“Being Able To Fix Things Yourself”: 30 Things Young People Find Odd That Used To Be Normal
Interview
It seems like social norms change annually, nowadays. It can be exhausting and confusing trying to keep track of how we’re supposed to behave in various situations, but for young people who haven’t been around to see these societal shifts, what they’ve observed is completely normal. We all have cell phones, we all should have social media accounts, and we should all be available 24/7.
Older generations, however, have a harder time accepting some of the changes that have come along, and recently, Redditors have been sharing some of the things they wish would become normalized again. Below, you’ll find some of their most insightful responses, so enjoy reading through and be sure to upvote all of the thoughts you agree with.
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The art of conversation. Just because I disagree with you on something doesn’t mean I don’t respect you.
Not being accessible all the time. Just because I have a cellphone doesnt mean I want to answer it at the supermarket, or while cooking dinner. Or while driving. Thats cool that my boss checks emails in his tesla driving 20 mins to work but I would rather not. I need a break
Before cell phones, if someone didn't answer the phone we'd just say, "Oh, they're not home," and that was normal. Nowadays, I wish it was just as normal to say, "Oh, they're not answering their phone," and just leave it at that.
Classes in high school like wood shop, home economics, culinary, machine shop, etc and just trade school training in general for those who don’t want to go to college.
US: standardized test scores are tied to funding, so no time for skill development (either manual or critical thinking). Kids learn that life is only about obedience to ham-fisted metrics analysis.
We reached out to the Reddit user who posed the question, "What things are seen as weird by the younger generation that we need to normalize again?" and lucky for us, u/Kvassalskaren55 was happy to have a chat with Bored Panda.
As far as what inspired him to start this conversation, he shared that he was just bored on a Saturday and decided to post something on Reddit. "I thought of a question to post in r/askreddit, but I had no idea that it would get this popular," the OP shared.
Can we re-normalize using headphones while listening to music or watching videos in public? Please? I should be able to study on campus without having to listen to someone else's s**t. I can't even go to the campus library without someone blasting their s**t.
Obviously not old enough to remember 'ghetto blasters' (yup, REALLY called that) These were extremely large radio cassettes with big speakers played at full volume everywhere from the 70s onwards until personal stereos became a thing. Before that it was 'portable wireless radios' These go back to the early 60s. Again, people have ALWAYS been a******s..
Being able to fix things yourself-sew hems and small holes, fix a toilet or garbage disposal, etc
We were also curious what Kvassalskaren55 would answer to his own question. "I think we should normalize talking to each other more," he shared. "I think today’s generation is missing out on getting to know people face to face. You never know who is behind the screen, it could be anyone."
On the other hand, the OP is appreciative that homophobia has become much less socially acceptable. "Everyone should be able to love whoever they want without facing backlash," he told Bored Panda.
Not having everything you do in public recorded.
Two random people arguing? Gotta record it.
Bad car wreck? Don't help. record.
Natural disaster? Don't run, stay and document it until someone has to rescue you, then get the rescue for maximum likes.
Same with concerts. I don't understand how people can't just watch a concert and enjoy it. Does anyone ever go back and watch their phone footage anyway?
Affordable housing.
Wall Street investors have been buying up housing all over the country just to make money on excessive rents and the tight housing market, which they contributed to making.
They really are gonna make us pick a random one to eat just to scare the rest into behaving and stopping f*****g up society (worse than it was, I mean)
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I live in a duplex and rent the other apartment out for 950 a month - 4-bedrooms with heat, hot water, electricity, and parking included. I don't pay for the internet or cable. A single mom with little kids lives there so I won't go up on the rent until she wants to go. I did that with my previous tenant - she paid $450 a month for years and was able to save up and buy her own home.
My field doesn't pay the best (linguistics), but I thought that I would at least be able to find a cute little place within my budget. I wanted to cry a couple days ago when I was shown an apartment that was about $1,550.00 USD (not including facilities) that didn't even have a damned oven or stove. I asked if it would be installed and the rental agent said that she could just get me a hot-plate and a small confectionary oven. I was appalled. And I thought that flats in the UK were high-way robbery. I honestly wake up with anxiety anymore and feel like I've failed for working my a*s off in life yet not being able to afford a nice apartment in my area. Christ, I have to be a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or work in IT to find something...
