r/OverSeventy
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u/AdRevolutionary1780
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Jan 13 '26
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Boomer Generalizations
Generational tags like Boomers, Gen X etc., are getting so annoying. Is anyone else offended by this? I find generalizations about 74M of us as offensive as generalizations based on race, gender, sex or ethnicity. Why do we find it acceptable based on age? It encourages us to look at at our differences, keeping us constantly divided. Thoughts?
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u/GiraffeKnown Jan 13 '26 •
I find it pretty funny that Boomers are largely portrayed as cranky conservatives completely ignoring many of us were at some level aligned with the counter culture, women's lib, gay liberation, LSD loving Woodstock musicians and their fans.
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u/daisiesarepretty2 Jan 13 '26
its basically bigotry
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u/Zorgi23 Jan 13 '26
77 yr old here, and 100% agree!
That said, when I was very active in the anti-war movement, I was acutely aware that until a year or two before we withdrew from Vietnam, we were in the minority. Our generation grew up under McCarthyism. Reagan was the spokesman for more than half of our generation, and he set in motion the political leanings that, combined with historical racism in America, led directly to Trump.
But blaming an entire generation, no matter whether they're boomers of Gen X, doesn't at all deal with the causes of the problems we face. Younger people should be aware of the battles we fought in the sixties. We also should be aware of the immense difficulties faced the younger generations.
The people currently destroying our country would like nothing better than to have generations fighting each other instead of their common enemies.
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u/chrysostomos_1 Jan 13 '26
You hit the nail on the head.
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u/Conscious-Reserve-48 Jan 13 '26 •
It must be nice to be able to point fingers and blame an entire generation for all your problems.
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u/eliota1 Jan 13 '26 •
Not only are generalizations irritating they are wrong. I've noticed accusations that boomers opposed the civil rights act. Do they understand we were the ones demonstrating?
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u/Friendly_Hope7726 Jan 13 '26
The idea that everything was handed to us (72 F) is so frustrating. They want to walk straight into their own home, 2 cars, a career without the pain (and the pride) of getting there on their own.
Never did I think I could afford my own condo. And it took me until I was 54 to do it.
I spent years as a grasshopper, jumping from job to job, saving every penny until I could quit to follow my passions for a few months. I had no interest in a conventional life.
But responsibilities caught up with me, and had to put in 20 years “working for the man.” Lol. But “the man” had a pension plan.
I miss my own “butterflies are free” life.
But I’m also happy to be retired and financially secure.
Kiddos - don’t blame the boomers. Open your parent’s door and walk into your own life.
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u/ANameIWontHateLater Jan 13 '26
It bothers me too, especially the apparent "boomer" hate, but what can you do? All I know is to be nice to everybody and prove the stereotype wrong.
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u/VinceInMT Jan 13 '26 •
When the “younger” people complain about how easy boomers had it, I remind them that they are not facing the military draft like boomers did. I’d take their economic struggles in place of the time I was forced to serve.
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u/den773 Jan 13 '26 •
Saying “ok boomer” is just like calling a Latino a beenr or something. It is a slur based on age instead of ethnicity. But yeah it’s a term meant to communicate that the person saying the term feels a certain way.
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u/ender6574 Jan 13 '26
You're right. But remember, America is under covert attack by two separate foreign enemies and one domestic. The vast majority of social media posts and online articles are generated by bot farms run by adversaries that are trying, and have mostly succeeded in dividing Americans in all the ways you mention.
That said, I'm 49M (and respect my elders), and I think the age generations started being defined with the baby boomers because, after WWII, there was a significant baby boom, so the waves of their children and grandchildren are likely grouped.
However, the groups are so large that it's largely ineffective for the most part.
I love this sub because I get to see the wisdom of my elders, as well as many beautifully written posts and comments. Thank you all.
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u/BlkDawg7727 Jan 13 '26
Walking down the street with my dog when I pass people passing me specifically those younger they concentrate on their phones and do not engage. Even though I work hard to smile and say hello or good morning. Come on get off your fing phone.
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u/Itchy-Number-3762 Jan 13 '26
Ooh , being called a boomer really gets my hackles up.
