As a Gen Xer, I sit back and watch as the Baby Boomers and Millennials battle it out on the internet. And, to be honest, it’s also the Gen Z’s, some of whom think everyone over 40 is a baby boomer. Let’s remember that (if we go by the years 1981-1996 for Millennials) that the oldest Millennials are sneaking up on 40 themselves. Remember that the oldest Baby Boomers (1946-1964) are only 73. Which is what made this exchange with William Shatner (born 1931) so hilarious:
Sweetheart, that's a compliment for me. https://t.co/djCtjiGBwr
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) November 6, 2019
Millennial? https://t.co/sI5jZSeC4w
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) November 6, 2019
To keep reading, click here: “Okay, Boomer” in the Workplace Can Get You Fired
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Wonderful article! Would you say something about rocking chair jokes next? When 49 year olds make them about 50 year olds (noting the year that is the break off point for Voluntary Early Retirement offers) it’s really creepy. Also “back in ancient times that she remembers” and “olde with an E.” It’s meant as friendly kidding. I make an obligatory chuckle because yes, I’m a good team player and I can take a joke. But eeuw. Just eeuw.
So it’s actually OK to reply with “Somebody needs to change the baby’s diaper”?
(No, it’s not, but it’s not illegal.)
“You can’t take a joke!”
“I thought jokes were supposed to be funny. Was there a punch line?”
“Okay, Boomer” is from Gen Z, not Millennials.
Being a member of the Boomers and great friends with some fantastic Gen Xer’s, plus have millennial children, I don’t find any comments that are derogatory to anyone appropriate. As I explained to my son who tried the “Ok Boomer” comment to me it is not nice to make fun of others because you find it funny and are using it as a means to eliminate them from your “circle”. This “Ok Boomer” comment started as means of ignoring someone whose point of view doesn’t follow yours without having any attempt to discuss a middle ground. Making joking remarks about anyone at work or in public is always a form of discrimination and should never be allowed period. That never trust anyone over 40 remarks that have been made by the younger groups who still haven’t found their path in life and always feel controlled by having to live within a structure of rules that one needs to follow as a fully functioning adult. Today’s younger generation has merely prolonged the process longer, but when they reach the age of 40-plus, they will be “Okayed out too”
I thought it was “never trust anyone over 30”.
It also serves as a shutdown to some boomers’ outdated views. People don’t want to (and shouldn’t have to) be subjected to comments like “You should dress like a lady” if someone doesn’t dress according to old school female dress norms or unsolicited comments about gender/race/etc. I think it acts as a quick comeback to let boomers know that what they’ve said was uncalled for.
No, really, it just reinforces their belief that they’re right and young people have nothing to offer to the conversation, because it offers no context beyond “I think you’re a poopy head.”
If you want to convince them to change their behavior or attitude, you have to engage, not insult. (The same is true in the other direction, too.)
Sometimes there’s no win. Someone who makes unsolicited/inappropriate comments is typically someone outspoken who believes that their views are right. Might not be open to thought-provoking conversation that opposes their beliefs. Not saying either sides are right. Entitlement exists in all generations.
“Snowflakes” does not refer to an age group, but to the hypersensitive, those who take offense when none was given. Thank God they are not yet a protected group in the US, though I’m convinced most of the discrimination complaints that do come from protected groups are really from snowflakes.
Those who seek to weaken America do so by fomenting division among us. More specifically, some of those who seek to pit the younger generation against the older ones are doing so in order to lessen support for Social Security, by convincing younger workers that it’s somehow unjust for their taxes to fund retirees. We all need to wise up and resist the malign efforts of those who are trying to manipulate us in order to attack American institutions. We all need each other, and are better than that.
I find this incredibly hilarious in a nihilistic way. The generation that coined “snowflake” to describe the fragility of the young who dare stand up to the marginalized are so fragile that they are turning to the age discrimination labor law to combat a flippant term that basically means “whatever”.
But yes, boombooms tell me again how Millenials are the ones “killing generational comraderie and driving divisions” while you ignore 5-6 years of “Millenials have killed the (blank)” media headlines all the while responding to our struggles with crushing student and now medical debt with the metaphorical equivalent of “Sucker!”.
Snowflakes indeed.
We’re not all like that, Millennial, really! A lot of us are on your side about most things. A few millennials and a few boomers are mean mouthed blame-casters and examples of poor behavior, but most of both groups are decent people who share a lot in common and don’t deserve nasty labels.
Please don’t allow yourself to be manipulated by those who seek to divide us by pitting the various generations against each other, in order to promote their own nefarious agendas. We need to be smarter than that. We’re all in this together.
IME Ok Boomer invariably comes from a minimally competent employee who doesn’t want someone older than them providing feedback. I’m evil – I fired the first two who said it to me. Haven’t heard it since.
They probably said it because you’re an out of touch racist, should have sued you.
“okay boomer” isn’t about age it’s about having an out of touch, usually racist or sexist mindset. Anyone can be a boomer in this context.