“I’m With Boomers On This One”: 45 People Name Things That They Think Older Generations Got Right
Baby boomer is a term used to describe a person who was born between 1946 and 1964. This generation makes up a substantial portion of the world's population, especially in developed nations.
However, due to various reasons, such as political and social differences, younger folks aren't particularly fond of them as a cohort. They point fingers at decades of disregard for the climate and accuse Boomers of entitlement whenever the housing market is mentioned.
And the media isn't helping, either. There are countless articles, such as 'The Boomers Ruined Everything' and 'The Worst Generation: Or, how I learned to stop worrying and hate the Boomers.'
Image credits: profbobadilla
So historian Dr. Eladio B. Bobadilla decided to change the public debate and tweeted, "What makes you go, 'I'm with the boomers on this one?'"
In less than a month, it was viewed over 71 million times and has received plenty of positive replies. Continue scrolling to check out some of the most popular ones.
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For disabled people like me- being able to control some appliances from my phone allows me to be more independent and do things on my own. So they do have some uses!
We got in touch with Dr. Eladio B. Bobadilla and he was kind enough to have a little chat with us about what inspired him to start this discussion.
"Like most things on social media, that post was anything but an original thought," Dr. Bobadilla, who is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh, told Bored Panda.
"I had seen someone, somewhere else, say they were 'with the boomers on this one.' I can't remember what it was, precisely, that elicited that reaction. But I'm a historian, and although this was hardly meant to be an academic exercise, it sort of organically and spontaneously turned into one."
Literally walked out of a restaurant last week when we were informed we had to scan the menu, which required providing personal information, and then, in addition, you had to place your order from their app. Bye.
I just don't use Apps. My explanation is: I don't use Apps. And thus I apparently have three heads with the looks I get.
Dr. Bobadilla has a deep interest in how things change over the years. For example, how different generations experience life in their own unique ways and the quirks that define them.
"I wondered what other young people might respond with if asked this question in an open-ended way. The responses were delightfully grumpy, weird, and thought-provoking," he said.
Wired earbuds also act as an antenna for phones that have built in FM radio. We don't need to stream everything.
I can't stress enough how sad it is to have grown up in the usa, to have been spoon fed "the american dream" my entire childhood completely believing it was going to be a reality one day...just to have it crumble and disappear the older i got. One full time job is just not enough anymore....i know far too well from experience.
As the replies kept pouring in, Dr. Bobadilla started noticing a few trends. "A lot of young people really hate QR code menus, think we should spend a little less time in front of screens, and agree that loud music is, well, too damn loud," he said.
"I found the aggravation with QR codes fascinating because we often assume that young people naturally embrace anything to do with technology. But it seems a lot of us still value doing some things the old-fashioned way."
And can we please get rid of all the silent TV’s playing c**p that no one actually wants to watch yet our stupid brains keep being drawn to and hypnotise by. I’m here to socialise and eat - stop flooding my senses with c**p!
I always make sure to not be on my phone if I’m outside with friends or family. I only wish some of my friends would do the same instead of scrolling through their phone and not paying attention to what I’m saying
I hated that all the way back to the 80s and haven't changed my mind yet. Paying huge amounts for torn clothing is insane.
In his book Generations, Bobby Duffy, who is a Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London, argues that generational thinking is a big idea that's been horribly corrupted and devalued by endless myths and stereotypes.
These clichés, according to Duffy, have fuelled fake battles between "snowflake" Millennials and "selfish" Baby Boomers, with younger generations facing a "war on woke" and older generations accused of "stealing" the future from the young.
I have to disagree with this one. As much as I love physical books, Ebooks are better. I have 5000 books on my kindle. I have a tiny, 1 bedroom flat, if my 5000 ebooks were in physical form they’d overflow my flat
I'm sure this is part of the reason I still have a close relationship with my adult children.
To see the true value of generational thinking, Duffy believes that we need to identify and discard the many myths.
For instance, Gen Z and Millennials are not lazy at work or disloyal to their employers. They’re also no more materialistic than previous generations of youth. Our focus on being rich is something we tend to grow out of.
Similarly, old people are not uncaring or unwilling to act on climate change, in fact, they are more likely than young people to boycott products for social purpose reasons.
You shouldn't need to get financing for a concert either. Prices are insane.
