all of our time reminiscing about the past while ignoring the present, something needs to change. One way to do this is to focus on all of the things that you’re grateful to have in this ever-changing world.
At the same time, it’s essential to stay objective. Just because there’s a new gadget coming out or a fresh trend is sweeping the globe doesn’t mean that you should jump on board simply because ‘everyone else is doing it.’ Ignore the FOMO. Think about what you want.
It’s perfectly fine to want better, more user-friendly technology. For instance, you might feel that a website, app, or streaming service needs a more intuitive UI. Or you might get irritated by all the updates that certain apps require just to function. Not to mention the metric ton of passwords that you need to keep track of because, hey, pretty much everything requires you to log in these days. Sometimes, simpler really is better.
Personally? I’d love to meet the person who decided that phones no longer need headphone jacks. I’ve got a bunch of questions for them…
They don't make em like they used to. Houses, appliances, everything.
Yep, now that the really old stuff has finally failed the stuff we've replaced it with is failing at a faster rate and some even on the 2nd or 3rd replacement.
Children are being brainwashed by TikTok/Instagram/etc... Not in the whole "the gays are brainwashing our kids" thing but children can't focus on anything for more than a few seconds at a time and are majorly desensitized to things
i totally agree, reading books was as much about learning to concentrate and think
Headlights are too bright nowadays.
I really do hate when they change the aisles around at the grocery store.
People should chill with their phones during concerts. You paid tickets to watch the show, not to record the whole thing.
Modern parents can be very entitled and modern parenting styles like gentle, child led and never say no parenting are going to cause as many problems as they fix.
Yes previous generations were too strict but modern parents go too far in the other direction.
Younger children in general are genuinely spending way too much time on tablets and other devices.
I don't want the new shiny thing with a thousand of usless functions, I don't want something that will be old in 3 years because of lack of sofware update or because the tecnology in that field is becoming better at lightning speed. I want something that just works and last a long time. I can understand you might want the best thing for work (like a powerful pc) but why would anyone want a smart fridge or toaster?
Paying good money for a product that doesn't do the thing it says on the box until you install their b******t app on your phone makes me want to burn s**t to the ground.
Things that require a separate thing requiring an account or recurring payment in order to work. I don't have a phone, why do I need one for a physical thing? I bought a physical disk of a game, why do I need a Steam account to play it, given that I bought a physical disk because I don't agree with Steam's T&Cs?
Too many people on the Internet self-diagnose with autism, ADHD, PTSD, etc and they do it in a way that screams "I'm different and unique pay attention to me!"
I know someone who was randomly hitting me for absolutely no reason. She said,”I’m allowed because I’m autistic,” I was extremely tempted to punch her in the face and say,” I’m allowed because I’m autistic.” I didn’t though. A few years later she got an actual assessment for autism and it turns out she was just a b***h and thought OMG! I don’t like wool! I must be autistic
I think common sense isn’t that common anymore. I think people need to take accountability for their actions and admit when they’re wrong or f****d up. Stop making excuses and just say sorry and do better next time.
Note that often what is excused as an excuse is actually an explanation, and people who have experienced abuse are prone to over-explaining to make sure there is no misinterpretation. 100% of cases I've seen of "making excuses" have been this.
STOP MAKING EVERYTHING AUTOMATED AND TECHNOLOGICAL. I want to talk to a real human being when I call. I don’t want all this touch free, scan this, download this app, blah blah blah.
Smart things should fail to dumb, not to broken.
Smart lock can’t reach the internet? I should be able to use my keys. (This is why I have a dumb home.)
I don't have smart things because they are hideously insecure. Easy backdoor into otherwise secure networks.
People are too loud.
And they smell. And they just kind of suck. Kitties and doggos are so much better.
TV is getting too dark. Too dark and too quiet. I swear we have to turn the volume up like twice as loud as we have it normally to watch Yellowstone.
Better believe the commercials have plenty of volume though...
My watch doesn't need to spy on me
I really don’t want people I don’t know on my lawn.
Only problem I have with it, is when people don't clean up after their dogs. Otherwise, whatever.
Having your children in every sports league and traveling all over spending loads of money and time doesn't make you a better parent.
but, it might make you a better parent if your kid is loving what's happening and what they're doing. If a parent is forcing their kid(s) to be in a sport, that's a different story imo
TikTok, Youtube shorts, Instagram reels and all that is having a seriously negative impact on the attention span of young people.
