After all the heated arguments on everything from technology and social media to work and the economy, who could've predicted that baby boomers and the younger generations would find something in common?
But last month, X (formerly known as Twitter) user Girl Fieri (@realgirl_fieri) asked all the non-boomers on the platform to share their most boomer-esque complaints, and the replies immediately started pouring in.
Image credits: realgirl_fieri
So we decided that taking a look at the submissions would be a nice change of pace to the never-ending discourse on intergenerational differences. Or, in this case, similarities!
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this is so true! I'm a teenager and I have a lot of these complaints
Usually, baby boomers are perceived in quite negative ways. Or as Lawrence R. Samuel, Ph.D, who is the founder of AmeriCulture, a consultancy dedicated to translating the emerging cultural landscape into business opportunities, said, they are often seen as dinner guests who’ve eaten and drank pretty much everything set out on the table, leaving only scraps for those who came later to the party.
"Generational hostility is nothing new," Samuel wrote. "There is in fact a long history in America of a younger generation differentiating and distancing itself from their parents’ generation. (It actually goes back to the 18th century.)"
"As a people, we are very much interested in making our own mark, blazing our own trail, and doing things our own way. From this respect, it was inevitable that Gen Xers would set themselves off from baby boomers as a cohort and attempt to carve out their collective identity. The same was and remains true for millennials and Gen Z," he explained.
That's usually a scam anyway, it means the company can donate to charity and get it deducted from taxes.
However, as we can see from these posts, common ground isn't that hard to find.
In fact, Bobby Duffy, Professor of Public Policy at King’s and formerly Head of Public Affairs at Ipsos, argued in his book 'Generations' that cohorts are not as important as most think and that the vast majority of issues and attitudes do not map neatly onto the definitions we have (which themselves are somewhat arbitrary, especially on a global scale).
He suggests that most of the polarizing issues facing the world today split the generations as well, and that the overarching societal shift towards more liberal attitudes on things like gay marriage, female employment, etc. are the result of opinions shifting across all generational groups over the last 30-40 years and are not the byproduct of a sudden influx of liberal youngsters into the voting booths.
A while ago I said something about sitting outside looking at the stars, and was called ableist (because some people can't get outside to do that). Like, i'm sorry about that and all, but we're at the point now where people really CAN'T say just ordinary mundane stuff without being called out.
I've never been to place with a QR menu that couldn't give you a paper menu if you asked. More places went to QR during covid and also to cheap copy paper menus. If they hand you the paper they toss it out if you leave it. If you use a QR menu there is no waste. I don't personally like looking at the menu on my phone screen but I get why many places implemented them.
The idea that the generations have way more in common than has been widely assumed is also supported by Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Monitor data.
Looking at how the different generations prioritize different criteria for judging whether sectors and brands are trustworthy, we can see a huge amount of common ground between the generations and little real division.
Agreed. If you need headlights brighter than a cop then you don't need to be driving in the dark.
Local petrol station is pushing their app super hard. "Pay on the app! Get the app! You can pay on the app!". Yeah, or I can go inside and pay there, without giving you my details.
Yes, there is some variance in the strength of feeling that different generations have for different criteria; baby boomers, for example, are far more likely to prioritize reliability and openness/transparency than younger generations, while Gen Z and millennials rate more of the lesser priority issues more highly such as value sharing, intent and the importance of leadership.
I've been against electronics controlling the place I live since I heard the words "I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave."
But despite these differences and variations in the strength of feeling, all four generations regard the same four trust drivers; reliability, openness/transparency, responsibility, and value for the price, as the most important and in the same rank order.
Yes, I talk to everyone. I was a cashier for about 10 years, and the habit of making a bit of conversation with everyone has carried over into the rest of my life.
Same here. I feel rude not chit-chating for a second if the person seems up for it. Made me good at quick small talk. You can cover surprisingly a lot in about 2 minutes
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I'm an introvert (technically and ambivert) and I'm totally fine making conversation with strangers in the store or wherever. Because I know I'll likely never see them again. :) It's the people I have to maintain actual relationships with that exhaust me socially.
