From an early age, youngsters are always told listen to their elders. But that doesn’t mean they’re right all the time. There’s usually a disconnect between what older generations believe and what’s actually helpful to the youth today. In a recent social media discussion, young people complained about how the advice and comments they continue to hear from the elderly seem dated, even alien. Here is a list of what younger people are sick of hearing from their elders.
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“Don’t Believe Everything You See on the Internet”
The first and the most comment is, ” Don’t believe everything you see on the internet.” This is something older generations say almost every time a younger person sees something on the internet.
The irony is most of these Boomers are glued to Facebook or other sites for what they think is “real” news. One joked that it was impossible to believe this from someone who believes every meme they see.
“You Kids and These Darn Phones”
Young adults are sick of being told “You kids and these darn phones” – especially when they observe that people of all ages are probably using phones as much, or more, than young people.
Even research finds that many seniors are regular social media users. For young people, their phones are about work, networking, studying and keeping in touch.
“Come Home. We Want to Spend Time with You”
For younger people, this is a classic line that isn’t real. Most return home for holidays or occasions to enjoy time together only to be ignored when they arrive.
One user described returning home and seeing both parents staring into their monitors: dad watching a video about guys building a pyramid, and mom on her laptop, watching a show. It was like he/she was a Christmas ornament – there to be noticed but not really part of it.
“When I Was Your Age, I Never…….”
Older people will say, “When I was your age, I never…” and it sounds a lot like they are shaming the young and their culture. A lot of youths become frustrated that things are so different now.
One user noted that “Well, they built this one, too, didn’t they? We are THEIR kids.” Boomers might have done this differently, but that doesn’t necessarily work anymore.
“Just Start Saving! You’ll Be Able to Buy a House in No Time”
The younger generation knows that home ownership is a far-fetched dream, so saying “save money and buy a house” doesn’t really help. Houses used to be a lot cheaper compared to salaries and you could actually buy a house.
But the rental cost is too great for many young people these days to save up for a house. And hearing this advice is just going to make them miserable because their reality is different from Boomers.
“The Young People Always Want to Drink and Go to Parties”
It is unjust to hear how young people just want to “drink and go to parties”, especially for those who have jobs, side hustles and responsibilities.
Some people even joked that Boomers partied so much harder in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Some Boomers were also into drugs. Research studies even show that young people today drink less than their parents.
“Just Find Something That Pays More”
Older people will just say “get a better job” as if that is easy. Yet research indicates that on average, millennials make 20% less than boomers at the same age.
Older people just don’t understand how tough the job market is today. They don’t even understand the importance of benefits and work/life balance when it comes to finding a good job.
“You Are Sensitive and Weren’t Taught Hard Work”
Seeing young people as “too sensitive” or “not a fan of hard work” is common, but unfair. A study by the Journal of Psychology and Aging found Boomers are also more hypersensitive than Millennials. This journal defines hypersensitivity as “being unreceptive to others’ feedback and lashing out at any criticism toward one’s self.”
“Just Pause It”
When you’re a gamer, “just pause it” is frustrating. A lot of games are streamed now, you can’t pause like a movie.
As one gamer joked, there is no use in telling older relatives about it. When you have to pause a high-energy match, it’s like having to pause a sports match — it’s a serious interruption that gamers only know about.
“No One Wants to Work Anymore”
“Young people don’t want to work” has become a common complaint. But lots of young people really only want decent paying jobs, they don’t want to work cheap.
Many youths are unsatisfied with traditional labor because of low wages and tough conditions. Most users demanded – “Just give us a living wage.”
“When You’re Older, You’ll Agree with Me”
This line makes it sound as if the young will arrive at the same opinion as the older people as they age. Even if age brings experience, that doesn’t mean older opinion is always right.
‘You just get older,’ one person said, ‘you do not rethink your values or your ideas, especially around social issues, technology or your profession’. The idea that everyone will “come around” is too simplistic.
“Video Games Are a Waste of Time”
Older generations see video games as silly. But for the younger generation, games are essential to life for leisure, socializing and amusement.
One participant joked that gaming was like bingeing hours of cable news. For youth, gaming is a pastime they enjoy as much as adults do their routines.
“I Have More Life Experience than You….”
Boomers often use their life experience to prove that they know better. But young people find this limiting.
One explained that old people may have grown a lot – but the world has changed a lot, too. The lived experience is a useful one, but it’s not to say that young people don’t have points of view.
“You Kids Had It So Easy Growing Up, and Now Your Kids Have It Easier than That”
Hearing that today’s generation “had it easy” is frustrating, especially since things like student loans and housing costs are so much higher than they were before.
Many youngsters think it’s naturally human to want the next generation to have a better life, not a tougher one. Comments like “Okay, I paid my student loans; now you pay yours” are cruel when student loans are years (sometimes decades) away from repayment.
“No Sense of Humor”
“Young people have no sense of humor” is often used to excuse jokes that younger people see as offensive. Younger people feel humour should be more human and inclusive.
One participant compared Millennial jokes (about rough life experiences) to Boomer jokes (that sometimes go to the extremes of making fun of family members). Different generations find different things funny, but young people wish their humor would be respected.
This thread inspired this post.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.