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Are you tired of the phrase 'OK Boomer' yet? Originating from the exasperation and futility of arguing with people who approach the world's problems from a position of security and privilege, the meme has quickly morphed into a lame conversation killer, mindlessly and derisively parroted by people who disagree with anyone who happens to be older than them.

I blame the online culture of 'savage putdowns,' 'mic-drops' and 'word murders' for this – we have come to believe that the way to 'win' a debate is to flounce out with a particularly biting or amusing insult, at the expense of logic and reason. 'OK Boomer' is not clever, and it's not even funny anymore. It's smug, boring and counterproductive.

This post highlights the generational divide that we face today, as younger people share the out-of-touch advice that they have received from their elders. Because let's face it, the structural inequality, economic insecurity and environmental destruction that Millenials and Gen X'ers have inherited are a direct result of the selfish, greedy neoliberal policies championed by Boomers over the last 30 years.

Understandably, the younger generations are a bit upset at their comparative lack of opportunities and are even more frustrated by the absence of understanding and empathy shown in useless pieces of 'advice' like this. But it works both ways. Whilst Boomers could better educate themselves as to the realities of the modern world, and acknowledge that the kind of lifestyles they enjoyed are excessive, damaging and no longer attractive or attainable; casually dismissing the opinions and life experience of older people with thoughtless phrases like 'OK Boomer' ultimately achieves nothing but more division and even less understanding.

What do you think? How can we better bridge the gaps between generations to have more useful, constructive debates and discussions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Image credits: Freeyourmindkid
#2

Boomer-Out-Of-Touch-Advice

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Bonnie Blue Bird
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lots of people are putting their heads in the sand on this topic. It's a mystery to me as to why.

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#3

Boomer-Out-Of-Touch-Advice

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WilvanderHeijden
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. Even the pre-boomer generation wouldn't give you that advice. I'm a boomer but my father always told me to follow the money. If you can get more money working elsewhere then don't hang around and move on.

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#5

Boomer-Out-Of-Touch-Advice

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Vic
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now this here is good advice.. And the secret behind a long life is... Just don't die..

meinespammailadresse1 avatar
A B C
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom told my 30 year old self that I'm "too young" for depressions, so I guess I'm fine 🤷‍♀️

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Rinpai
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah yes, if only the people who drowned when the titanic had just swam. Ugh seriously I hate this kind of reasoning

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xolitaire
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh come on, this b******t has nothing to do with boomers. To this day a good half of the people out there believe that depression is not real and that those "kids just sit at home and cry". They don't realise it's a real illness with actual physical symptoms. So yeah, boomers are not at fault here.

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Scotti Cohn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a pre-boomer issue (not surprisingly -- we boomers had to inherit this stuff from somewhere). I am 69 years old. 20 years ago when I told my father I was taking an serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant and it was helping to prevent my severe tension headaches, he said, "You mean the headaches were all in your mind?" Um. No....

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WillemPenn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Definitely pre-boomer. My FIL (Silent Generation) moved in with us last year and really doesn't get my mental health issues ("If you wanted to get better you just would. You don't need meds or therapy. I know because I took an abnormal psychology class when I was in undergrad in 1950.") My spouse is a boomer and gets the same BS from him about taking an SNRI and going to support groups. I'm gen X and when he starts going off on me, I tell him it is not up for debate and I'm leaving him to sit at home while I go out for the afternoon because boundaries.

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Sean Harrison
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've heard this from GenX and Millenials as well, so it's not just a "Boomer" thing.

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Vex Boxx
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahhh, I love this. When people hear you're depressed and they say "Cheer up!" ...okay thanks, I hadn't thought about that.

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mario feds
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you don't need heart medication, just don't have heart disease! you don't need asthma meds, just breathe properly! you don't need a wheel chair, just stand up!

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Lisa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately, a lot of people of all ages believe this is true.

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Lorraine Woollands
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suffer from depression and I have heard this one. I am in my 50s and heard this along with "Just snap out of it" ..... from my mother

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NaChO tHe UnIcOrN
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not even just boomers! My best friends parents don't believe in anxiety or depression, so they think my need for meds is bs. And her dad is a nurse practitioner...

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Sassy Gay Bean Who Loves Dogs
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3 years ago

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Noel Bovae
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just as ridiculous: You don't need pain meds, just stop being in pain! You don't need an inhaler, just stop not being able to breathe. You don't need an Epipen injection, just stop being allergic to stuff. You don't need addiction treatment, just stop doing drugs. You don't need chemo, just stop having cancer. You don't need a wheelchair, just get up and walk. You don't need treatment for anxiety, you just need to calm down and stop being so anxious.

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pusheen buttercup
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Luckily, (somewhat unluckily) depression runs in my family, so I got a lot of understanding about mine. This could have easily gone the opposite way, with more of a lack of empathy rather than having extra of it.

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Zoe Farris
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That advice is not just fro Boomers, that is from people of any generation who do not understand what depression is and thing it is just feelign a little down.