I've never thought of it this way, but it makes sense. Introvert and autistic here, and I can absolutely make small talk with strangers, and the cost is not even that high.
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I'm sorry but no. I will answer when someone says hello, but I'm not interested in having conversations with strangers in public. As an introvert, it makes me extremely uncomfortable. Also, don't gesture for me to take my headphones out just so you can tell me some random cringey rubbish
We introverts are terribly misunderstood -- I've seen people call us rude for not wanting to exchange small talk with strangers. They just don't get it.
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ok, but if a random person started talking to you, it might come off as a little odd or creepy. I'm not saying it's horrible to try and talk to people, but you should always assess the situation and see if it's the right thing to do in the moment.
"ok, but ..." It's not a matter of "but". The things that you just said are given. If a person says that like to make small talk with strangers, or that they don't mind if strangers talk to them, it's already understood that the situation has been evaluated as not creepy.
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So you're that annoying person next to me on a plane that insists on mindless smalltalk when I just want to read my book or try to nap.
In the US in the south it's still very much a thing. When I first moved here (Texas) it felt strange and now I love it!! When we travel I miss the friendliness and ransom convos a lot.
As a Gen Z, I don’t think this is weird, I love to talk to people I see and learn about their day, it helps me realize that everybody I see comes from somewhere and has a story and I just think that it’s so interesting :D although a lot of people’s social skills have been destroyed by COVID (including mine) and so I think that’s why this is happening :(
I'm from the South (US). When I was growing up there, it was normal to smile and say "hey" to someone passing you on the sidewalk. It was normal to be friendly. Now when I go home to visit, I get snotty hipsters who won't even acknowledge I exist, even if I smile and say "hey." It's depressing that even that very low level of seeing another person isn't worth their time.
saying Hi is not the same as talking to strangers. Its just Hi, and continue.
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Hard disagree with this one for me. I dislike when random strangers try to have a conversation with me. I don't even want to have a conversation when I'm checking out.
It can be wonderfully beneficial. Once, I was waiting for a train out of London going north. It was delayed for ages. The people of my home town are famous chatterers. We found each other on the platform amid the tacitern southeners. By the time the train eventually left the station, we had all worked out a taxi and lift share for when we got to our destination. (The train was going to be so late the busses would have stopped running by the time we got in.)
I wish I were more social. My partner is one of those people that is instantly everyone's chum. We both have ASD, but he's infinity better at social cues than I. It takes me a beat sometimes so I'm a bit more reserved when first meeting people. I think that's why I like BP. I can digest things before replying. Tbs, I love meeting strangers! I'm probably not going to be the one to initiate contact unless I get obsessed with something about you, but I love people like the OP that have no issue initiating conversation with me.
If I'm on the bus or airplane, please don't talk to me unless you want to be my sugar-free daddy, then you can buy me dinner and take me back to my place.
when im going out or something, ok. but most of the other times i just want to be left alone. In the train i love to stare outside and daydream. If you want to chat so badly, go to a pub.
It's a thing in the South. I had to get used to it when I moved there from California. You use your manners and treat everyone as a neighbor, or risk being frowned on as a "damyankee".
Me too. I don't always talk so much as just say hi and acknowledge others. But it's nice to have conversations with random people. Covid and cell phones put an end to that I guess. Like so many other things.
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I used to do when hubs and I had a 28foot board in Dana Point and went out to some of the small restaurants in the area. I used to smoke 20 odd years ago so I'd end up having random convos w/other smokers, Used to drive hubs crazy!
Depends on my mood and the topic. There are times I do not want to talk, with anyone. Others I'm up for anything especially if it starts on something silly.
Absolutely ! Especially living in a country town where it's expected. But talking to people everywhere enriches your life as well as theirs.
I have to admit, I'm the talk-to-anyone in my family. But it has gotten us some fun experiences, like my talking to the gal sitting next to me at a concert only to find out she is meeting the singer that night and made me her sister-in-law and my son her nephew so we could both tag along. Another time, I chatted with a few Irish ladies at a bar and we ended up playing Giant Jenga with them and it was a very fun time. You never know what can happen when you kick up a conversation with someone, being careful to not overshare.
