Kids often have different views and opinions than their parents and they're OK with it. Usually. But when dads and moms start openly disrespecting the coronavirus in front of their sons and daughters, it's game time. Which, in social distancing terms, means shaming them online.
That's right, social media has been receiving an increasing number of complaints against boomer parents. And they are really valid as well. I mean, some are saying that COVID-19 isn't real and is just a conspiracy, and others are even mocking the virus by throwing it parties... They say you can't change who your parents are, just the way you choose to deal with them. But is there really no chance?
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It's for their own good now, as it was for your own good then... Right?
I know all of this may sound strange at first. As Te-Erika Patterson pointed out, it is widely believed that children will imitate their parents’ behaviors and attitudes, consciously or not. The 1961 Bobo Doll experiment, conducted by Stanford professor Albert Bandura, for example, showed that children will interact with others in the precise manner that was modeled for them by adults. Understanding the responsibility that comes with it, many parents try to make their kids become carbon copies of themselves, or grow up to be the people they wish they were themselves.
But a 2014 study, based on data from the U.S. and U.K., found that parents who are insistent that their children adopt their political views inadvertently influence their children to abandon the belief once they become adults. Think of it like this: children who come from homes where politics is frequently discussed are more likely to talk about politics once they leave home, exposing them to new viewpoints—which they then adopt with surprising frequency.
All cruises were cancelled in April, so I guess Deborah turned into a Karen when she got that news.
I guess most of us can agree that the conversation we're having about the coronavirus has rapidly become politicized. "As the coronavirus now emerges as another front in the culture war, social distancing has come to be viewed in some quarters as a political act — a way to signal which side you’re on," McKay Coppins wrote in The Atlantic. So maybe these online shamings aren't just related to public health? Maybe these kids are detaching themselves from their parents' views as the nation is getting ready to choose its leader?
Not necessarily. Writer and tsunami scientist Kaya Wilson, for example, tweeted that he had to tell his 70-year-old mom people are calling this pandemic the 'Boomer Remover' before he could convince her to cancel all of her boomer cluster activities.
"My mom has been pretty good since then," he told Bored Panda. "She just took a bit longer to take it seriously. She's in the UK, I'm in Australia and I'm much more online than she is. I'm also a scientist."
But Kaya and his mom have similar views when it comes to politics. "She lives alone and is now very active, doing sketch club and yoga on Zoom, walking with her friends, etc. She's formed a bubble with her neighbor and plays tennis with her grandkid. The older grandkids help drop off groceries etc. Once she realized getting coronavirus would be a very lonely experience, she took precautions."
My son is child of boomer parents and we are maybe more worried than he is about all this sh.t with coronavirus
In fact, this is a very human bias, we have to reassure ourselves about the fact life is fair. If people get attacked, sick, killed, it has to because they looked for it (hello victime blaming). Has we always see ourselves as "good", well, we're safe. Just like my grand father was shocked when my mother accepted to take a test for AIDS. She received a transfusion during the tainted blood scandal in France, but he was convinced that she could not have contracted it, as was neither gay, nor drug addict, nor prostitute ...
My 68yo mum went to the hair dresser the day lock down was off in France. (because, I mean, that was the most important thing to do and cound't be delayed because... idk) "It wouldn't be open if it was dangerous". So off course my grand mother (84yo with diabetes and a poor heart condition) didn't see any problem to go the hair dresser at the end of the same week... because my mother wouldn't have go if it wasn't safe...
Nice payback honduran girl. Time to take viruses back to white folks. Cough ona blanket and give it to a boomer.
Tell them that if they don't start taking this seriously, you'll move out!
I am 50.In April, I got Covid from an unknown source. Didn't wear a mask b/c none were available at that time. Got my mask thru Etsy 2 days before I ended up in the hospital. Easter week I was off work, so I cut our shrubs around the church for a day and half. Had sinus symptoms for 2 weeks after that until i went to bed on a Friday night. During the night, kept waking up having a problem breathing. Packed a bag for a few days Saturday morning & went to the ER. 4 tests later, 2 for Covid, 2 For Flu. You have Covid. Next day I was on a ventilator for 4 days. Spent 5 more days in ICU, too weak to do anything, 4 days in a regular room in the "Covid suite". Spent 2.5 months getting well enough to go back to work. I am treated for High blood pressure(under control), type 2 diabetes, Celiac Disease, Lymphocytic Colitis. All under control. I do not take the flu shot and haven't had the flu ever but this snuck up on me. Keep your butt home as much as possible. OH yeah, I went to my PCP 4 days before I went to ER. I was tested and passed out 30 seconds after my nasal swab. Went to ER, blood work and EKG were good, sent home. PCP notified hospital that i was a possible Covid but they didn't test me. When PCP got results back, i was in hospital on ventilator, and it was positive. How many people were infected by me and could have died. I don't take that lightly. Wear a damn mask, be careful, and if older, be extra careful.
