Spend five minutes at a family cookout, and there’s a good chance a boomer will start reminiscing. And not just about the past. No, they’ll start talking about how great they think they had it, which is meant to be harmless, yet it’s not. Here are 7 things that boomers brag about that younger generations find offensive. Have you ever bragged about any of these?
We Handled Our Problems Without Therapy
Plenty of boomers tell stories about keeping their feelings “in check” by just dealing with them alone, without any counseling or meds. They’ll mention not talking about their problems like it’s something to be proud of. To them, it’s proof of toughness, but to younger ears, it sounds like they’re bragging about ignoring mental health entirely, and they take offense to that.
We Worked Crazy Hours and Never Complained
You’ll hear boomers talk about pulling long weeks and skipping breaks, while also never calling in sick. Usually, they’ll frame this as being “how it was.” But younger workers hear that and think that boomers are proud of being overworked and under-rested. They can’t understand why anyone would think of exhaustion as a status symbol.
I Paid My College Tuition With a Summer Job
Back then, tuition at many public universities was low enough that a few months of part-time work was enough for boomers to cover a large chunk of it. But not anymore. In fact, that same summer job is maybe just enough to cover textbooks, yet not much else. Many boomers think it’s something worth being proud of, but many younger people think it sounds completely detached from reality.
We Bought Our First House at 24 On One Income
So many boomers talk about snagging a cute house in their 20s with a single paycheck and a small down payment. They’ll talk about it as a universal milestone because it was for them. However, younger generations are dealing with sky-high prices and stagnant wages. Don’t forget about bidding wars. As a result, such comments sound more alien than inspiring.
I Catcalled and They Smiled
Someone describes yelling “compliments” at strangers on the street or at work, then adds that “they loved it” or “they smiled.” Boomers frame it like it’s charming, like it’s something to be proud of. But young people don’t see it as charming at all, as they believe the older person is merely bragging about behavior that made others uncomfortable.
I Threw Away Participation Trophies
You’ll spot this story coming a mile away. A boomer parent will lean in and describe the day they threw a Little League trophy in the trash, which they’ll mention alongside a speech about how their kid needs to “earn” it. But no amount of making it sound like a cinematic moment will stop such a story from sounding mean to younger generations.
I Used to Make Offensive Jokes During Meetings
“Back at the office, we had fun” is something you’ll hear from almost every boomer, along with a mention of all the offensive jokes they cracked during meetings. They say it like they were comedy geniuses holding court. But younger people simply hear someone proudly describing a workplace where speaking up wasn’t safe, so people laughed because they had to.
17 Boomer Habits Millennials Are Quietly Bringing Back
From cash stuffing to home cooking, these retro trends are creeping back into daily life, proving that maybe not everything was better in the internet era. So here are 17 boomer habits millennials are totally stealing… but making their own.
17 Boomer Habits Millennials Are Quietly Bringing Back