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We JUST got our rent paid. It was so stressful not paying it. I was afraid.
Housing has never really been "affordable" for your average American. I'm 47 and I remember my parents struggling, both working 2 jobs struggling to pay rent. The same with myself....
Unpopular, but this topic is complex. Especially when going all "ok boomer, it was easy in your time". One needs to compare the location, the wage/rent ratio and the type of housing the average person foubd acceptable to live in back then and wants to live in now. And this relies heavily on social class, what is seen as acceptable living circumstances and the living space available. Whenever possible, consider if moving to a different town or even area can solve that problem. In some cases this opens new opportunities
But why should we have to move to another city for affordable housing? Everywhere should have affordable housing.
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This is a big one for me my husband and I have been looking for a year. Everyone wants 8 or 9 hundred dollars a month. That may sound cheap but we are both disabled so that rent means we have a place to stay but probably no food or bills.
Should be number one!!! It's just disgusting the price of housing and such low quality at high prices as well. ...when I think about my grandparents ordering their house,basically, for $10k from sears catalog. And Grandpa n his friends built it on weekends for 6 months. These houses 70years later that were built then in that way still standing are for sale for $300-400,000. It's just sick.n then here around those they just keep building super high end apartments or condos,(n so many cannabis shops) with no affordable housing going up! For every high end building they should have to have subsidized units mandatory. Should n law everywhere. So sad
Define affordable...I can't afford what my city calls affordable.
I've always heard people complaining how high rent is through the past 2 decades of my adulthood. Back then seems like it was so cheap because we're forgetting the minimum wage wasn't as high as it is now. There was inflation about 15 years ago. I recall one Thanksgiving my bf's grandma was stressing because of her worrying over the economy. Young adults were having a hard time finding decent work for decent pay. Now and then I look back and wonder why I got rejected for a $730 /mth suite when I'm paying over 1k and earning min. wage.
It has been a problem throughout the past 3 decades, but I think that’s actually the point: the problem has been ignored as ‘just a whinge’ has indeed gotten far worse. It’s such a complicated subject, but I believe whoever mentioned that it’s the extreme commodification of property nailed it on the head. And that is directly tied to stagnant wages, a loss of retirement plans, and ability to plan for the future for the average wage earner. I personally believe the quality and design of new home estates, inflexibility of workplaces to allow remote work or to open satellite offices in regional locations , and even the rise of extreme political division has contributed to the housing problem. In short: does a person just deal with renting and maybe find other ways if investing OR deal with an ungodly commute which adds an extra 10-15 hours onto the work week, dislike the house, and feel isolated in the community (or unsafe)? Or worse: be part of the problem and rent-vest? All for what?
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I believe what people are saying here. What I don't understand about the housing market is that if corporations and boomers are buying up housing stock and renting it, and the young can't afford rent, who are they renting to? Not other millionaires. Is it that they can rent but it's a bigger proportion of income?
Most of my friends and myself (in our 30s) have to live with roommates. Most of us are married with multiple jobs but still need roommates in order to afford rent, bills, and food. Rent does also take up a larger proportion of our income than it did even 10 years ago. Incomes haven't really gone up, but rent has gone up A LOT.
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As far as his thoughts on the responses to his post, Kvassalskaren55 says he agreed with many of them. "There were a few that surprised me," he noted. "Those were the ones where people said that they were tired of people thinking that they are available at all times. That they need a break."
Having the decency and manners to verbally cancel plans or say you’ll be late in a timely fashion that’s respectful of the other person’s time and effort, instead of framing ghosting people as some kind cute personality quirk.
Being stood up or ditched on a date are as old as dating itself, but the RSVP was a contract that could only be violated at the peril of never receiving any future invitations
Actually owning the things you buy. Having the right to tinker with your devices.
Too damned many companies jumping on the product as a service bandwagon and it needs to stop. For instance, you pay (typically dearly) for a option on your new car, but you then need to pay a fee/subscription to use it? Not in this world, that's absurd.
Not having social media. Apparently now not being on whatever sites is a red flag.
Being able to handle the slightest bit of social interaction. I’ve met some Gen Z who damn near have panic attacks when making a call for delivery, let alone speaking to people they don’t know in public. Some seem to think every interaction with a stranger is potentially life threatening. The anxiety levels in that generation are off the charts.
