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After all the heated arguments on everything from technology and social media to work and the economy, who could've predicted that baby boomers and the younger generations would find something in common?

But last month, X (formerly known as Twitter) user Girl Fieri (@realgirl_fieri) asked all the non-boomers on the platform to share their most boomer-esque complaints, and the replies immediately started pouring in.

Image credits: realgirl_fieri

So we decided that taking a look at the submissions would be a nice change of pace to the never-ending discourse on intergenerational differences. Or, in this case, similarities!

Usually, baby boomers are perceived in quite negative ways. Or as Lawrence R. Samuel, Ph.D, who is the founder of AmeriCulture, a consultancy dedicated to translating the emerging cultural landscape into business opportunities, said, they are often seen as dinner guests who’ve eaten and drank pretty much everything set out on the table, leaving only scraps for those who came later to the party.

"Generational hostility is nothing new," Samuel wrote. "There is in fact a long history in America of a younger generation differentiating and distancing itself from their parents’ generation. (It actually goes back to the 18th century.)"

"As a people, we are very much interested in making our own mark, blazing our own trail, and doing things our own way. From this respect, it was inevitable that Gen Xers would set themselves off from baby boomers as a cohort and attempt to carve out their collective identity. The same was and remains true for millennials and Gen Z," he explained.

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#5

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Little Wonder
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's usually a scam anyway, it means the company can donate to charity and get it deducted from taxes.

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However, as we can see from these posts, common ground isn't that hard to find.

In fact, Bobby Duffy, Professor of Public Policy at King’s and formerly Head of Public Affairs at Ipsos, argued in his book 'Generations' that cohorts are not as important as most think and that the vast majority of issues and attitudes do not map neatly onto the definitions we have (which themselves are somewhat arbitrary, especially on a global scale).

He suggests that most of the polarizing issues facing the world today split the generations as well, and that the overarching societal shift towards more liberal attitudes on things like gay marriage, female employment, etc. are the result of opinions shifting across all generational groups over the last 30-40 years and are not the byproduct of a sudden influx of liberal youngsters into the voting booths.

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Little Wonder
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A while ago I said something about sitting outside looking at the stars, and was called ableist (because some people can't get outside to do that). Like, i'm sorry about that and all, but we're at the point now where people really CAN'T say just ordinary mundane stuff without being called out.

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Helena
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So dark. You can't see what's going on. It is either explosions that suddenly try to break the tv speakers, or so quiet you have to watch with captions.

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David
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never been to place with a QR menu that couldn't give you a paper menu if you asked. More places went to QR during covid and also to cheap copy paper menus. If they hand you the paper they toss it out if you leave it. If you use a QR menu there is no waste. I don't personally like looking at the menu on my phone screen but I get why many places implemented them.

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The idea that the generations have way more in common than has been widely assumed is also supported by Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Monitor data.

Looking at how the different generations prioritize different criteria for judging whether sectors and brands are trustworthy, we can see a huge amount of common ground between the generations and little real division.

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Barry Meyer
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11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed. If you need headlights brighter than a cop then you don't need to be driving in the dark.

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Little Wonder
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Local petrol station is pushing their app super hard. "Pay on the app! Get the app! You can pay on the app!". Yeah, or I can go inside and pay there, without giving you my details.

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C L
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My worst was when I went buy an SD card at Best Buy, there was no sales staff to help me find the right aisle and when I finally found it myself the first thing the check out asked was how much did I want to tip. Since I helped myself I'll just keep the tip thanks!

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Yes, there is some variance in the strength of feeling that different generations have for different criteria; baby boomers, for example, are far more likely to prioritize reliability and openness/transparency than younger generations, while Gen Z and millennials rate more of the lesser priority issues more highly such as value sharing, intent and the importance of leadership.

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Michael Largey
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been against electronics controlling the place I live since I heard the words "I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave."

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David
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one in my lap right now for my PC - yes - physical. For my phone - touch screen is fine.

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But despite these differences and variations in the strength of feeling, all four generations regard the same four trust drivers; reliability, openness/transparency, responsibility, and value for the price, as the most important and in the same rank order.

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Chilli
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

DID YOU KNOW, THAT THE GRASS IS GREEN? FOLLOW FOR MORE UNBELIEVEABLE FACTS THAT'LL BLOW YOUR MIND!

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Judy Reynolds
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, I talk to everyone. I was a cashier for about 10 years, and the habit of making a bit of conversation with everyone has carried over into the rest of my life.

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David
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Low priority for me. You can buy USB external DVD players for under $30, some under $20. My current desktop PC didn't come with a player so I just bought one for the few times I needed it.

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e gads
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Use the free services, everything pops up there eventually anyway.

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If we turn our attention to looking at how the different generations judge the trustworthiness of different industry sectors and institutions, again, we see that the usual narrative of younger generations being less trusting isn't the case at all.

