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“Not Everything Needs To Connect To The Internet”: 40 Young People Share What Things Boomers Might Be Right About
“Okay, Boomer.”
This phrase has become notorious on the internet over the past few years as a response to boomers who say condescending, politically incorrect or presumptuous things to younger generations. But perhaps today we can look at it in a new light. This article might just have you saying, “Okay Boomer. You have a good point there!”
Boomers often get a bad rap for being out of touch or behind the times, but no generation is a monolith. And recently, young Reddit users have been admitting some of the things they can get behind boomers on. From hating loud music in restaurants and shops to begging for actual buttons in their cars, rather than those frustrating touch screens, boomers aren’t the only ones who sometimes want things done the old fashioned way. Below, you'll also find interviews we were lucky enough to receive from Wendy Green, host of the Hey, Boomer! podcast, and Jean Mader and Laura Bettinger, hosts of the OK Boomer podcast.
So be sure to upvote the responses you agree with, and feel free to share anything else you think the boomers are right about in the comments (don’t worry, we won’t tell your fellow millennials/gen zers!). Then if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda piece that might make you realize how much you have in common with boomers, we recommend reading this article next!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Googling recipes while cooking and having to read everyone’s life story and family history to get to the ingredients drives me bats**t insane.
I’ve gone back to cookbooks.
Firstname Lastname 2 years ago
If there's not a "jump to recipe" button, I'm not even considering scrolling to the recipe.
I love technology as much as the next person, and I really am not sure how I would have functioned had I been born several decades earlier than I was. Traveling to foreign countries or taking road trips without having Google Maps and the option to text or call for help in the palm of my hand? Yeah, no thanks. But even I have to admit that the boomers are right about some things.
Menus do not need to be a QR code. Music in businesses should not be so loud that I have to shout across the table to my partner, and oh my god, no I will not get a smart watch. I don’t care how many steps you’ve walked today, Brenda. I look at my watch to see what time it is. We’re all going to be old one day, so there’s no need to judge our elders (aka the boomers) for not understanding or getting on board with certain technological advances. After all, some people might find it charming that they couldn’t meet their significant others on Tinder and that they might have no idea what a TikTok is.
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#2
I’m not downloading a f*****g app to use your menu
#3
Not everything needs to connect to the internet or have an app attached to it. I just want my fridge to keep s**t cold, I don't understand why we have to bring WiFi into this situation.
To gain some insight on this topic, we reached out to Wendy Green, host of the Hey, Boomer! podcast. Wendy is a boomer herself, but she told Bored Panda, "I think we actually have a lot in common with the younger generation, particularly the Gen Z group who (at least from my perspective) seem to be more focused on activism."
She also shared that Hey, Boomer! was born 3-weeks after the pandemic shut everything down. "I knew that people in the Boomer generation were going to be hit particularly hard by the loss of jobs, and there is an ageist bias that makes it much more difficult to find a new job as you get older. So, my intention was to help people in the 55-75 year old range to recognize that we are still relevant, we still have a lot to give and encourage them to stay engaged."
"Many of us were very active politically when we were younger," Wendy explained. "Many of us are re-engaging in that activism and working with young people is a win for all of us. My show also features guests that are reinventing themselves after leaving full time careers, finding adventures and facing challenges. It is a pretty cool show."
#4
just about the furthest left leaning guy you’ll find, and i’m pretty against cancel culture. in theory i understand it, & think it should still be “used” w people like kanye west. but when we’re digging YEARS back to find something someone tweeted once when they were 16… that seems a little unfair. i held opinions at 16 that i now think are silly at 25. people change, they shouldn’t be immediately crucified.
Gustav Gallifrey 2 years ago
If you don't have some dumb attitudes before you're 25, you're not 'normal'. After that, it's then a refusal to review those attitudes that becomes your problem.
#5
I don’t need a subscription for everything. No you don’t need my phone number or email just let me buy my shirt and get the f**k out of the store
#6
Most features in cars should have buttons. Want to turn on your heated seat, button, not scroll through three screens.
Nadine Debard 2 years ago
Very distracting indeed when you look through 4 screens to figure out how to lower the temperature. Some cars are better than others.
But Wendy is not a fan of using our generational titles to divide us. "I do think we put too much emphasis on the differences between generations," she told Bored Panda. "Each generation is shaped by the events that occurred in their life times. I think learning from each other is the better approach rather that isolating and making fun or different generations. I always cringe when I hear people speak negatively about any one generation. We are all individuals. It does not make sense to generalize. I encourage people to look at their own internal biases and attempt to build conversations and relationships with all age groups. It takes away the feelings of 'the other'.”
If you'd like to hear more words of wisdom from Wendy and check out her podcast Hey, Boomer!, be sure to visit her website right here!
#7
You should be able to live and sustain a family off of one income!
