Many things today are different from how they used to be in Bloomers’ time. This is why many Boomers miss the old times and complain about modern trends. However, these complaints are not without merit.
In a recent Reddit thread, many Boomers shared their complaints about the modern world. These are complaints that everyone (even the younger generations) agreed on. Here are 10 of the most common complaints that Boomers made.
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Automated Phone Systems
“Sorry. I didn’t understand your response. Goodbye.”
Automated phone systems were a main complaint of Boomers. Instead of being able to talk to a person, they are now forced through an endless series of menus. They find hitting buttons and waiting for the correct option to appear annoying and a waste of time. Simple problems start to take so much time, and with no human interaction, everything gets the worst. Most users agreed — humans are quicker and easier to interact with.
Concert Ticket Pricing
“Concert ticket pricing is too high. Once you get in a beer is $17!”
Concert ticket prices are higher than ever and boomers aren’t happy about this. Back in their days, going out to a concert was an affordable experience. Fees, VIP packages, and resale prices make it nearly impossible to get reasonably priced seats. Even the prices for food and beverage at concerts are too costly.
App-Required Businesses
“Any business which requires you to use an app. I don’t want to download an app, make an account, and remember said password for the account. Especially because the app doesn’t even work a lot of the time or is extremely convoluted with the frontend design.”
Nowadays most businesses are forcing customers to use apps. Not everyone is comfortable using apps, and this is particularly true for Boomers. In fact, most Boomers hate this trend of using apps, even when it’s something as simple as booking a table or getting food.
Unstructured Outdoor Play
“I will never be okay with little kids being given tablets and unrestricted access to the internet. I think it’s good to distract kids in times of anxiety, and in situations like waiting rooms where there is little they can do to self-stimulate. But other times are opportunities for the kid to find out what they really like doing.”
Boomers love to complain that kids just don’t play outside the way they used to. When Boomers were growing up, children spent hours outside playing and creating their own fun games. Today, kids are addicted to phones and television. They play fewer outdoor games. Most Boomers agreed that outdoor play is important for a child to grow up successful.
The Volume of Everything
“Restaurants are far too loud. I want to be able to enjoy some conversation with my friends over dinner, not have to shout like I’m ordering an overpriced beer at a Slaughter to Prevail concert.”
Noise levels in public places have been on the rise, and boomers are not happy. Overall, the noise is a lot to handle, between restaurants playing very loud music and people shouting on their phones everywhere you go. Sometimes the world is too loud for everyone—not just the boomers. There are fewer quiet spaces to be found, and many people long for just a few moments of fresh air.
News Stories as Video Clips
“..or all the damn ads that make trying to read a story on a phone almost impossible.”
Boomers often choose to read their news, not watch it. The problem is, however, that an increasing number of news sources are moving away from writing articles to publishing video clips. It’s frustrating for those who just want to quickly scan a headline or get the facts without watching a video. Frequent ads that appear on the screen also make this even more frustrating.
Lawn Intruders
“For real. I have kids in my neighborhood that ride their bikes over my lilies and lavender. I want to put spikes in my yard…. but I won’t, cause I can’t afford to be sued.”
Most Boomers love a well-manicured lawn. When neighborhood children come running across their lawn and playing in their yard, it seems to be a personal affront. This may sound like a minor issue, but it’s an issue many Reddit related. It takes time and effort to make your lawn look nice and having this beauty destroyed can be annoying.
Recording Everything
“I went to a concert last month. I decided I wasn’t going to constantly try to record because I really just wanted to enjoy the show. I’m so glad I did because you can find videos every where from their North American tour, including the show I went to.”
Boomers always comment on how young people record everything on their phones. They are obsessed with recording everything on their screens that they sometimes forget to enjoy the moment in real-time. Many Boomers agree that constantly recording things takes away from actually living in the moment.
Social Media and Children
Most boomers fret over the impact of social media on children. They believe that children should not be spending time on a screen, but playing and interacting in the real world. In fact, many people (even parents and educators) have agreed that social media can have negative effects on a child’s mental health and development.
Touchscreens in Cars
“I get a touchscreen to use a GPS interface or something, but radio and AC controls need to be physical buttons. That’s the stuff I’m likely to mess with while driving. I can use physical buttons and dials without taking my eyes off the road, but everything being touch controls is distracting.”
Cars with touchscreens can be complex and confusing, particularly for boomers used to buttons and knobs. Changing the radio station or adjusting the temperature now requires going through a digital menu. This is something that a lot of people (not just boomers) find annoying.
Source: Reddit.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.