I find the introvert memes tendency horrifying and relatable at the same time. Being an introvert myself I understand the struggle, but it seems to me it's getting worse and worse, triggering anxiety if you just let it be your lifestyle.
Knowing how to cook, even if that knowledge exists so you don't starve.
Agree knowing how to cook is a learnable skill you don’t need to be a chef.
I feel like u can't just talk to random people anymore. No one seems approachable. My mum talks to anyone wether she knows them or not. I notice alotnof the older generations are much more open to random chit chat
Some people just don't want to be bothered when they're trying to go about their day.
The hustle culture needs to go. We need to normalize working while keeling in touch with family and friends, not working yourself to death. Also, how about lowering house price, eh? It’s a dwelling, not a money making machine.
A house used to be a home not an investment for profit. It annoys me when real estate agents talk about selling a home, it is the house not the home being sold.
Pensions. The ability for current and future generations to retire.
All that has happened is the companies have shifted the risk from them to you. If you can get such good returns, they can too. Of course in most plans you do not contribute. Just more evidence of poor money management on their part, and how criminal underfunding is.
Talking to people in-person, and asking people out, and not being a f*****g weirdo if they say no.
Apps and social media have caused so much headrot.
Holding your phone to your ear when talking.
Just working out in a gym without the need to record yourself
Again, it's not an abnormal thing to go and not record. Going to the gym without recording is normalised.
**Getting to know your neighbours and connecting with the local community.**
How many of us actually know or have talked to the people next door?? It used to be so common to introduce yourself at least, nowadays it’s just weird and considered off-putting, making it much harder to build a strong sense of community.
This generation tends to be very isolated generally, and considering how actively hostile modern urban design is, it tends to discourage people from going outside and meeting people. This is also coupled with the rise of social media and a general sense of paranoia about feeling constantly watched, since everyone basically has a miniature recording device in their pocket. It decentivizes people from striking up more friendly conversations, due to fear of being recorded being cringe or whatever and going viral. Honestly the pandemic has f****d social skills beyond belief, but let’s get real here, the loneliness epidemic predates Covid by a long shot, quarantine just put it into hyperdrive.
I think knowing your neighbours should make a comeback. Along with neighbourhood block parties and potlucks. And for gods sake, can we please make less suburbs and anti-homelessness benches, and more free/affordable public infrastructure while we’re at it??? It’s been said already, but look at the outside we built, no wonder kids don’t want to go outside anymore.
Again depends on country and background. Low income areas in my country have good social networks and high income areas have neighbours who barely interact and mostly hate each other.
Taking your clothes to a tailor instead of getting new clothes
That individuals matter, not what groups people can be pegged as belonging to.
This is only true of individualist (ie western) culture. In Africa our community is the most important thing.
Vulnerability. Sincerity. These things seem to get lumped in with "cringe" when they shouldn't be.
Texting back too quickly is apparently a thing to younger folk? Whereas I see it as the ultimate sign of respect and interest when you're having an engaging conversation. There's so much second guessing about presentation and interest levels that many forget that it's cool, fine, and normal to just be honest with feelings and pursue them as long as they're reciprocal.
What kills me is "punctuation is aggressive" and "ok means you're mad." WTF kids?!?
Telephone skills, not fearing making phone calls
Emails and texts are too easy to ignore. I feel it takes twice as long to communicate via email.
Go to the park and join a bunch of strangers in playing a game whether it be touch football, throwing the Frisbee, even a game of TAG.
Uhh no. I would never walk up to strangers playing a game and join them.
Anyone else concerned with the lack of empathy and aggressive narcissism that are being displayed recently?
Yep. I feel those "Corona- years" have done more harm than good. 😢
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I am so sick of all of this "generational divide" b******t. "The boomers are this!" "The Millennials are that" "Gen Z is blah blah blah" can we all just please stop and reflect and realize there there and bad Apples in every single bunch and that doesn't mean the whole barrel is bad? I know PLENTY of "boomers" who are some of the kindest more understanding people around and I e met some Gen Z who would soon slit your throat than give you a kind look. It has nothing to do with what year you were born! It's how you're raised. And truthfully I will never consider myself a Gen Z. I am simply a younger person who will hopefully live to become an old person some day. That's it
Once again Generation X is forgotten. That one is true.