#8
When you’re in a public place you should respect others around you but not being disruptive with your behavior. For example, not playing music on your phone without headphones while on a bus, in a restaurant etc.
Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago
That's not old-fashioned, that's just about whether you're a civilised human being or a feral shitbag.
#9
Electronic devices should be repairable. All of them.
Tv's and smartphones should last for at least 10 years. How is that we are all *enviromental friendly* but we switch iPhones every 2 or 3 years?
Laugh or not 2 years ago
I went back to France for the first time in two years and was very surprised to see "indices de réparabilité" on all electronic devices and appliances. For those who don't speak French, it is reparability index and means how easy it is to repair something. I don't know how much it influences buyers, but I think it is good to have manufacturers and consumers think about it.
We also reached out to Jean Mader and Laura Bettinger to learn more about this topic. Jean and Laura are two sisters, best friends and boomers who host a podcast called OK Boomer. Awhile back, (hard for Boomers to keep track of time as the years go by so fast, they noted!) Laura started listening to podcasts and announced to Jean, "This seems like fun, we already chat for hours so why not start a podcast?"
"We are blessed with seven Millennial children and their Millennial partners between us," Jean and Laura told Bored Panda. "We consider ourselves experts regarding 'Boomers and Millennials and everyone in between', so boom, the OK Boomer Podcast was born. We launched our podcast in early 2020, thanks to Pat Rullo at SpeakUpTalkRadio."
#10
You should really put your phone down when you're out to eat with people. Maybe it's because I grew up with that rule but I know when I'm getting lunch with a friend or something I find it incredibly irritating when they're on their phone
Edit: holy s**t my first award??
#11
I want a human customer service operator not an automated operator or chat bot.
Pa4040 2 years ago
As a person with lots of experience in Customer Service/ Helpdesk: this is the future. ALL corporations are drooling for a proper AI that correctly recognises voices. As soon as a good one is on the market, thousands of people will loose their jobs, on top of other administrative tasks being moved to southeast asia to cut the costs even further
#12
Music in bars is too loud.
(Edit to add that I've been a touring musician and live sound technician. I love music but it actually sounds better at lower volumes, and I want to be able to hear it in to my old age)
LillieMean 2 years ago
Loud music turns into a mush. You can no longer distinguish the nuances from it and your ears hurt. Who wants to purposely be uncomfortable and suffer from tinnitus for the rest of their lives? The music is too loud even in shops, not to mention the cinema. I read a while ago that a woman suffering from misophonia found a solution in earplugs intended for this, which dampen the sound, but not as much as traditional earplugs. Sounds heavenly.
"The name of our podcast is based on the retort, 'OK, Boomer' which is often used to mock Baby Boomers and those who are perceived as old-fashioned and being out-of-touch," Jean and Laura shared. "We podcast twice a month, and we try to find the humor and joy of living this life. Listen in as we encourage all Boomers, Millennials and everyone in between to be happily okay together."
We were curious if there's anything boomers typically get made fun of for that Jean and Laura actually agree with. "Hey, we love to make fun of ourselves," they shared. "And we understand that Millennials are spot-on about many things we Boomers do our say. But no matter what our Millennials tell us, we are still going to carry cash, because electronic wallets befuddle us."
"Yes, we know we can text businesses and restaurants, but we would rather call a person," Jean and Laura noted. "Uber and Lyft are indeed beyond us. Ordering fast food online and picking it up, or having it delivered is very confusing and stressful for us. We’ve had computers and smartphones for 25 years now, and we still need our kids to help us reboot them. Or explain what those funny symbols are that we can’t really see without our glasses. And don’t put us in a Granny Flat!"
#13
Not everyone deserves a trophy. You SHOULD experience failure and disappointment in life. It's a teaching experience, stop getting so p**sy when you don't automatically get your way.
#14
Certain things shouldn't require you to download an app and/or create a whole account, including:
- Ordering food in a restaurant
- Paying for parking
- Buying something online
- Sending a parcel
#15
I don’t really know if this is a boomer opinion per say but you don’t need to document everything thing you do and post it to your social media. Sometimes it’s better to just live in the moment and enjoy what’s happening around you
We also asked Jean and Laura if they disagree with anything Boomers often say or believe. "At this point in our lives, we are ready to love everyone," they told Bored Panda. "But we do think Boomers should be more like Millennials when it comes to taking care of your physical and mental health. Millennials are not 'snowflakes', they are just not as 'seasoned' as us oldies."
#16
If you’re walking on a crowded sidewalk, get off your f*****g phone it’s not the job of other pedestrians to avoid you while you make your vlog. Awareness of your surroundings is important.
#17
I prefer physical menus over QR codes.
#18
Physical keyboards are better than virtual keyboards.
