Booming

Like it or not, “Boomers” are all around us and seemingly living longer than ever. Now, don’t get your panties in a wad, I love a lot of boomers (one I’d give anything in this entire world to still be here) and age happens to the best of us.

My thing is, just because you are technically in the boomer generation doesn’t mean you MUST act like one and continue the stereotype that is largely agreed upon. Born between 1946 and 1964, this group offers a mix of qualities ranging from being wise to being painfully gullible and close-minded.

Of course not everyone who is a boomer, booms – so to speak. I have many boomers near and dear to my heart and can only hope they will merely skirt around the depths of full-blown boomerism.

For reference I have compiled a list of things to illustrate current boomerism, predominately focusing on social media tells (in case you fear you are exhibiting symptoms.)

1. Posting about politics nearly every day… sometimes multiple times a day when feeling cute.
2. Sharing anything and everything you see that represents the view of your political party whether there is any truth or proof.
3. Unapologetically and boldly posting and re-sharing (for the love of…) racist, homophobic, transphobic and any other kind of bigotry and xenophobia riddled images and (often fake) news stories.
4. Believing each and every flipping AI generated image and video. (PLEASE reach out to a younger family member to begin courses in AI awareness.)
5. Sending a child/teenager a check (vs cash or heaven forbid Venmo, CashApp, etc.) Most of them don’t have a bank account just yet and some don’t have a government ID so…
6. Leaving lengthy voicemails instead of texting.
7. Tipping $2 no matter what the total bill is at a restaurant—if, and only if, you think they earned all 200 pennies.
8. Any of the other following restaurant cringes: rather loudly complaining it’s too cold, too loud, food is too cold/hot, food is too spicy/not what I “thought” I ordered, and my personal favorite – acting like you can’t understand any server who doesn’t look exactly like you and then loudly trying to get clarification as if the server is deaf and the problem isn’t you.
9. Speaking to anyone in retail/foodservice/customer service/etc. as if they are less than you. (It’s so gross and I always cringe for your family).
10.  Making comments about sports teams or businesses that changed their name in an effort to be more inclusive and less offensive.
11.  Re-posting anything, for any reason that includes, “if you agree and love God and hate cancer or know anyone who has ever had any kind of cancer or have ever loved anyone who died from any cause – copy and paste this as your status.” STOP. Just please stop.
12.  Criticize any teenager who might want to do something different then go straight to college, get a job, get married, have kids. Make comments that this generation is lazy and doomed (albeit better than boomed)…
13.  Refuse to believe that something they have always been taught and believed in – might be wrong.
14.  Refuse to believe anyone younger than them has something they can teach them.
15.  Genuinely get angry about things that have zero direct effect on their life. Then get angry that more people aren’t angry with you. (Who hurt you?)

The reality is we could list out all kinds of tendencies for all the generations and poke fun at each one. I think the key is being able to recognize the truth behind so many of the stereotypes and then choosing to continue the cycle or prove us wrong.