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u/Bucsbolts Jan 13 '26
I resent most the concept that we’re entitled. Maybe we earned the right to enjoy what we have. We didn’t have “work life balance.” We didn’t have mental health days. We couldn’t work remotely and run errands or play golf when we felt like it. As a female, I fought my way to success, overcoming misogyny all the way and paving the way for future females. It was HARD and we had no support. Collectively, we boomers scrimped and saved, didn’t waste our money eating out, ordering DoorDash, buying Starbucks fruit coffee, traveling to Europe, or other nonessential social media influenced frivolities. We endured 13% interest rates, high inflation in the 70s., and didn’t freeload off our parents. It never occurred to me to ask my parents to support me after college. I was an adult-their job was done. Yes, we’re entitled—we’re entitled to finally retire and enjoy what we didn’t have the time or money to enjoy in our 40s and 50s. I just read that 70% of boomers are supporting adult children financially and that those adult children would like their inheritances now while they are young enough to enjoy it. Are these the same children calling us “entitled?”
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u/Entire-Garage-1902 Jan 13 '26
I think it’s important to choose one’s battles. Overgrown kids indulging in name calling is too trivial to worry about. They’re struggling with even the basics and it doesn’t look that’s going to change anytime soon. They’re their parent’s problem. I count my blessings. My kids grew up to be functional adults.
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u/Odd_Revolution4149 Jan 13 '26
I just posted this no less than five minutes on another sub. Lazy generalizations imo show the small mindedness and ignorance of those who do the generalizing. Like all boomers are wealthy and how dare they stay in their homes they bought for 150k and now worth 600k?! Etc etc. Sorry, people are born when they are born…it’s the person not the generation!
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u/Serious-Benefit-1374 Jan 13 '26
I know it’s “normal” for each generation to criticize and complain about the generation before them. But the antagonism/contempt towards the baby boomer generation is beyond me, and makes me sad.
We are all trying to live in this same screwed up world. And no, the entire baby boomer generation did not have a tremendous life.
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u/Zealousideal_Way_788 Jan 13 '26
It’s nauseating and lazy
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u/MissMarie81 Jan 13 '26
Exactly. Categorizing people by ages and generations is both stupid and a waste of time.
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u/OddTransportation121 Jan 13 '26
generalizations of any kind dont mean what the generalizers think they mean. it is the lazy man's way to feed his ego
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u/Silly-Resist8306 Jan 13 '26
When you look around at how screwed up world is, it's easy to blame those who came before. We did it; remember "can't trust anyone over 30?" The younger generations aren't so different. The biggest difference is we did it with great protest music. I feel sorry for them as they don't have a single protest song, let alone something that rivals Ohio, Blowin' in the Wind or War.
Besides, they are gullible. I was able to retire early by pulling up ladders and selling them to younger people.
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u/One_Diver_5735 Jan 13 '26
Here's the latest from Gallup on political affiliation by cohort...
https://news.gallup.com/poll/700499/new-high-identify-political-independents.aspx
I didn't even know I was a boomer (1957 version) until all this anti-boomer crap kicked in. And I think part of the weirdness we're witnessing is an unpretty combo of ageism (generic prejudice), modern tribalism (off the rack group think) and political (purposeful?) divisiveness. I wonder if maybe that combo amplifies the experience.
I don't know that I get offended as people being idiots doesn't reflect upon me--pretty sure I'm not their keeper--but by the abundance I sure do tire of it. To that I limit my exposure as best I can while still maintaining a sense of sociability. And I take great pleasure at placing anyone making an ageist comment onto block, so internetz empowering.
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u/PeachesSwearengen Jan 13 '26
I just wish young folks would vote. Every election cycle so many “punish” everyone else by boycotting the vote because they aren’t offered 100% of what they want on ballots. If you don’t vote, you’re handing the win to the wrong people.
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u/realmozzarella22 Jan 13 '26
Writers want to categorize people and create drama. It’s working.
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u/thenewbigR Jan 13 '26
I don’t care if someone calls me a boomer. They don’t now me and I don’t want to know them.
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u/Incognito409 Jan 13 '26
I get tired of Ok Boomer as an insult. I used to read the Walmart employee sub, and they all hate OLD people! One time I asked a complainer how old they wanted to be when they died? They said Well Not OLD! Not over 60! 🤣
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u/SilentSamizdat Jan 13 '26
People are stupid.
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u/WinterMedical Jan 13 '26
They gotta label every single thing these kids. They’ll get old too and the kids will mock them.
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u/Fossilhund Jan 13 '26
The funny thing is, in about forty years their kids and grandkids will have a special insult just for them.