Jean and Laura just want to see all generations living in harmony. "We put too much emphasis on generational differences, we can all learn and grow from each other. We truly adore our Millennial children and friends and love learning from them, keeps life interesting, maybe keeps us young! And 'Wordle' unites us all!"
"We live in beautiful Ohio," they also shared. "In fact, Laura played the piano and recorded the opening music you hear at the start of each podcast episode. The song is 'Beautiful Ohio'- the official song of our state. We want everyone to have a beautiful life. Oh and we tried the Tik Tok Balsamic Vinegar & Sparkling Water Coke Hack challenge on our podcast!"
If you'd like to hear more from these fun ladies, be sure to check out the OK, Boomer podcast right here!
#19
It’s ok if you’re non-binary, but it’s also ok if that notion takes a little bit of getting used to for the rest of us.
Also, the amount of attention this issue gets is *far* out of proportion to the scope of the actual issue.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
yep, it's something like 2% in firstworld countries and almost non-existent in others.
#20
Basic home appliances (fridge, washer/dryer, etc) do NOT need a touch screen
Gustav Gallifrey 2 years ago
Or internet connection. Why should the NSA know what's in my fridge?
#21
Screw fast fashion, my clothes should be made to last.
I’m not rich so it’s unavoidable, but I’m willing to spend extra on clothes that aren’t made of plastic and I do my best to repair my damaged clothing instead of throwing it out.
Nadine Debard 2 years ago
Some cheap pieces can last very long time (but may not be sustainable), some expensive clothes are of poor quality (and not sustainable as well), you have to keep eyes open.
Are you suddenly feeling like your vision and hearing aren’t working as well as they used to? Do you feel immediate rage when you can’t figure out how to work a new piece of technology? Do you not understand TikTok and why the young people are obsessed with it? You might have more in common with boomers than you think! Keep upvoting the responses that you resonate with, and let us know in the comments if you think the boomers have made some good points about anything else. Then if you want to check out Bored Panda’s last article on this same topic after you’re finished with this list, you can find another piece featuring things that are better done the “old-fashioned way” right here.
#23
Things aren’t made like they used to be. Everything you buy now is so cheaply manufactured. Even high end furniture uses cheap particle board and crappy joinery. We bought a pretty high end couch a few years back and it’s barely holding together.
Edit: thanks everyone for commenting and thank you for the award! I’ve been on Reddit since 2008 and have never had a comment get this much action
#24
Standard headlights on new automobiles are too bright. Literally being blinded by every other car DURING THE DAYTIME wondering if their brights are on
Will Cable 2 years ago
LED headlights when they fail. Old headlights much simpler, bulb fails, get bulb and replace but thanks to LED tech so many headlights need to be fully replaced and dumping the whole unit is just so wasteful when you have all the companies talking about how environmental their cars are. Things should be more modular.
#25
Turn the music down, no, you don’t have “excellent taste in music” and nobody wants to hear it. Stop being jerks.
#26
TV is getting too dark. Not emotionally - it is visually too dark and I can’t see it
Luke Branwen 2 years ago
Okay, but "emotionally" is true, too. Like 80% of the modern media are those bleak grimdark craps without a shred of positivity and sincerity which think that "mature" means "extreme violence, gore and erotica".
#27
I prefer reading on paper, not on screen
Gustav Gallifrey 2 years ago
I'm a boomer, and i love physical books. But i also love my Kindle. I can carry dozens and dozens of books with me. If, for some reason, i don't feel like reading THAT one right now, i can take a look at THIS one.
#28
You are a clueless idiot if you pay 150$ for a concert ticket and spend the whole time watching it on your cell phone.
Daniel Mattock 2 years ago
And if you’re holding up your phone/tablet and blocking my view doing so, I will kick you lightly in the back of the knee
#29
The sheer amount of younger people I’ve seen with horrible people/social/conversational skills blows my mind, and I firmly believe it is greatly in part due to phones and social media.
Boomers always say s**t like “go play outside, interact with the world, spend less time on your phone” etc etc and I wholehearted agree.
#30
A lot of products *were* made better in the past.
Pyrex is a prime example but there's thousands more.
Planned obsolescence as a consequence of prioritizing quarterly profits over customer satisfaction is another nail in the coffin of this current version of the economy we live in.
Elizabeth Krigsvold 2 years ago
My grandfather taught my dad who taught me, how to build furniture. Handcrafted, dove tail joints, real wood not particle board....I'm teaching my son how to now as well. Owning all the furniture my dad made for me and my son, now that dad passed away, is priceless to me. Plus it's things that'll last FOREVER
#31
If you have shared walls or live in an apartment building, you need to respect quiet hours of 10pm - 8am.
I get so grumpy if my building neighbors are loud past 10pm.
Matthew Fox 2 years ago
Even if you DON'T have shared walls. No one in a house wants to hear the rowdy party down the street.