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Id row
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's just ignorance and I see that same mindset today. We know a lot more now than we did then about psychology, but it's still a sorely under-acknowledged topic.

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Jim Ellington
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father insisted that you choose your mood. I kinda hope he's rotting in Hell.

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Markus Holstein
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When she complains about her bad back, just tell her "you don't need pain killers. Just don't ache!"

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Ryo Bakura
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both of my parents told me this. They said I had no reason to be depressed. That was 16 years ago. I've never mentioned it again.

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Sergio Serg
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just because you get sad sometimes doesn't mean you're depressed. It's normal. The prob is people get a bit sad Nd immediately they want to self diagnose themselves with depression.

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Lucas
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're not wrong. My sister got dumped by her boyfriend and ended up prescribed anti-depressants for a few months and getting group therapy. Yet, her sadness was totally normal. She wasn't suffering with clinical depression, but situational depression aka s**t happens. She needed to grieve for what she had lost. I think the group therapy thing was probably a good idea for her at the time. That's not to say that events like that can't trigger major depressive disorder, of course it can. Doctors in the UK are now being told NOT to just hand out pills and therapy for anyone in that kind of scenario. My concern with the new edict is the likelihood of them missing people are are genuinely depressed and won't push themselves forward for the help they really do need.

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Rissie
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4 years ago

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As a borderline millenial, I do think that that advice wasn't aimed at someone suffering from clinical depression and more towards the self diagnosed. Probably an unpopular opinion but I do see a lot of people my age and younger missing empathy because they were not shown by example. It results in an overrepresentation of entitled kids (from entitled parents) in a digital age where any shortage of integrity is magnified greatly. That again resulting in a generation with a lot of extremes of one being untrue victimization. Not everyone is as they seem. That's what I'm tryna say, eh.

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Aria Whitaker
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The problem with that is that if you are prescribed anti-depressants...most likely you are under the care of a psychiatrist who HAS diagnosed clinical depression...most of the "self diagnosed" individuals that you are referring to do not have any sort of prescriptions for anti-depressants. This post specifically states to NOT take the medication that was prescribed (by a medical professional that thinks it is best for your condition), but to just think happy thoughts instead. So, the advice was most certainly aimed at "someone suffering from clinical depression", since the self diagnosed would have no meds to take or not take.

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Flisey
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4 years ago

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If you listen to happy music you will be happy. It's this modern music you listen to that makes you depressed

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AlphaPuck
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4 years ago

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The comment isnt wrong.... Mood is often a choice and a habit. No anti depressant meds worked with me so I made a choice to choose happiness daily. Took about 2 months to notice that I wasnt depressed anymore.

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MammaG
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You did not have clinical depression. Clinical depression is not a choice. My body doesn't make enough serotonin. I have to take medication to force it to work right. Oh, and f**k you.

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#6

Boomer-Out-Of-Touch-Advice

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Alia G.
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wholesome :) i hope boomers like her know the whole ok boomer movement isn't targeted at her

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#7

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Willem Groenewald
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Making that follow up call makes a big difference. I immigrated, and was applying to tons of jobs online. For weeks I received no replies and no interviews. I then started to call just after each submission. That same day I got two interviews lined up.

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#9

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Alia G.
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i think that's something healthy to keep in mind, boomers were part of the most intense first wave civil rights movements, they protested against wars, and some learned to overcome their own racism, sexism, and homophobia. "ok boomer" is used to insult boomers who refused to change with the times and continue to act like bigotry is acceptable.

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#11

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Foxxy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can’t imagine my hubby concreting whilst wearing a suit and tie. Impractical, unsafe and uncomfortable.

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#12

Boomer-Out-Of-Touch-Advice

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WilvanderHeijden
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's reverse that: "If you pay me more I might be willing to work harder."

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#14

Boomer-Out-Of-Touch-Advice

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Tambot
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again, if you need something ask. I am starving, could I please have food might be a good start.

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#17

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Janine B.
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why not? A lot of companies will appreciate that. Maybe they ask you to leave your job application so they can call you in case they are hiring.

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#19

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Jo Choto
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People really fail to grasp the relative decrease in income compared to the increase in cost of living that has happened over the last 50 years. A minimum wage job used to be a living wage. Now you need about three such jobs to stand a chance.

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#20

Boomer-Out-Of-Touch-Advice

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John Montgomery
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah. Because that's exactly what everyone wants. Zero free time. /full sarcasm.

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#21

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Jo Choto
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always start in the mail room... even if there isn't actually a mail room. Just start there anyway.

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#23

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Vic
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now here is where a fifth of Whiskey might help..

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#25

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Jo Choto
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's an article out there somewhere, that showed you could pay your way through Harvard on minimum wage with something like an average of four hours work a day, and now you would need to work 72 hours a day to achieve the same (not the exact figures, but something equally crazy).

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#26

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#27

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Wietse Pot
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They should follow their own advice. Or is this one of those "Do as I say, don't do as I do" things?

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#30

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