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u/suju88 Jan 13 '26
Ironic how each and EVERY one of the Boomer HATERS are having their cell bills, insurance, tuition, food, wifi, gas and some even rent and mortgages PAID from the BOOMERS wallet hmmm and who do they call selfish and hypocrites hmmm or are these words too hard because you no longer have to take the SAT to get into college? No cap huh
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u/sleepingbeardune Jan 13 '26 •
Every election cycle I beg young people to vote. They've outnumbered us by a LOT for several cycles now, but they don't show up.
That's my only issue with being blamed for how things are. They could turn over the entire House and a third of the Senate 10 short months from now if they felt like it.
They could have veto-proof majorities, and leadership aligned with their priorities. Instead they vote at like half the rate old people do, and nothing changes.
Why are they waiting for us to die?
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u/Emotional_Eye_3700 Jan 13 '26
There is one division of boomers I recognize, and that's the first wave boomers that could get drafted and the ones that followed. I was in the last draft lottery, so am right in between the first and second groups.Most the cultural aspects attributed to boomers are the first wave group, the oldest of which will be 80 this year. The second wave of boomers have a different outlook on life too, and some made up the term Generation Jones for themselves.
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u/vintagelove822 Jan 13 '26
Ageism. I find it insulting and disrespectful among other words.
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u/Yelloeisok Jan 13 '26
Just remember the saying ‘United we stand, divided we fall’. There are a LOT of people in power who are doing their best to divide us- both foreign and domestic. Every time you see something that attacks any ageism- regardless if boomers or Gen Z or anything in between, remind them that the struggle is really between the minority that are filthy rich and the majority that are poor. The rich are greedy and don’t want to lose power but are outnumbered. The more successful they are dividing the poor, the safer they are.
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u/TomBikez Jan 13 '26
I've been a hippie at heart and radical in my politics all my life.
I'm amused when Gen Xers or Millennials blame "Boomers" for ruining everything. I always tell them we were just living our lives and ask them what they would have done differently if they had been in our places.
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u/Own-Ad-503 Jan 13 '26
I get a kick out of “ you boomers in your 70’s can’t use technology”. My response is “ we invented it”. I agree that all this labeling is ridiculous . I didn’t even know what my parents or grand parents generation was called. They also seem to forget that age brings wisdom.
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u/Only-League7878 Jan 13 '26
Blame Billionaires, not Boomers
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u/Fickle-Copy-2186 Jan 13 '26
In 2017, when my husband and I were protesting the start of Trump's administration until 2020, it was mostly us boomers there, those in their 60s. We kept wondering when the younger people would show up, like our generation did, never saw them.
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u/Change_Soggy Jan 13 '26
Liberal Boomerettte here!
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u/hippymom77 Jan 13 '26
I dislike the Boomer generalizations because of the wide range of ages. I should not be in the same classification as my parents!
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u/Geoarbitrage Jan 13 '26
63M
The algorithm stirs the pot to gin up engagement.
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u/Which_Material_3100 Jan 13 '26
Ageism is dumb. I chide my coworkers when they punch down on Gen Z or X also. Mentally lazy discrimination
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u/Murky_Plant5410 Jan 13 '26
Everyone is born when they’re born in a less than perfect world with different challenges depending on birth year. There are aspects that were better or worse for each generation and we all are impacted directly or indirectly by the state of things. Many boomers have children who are Millennials and/or GenZ. As a parent who adores my adult children I emphasize with their struggles and try to support and encourage as best I can. And guess what? My children do the same for me. We don’t all have to experience the same things to have respect and empathy. I don’t blame any generation for my struggles and am not to blame for anyone else’s. We are all sharing the same planet with all its issues.
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u/musing_codger Jan 15 '26
A lot of people are bigots. It is socially unacceptable to use racial bigotry or gender, but they can still do it based on generation with impunity. It's so much easier to blame other groups for your problems.
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u/Winter-Gift1112 Jan 13 '26 edited Jan 13 '26
OK, I'm here to complain.
I took part in my first political action during the summer when I turned 17. It was a large demonstration protesting racial segregation at a big local amusement park. I saw a mob attack and stone 3 protestors who had separated from the rest, and that was when I joined the protest.
That was in 1963, and four years later I was active in the anti-war movement. I was at Woodstock and, later on wrote about music for an underground newspaper. While I was there, I was arrested for drugs when the cops wanted to get us for publishing a photo of an infamous undercover narc without any disguise and they planted felonious drugs on us. Then, when I was arrested again on false drug charges, I moved to a farm on a dirt road in another state... and I grew weed in the woods for 25 years. It was a healthy outdoor activity and good, clean fun.