You may have tipped the conversation into attention deficit disorder. Focus is a muscle that needs guidance, training and exercise. Not all ADHD requires medication.
Sometimes you need to shut your laptop, Apple TV, Loud Bass speakers and mouth, and just sit quietly.
Seriously we dont need to be listening to media, music, news, memes or ANY sound or stimulation 24/7.
so my problem is with my anxiety, having quiet makes me really anxious, like there's no reason I should be, I just am. Like I can have my TV on the lowest volume playing something I don't care about and I can sit there a read a book perfectly fine. I know that this isn't normal, it's a me problem, but I haven't figured out a good way to deal with it yet. I think it's because in my mind, quiet = bad/ I'm in trouble/ something bad is going to happen. Edit: I wanted to say thanks for all the amazing advice! I'm going to be trying a few of them once I'm better from being sick and able to walk again :D
The service industry is garbage now. My first few jobs were working in fast food: I got paid s**t and the hours sucked. I still greeted customers when they walked in the shop, spoke politely over the phone and waited until my smoke breaks to blow a f*****g gasket about something. Because of my experience in food service, I'm polite and friendly to a waiter/waitress or my delivery driver and usually try to tip well. But it seems like more often than not, everybody on the other side of the counter is surly and unhelpful. I'll be somewhere to pick up my food and the person on the other side of the counter can't even be bothered to look up from their phone to say 'welcome to arby's; how can I help you?'
I get it; your job sucks. You should be paid more. You have to deal with the rudest, most entitled people on a daily basis and twice as much on Sunday. It won't f*****g kill you to say hello.
Everyone should work a service or retail job at least once. Are a minimum, they’ll spend the rest of their lives being polite to service and retail workers.
Concentration is getting worse. I tutor students and I notice a complete lack of concentration from people as little as 1 year younger than me. Also everyone is very difficult and doesn’t participate even though they asked you for help
Automated menus on customer service lines, and honestly customer service lines themselves, f*****g suck.
lexigraxe replied:
My doctor's office has an automated menu for scheduling appointments, which is fine and dandy except for the fact that it has FOUR LAYERS of automation before you get to an actual person, and if you press the number you want too soon it will restart the whole menu. Also, sometimes it goes through to a real office number but then rings for 45 seconds before saying “the party you are trying to reach is unavailable, goodbye” and then hangs up automatically, so you have to go through the menu all over again. F**k automated menus like that.
I work with insurance companies all day, I get so frustrated when I call and there’s not an option on what I want/need, there should be an operator option 0 for every business you call, not hang up on you
That some people can't just enjoy their meals at a restaurant, they absolutely HAVE to take a picture first. Nobody starts eating until a satisfying Foto is taken.
Like, f**k you! I'm hungry and want to start eating. It's not like you paid for my meal.
Old music is way better
There's good new music out there, you just have to look for it.
Popular music these days are highly industrialized and have nothing to do with art or culture
A lot of entertainment is this way. When even a society's art is entrenched in the capitalist culture of profit, it becomes nothing more than a money maker.
Movies used to be way better.
And I get that there were always lots of crappy and mediocre movies. And I get that there are still really good ones these days - 2019 was a particularly amazing year.
But they still used to be SO MUCH BETTER. Indie film festivals weren’t littered with endless “gritty slice of life drama with no plot and a shaky handheld camera”. Hollywood didn’t used to be “superhero’s and sequels and f**k everything else”.
And I dunno, it just feels like….some passion is gone. If you saw a low budget driving scene in the 70’s, you likely saw poor lighting and some muddled audio. But you also saw real people in real locations really trying. Now, a movie costing 200 f*****g million won’t bother filming a real driving scene with two actors in a real car on a real street. “Just green screen jt, no one will notice”.
But we do. We really do. And that lack of passion is killing the thing I love most.
And perhaps use real actors? It becomes boring watching an "actor" delivering a line with all of the emotion of a dust mop.
I loathe motion sensor faucets, hand driers, soap dispensers, and flush handles. My hands are huge and they don’t trip the sensors or fit in the dryers.
Children shouldn't own ipads.
People should be weary of posting photos if their kids on social media. I find it really disturbing that nowadays kid's photos are on social media quite literally while they're still in the womb.