I do the same where appropriate. Try not to impose on people who obviously don't want to chat, but a little light banter is nice most of the time. Kindness is the lubricant of a civilized society.
I hate being spoken to by strangers - but then I did grow up in 1970s UK, so I think it's saved me a lot of grief.
Yes, I enjoy the random contacts/conversations with strangers. I feel sorry for the people who look at you like you're nuts for talking to them. Talk about a sad life that they find a smile or simple comment from someone to be rude.
I chat to people everywhere I go. I notice that the willingness to engage with strangers in casual conversation is much more common in budget supermarkets whereas in high end places, people tend to be much more guarded and buttoned up. It’s pretty weird. Also noticed this with people who think it’s odd to talk with and get to know your immediate neighbours. Seems more prevalent among younger people who appear to prefer virtual communication instead of real life interaction.
If we turn our attention to looking at how the different generations judge the trustworthiness of different industry sectors and institutions, again, we see that the usual narrative of younger generations being less trusting isn't the case at all.
The older generations trust most sectors less than millennials or Gen Z.
Yes, they have. And incredibly oblivious to what's going on around them. Does an elderly person need help opening a heavy door ? Oblivious. Did you notice that person looking for their car ? Could care less. Did it occur to you that someone might be behind you while walking through a door ? Eh, not my problem. People today SUCK !
Baby boomers and Gen X are less likely to trust financial services, energy, oil & gas, banking, social media companies, and consumer-packaged goods than those younger than them, with more significant differences between the elder and younger generations in each case.
I'm retired so I make all my appointments around midday so working folks can have the early morning or late afternoon spots.
I'm starting to think turn signals are an optional accessory on new cars...or maybe the car maker just wants a paid subscription to use them.
Or kids playing video games with the volume all the way up cause that is the only way they can sit still and be quiet.
One could be forgiven for expecting that younger generations are less trusting of oil & gas, given the climate crisis facing their futures and the assumptions we often make about how they feel about the environment and sustainability. The same could be said of banking, with many growing up through the financial crash of 2008. But it's the older age groups yet again with the lowest level of trust in these sectors.
Not only do they stand side by side, they also walk with just enough space between them that you can’t squeeze between them but also not enough to get around them.
So, generational divides are not as large or as significant as many would assume.
If you too have boomer complaints (or are a boomer yourself and don't see the youth as morally bankrupt), don't worry. You might be even closer to them than you've been told.
That's partly because lots of them have parents who can't afford houses with backyards. Kids can't just "go play outside" when they live in an apartment and "outside" is a parking lot near a busy street. Screen addition is a problem for people of all ages these days, but let's not ignore that capitalism has made it difficult for many families to have the time and money to just relax in green spaces.
Or live theater too? Every single performance I've seen the last few years has been interrupted by people arriving late and walking in front of me/needing me to stand up so they can squeeze through the otherwise full row of seats just as the show starts - pet peeve for sure!
My students used to talk to me before class. I adored my students and they used to flick me s*** about my college basketball preferences. They also used to call me Professor Chicken because when I got married, if I had hyphenated my name (I didn't), the hyphenated name would have sounded like a chicken clucking. They never got tired of that one. Splendid kids, the lot of 'em.
Yes. Also, I work at a tutoring center and the number of kids 10 and under who insist that they don't need to learn to read or do well in school because they're going to "be a YouTuber" when they grow up is disturbing. You can't pay rent trying to get random strangers to watch you play Fortnite with lame commentary.
All well and good until you have the issue we did in Australia a few weeks ago when Optus had a mass outage for several hours putting electronic payment systems out of action, many businesses had trade impacted.
I still can't get over that my phone doesn't have a headphone jack. Whose terrible idea was this???
Yes! And stop leaving the carts in random parking spaces so cars don't have room!
Teen here, and yeah. We don't want to hear your music or whatever video you're watching. Wear. Headphones. Or. Earbuds. I SWEAR.