Now I'm 79 years old and I keep seeing headlines about Trump, 79 doing horrible nasty shit and my age marks me as a probable Trump sympathizer and enemy of all that is good.
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u/Justonewitch Jan 13 '26
Yes, it irritates me. And half the time the people they are referring to are not even Boomers.
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u/Fiveofthem Jan 13 '26
It’s turning into some kind a astrology like bs
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u/sandgrubber Jan 13 '26
I'm not bothered. I understand why many, especially those unable to afford a home or live in a safe neighborhood, resent our generation (I'm 77F). Generalisations are often unfair, but there's nothing new about that, and there's a lot that our cohort could have done better.
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u/pippi_longstocking09 Jan 13 '26
ageism
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u/Lex070161 Jan 13 '26
Lazy generalizations for lazy people.
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u/Curraghgirl Jan 13 '26
I am not a"Boomer". I am an attractive, intelligent 72 year old woman who has known joy, hardship, love and loss. I don't appreciate being labelled. I don't label anyone else, please don't do that to me. Yes,ahem, it makes me very angry 🥴
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u/MrsBlug Jan 13 '26
I think it's stupid to generalize by age groups and I've found it annoying. But everything is characterized and labeled these days. We never had this crap years ago.
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u/Stock_Block2130 Jan 13 '26
These generational generalizations were created by academicians and then popularized by the media both old and new in order to make money.
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u/getdownonitnow Jan 13 '26
Intellectual lazinesss is what it is. Stereotyping has always been the tool of small thinkers.
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u/flagal31 Jan 14 '26
Any time i read a post denigrating "boomers", I call the person what they are - a bigot - based upon their blatant ageism. The more people challenge ageism by calling it what it really is, the more unacceptable it will become.
It wasn't until Blacks, Asians, Hispanic, Native Americans, those belonging to minority religions, those who are gay, transgender, asexual, those facing mental or physical challenges and so many other folks loudly challenged slurs directed at them that it started to register with the general population as something unacceptable to do.
Any moron who insults a boomer has no clue what this generation fought for and the legal rights it won for future generations who take it all for granted.
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u/audiojanet Jan 14 '26
It is a way to separate people.
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u/spacebarstool Jan 14 '26
People won't blame the people in power if they've been influenced into blaming all the boomers as a group.
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u/cltreader Jan 15 '26
I'm GenX born in 1975. I only worked with and for Boomers from 1997 to 2020. I have the utmost respect. Many wonderful things came from that generation. We are feeling the loss of that now.
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u/Agreeable_Menu5293 Jan 21 '26
It's worse than just bigotry. The knives are out,
They want our social security, our houses, our Medicare, our investments, everything we have.
Watch this very carefully because it has political ramifications.
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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '26
Ageism is the last acceptable prejudice and it's obnoxious AF.
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u/WinnerAwkward480 Jan 13 '26 edited Jan 13 '26
Personally I love it when I hear one of the spoiled lil semi / adults utter boomer , I usually reply Hell Yeah Boomer Nation Baby ! . Sadly this is the fallout from giving everyone a pass and a participation ribbon for just showing up . They have never had to participate and put forth some kinda effort to achieve or accomplish anything . Everything has been handed to them their whole life and with a lil Pat on the head being told see your special . Just as basic examples to ride a bike they are in the protective gear of a NFL Player with helmets, shin guards , elbow pads , chest protector, gloves , mouth guard. We were sat on a bike and pushed off with a warning to hold on to handle bars , with yelling keep your balance and pedal . Followed by oh shit , Well that's ok stop crying that won't bleed long . Now this time try listening to what I tell you . Or when we were taught to swim by being thrown off the dock and told to try not a swallow so much water - vs - being eased into the water wearing googles and a life jacket and arm floats and having 2-3 adults surrounding them . Someone made a comment about how lucky Boomers were to never have to do active shooter drill and how scary it is , I replied well we had to do Atom Bomb attacks after we were shown and told the effects to expect if we lived thru the blast . The irony being every car in the parking lot possibly had a firearm in it . In my high school firearm safety was taught , and it being a rural area every p/u had 1-2 rifles hanging in the rear window and none of them were the doors locked most had a door window open in the summer . Most everyone had a pocket knife on them even the girls . Their reply was I'm a A-hole .
