Media Myths: 30 Things People Believe Are Incorrectly Portrayed As Stigmatized

In America, the boomers gave us civil rights. A lot of them were shipped off to war in Vietnam against their will. Every generation faces its own challenges. The boomers had their share.

Not even that elderly, either. Depending on the definition of boomer (there are multiple cut-off birth years listed in various places) there are plenty who haven't even hit sixty yet (and wouldn't really appreciate the "sweet elderly" description.

And many of us boomers see the young people struggling and truly feel for you. Most of us just played the hand we were dealt when we were younger, and playing the stupid capitalism game that we didn't want to play either. I've had enough ...

I've been incredibly lucky in life. I had a high number in the draft for Vietnam, married a good woman, smoked my share of grass, but never got drawn into hard stuff, raised a stepson and a foster son, and hope to pass on some wealth to the next generation of my family. But, damn! We couldn't stop climate change and I worry about my grandchildren in the chaos that may be coming.

The majority of my generation's parents are, in fact, boomers.

I've met people like that and I don't get it. I do lots of things by myself.

Because i used to work odd hours I would eat out, go to movies etc., by myself. I had no problem with it. I was in good company.

The only reason I don't is I'm too socially anxious to enter any of those spaces by myself. I'm still in shock that my young adult daughter, who is also socially anxious, managed to go to a cafe and have lunch by herself a few months ago. That's a major achievement in our world!

I'm planning a solo vacation and I'm extremely happy about it.

Most movies i went by myself. Restaurants, i don´t enjoy that much because i had to a lot in my first job and it was a lonely time.

I worked in IT for 16 years of struggle. It was bad for my body (ten hours a day in a chair hunched over a keyboard isn’t great on you) it was bad for my mental health mostly because the industry is always in flux. Layoffs are common, policy changes daily and when the company loses 10% stock value it’s do more with no resources and no days off. In 16 years I was with 6 different companies. I was only fired once (quite quit type of thing, I didn’t care anymore and was just calling out sick to interview other places because they wouldn’t approve pto anymore without a month of notice) the rest I was laid off, restructured. I work a pretty blue collar job now and I make more. Get to be outside all day and I could honestly make it through months never seeing my boss if I don’t want to ( my boss is cool tho too.) it took a few years to advance to the money I made in it but now I’m doing better and I’m on track for a good retirement because now I have not just a 401k but a pension too.

But underpaid. Severely so. Sit on your a*s in a bureo and you're somehow more valued than the person who is helping to get rid of the blockage in the drainage system.... or as a care giver especially in elderly care. At least in my country and everyone whines no one wants to work in blue collar jobs anymore.... Go figure.

I remember my English teacher in high school once telling my classmate he really needed to go to university because "you're so smart, you don't want to end up in a *trade*". I cannot emphasize how much disgust was in her voice as she said the word "trade". It was wild. My dad was a tradie, super intelligent, used to fix machines for research laboratories and he absolutely loved it. And I have a degree and a white collar job in a field I'm really passionate about, but I can tell you for a fact that my brother with a trade certificate (albeit not so much blue collar, he's a chef) is making more than I am and could find a job a lot easier than I would.

Skilled labor makes much more money than food service, retail or office workers.

When I was in high school, the trades were seen as jobs for people who were "less than" High Schools had a fiduciary need to have a high graduation and college acceptance rate so the trades were never even mentioned as a viable choice. When a school districts funding is tied into how many college kids it produces as proof of their efficacy they set up major problems down the line. It's only been in the past 5-10 years where the trades are being rightfully glorified as the great opportunities they are.

All we want are knowledgeable and caring nurses.

Nurses are awesome. Gender shouldn't even be a consideration.

My cousin(a guy) has been an RN for over 20 years. He and his wife and kids live very well, he's fine.

Male nurses are actually pretty sought after, especially because there's less of them around. Not only are they great to have on shift in case a male patient requests one to deal with any intimate care, but it is crazy how much more success they often have with confused patients. I don't know if it's just that males have traditionally been seen as holding more authority? But so many patients with dementia are so much more likely to listen to and be reassured by male nurses.

Lots of nurses and medical technicians where I live. They do great!

This one for sure. I was constantly seeking a relationship. It wasn’t until I spent a few years singing and being introspective about why my relationships failed that I was actually ready to be in a relationship. I’ve been married for 15 years now. I couldn’t make a relationship last 15 weeks prior. Do you and you might actually find someone who fits you.

yep. I loved being single. Once you know how much BS you have to put up with in relationships you really enjoy singledom.

I never married. Came close once, but it wasn't right. My mom has been single most of her life. Do I wish I found a SO, yes. But I don't need one to feel whole in my life (not that I am saying all people feel they need a spouse to feel whole, but some do). We have lived together since I got a chronic illness that keeps me from working. Together we raised 3 kids, and are currently raising 2 more together. We are a weird family, but it works for us.

I always say “happily single “ when someone inquires about my status. It prevents sympathy and set ups!!

I also thought we were over this ages ago. I must be behind the times.

The greetings card industry is determined to hold onto gender stereotypes for another century or so! That's why I always buy blank art cards (and I managed the card category for a major retail chain in my country for a while).

As a retired male who finally stopped caring what men are supposed to like, I've finally gotten involved in crafts and theater. All of my hard-drinking buddies died years ago, and my fishing buddies wasted a lot of weekends docked in the marina because gasoline and boat repairs are super expensive.

We (me and my brother) tried to find the most ridiculous father's day cards. My dad loved them

My dad went fishing probably once a year for a day in Michigan, never even heard him say pub, and the only sports he liked were football and basketball, so yeah it’s difficult sometimes to find one

Some of the best cards I got for people where one’s I made myself