Note: this post originally had 79 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
I'm past the stage of being excited by a new phone, laptop, etc. I just want it to do what the old one did. I'm Gen X btw.
Or we could just all realize that our generation is irrelevant, whereas our shared humanity is very relevant, and we could all go on strike. All. Of. Us. And teach those Ayn-Rand-believing nitwits who really is needed to run the world. Just a thought. Too boomer? I'm Gen X.
Gen-x here to tell you all that you are not special. Despite every parent, teacher or miscellaneous relative giving you presents and trophies for existing, there are millions of people just like you. You aren't entitled, your kid isn't entitled and you live in a society where everyone matters, not just you or your kid. You don't get to skip lines, take others' seats or demand special service and treatment because your mom told you were the most precious person who ever lived as a child.
There actually is some unique talent that we all were given and there is nothing wrong with celebrating that. I don't worry about giving non-wealthy kids encouragement. They need support now so that they can have the emotional wherewithal to stand as adults when the real world starts beating them up. What is truly concerning is the way the entitled rich has been become accustomed to not following laws and getting away with it. How is it that we have a person who has had years of lawsuits, employee complaints, tax fraud, and then even doing his best to stage a violent coup against our own government and he's stil walking around? Further, he wants a chance to screw our government again and some people even support it? Coddling the rich has to stop.
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I don't know if people agree with this, but: Have your gender, don't be your gender. Be who you feel you are, be attracted or not attracted to whomever makes you happy. Use the pronouns you want. But don't make that the main affect of your existence, build a personality that doesn't depend on how you define your gender. Honestly I know so many people of many genders (and ethnicities) where that is the least interesting thing about them.
As a trans gay guy, I agree, but your gender/sexuality/ethnicity is still part of who you are. I am first a person, second a trand gay man, but that second part can't be ignored until bigotry is gone. Still, don't make your entire personality 'I'm gay'. It's boring for both you and everyone else. It's fine to have a stereotypically gay personality, but get a damn hobby.
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I also hate how the new generation always says, "Be yourself! You're amazing the way you are! Speak up and voice your opinion!", except when they disagree with whatever someone says and then it's, "you're a terrible person and you shouldn't say that, or think that way." Or they 'cancel' you for not thinking the way they do. They also think everyone cares about what they have to say. I don't have social media because it's toxic and because I can think for myself and I'm not a damn sheep that just blindly follows the mindless zombie masses. Also, I don't like how everytime I buy something with my card, it now always seems to ask if you want to tip. Like drive threw coffee or food places that you don't even sit down at and you're not even being served. Why do I need to tip someone for handing me what I already payed for?
It's cause of the twisted s**t going on eith American wage systems. The only way workers can get enough pay to survive is by tipping.
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This is very Gen X .. the last generation with their heads on straight, raised with old school values, but first to drop out of culture.. the silent generation thats now getting motivated to speak up!
As a young gen z, I agree with most of these. The ubiquity of screens is f*****g horrible for society. I'm part of that ofc but there are a ton of people in my clas- and EIGHTH GRADE CLASS- who can neither spell nor read. They can't read. In eighth grade. They have to sound through words a few letters at a time. 13 and 14 year old. It's horrifying. Parents need to give their kids books instead of phones- if your child is bored, go buy Harry Potter or wings of fire or warriors. Relatively little money for a much, much healthier and longer-lasting solution.
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I'm just going to be weird here... but all this gen this, gen that has always been there. I wonder what would happen when The Internet (THE INTERNET) would dissappear? Just like... poof, no more. Would we all go back to just being human beings? With parents, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, peers, elders, neighbours, grandparents? From who we learn the life skills we now seem to learn from YouTube, influencers, reddit, BP. What WOULD happen?
Baby boomers as a concept long predate the internet as does complaining about "kids these days"
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Ok boomer. Jk, there were a few I disagreed with but I agree with some also. Gen z here
Young gen z and I only disagreed with like 3 of them. Most of these are right on the mark
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I think it is sad that parents don't teach children about responsibility and keeping your word. When I was growing up, your word was your bond and today, it means nothing. If I promised to help a neighbor do something, I would be there until it was finished. If I bought a car from someone, we shook hands made the deal and left. We didn't sue people at the drop of a hat or leave people hanging. I see none of that in kids today.