I choose the self checkout 100% of the time if it's available. I prefer packing things the way I want them. And it keeps me from feeling judged about what I'm buying. :) One time I had tampons, Advil, and chocolate (among other things) in my basket and when I checked out the cashier said really loud "I put all your period stuff in the same bag for you honey!". LOL!! I know she was just being nice, but it was mortifying.
Camera use in changing rooms where people are naked should be banned.
Yeah seems unsanitary to have one (not a service animal) in a grocery store or a restaurant.
honestly, as a recent Girl Scout, we were taught both of those things
I argue that women need better collared shirt options. I am so sick of blouses, many of which have uncomfortable fabric. I work in IT - wearing a flowy, flowery blouse will just get in the flipping way, and I get sick of polos. Plus, half the “modern” collared shirts and polos for women are made for incredibly flat or athletic figures. I have both decent sized boobs and hips - your moisture wicking, no stretch fabric is annoying af.
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Without the divisiveness ('boomer') this just reads as common-sense complaints about stuff.
And that would be MY complaint!! Why do we have to label everyone as a certain generation, and use it as an insult????
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Adverts on tv are louder than the program. Despite the stations denying it.
I have to keep lowering the sound so it doesn't scare my upstairs neighbor, though I think she might be hearing impaired anyway.
Load More Replies... Customer service call centers outsourcing to somewhere like the Philippines because it's way cheaper. This is not *always* an issue, but it is when you cannot understand what the rep is saying because their accent is so thick. The place I work (a very large corporation) has its help desk in the Philippines, and I dread every time I have to call them, because I end up having to tell the person to repeat themselves at least a half-dozen times, and even after that I'm still not totally sure what they said to me.
Same. The last time I called IT, it was so annoying listening to the rooster crowing in the background.
Load More Replies... Sitting through commercials on the BP app. That's what I could do without.
People seem to be completely unaware of their surroundings. Saw one girl on staring at her phone nearly get killed 3 times at a crossing as she kept stepping into the road while the lights were green and cars were moving. Some idiot on an e-scooter crashed into me from behind because he wasn’t looking where he was going
My number one complain is evrything looks so fuzzy. Bring back days when the word was clear and sharp, not this blurry and foggy like now.
Have you been tested for glaucoma? This is not a joke.
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In the US at least, I agree and would add taking away someone else’s rights or choices due to religious motivation. Just because your religion forbids something, doesn’t mean you should forbid it for others too.
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Not a Boomer. Don't like divisiveness. Many of these are perfectly valid.
Some are valid most are whining or ignoring the societal reasons behind the issue. Not boomer exclusive though
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My complaint - the louder the car, the dumber the driver. Oh, you paid a ridiculously large amount to replace the exhaust on your 2008 sedan? It doesn't sound like a muscle car, it sounds like a weed whacker. And driving around with the stereo volume maxed and windows open doesn't make you look cool, it just announces to the world how terrible your taste in music is.
How about when they keep the windows up and the car just vibrates so badly from the 'music' you think the panels are going to pop off.
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Young people these days don’t seem to have been taught consideration for others. They’re so entitled and think they’re important — they’re not.
Not just young people (being a "boomer", a term which I detest as much as I detest Gen Pi squared or anything else they might come up with, (we are all people, not labels) older people can be just as rude and entitled as a teenager. Good manners should be taught from a very early age. This applies as much to children born and raised during any century as it does to children born in this century. (Be kind to me, I've had a difficult day arguing with a bot on whatsapp just because I wanted to change an email address!!)
Load More Replies... People ( usually younger ones ) of both genders who wear awful strong smelling perfume. God help us, it's disgusting and nausea inducing.
Engine idling. People complain about the cost of fuel and air pollution but they're still prepared to waste it not going anywhere.
I didn't even get into the article itself before I had to come and complain - this OP thinks we take dogs too many places??? We're not allowed to take them pretty much anywhere, not even cafe patios in the US! It's so rare if its allowed, I can't think of anyplace in my city. Screw you, dog-hating OP.