Same as the "woke" young people claiming that none of the Covid deaths are actually Covid deaths but people that died from other causes. The government declared them Covid deaths to terrorize gullible people.
There is not such a thing as "typical boomer". I am a boomer (59 y) and I'm very worried about this sh.t. As well most of my friends who are my generation
I am a boomer I make and sterilize mask and give them away free. I will pray for you.
I pity you, and I also congratulate you for understanding that they have actively chosen to be woefully ignorant. I hope you have made sure to get all the vaccinations!
I would like to know more about his condition now, 7 months and more than 40 million people infected worldwide after you wrote that about your dad
They have been groomed all their life to believe that they are invincible. When they were in grade school, they were taught to take shelter under their desks in case an atomic bomb exploded...
1. Politicians aren't doctors nor virologists. Would you take medical advice from a car mechanic? 2. No live matters until black lives matter as much as white lives matter. 3. Yes they are. Would you rather walk through a crowd of incontinent people with or without pants?
Most of us Boomers are trying to stay safe and at home -- but we are getting very depressed and having high anxiety living like caged animals. If younger persons would stay home also, then all of us may be able to sooner. Instead of protecting us, younger persons are lecturing us when they are out living their lives (and maybe infecting others). So -- should us Boomers take our chances of being exposed to COVID (not a good choice) or do we spend our hard earned retirement in a cage, not enjoying our lives (equally bad choice)?
Why do you listen to him and go without a mask anywhere? Nobody can force me to do anything that I know, or just I think, that is not good for me or for others. Not even my parents, nor my children!
"Slow down. Stay indoors. Wear masks. Here's some hand sanitizer. Now, have you updated your wills?".... LITERALLY what this GEnXer said to her parent with four risk factors for death by common cold, let alone COvid.
My nephew’s wife is pregnant, and her mother went on vacation to friggin’ Myrtle Beach ~ the summer’s #1 hotspot ~ and didn’t think it was a big deal. She couldn’t go to her own daughter’s baby shower. So selfish.
I am a boomer and could not be more shocked by the behaviour of people OF EVERY AGE GROUP who make the active choice to be ignorant, stupidly irresponsible, and a threat to other peoples' health. Period.
As I wrote in one of comments above, I don't think there is such a thing as "typical boomer". I am a boomer (59 y) and I'm very worried about this sh.t. As well most of my friends who are my generation. I am very careful for myself, but I'm worrying about youngsters who want to party, to go out, to meet friends... They are more endangered then boomers, I think.
My 60 y/o mother, living with her one and only immunocompromised child: goes to 3 different choirs, a birthday party for an 84-year-old, 5 different stores because they are having a sale and a concert because you can't expect her to just put her life on hold because of a virus. Me: I go to the grand total of ONE store that sells lactose-free products. Mother: starts yelling at me that if I'm going to infect her and her boyfriend dies, she's going to kill me. A couple of months later, her school shuts down because a parent of a student who's sister she teaches has tested positive and is hospitalised. Mother dearest decides she's not going to get tested because she's not willing to go to the hospital and anyway if she's infected, all of us will be as well. FML
I'm in Canada where rules are in place to varying degrees. Leaving it up to the individual isn't going to work. I hope you get through this intact. :(
Load More Replies...The worst offenders are 'boomers' and those in late teens early twenties. The young have an excuse - they've yet to experience losing family members and really don't understand death and illness, staying away from others is harder for the young, they miss socialising much more than other groups. But I have been shocked by the sheer stupidity of people I thought were intelligent..
Why? I know this is your opinion, but you are puttting lives at risk for this disease! I don't know you, but that is dangerous and selfish. Please...be safe and smart. And don't put peoples lives AT RISK!!!
And yes, it's all fun and games till someone gets seriously sick. And in this case, my opinions dissent from boomers. My GF's parents got sick with it, and her dad almost died. So I agree with you on that part. Sorry for being so unclear.
Load More Replies...I'm sick of how people keep thinking of ways to categorise and mock people, even when there's no significant unifying factor between them. This obsession with a range of years when people were born? Seriously. That's messed up.