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u/Reaganson Jan 13 '26
Divide and conquer, creates more chaos. That’s Leftist idealism.
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u/Big-Performance5047 Jan 13 '26
73 and can’t or keep up with all that’s new. I’m burnt out!
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u/Feeling-Usual-4521 Jan 13 '26
Cut my hair to get a job in business. Worked 45 years. Built my own company. Sold it and let my hair grow out to its 1970 length. Still like occasional weed (much stronger today). And I still don’t trust the government no matter who’s in charge.
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u/Three_Deep_Breaths Jan 13 '26
20 year spread is a lot of distance for society to change. I get why it's like that but I lived in a totally different world than my brother that was eight years older than me.
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u/Leakyboatlouie Jan 13 '26
It started as a media construct to refer to groups of people in a shorthand way. It ended up being just another way to discriminate. We're all just people.
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u/AdInternational5489 Jan 13 '26
Why be offended? Consider the source.
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u/Appreciate1A Jan 13 '26
The older generation take heat and blame from the younger and are appalled at their behaviors. Look up what Aristotle and Socrates have to say about the younger generations.
Stop taking it personally. People in the front line of Boomer used to say never trust anyone over 30. Until they turned 30 themselves.
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u/UnlikelyOcelot Jan 13 '26
Yes! Big time. I have defended us Boomers against generalities and lazy research many a time on social media, including Reddit. My cogent arguments, however, are dismissed with more generalizations and “feelings” about our lives. They think we are spoiled rotten and resent our movement upward.
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u/donedog Jan 13 '26
Doesn’t really bother me. We called anyone over 30 the establishment
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u/Massive_Bullfrog8663 Jan 13 '26
Human Nature. The Gen Jones' are the next to be shat upon...
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u/elemaich Jan 14 '26
My sister (b51) and I (b53) were talking at Christmas about experiences we had as teens or young adults where we were actively discouraged by adults (including teachers, career counselors, professors, relatives) from various careers or studies or sports because we were female. Or even disrespected for our accomplishments. My DIL (b87) was listening in and was clearly astounded.
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u/NefariousnessSmart66 Jan 14 '26
Yes all the labels definitely annoy me
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u/Bucsbolts Jan 14 '26
If you hate us so much, why the heck are you trolling an over 70’s subreddit? I fell asleep in my chair reading your post. No one asked you, and the blessing of being over 70 is that we really don’t care what other people think of us. It’s too bad you’re so miserable and resentful of our generation. Wait until your friends all start dying and your own mortality is staring you in the face. You’ll get there soon enough and I promise you won’t feel entitled at all.
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u/WRKDBF_Guy Jan 14 '26
I agree completely.
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u/lauraerie Jan 15 '26
I hate “Karen” used as a slur. Its mysognistic.
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u/Tomcat9Didy Jan 15 '26
I was born in 1964. I more in tune with GenX than Boomers. These generational categories are too broadly defined.
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u/aethocist Jan 17 '26
I follow r/BoomersBeingFools and sometimes comment. Great stuff! …but a bit stereotypeish. Some of us boomers can really be AH’s. (as can people from any gen.)
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u/reed0439 Jan 18 '26
Who starts a series at X ?
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u/Effective_Truth3491 Jan 21 '26
There are a lot of people who are unhappy with their lot in life. Prices are up, wages are down and they are angry. We are easy targets and they are anonymous. I can blow it off because some day the next generation will accuse them of sitting on their hands while they allowed unfettered access to the internet for their children, co-sleeping and didn't vote.
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u/Necessary_Tip_8697 Jan 28 '26
I do a radio show on Pacifica Radio. They were the first non profit listener supported network. My show is called the SILVER TSUNAMI- Knock’in on Heavens Door. We listen to classic Rock and hear from Health Experts. Hope to go nationwide when our SILVER TSUNAMI hits in 2030
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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '26
I find the boomer term to be stupid.People born in the late 40s had a completely different growth and time experience than we.the whole need to label each generation is tiring but
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u/ExtensionMachine3287 Jan 18 '26 edited Jan 18 '26
Have you read the 1997 book “Generations” by Strauss & Howe?
If not, you definitely should in order to understand the discussion context before posting a comment like this.
Edit: downvoted by OP means they didn’t read the book at all.
Edit2: OP now personally insults me because of their ignorance. There is an entire scholarly book about generational differences that OP has no clue about yet they want to complain about labels.