That really varies from City to city and community. I lived in one where they went almost everywhere and finally the health department had to come down and say okay you can take them there but they can't sit at the table and they can't sit on your lap when food is being served I'm serious it came down to that. I don't dislike dogs but I don't like eating dog hair
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I'm sick and tired of boomers whining about everything. “If they would rather die they had better do it and decrease the surplus population”
What planet are you living on? The vast majority of surrogate pregnancies are because the woman can't either get pregnant, or can't bring a pregnancy to full term. I have friends who had to turn to surrogacy, and it's in no way a frivolous decision.
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Without the divisiveness ('boomer') this just reads as common-sense complaints about stuff.
And that would be MY complaint!! Why do we have to label everyone as a certain generation, and use it as an insult????
Load More Replies... Adverts on tv are louder than the program. Despite the stations denying it.
I have to keep lowering the sound so it doesn't scare my upstairs neighbor, though I think she might be hearing impaired anyway.
Load More Replies... Customer service call centers outsourcing to somewhere like the Philippines because it's way cheaper. This is not *always* an issue, but it is when you cannot understand what the rep is saying because their accent is so thick. The place I work (a very large corporation) has its help desk in the Philippines, and I dread every time I have to call them, because I end up having to tell the person to repeat themselves at least a half-dozen times, and even after that I'm still not totally sure what they said to me.
Same. The last time I called IT, it was so annoying listening to the rooster crowing in the background.
Load More Replies... Sitting through commercials on the BP app. That's what I could do without.
People seem to be completely unaware of their surroundings. Saw one girl on staring at her phone nearly get killed 3 times at a crossing as she kept stepping into the road while the lights were green and cars were moving. Some idiot on an e-scooter crashed into me from behind because he wasn’t looking where he was going
My number one complain is evrything looks so fuzzy. Bring back days when the word was clear and sharp, not this blurry and foggy like now.
Have you been tested for glaucoma? This is not a joke.
Load More Replies... In the US at least, I agree and would add taking away someone else’s rights or choices due to religious motivation. Just because your religion forbids something, doesn’t mean you should forbid it for others too.
Load More Replies... Not a Boomer. Don't like divisiveness. Many of these are perfectly valid.
Some are valid most are whining or ignoring the societal reasons behind the issue. Not boomer exclusive though
Load More Replies... My complaint - the louder the car, the dumber the driver. Oh, you paid a ridiculously large amount to replace the exhaust on your 2008 sedan? It doesn't sound like a muscle car, it sounds like a weed whacker. And driving around with the stereo volume maxed and windows open doesn't make you look cool, it just announces to the world how terrible your taste in music is.
How about when they keep the windows up and the car just vibrates so badly from the 'music' you think the panels are going to pop off.
Load More Replies... Young people these days don’t seem to have been taught consideration for others. They’re so entitled and think they’re important — they’re not.
Not just young people (being a "boomer", a term which I detest as much as I detest Gen Pi squared or anything else they might come up with, (we are all people, not labels) older people can be just as rude and entitled as a teenager. Good manners should be taught from a very early age. This applies as much to children born and raised during any century as it does to children born in this century. (Be kind to me, I've had a difficult day arguing with a bot on whatsapp just because I wanted to change an email address!!)
Load More Replies... People ( usually younger ones ) of both genders who wear awful strong smelling perfume. God help us, it's disgusting and nausea inducing.
Engine idling. People complain about the cost of fuel and air pollution but they're still prepared to waste it not going anywhere.
I didn't even get into the article itself before I had to come and complain - this OP thinks we take dogs too many places??? We're not allowed to take them pretty much anywhere, not even cafe patios in the US! It's so rare if its allowed, I can't think of anyplace in my city. Screw you, dog-hating OP.
That really varies from City to city and community. I lived in one where they went almost everywhere and finally the health department had to come down and say okay you can take them there but they can't sit at the table and they can't sit on your lap when food is being served I'm serious it came down to that. I don't dislike dogs but I don't like eating dog hair
Load More Replies... I'm sick and tired of boomers whining about everything. “If they would rather die they had better do it and decrease the surplus population”
What planet are you living on? The vast majority of surrogate pregnancies are because the woman can't either get pregnant, or can't bring a pregnancy to full term. I have friends who had to turn to surrogacy, and it's in no way a frivolous decision.
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