This is all about boomers but we all can see that COVIDiots emerge in all generations. They all are playing the dangers down, making up conspiracy theories and ranting about their civil rights and their freedom. Idiots like Trump and other influenzas that deny the dangers of Covid do not understand how they are damaging all efforts to contain and reduce the impact of the virus. I guess it just takes some more influenza's to die from Covid before their followers start getting the message.
Stop calling people Covidiots!!! Not every person is equal and believe in everything. Calling people that is stupid! Ignore them, tell them how dangerous this illness is, but don't call them stupid names!!!
Such nonsense. Baby boomers here are very concerned and knowledgeable. What are the political beliefs of these boomers? Sounds like red state issues.
i dont know where you live but I see it every day at my work and in the shops. Not saying they are the only group, but they ARE acting like its not their problem.
Load More Replies...I am a boomer. I got COVID because four teenagers refused to respect social distance and blocked a popular walking path, only time I went out for almost three weeks. Stop making generalizations
Let the corona spread far and wide . We need to get the population down . We need to save the planet. Let humans die. I m proud of America. For having so many cases and deaths. I wish more people will die so the greenery and fresh air can come back .
Why don't we call it Darwinism and let the people at risk who don't take this serious prove their point and see what happens...
Because they risk other peopel life, including their beloved ones and the medical staff that are going to take care of them... this is a step beyond Darwinism. We need a new label for those ones, and includ the antivaxx
Load More Replies...I'm an old hippie farmer, I totally resent being called a Boomer, been fighting those people since high school. Haven't been off my land since June. Miss my grandkids a lot, but that's what Facebook is for, right?
To the Boomers pulling excuses out their ass for going out and not wearing masks when there's a global pandemic going on, saying that their mental health is at risk. Are you kidding me. Your children and grandchildren are probably around/close to my age. We have the weight and hope of the world piled upon our shoulders, with trying to correct climate change and revive the earth. A LOT of us were dealing with mental health issues LONG before COVID hit, and we rely on our friends to support us, and they rely on us to support them. When we had to lock down, do y'all think it's any bit easier on us? We can't see our friends. We can't have deep, hour-long conversations with each other anymore; technology has its limits. When you can't see the people that help keep you afloat, you sink. What I'm trying to say is that this pandemic is especially hard on us, the younger generations. We already have higher levels of mental health problems than y'all, we have the weight of the world on our
shoulders, and now we have to worry about our older loved ones, and can't see our friends so we can keep each other from killing ourselves. That is the bare minimum of our mental health right now; not committing suicide. That shouldn't be, but it is. Now y'all are speaking out about your mental health, and we are willing to understand and support you. But when y'all choose to risk your and everyone around you's lives, you make it a little bit of a challenge. We all just want everyone to stay safe, but y'all would apparently rather die than go through some mental health issues. We're all human, and we're all stronger than we think. I just think that when you call the younger people weak for having mental health issues that we've been dealing with and enduring for years now, and y'all complain about developing them and making excuses for leaving your houses and use mental health issues AS AN EXCUSE, it's as you can hopefully understand, a LITTLE bit frustrating. Half of us are borderline
Load More Replies...So about 1/3rd of the Boomers I know are takign Covid extremely seriously and the other 2/3rds are being idiots about it and the difference is their Primary News Source. The third taking it seriously get news a variety of reptuable sources, the others are watching FOX or getting their news off sketch youtube conspiracy chanels. The GOOD news is that Boomer Media Managment does work- Millenial friends that have parent-control blocked FOX or gone through thier parent's youtube accounts to block every conspiracy chanel have seen thier parents seriously recover from The Idiocy. Perhaps they were so worried about D&D and Videogames and Violence on television because they knew how influenced they were by Media and thought everyone was like that?
My 80 year old mother is angry that Covid is “stealing her golden years” (which I understand, it’s frustrating to be so restricted). And then she sneaks out to go on blind dates with men she matches online.... it is like having an unruly teenager who has complete access to cars and money...but shouldn’t. I worry that she’s going to infect my sister, who lives with her and has a serious autoimmune disease.
Just pointing out that most of these are from March. Read them in that context, not as statements in today's situations.
My mother and her husband, both are 70 complying with restrictions and are actually taking it seriously. I only had to explain to them once what the situation is. It helps that they live in a rural area and have a healthy lifestyle too and they, unlike most people, are not dumb. They actually can think critically and objectively.
A lot of those comments were dated back in March, when the word was first getting out. I wonder if any of those boomers have changed their thinking?
I'm a Boomer + I'm totally scared that I'll get Covid, even tho' I wear a mask, use hand sanitizer + wear gloves.