Because of all of this mess, Duffy thinks that we often overlook the real and important generational differences.
For example, the probability of you owning your own home is hugely affected by the time you were born — Millennials are around half as likely to be a homeowner than generations born only a couple of decades earlier.
The professor said there is also a real cohort effect in the experience of mental health disorders, particularly among recent generations of young women.
Our relationship with alcohol and the likelihood of smoking is also tied to our cohort, with huge generational declines in very regular drinking and smoking.
You just noticed your economy going down the drain. We pay like 3€ for a cheesburger.
According to Duffy, understanding whether, and how, generations are different is vital to understanding society.
The balance between generations is constantly shifting, as older cohorts pass away and are replaced by new ones. If younger generations truly do have different attitudes or behaviors to older generations, this will reshape society, and we can, at least to some extent, predict how it will develop and what challenges may lay ahead.
I'm still disgusted that when I did my driving lessons I was told not to slow down for an animal on the road. If you do that during your driving test it can fail you. You bet your a*s I slow down for animals, and thankfully during my test, there was not any on the road, but I'd take the fail several times over if it meant I didn't run over a cat or dog.
The author of this thread, Dr. Eladio B. Bobadilla, thinks that one of the biggest barriers that hinder productive discussions between generations is people's tendency to talk past one another.
"This isn't new, of course; older generations have always had trouble relating to younger ones and vice versa," he said. "We experience the world differently, and naturally, we're all accustomed to doing things in our own way. And of course, generational values and priorities are often at odds with others as the world changes."
But, as this discussion shows, it's not all bad. "What surprised me was the commonalities. Yes, young people are one with technology, but they still find joy in turning off their devices and spending quality time with those they love and with their natural environment," Dr. Bobadilla added.
"I do think we make too much of generational differences. They exist, of course, but we have people who have more in common across generations than we think: we all want to be able to love and be loved, to be accepted, to find meaning and purpose, and to support ourselves with dignified work (that's the labor historian in me, but it's true)."
"Again, we often point to differences, but look, I teach 19, 20, and 21-year-olds. When I ask them about the people who mean the most to them, they often say their grandparents. Similarly, when I talk to older folks, many express admiration for young people's bravery and determination in the face of an increasingly scary and uncertain world."
"Young people still look up to their elders, and elders find hope in younger generations. As you saw from the responses, there are lots of ways in which young people might say 'I'm with the boomers on this one.' But there are lots of things that make older folks think, 'I'm with the kids on this one.' Maybe I'll ask that next!"
9 pm is my bedtime! *to look at BP until midnight*
For most electric things I agree, but not the windows. I love my electric windows and being able to open them all from the drivers seat without having to get out or bend over.
Some people can't be cashless. For them, all they have is cash in hand, and if they hold it out, it should be accepted.
Nope. I'll take "i don't have the energy to fix this person/ relationship" for 500 Alex.
This might be about picking up to-go drinks and food, instead of having a well filled larder/food storage from which you can cook a nice meal at home - which requires planning ahead, buying what you need once a week and spending time to make and eat. Which has only positive side effects: You focus on what you put in your body and save a lot of money.
See, I really like a thank you email/message. It covers the sentiment just as well without the clutter and landfill.
I used to love going to the airport without getting a full body cavity search. Also going all the way to the gate to greet whoever I was picking up.
Please relate how to keep a hat on a 9 month old without using staples
Oh my god. I cannot believe that we can put humans on the moon and map the human genome but can’t make a f*****g straw that will not either end up in a turtle’s nose or disintegrate within second of being in my drink.
People should be smartly dressed for an interview. I've seen a lot of people under 30 going for job interviews wearing jeans or leggings. I'm not saying they have to be in a full suit, but a pair of trousers and a shirt/nice top is cheap enough and doesn't require massive effort. I'm 37 and my generation had it drilled into me at school that wearing casual clothes to an interview was a no no.
That's funny, we have the exact same issue at work...I'm 31 and we all noticed that the latests recruits in their early 20s all come to the interviews / work in jeans and sweaters, even though I work in an industry where formal attire is specifically required (and which is way more ok with smart casual than a decade ago, hopefully). We had to pass the message to the younger recruits. I can really understand that men are pissed with the suit + tie attire, especially in hot weather, but for women it's quite easy to wear a smart casual neutral navy blue dress / navy comfy work pants and a blouse, with sandals. Don't need to wear a worn out jean, dirty trainers and a red pull over with a big logo. Especially when you work in a bank. Maybe we're too conceited but I would be mortified to be dressed less professionally than the people recruiting me.