LOL OKAY ... so you would be perfectly fine with someone else shaking hands to make a deal that you have no say in and you are compelled into doing something you absolutely hate. Right. Like those good ole days, eh?
Load More Replies... I'm one generation younger than Boomer, but I would think anyone would have to be crazy not to agree with most of these.
I was the one who submitted this question to ask reddit. I honestly did not expect it to take off the way it did. Sorry for not getting back to Jonas in time.
Too many apps! I should be able to view a menu, place an order, leave a review, etc., without having to download yet another app. And I have four different apps related to my son's school, all completely different: one to deposit lunch money into his account, one for cross country practice and meet info, one for school district itself, and one to.communicate directly with his teacher.
I'm a boomer. At the very end of boomerness. I was born in 1960 why would my opinions be the same as someone born in 1946? I was 50 before I could afford to buy my first house and I couldn't afford it I lost it. So who should I identify with? The person in 1946 basically my parents gen? That's ridiculous I had computers in high school it was a little cutting edge but we had them. I worked in technology. I understand tech I don't necessarily like all of it but that's a personal opinion not a generational thing. Boomer things on Panda kind of p**s me off.
I hate the idea that you have to look like a model, own the newest models of everything, wear the latest in fashion trends, and anything else "trendy" or "mainstream" unless you want people judging you and looking down on you as you're just trying to love your life like a normal person.
Super agree with almost everything, except for those about music and even movies, because is like people who don´t know anything but American content
Also every second word being a swear. Like, breaking a bone? Swear to your hearts content. But not in every sentence you utter!!!
It's not exactly deliberate I think, it's just that kids don't read. They genuinely do not know how to spell or use grammar correctly
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K, so many of these comments sound like the whiny, entitled boomer-ish s**t that I hear over and over. Who raised the generation that you are complaining about? Who created the society that you feel so disconnected from? Who ends ends up blaming others instead of leading by example? Everyone complaining about screen time while actually doing the opposite... Bunch of hypocrites. Young people don't owe us anything for receiving the s****y end of the stick.
I'm a gen z kid and most of these are absolutely correct.
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I'm past the stage of being excited by a new phone, laptop, etc. I just want it to do what the old one did. I'm Gen X btw.
Or we could just all realize that our generation is irrelevant, whereas our shared humanity is very relevant, and we could all go on strike. All. Of. Us. And teach those Ayn-Rand-believing nitwits who really is needed to run the world. Just a thought. Too boomer? I'm Gen X.
Gen-x here to tell you all that you are not special. Despite every parent, teacher or miscellaneous relative giving you presents and trophies for existing, there are millions of people just like you. You aren't entitled, your kid isn't entitled and you live in a society where everyone matters, not just you or your kid. You don't get to skip lines, take others' seats or demand special service and treatment because your mom told you were the most precious person who ever lived as a child.
There actually is some unique talent that we all were given and there is nothing wrong with celebrating that. I don't worry about giving non-wealthy kids encouragement. They need support now so that they can have the emotional wherewithal to stand as adults when the real world starts beating them up. What is truly concerning is the way the entitled rich has been become accustomed to not following laws and getting away with it. How is it that we have a person who has had years of lawsuits, employee complaints, tax fraud, and then even doing his best to stage a violent coup against our own government and he's stil walking around? Further, he wants a chance to screw our government again and some people even support it? Coddling the rich has to stop.
Load More Replies... I don't know if people agree with this, but: Have your gender, don't be your gender. Be who you feel you are, be attracted or not attracted to whomever makes you happy. Use the pronouns you want. But don't make that the main affect of your existence, build a personality that doesn't depend on how you define your gender. Honestly I know so many people of many genders (and ethnicities) where that is the least interesting thing about them.
As a trans gay guy, I agree, but your gender/sexuality/ethnicity is still part of who you are. I am first a person, second a trand gay man, but that second part can't be ignored until bigotry is gone. Still, don't make your entire personality 'I'm gay'. It's boring for both you and everyone else. It's fine to have a stereotypically gay personality, but get a damn hobby.