So glad my parents live in another state. Although with all the crap that my mother has been going on about because she can’t go out as often as she used to has given me cause to cut contact with her until she makes sense again.
My Dad, 86 still goes shopping and waved me off as a worrywart. I then said that he has done a patient decree where he does not want to be put on a respirator so if he does catch Covid we should just let the illness run its course and let him suffocate? That shut him up fairly effectively.
You are wrong when you say it's all boomers. I am a boomer, as are my siblings, and most everyone I know. We are all taking this very seriously. We are not going or doing anything. I think you need to change the word "boomer" to "Trumpster". Then these posts are all correct.
From what I'm gathering from a lot of these posts, it isn't boomers... it's the children of boomers that most people are talking about.
I'm lucky that my parents remember the hongkong flu. Dad actually had it, and says it was the worst he's ever felt. So they stay mostly inside, only a daily walk down the street and I handle all the shopping.
It's very sad to see all of these people who are not taking the virus seriously. My dad and aunt are both immunocompromised, so this virus could be very bad for them. This virus is not a hoax, it is very serious and it can kill you. Please stop the arguing and complaining and just take it seriously. If everyone would do what they are supposed to do we would get over it faster.
I am a boomer and could not be more shocked by the behaviour of people OF EVERY AGE GROUP who make the active choice to be ignorant, stupidly irresponsible, and a threat to other peoples' health. Period.
As I wrote in one of comments above, I don't think there is such a thing as "typical boomer". I am a boomer (59 y) and I'm very worried about this sh.t. As well most of my friends who are my generation. I am very careful for myself, but I'm worrying about youngsters who want to party, to go out, to meet friends... They are more endangered then boomers, I think.
My 60 y/o mother, living with her one and only immunocompromised child: goes to 3 different choirs, a birthday party for an 84-year-old, 5 different stores because they are having a sale and a concert because you can't expect her to just put her life on hold because of a virus. Me: I go to the grand total of ONE store that sells lactose-free products. Mother: starts yelling at me that if I'm going to infect her and her boyfriend dies, she's going to kill me. A couple of months later, her school shuts down because a parent of a student who's sister she teaches has tested positive and is hospitalised. Mother dearest decides she's not going to get tested because she's not willing to go to the hospital and anyway if she's infected, all of us will be as well. FML
I'm in Canada where rules are in place to varying degrees. Leaving it up to the individual isn't going to work. I hope you get through this intact. :(
Load More Replies...The worst offenders are 'boomers' and those in late teens early twenties. The young have an excuse - they've yet to experience losing family members and really don't understand death and illness, staying away from others is harder for the young, they miss socialising much more than other groups. But I have been shocked by the sheer stupidity of people I thought were intelligent..
Why? I know this is your opinion, but you are puttting lives at risk for this disease! I don't know you, but that is dangerous and selfish. Please...be safe and smart. And don't put peoples lives AT RISK!!!
And yes, it's all fun and games till someone gets seriously sick. And in this case, my opinions dissent from boomers. My GF's parents got sick with it, and her dad almost died. So I agree with you on that part. Sorry for being so unclear.
Load More Replies...I'm sick of how people keep thinking of ways to categorise and mock people, even when there's no significant unifying factor between them. This obsession with a range of years when people were born? Seriously. That's messed up.
This is all about boomers but we all can see that COVIDiots emerge in all generations. They all are playing the dangers down, making up conspiracy theories and ranting about their civil rights and their freedom. Idiots like Trump and other influenzas that deny the dangers of Covid do not understand how they are damaging all efforts to contain and reduce the impact of the virus. I guess it just takes some more influenza's to die from Covid before their followers start getting the message.
Stop calling people Covidiots!!! Not every person is equal and believe in everything. Calling people that is stupid! Ignore them, tell them how dangerous this illness is, but don't call them stupid names!!!
Such nonsense. Baby boomers here are very concerned and knowledgeable. What are the political beliefs of these boomers? Sounds like red state issues.
i dont know where you live but I see it every day at my work and in the shops. Not saying they are the only group, but they ARE acting like its not their problem.
Load More Replies...I am a boomer. I got COVID because four teenagers refused to respect social distance and blocked a popular walking path, only time I went out for almost three weeks. Stop making generalizations
Let the corona spread far and wide . We need to get the population down . We need to save the planet. Let humans die. I m proud of America. For having so many cases and deaths. I wish more people will die so the greenery and fresh air can come back .
Why don't we call it Darwinism and let the people at risk who don't take this serious prove their point and see what happens...