The older generations trust most sectors less than millennials or Gen Z.

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Phillip Moderow
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, they have. And incredibly oblivious to what's going on around them. Does an elderly person need help opening a heavy door ? Oblivious. Did you notice that person looking for their car ? Could care less. Did it occur to you that someone might be behind you while walking through a door ? Eh, not my problem. People today SUCK !

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Baby boomers and Gen X are less likely to trust financial services, energy, oil & gas, banking, social media companies, and consumer-packaged goods than those younger than them, with more significant differences between the elder and younger generations in each case.

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Glen Ellyn
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm retired so I make all my appointments around midday so working folks can have the early morning or late afternoon spots.

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LonelyLittleLeafSheep
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm starting to think turn signals are an optional accessory on new cars...or maybe the car maker just wants a paid subscription to use them.

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ginny weasley
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or kids playing video games with the volume all the way up cause that is the only way they can sit still and be quiet.

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One could be forgiven for expecting that younger generations are less trusting of oil & gas, given the climate crisis facing their futures and the assumptions we often make about how they feel about the environment and sustainability. The same could be said of banking, with many growing up through the financial crash of 2008. But it's the older age groups yet again with the lowest level of trust in these sectors.

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The Darkest Timeline
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only do they stand side by side, they also walk with just enough space between them that you can’t squeeze between them but also not enough to get around them.

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Dingooo
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My washer and dryer are 38 years old! It's amazing how long the old stuff will last if it is properly maintained. I dread the day when I would have to buy new. I've heard the horror stories.

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So, generational divides are not as large or as significant as many would assume.

If you too have boomer complaints (or are a boomer yourself and don't see the youth as morally bankrupt), don't worry. You might be even closer to them than you've been told.

#31

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Zoey Rayne
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's partly because lots of them have parents who can't afford houses with backyards. Kids can't just "go play outside" when they live in an apartment and "outside" is a parking lot near a busy street. Screen addition is a problem for people of all ages these days, but let's not ignore that capitalism has made it difficult for many families to have the time and money to just relax in green spaces.

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#32

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Warrior Mama
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or live theater too? Every single performance I've seen the last few years has been interrupted by people arriving late and walking in front of me/needing me to stand up so they can squeeze through the otherwise full row of seats just as the show starts - pet peeve for sure!

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MadMonkey
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My students used to talk to me before class. I adored my students and they used to flick me s*** about my college basketball preferences. They also used to call me Professor Chicken because when I got married, if I had hyphenated my name (I didn't), the hyphenated name would have sounded like a chicken clucking. They never got tired of that one. Splendid kids, the lot of 'em.

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Zoey Rayne
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. Also, I work at a tutoring center and the number of kids 10 and under who insist that they don't need to learn to read or do well in school because they're going to "be a YouTuber" when they grow up is disturbing. You can't pay rent trying to get random strangers to watch you play Fortnite with lame commentary.

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Mark Stewart
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All well and good until you have the issue we did in Australia a few weeks ago when Optus had a mass outage for several hours putting electronic payment systems out of action, many businesses had trade impacted.

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Heather Evans
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still can't get over that my phone doesn't have a headphone jack. Whose terrible idea was this???

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Zoey Rayne
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! And stop leaving the carts in random parking spaces so cars don't have room!

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Dingooo
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Used to have to do that with my former brother-in-law and his family, otherwise they would be an hour late every time.

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SkyDragonAerial (Aro/Ace, Cassgender)
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Teen here, and yeah. We don't want to hear your music or whatever video you're watching. Wear. Headphones. Or. Earbuds. I SWEAR.

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Upstaged75
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11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I choose the self checkout 100% of the time if it's available. I prefer packing things the way I want them. And it keeps me from feeling judged about what I'm buying. :) One time I had tampons, Advil, and chocolate (among other things) in my basket and when I checked out the cashier said really loud "I put all your period stuff in the same bag for you honey!". LOL!! I know she was just being nice, but it was mortifying.

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Daniel Atkins
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah seems unsanitary to have one (not a service animal) in a grocery store or a restaurant.

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Dingooo
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, multi-billion dollar companies and they can't afford to have humans at the other end of the phone for even the most basic customer service? Pretty soon there will be no humans to talk to at any company, just AI generated responses getting you nowhere.

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jade s
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No for 3. Sorry, I automatically believe people should pay their own way. If I can't afford it I'll turn down the offer and meet up once I've been paid. I don't know anyone that would expect otherwise and if I did they wouldnt be in my friend circle.

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Pheebs
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I argue that women need better collared shirt options. I am so sick of blouses, many of which have uncomfortable fabric. I work in IT - wearing a flowy, flowery blouse will just get in the flipping way, and I get sick of polos. Plus, half the “modern” collared shirts and polos for women are made for incredibly flat or athletic figures. I have both decent sized boobs and hips - your moisture wicking, no stretch fabric is annoying af.

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