Load More Replies... I also hate how the new generation always says, "Be yourself! You're amazing the way you are! Speak up and voice your opinion!", except when they disagree with whatever someone says and then it's, "you're a terrible person and you shouldn't say that, or think that way." Or they 'cancel' you for not thinking the way they do. They also think everyone cares about what they have to say. I don't have social media because it's toxic and because I can think for myself and I'm not a damn sheep that just blindly follows the mindless zombie masses. Also, I don't like how everytime I buy something with my card, it now always seems to ask if you want to tip. Like drive threw coffee or food places that you don't even sit down at and you're not even being served. Why do I need to tip someone for handing me what I already payed for?
It's cause of the twisted s**t going on eith American wage systems. The only way workers can get enough pay to survive is by tipping.
Load More Replies... This is very Gen X .. the last generation with their heads on straight, raised with old school values, but first to drop out of culture.. the silent generation thats now getting motivated to speak up!
As a young gen z, I agree with most of these. The ubiquity of screens is f*****g horrible for society. I'm part of that ofc but there are a ton of people in my clas- and EIGHTH GRADE CLASS- who can neither spell nor read. They can't read. In eighth grade. They have to sound through words a few letters at a time. 13 and 14 year old. It's horrifying. Parents need to give their kids books instead of phones- if your child is bored, go buy Harry Potter or wings of fire or warriors. Relatively little money for a much, much healthier and longer-lasting solution.
Load More Replies... I'm just going to be weird here... but all this gen this, gen that has always been there. I wonder what would happen when The Internet (THE INTERNET) would dissappear? Just like... poof, no more. Would we all go back to just being human beings? With parents, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, peers, elders, neighbours, grandparents? From who we learn the life skills we now seem to learn from YouTube, influencers, reddit, BP. What WOULD happen?
Baby boomers as a concept long predate the internet as does complaining about "kids these days"
Load More Replies... Ok boomer. Jk, there were a few I disagreed with but I agree with some also. Gen z here
Young gen z and I only disagreed with like 3 of them. Most of these are right on the mark
Load More Replies... I think it is sad that parents don't teach children about responsibility and keeping your word. When I was growing up, your word was your bond and today, it means nothing. If I promised to help a neighbor do something, I would be there until it was finished. If I bought a car from someone, we shook hands made the deal and left. We didn't sue people at the drop of a hat or leave people hanging. I see none of that in kids today.
LOL OKAY ... so you would be perfectly fine with someone else shaking hands to make a deal that you have no say in and you are compelled into doing something you absolutely hate. Right. Like those good ole days, eh?
Load More Replies... I'm one generation younger than Boomer, but I would think anyone would have to be crazy not to agree with most of these.
I was the one who submitted this question to ask reddit. I honestly did not expect it to take off the way it did. Sorry for not getting back to Jonas in time.
Too many apps! I should be able to view a menu, place an order, leave a review, etc., without having to download yet another app. And I have four different apps related to my son's school, all completely different: one to deposit lunch money into his account, one for cross country practice and meet info, one for school district itself, and one to.communicate directly with his teacher.
I'm a boomer. At the very end of boomerness. I was born in 1960 why would my opinions be the same as someone born in 1946? I was 50 before I could afford to buy my first house and I couldn't afford it I lost it. So who should I identify with? The person in 1946 basically my parents gen? That's ridiculous I had computers in high school it was a little cutting edge but we had them. I worked in technology. I understand tech I don't necessarily like all of it but that's a personal opinion not a generational thing. Boomer things on Panda kind of p**s me off.
I hate the idea that you have to look like a model, own the newest models of everything, wear the latest in fashion trends, and anything else "trendy" or "mainstream" unless you want people judging you and looking down on you as you're just trying to love your life like a normal person.
Super agree with almost everything, except for those about music and even movies, because is like people who don´t know anything but American content
Also every second word being a swear. Like, breaking a bone? Swear to your hearts content. But not in every sentence you utter!!!
It's not exactly deliberate I think, it's just that kids don't read. They genuinely do not know how to spell or use grammar correctly
Load More Replies... K, so many of these comments sound like the whiny, entitled boomer-ish s**t that I hear over and over. Who raised the generation that you are complaining about? Who created the society that you feel so disconnected from? Who ends ends up blaming others instead of leading by example? Everyone complaining about screen time while actually doing the opposite... Bunch of hypocrites. Young people don't owe us anything for receiving the s****y end of the stick.
I'm a gen z kid and most of these are absolutely correct.
Load More Replies... 