#32
Just because you CAN say something, doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Think twice, speak once. I’m only 28, raised by my father who was 39 years older than me. Just seems like people pop off at the mouth way faster than in previous generations.
All these comments make me feel much younger now, glad I wasn’t the only one who got the old school raising.
#34
I really don't want to hear about anybody's sex life in graphic detail
Will Cable 2 years ago
They slip it in and beat it about, ramming their sex life down our throats. They should think long and hard before just whipping it in to the conversation. We should stop beating about the bush and tell them "NO' they are a pain in the a*s with it.
#35
Family dinners with everyone sitting down, eating and talking, no tv and no phones are essential
#37
Having to create a username and password to join just about anything online is a royal pain in the a*s
Good gravy this got way more attention that I was expecting. I will check out Password Manager seeing as it is highly recommended.
For the record-I often see boomers much more fed up with computer requirements that require jumping through hoops more than younger generations. I don't think younger generations love these irritating requirements but if anyone feels this is not a boomer opinion I really don't have the energy or care enough to argue
#38
tipping has gotten out of control- coming from someone who relies on tips for income. it hurts people who actually should be getting them because now people are extremely agitated about any and all tipping. i was just at a music festival and the guy who exchanges your cash for drink tickets (not even the person who pours the beverage) had an ipad with tip options starting at 18%
Will Cable 2 years ago
Where will this tipping situation end... getting a circumcision and leaving the doctor a tip...OK, bad example
#39
Sometimes it's faster (and easier) to just plug something in, instead of dealing with bluetooth connectivity. There's something nice about knowing how to get it connected and being able to physically connect/disconnect.
Láďa Durchánek 2 years ago
Charging your phone is indeed faster with a cable than over Bluetooth.
#40
Language has evolved really quickly and what's socially acceptable changes every year. I'm with the boomers in that if we use language that is outdated, please assume ignorance not malice! I accidentally used a slur a few years ago that is common in my community (referring to eye shape) and had no idea it was a slur until someone told me...thankfully kindly and privately. I do wish the assumption was "you probably didn't know this but..." and not "YOU ARE A BIGOT!"
What do you think ?
Bill Evs 2 years ago
Perhaps it's my TV/ soundbar combo but I've noticed over the last few years that volume levels on TV shows and movies are all over the place. By that I mean you will be watching a scene with someone talking and it's at a comfortable sound level then some background music plays or there's a gunshot and it's as if the volume has suddenly jumped up to window shaking levels. It's seems I spend most of the time turning the volume up or down depending on what's happening on screen.
Will Cable 2 years ago
A lot of mumbling too with overly loud background music. Then you get told to get your hearing checked but the clock ticking in the other room can still be heard by yourself.
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Sue Bradley 2 years ago
Also - the current world makes it very hard for the elderly, with the expectation that everyone has a smart phone and access to the internet/ and can use it, even a phone call with options to choose from can be too much for them. Please be aware and support where it's needed!!
Becky Samuel 2 years ago
It's also highly discriminatory against people with visual or learning difficulties.
Load More Replies...
Will Cable 2 years ago
Notification lights on older phones. You'd put your phone down on the table etc, the little LED would blink if you had a message or if your battery was running low but now it seems they are a thing of the past on so many phones meaning you have to pick the phone up, activate the screen just to see if a message came through you were waiting for.
Gin. No tonic 2 years ago
Nokia smartphones have this feature (yes, Nokia makes smartphones!)
Load More Replies...
Bill Evs 2 years ago
Perhaps it's my TV/ soundbar combo but I've noticed over the last few years that volume levels on TV shows and movies are all over the place. By that I mean you will be watching a scene with someone talking and it's at a comfortable sound level then some background music plays or there's a gunshot and it's as if the volume has suddenly jumped up to window shaking levels. It's seems I spend most of the time turning the volume up or down depending on what's happening on screen.
Will Cable 2 years ago
A lot of mumbling too with overly loud background music. Then you get told to get your hearing checked but the clock ticking in the other room can still be heard by yourself.
Load More Replies... Sue Bradley 2 years ago
Also - the current world makes it very hard for the elderly, with the expectation that everyone has a smart phone and access to the internet/ and can use it, even a phone call with options to choose from can be too much for them. Please be aware and support where it's needed!!
Becky Samuel 2 years ago
It's also highly discriminatory against people with visual or learning difficulties.
Load More Replies... Will Cable 2 years ago
Notification lights on older phones. You'd put your phone down on the table etc, the little LED would blink if you had a message or if your battery was running low but now it seems they are a thing of the past on so many phones meaning you have to pick the phone up, activate the screen just to see if a message came through you were waiting for.
Gin. No tonic 2 years ago
Nokia smartphones have this feature (yes, Nokia makes smartphones!)
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