Load More Replies... SO much of this is really Boomers reminiscing about their childhood and not realising it seemed better because they were a child. Then there's the inherent criticism of the 'youth of today' I'm Gen X but even I can see that the current generation are the very best of us. Who saw us all through the pandemic doing all the frontline jobs? Not my generation, that's for sure. Who is more accepting of people for who they are? Again it's the 'young people of today' Good on them, nostalgia is a lie..
I hate to tell you this, but where I live, it was both the middle-aged and young transport drivers, supermarket cashiers, chemists, street cleaners, rubbish collectors, and above all health workers who got us through it. The less experienced younger people need the older workers' experience and stamina, or do you think that a whole bunch of 20-somethings just rolled up one day and took over? Enough with the generational labels, every workplace needs a mix of younger, creative, energetic people, trained and supported by more experienced staff.
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Listen, y’all, the economy is shot, corona ruined our social skills, and you can’t be anywhere without spending money, we would way rather be doing things in the world but we’re broke and many of us are disabled
I used to think our species would die from pollution and global warming, but reading these comments makes me think, the the extinction will come from nobody daring to get to know anyone, så no children will come to take over. I am a bit sarcastic here maybe.
Working on my own computer. Before windows, I could ask Doss what was wrong and it would tell me and I would fix it. After windows I could go to Microsoft help and always get trained answers. Now, I go to Microsoft help and they let any idiot on the Internet provide answers. One has the weed the actual help out from the junk.
Better title would be old people complain and suggest what they think young people must find odd because it's no longer the only acceptable option.
Yeah yeah yeah, the kids these days. Have a Werther's Original and shut up.
Sorry but gen z and alpha rule nothing. Most can't even make a phone call without experiencing crippling anxiety.
Anyone else concerned with the lack of empathy and aggressive narcissism that are being displayed recently?
Yep. I feel those "Corona- years" have done more harm than good. 😢
Load More Replies... I am so sick of all of this "generational divide" b******t. "The boomers are this!" "The Millennials are that" "Gen Z is blah blah blah" can we all just please stop and reflect and realize there there and bad Apples in every single bunch and that doesn't mean the whole barrel is bad? I know PLENTY of "boomers" who are some of the kindest more understanding people around and I e met some Gen Z who would soon slit your throat than give you a kind look. It has nothing to do with what year you were born! It's how you're raised. And truthfully I will never consider myself a Gen Z. I am simply a younger person who will hopefully live to become an old person some day. That's it
Once again Generation X is forgotten. That one is true.
Load More Replies... SO much of this is really Boomers reminiscing about their childhood and not realising it seemed better because they were a child. Then there's the inherent criticism of the 'youth of today' I'm Gen X but even I can see that the current generation are the very best of us. Who saw us all through the pandemic doing all the frontline jobs? Not my generation, that's for sure. Who is more accepting of people for who they are? Again it's the 'young people of today' Good on them, nostalgia is a lie..
I hate to tell you this, but where I live, it was both the middle-aged and young transport drivers, supermarket cashiers, chemists, street cleaners, rubbish collectors, and above all health workers who got us through it. The less experienced younger people need the older workers' experience and stamina, or do you think that a whole bunch of 20-somethings just rolled up one day and took over? Enough with the generational labels, every workplace needs a mix of younger, creative, energetic people, trained and supported by more experienced staff.
Load More Replies... Listen, y’all, the economy is shot, corona ruined our social skills, and you can’t be anywhere without spending money, we would way rather be doing things in the world but we’re broke and many of us are disabled
I used to think our species would die from pollution and global warming, but reading these comments makes me think, the the extinction will come from nobody daring to get to know anyone, så no children will come to take over. I am a bit sarcastic here maybe.
Working on my own computer. Before windows, I could ask Doss what was wrong and it would tell me and I would fix it. After windows I could go to Microsoft help and always get trained answers. Now, I go to Microsoft help and they let any idiot on the Internet provide answers. One has the weed the actual help out from the junk.
Better title would be old people complain and suggest what they think young people must find odd because it's no longer the only acceptable option.
Yeah yeah yeah, the kids these days. Have a Werther's Original and shut up.
Sorry but gen z and alpha rule nothing. Most can't even make a phone call without experiencing crippling anxiety.
