18 Boomer Complaints That Are Surprisingly On Point
Have you ever heard of the phrase “Ok, boomer?” If you’ve ever complained about kids these days or have kids yourself, you probably have.
Baby boomers are the generation born between 1946 and 1964. Despite the name, baby boomers are definitely not babies anymore.
Boomers are stereotyped as a generation that’s always complaining about the newer generations. They are not always wrong, though. Here are some boomer criticisms that can be surprisingly spot on.
1. QR Code Menus
The growing need to digitize everything has also impacted physical restaurants. Along with cashless payments, QR menus are built for convenience. It’s a common belief that digital is convenient, but that’s not always the case.
Going paperless on menus requires the extra effort of grabbing your phone and scanning the code. Plus, it’s hard for somebody who does not always bring their phone out with them or who doesn’t have an internet plan.
2. Everyone Is Always on Their Phones
Phones have become an integral part of our daily lives, and using them is almost a muscle memory. When we wake up, the first thing a lot of people do is reach for our phones. The time spent on our phones has been increasing — recently, an average person spent 4.5 hours per day on their phone.
Many people seem to have an unhealthy relationship with their phones in one way or another. The times are changing, and advancing technology is inevitable, but it’s good to pay attention to your screen time.
3. People Have Become Too Sensitive
Cancel culture and wokeness in social media has reached absurd levels. People are getting canceled left and right for posting their opinions online. While it’s essential to be sensitive to pressing issues, we don’t have to be overly sensitive to every situation.
Choose peace, and do not let social media get into your head. Always choose kindness in your online interactions to nurture good connections, even in virtual settings.
4. Shorter Attention Span
Overexposure to media has shortened our attention spans. The internet has given us many distractions, like social media, especially since media engagement usually starts at an early age. Children as young as 8 years old now own their own phones, which has consequences on focus.
Prolonged exposure to screens has an intensive effect on a child’s concentration. This increases their risks of inability to engage in extensive tasks. Don’t worry; this is reversible with screen time discipline.
5. Bland Architecture
The once embellished and detail-oriented buildings now give a rather bland city view. Modern architecture focuses more on function, pushing aesthetics down the list of priorities. Focusing on functionality is good, but neglecting the decorative and ornamental properties can make walking around a little dull.
When you go to big cities and look at their modern structures, you will definitely spot the difference. However, this does not mean that modern architecture is ugly — there are plenty of astounding modern designs. Just not all cities have the budget to build these breathtaking skyscrapers and settle for something more functional.
6. Technology in Cars
Technology in cars has advanced both for the better and for the worse. Many boomers argue that modern electronics in cars have made them harder to navigate. What used to be levers and dials with physical feedback are now mundane touch screens without haptics.
These modern changes also cause soaring repair charges, which nobody loves. So, if you are looking to buy a car, choose a model that complements your style and fulfills your personal requirements.
7. Physical Interacting Decreases
With the growing online community, people spend less time interacting with others physically. Gathering personally for a meal or a walk is now harder than ever. After all, clicking through gadgets comfortably at home is more convenient — why meet up, right?
While the ease of the internet is appreciated, many people still prefer talking to friends face to face. There is something special about meeting your friends in a restaurant or just at home, to get together and talk a little.
8. Automated Messages in Customer Care
When was the last time you talked to a human rather than an automated message? Imagine having issues with a product, and they leave a bot to assist you. AI slowly replacing human roles is backfiring and worsening service experiences for many.
Customers want to communicate with a real person rather than a bot. The majority still prefers human help, especially with product and service concerns.
9. Smart Appliances
Modern tech has nosedived into a rabbit hole of neverending updates. Smart appliances can be nice, but many tech upgrades are unnecessary. From breakfast stations to smart kettles, it’s all just decorative, and there’s just more that can break.
The prices for these features can also be unreasonably high. You get one extra feature, and it’s twice the standard price. No, we absolutely do not need Bluetooth on our refrigerator.
10. Ads
Ads make it impossible to enjoy streaming online without hassle. One wrong click and an unrelated site opens, forcing you to organize the tabs again. The chaos has made adblockers a necessity when browsing the internet.
Adblockers are helpful and provide users with a better experience, but their help is also limited. Unskippable ads will still haunt you via streaming services unless you pay for a premium subscription.
11. Needing To Subscribe for Any Service
Eliminating ads requires a premium subscription, and nobody is happy about it. It is a sentiment boomers share with the majority of younger generations. Whether it’s entertainment or a professional service, everything wants you to sign up and commit to a monthly payment.
You may only want to read an article, but you are still prompted to sign up to read the entire piece. It’s a hassle to sign up for a site you know you will only visit once. If the content is free, please give it to us without making us jump through hoops.
12. Paper Straws
To be more sustainable, plastic was replaced with paper, including drinking straws. The problem with paper straws is that they do not always do their jobs properly. You can only use them for a few minutes before they get soggy.
Many people think this is a large contributor to saving the Earth, but paper waste is still waste, though it is more sustainable. If you want to reduce your use of plastic, bring your own cup and avoid straws altogether.
13. Phones Losing Their Headphone Jack
With everything going wireless, many phones no longer accommodate wired earphones. Connecting to an earpiece is now done through Bluetooth, and they removed the jack to simplify the design.
One advantage of wired earphones is that they do not require extra care and effort to charge. However, increasingly, modern phone models demand wireless earphones, so if you like wired ones, it’s time to say goodbye.
14. Endless CAPTCHAs
Have you ever tried proving that you are human to a computer? We’ve all been there. We’re trying to see all the buses on the screens, click on all the stairs, or need to identify the traffic lights. Many of these CAPTCHAs have changed to a multiple-level check that can take a while to complete.
Sometimes, you have to wonder if proving you are human once is not enough. Besides being time-consuming, the irony of proving you are human to a gadget is not lost on me.
15. Gourmet Food and Its Unreasonable Price
I do not know what it is with restaurants trying to make everything gourmet and charging higher prices than they should. They would serve you some truly “interesting” food combinations and call it gourmet.
A few snaps of a small serving of gourmet food make it look elegant, and people love it. Unless you have money to waste, you would be better off going to a simple restaurant with reasonable prices.
16. Buy Now, Pay Later
Buy now pay later has been around for years but is presently rampant, especially in online shopping. The ease of these transactions makes it appealing to shoppers. While it can be handy, it encourages to take on more debt, especially among younger people who may not see the long-term consequences.
Shopping is a difficult opponent, and it’s certainly a solution for customers who cannot afford something at the moment. However, the interest rates when you can’t pay back right away can get very high. Make smart financial decisions if you do not want to be in an unhealthy debt cycle.
17. Apps for Everything
Everything has an app these days. From soundboards to metal detectors, best believe there is an app for them. Developers make apps for everything imaginable, even the most random stuff.
These days, you can have a plant identifier or an animal translation app on your phone. Admittedly, these apps are fun to have and play with for a while but are essentially a waste of your time.
18. Not Being on Time
Being on time has always been a social convention. However, times have changed, and younger generations have different perceptions of the value of time.
If you take your time and observe, the gap between boomers’ and Gen Z’s work ethic is clear. Punctuality was highly valued in the past but is now not so important anymore.
16 “Woke” Concepts That Have Boomers Shaking Their Heads
With the change in society, quite a number of new ideas and movements challenge the beliefs and traditions in place. One part where this change can easily be noticed is the emerging “woke” concepts that oppose the views held by the older generation.
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I recently saw this question online, “What was common when you were young but is rare now that you’re older?”
Let’s delve into the top-voted responses, which shed light on these nostalgic elements of the past that hold significance to many.
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