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"Digital deals"! EVERY store now wants u to download THEIR app to get extra savings. I don't have enough room on my phone for them all anymore
Might get hate for this and I don't think it's a "boomer" thing, but I'm a big proponent for all grade schools having (obviously affordable) uniforms (you see this the majority of Japanese schools). It's a great equalizer because no kid can flaunt their wealth nor does another kid have to feel less-than for their lack of it, and honestly saves a lot of time and stress in the morning. I feel like it also teaches kids about looking presentable, which is a skill needed when entering the workforce. In a way it would also do away with the ridiculous "HOw DaRE GiRLs HAvE SHoulDeRS! THeY DiSTRaCT ThE BoyS!" idiocy in schools since everyone will have to follow a near-identical dress code.
I'm in the UK and school uniforms are common place and I agree with the points you make. Supermarkets sell cheap versions and you can get help via your local council if you are struggling to pay - it's not perfect and there are still parents who have difficulties. Summer/winter versions aren't too bad - though protests where boys wore skirts because shorts weren't allowed took place! Not entirely sure what the outcome was but with the heat waves we get, shorts would only be fair (I think I remember they did win). Those kind of restrictions are often ridiculous and schools need to learn to be far less restrictive in that sense. Your second comment about expressing yourself is also fair. Children still do and are creative within these confines but learning when to express yourself appropriately is useful - you can't always do that in work and sometimes too much is made of it, there's time outside of school after all. Learning to express thoughts and ideas instead.
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People should be smartly dressed for an interview. I've seen a lot of people under 30 going for job interviews wearing jeans or leggings. I'm not saying they have to be in a full suit, but a pair of trousers and a shirt/nice top is cheap enough and doesn't require massive effort. I'm 37 and my generation had it drilled into me at school that wearing casual clothes to an interview was a no no.
That's funny, we have the exact same issue at work...I'm 31 and we all noticed that the latests recruits in their early 20s all come to the interviews / work in jeans and sweaters, even though I work in an industry where formal attire is specifically required (and which is way more ok with smart casual than a decade ago, hopefully). We had to pass the message to the younger recruits. I can really understand that men are pissed with the suit + tie attire, especially in hot weather, but for women it's quite easy to wear a smart casual neutral navy blue dress / navy comfy work pants and a blouse, with sandals. Don't need to wear a worn out jean, dirty trainers and a red pull over with a big logo. Especially when you work in a bank. Maybe we're too conceited but I would be mortified to be dressed less professionally than the people recruiting me.
Load More Replies... "Digital deals"! EVERY store now wants u to download THEIR app to get extra savings. I don't have enough room on my phone for them all anymore
Might get hate for this and I don't think it's a "boomer" thing, but I'm a big proponent for all grade schools having (obviously affordable) uniforms (you see this the majority of Japanese schools). It's a great equalizer because no kid can flaunt their wealth nor does another kid have to feel less-than for their lack of it, and honestly saves a lot of time and stress in the morning. I feel like it also teaches kids about looking presentable, which is a skill needed when entering the workforce. In a way it would also do away with the ridiculous "HOw DaRE GiRLs HAvE SHoulDeRS! THeY DiSTRaCT ThE BoyS!" idiocy in schools since everyone will have to follow a near-identical dress code.
I'm in the UK and school uniforms are common place and I agree with the points you make. Supermarkets sell cheap versions and you can get help via your local council if you are struggling to pay - it's not perfect and there are still parents who have difficulties. Summer/winter versions aren't too bad - though protests where boys wore skirts because shorts weren't allowed took place! Not entirely sure what the outcome was but with the heat waves we get, shorts would only be fair (I think I remember they did win). Those kind of restrictions are often ridiculous and schools need to learn to be far less restrictive in that sense. Your second comment about expressing yourself is also fair. Children still do and are creative within these confines but learning when to express yourself appropriately is useful - you can't always do that in work and sometimes too much is made of it, there's time outside of school after all. Learning to express thoughts and ideas instead.
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