Because they risk other peopel life, including their beloved ones and the medical staff that are going to take care of them... this is a step beyond Darwinism. We need a new label for those ones, and includ the antivaxx
Load More Replies...I'm an old hippie farmer, I totally resent being called a Boomer, been fighting those people since high school. Haven't been off my land since June. Miss my grandkids a lot, but that's what Facebook is for, right?
To the Boomers pulling excuses out their ass for going out and not wearing masks when there's a global pandemic going on, saying that their mental health is at risk. Are you kidding me. Your children and grandchildren are probably around/close to my age. We have the weight and hope of the world piled upon our shoulders, with trying to correct climate change and revive the earth. A LOT of us were dealing with mental health issues LONG before COVID hit, and we rely on our friends to support us, and they rely on us to support them. When we had to lock down, do y'all think it's any bit easier on us? We can't see our friends. We can't have deep, hour-long conversations with each other anymore; technology has its limits. When you can't see the people that help keep you afloat, you sink. What I'm trying to say is that this pandemic is especially hard on us, the younger generations. We already have higher levels of mental health problems than y'all, we have the weight of the world on our
shoulders, and now we have to worry about our older loved ones, and can't see our friends so we can keep each other from killing ourselves. That is the bare minimum of our mental health right now; not committing suicide. That shouldn't be, but it is. Now y'all are speaking out about your mental health, and we are willing to understand and support you. But when y'all choose to risk your and everyone around you's lives, you make it a little bit of a challenge. We all just want everyone to stay safe, but y'all would apparently rather die than go through some mental health issues. We're all human, and we're all stronger than we think. I just think that when you call the younger people weak for having mental health issues that we've been dealing with and enduring for years now, and y'all complain about developing them and making excuses for leaving your houses and use mental health issues AS AN EXCUSE, it's as you can hopefully understand, a LITTLE bit frustrating. Half of us are borderline
Load More Replies...So about 1/3rd of the Boomers I know are takign Covid extremely seriously and the other 2/3rds are being idiots about it and the difference is their Primary News Source. The third taking it seriously get news a variety of reptuable sources, the others are watching FOX or getting their news off sketch youtube conspiracy chanels. The GOOD news is that Boomer Media Managment does work- Millenial friends that have parent-control blocked FOX or gone through thier parent's youtube accounts to block every conspiracy chanel have seen thier parents seriously recover from The Idiocy. Perhaps they were so worried about D&D and Videogames and Violence on television because they knew how influenced they were by Media and thought everyone was like that?
My 80 year old mother is angry that Covid is “stealing her golden years” (which I understand, it’s frustrating to be so restricted). And then she sneaks out to go on blind dates with men she matches online.... it is like having an unruly teenager who has complete access to cars and money...but shouldn’t. I worry that she’s going to infect my sister, who lives with her and has a serious autoimmune disease.
Just pointing out that most of these are from March. Read them in that context, not as statements in today's situations.
My mother and her husband, both are 70 complying with restrictions and are actually taking it seriously. I only had to explain to them once what the situation is. It helps that they live in a rural area and have a healthy lifestyle too and they, unlike most people, are not dumb. They actually can think critically and objectively.
A lot of those comments were dated back in March, when the word was first getting out. I wonder if any of those boomers have changed their thinking?
I'm a Boomer + I'm totally scared that I'll get Covid, even tho' I wear a mask, use hand sanitizer + wear gloves.
So glad my parents live in another state. Although with all the crap that my mother has been going on about because she can’t go out as often as she used to has given me cause to cut contact with her until she makes sense again.
My Dad, 86 still goes shopping and waved me off as a worrywart. I then said that he has done a patient decree where he does not want to be put on a respirator so if he does catch Covid we should just let the illness run its course and let him suffocate? That shut him up fairly effectively.
You are wrong when you say it's all boomers. I am a boomer, as are my siblings, and most everyone I know. We are all taking this very seriously. We are not going or doing anything. I think you need to change the word "boomer" to "Trumpster". Then these posts are all correct.
From what I'm gathering from a lot of these posts, it isn't boomers... it's the children of boomers that most people are talking about.
I'm lucky that my parents remember the hongkong flu. Dad actually had it, and says it was the worst he's ever felt. So they stay mostly inside, only a daily walk down the street and I handle all the shopping.
It's very sad to see all of these people who are not taking the virus seriously. My dad and aunt are both immunocompromised, so this virus could be very bad for them. This virus is not a hoax, it is very serious and it can kill you. Please stop the arguing and complaining and just take it seriously. If everyone would do what they are supposed to do we would get over it faster.