• rwhitisissle@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    19
    arrow-down
    5
    ·
    8 months ago

    I always find it funny: the internet is a lot softer and more inclusive than it ever used to be. Explicit sexism, racism, homophobia/transphobia, etc. are treated with zero tolerance most places. But straight up ageism? That’s the last truly accepted form of bigotry. Because getting pissed at a group of people who will be dead soon for not fixing all the world’s problems is easy when you’re young. When Gen Z gets to be 40 and there are no more Boomers but nothing is still being done to address the world’s myriad problems, I like to think there will be some self-reflection on the nature of the world in which they live and the innate difficulty of addressing complex problems driven by societal inertia. But we both know there won’t be and they’ll probably pivot to hating Gen X and Millennials. Or maybe they’ll go the other direction and blame young people.

    • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      14
      ·
      8 months ago

      When I’m 80 and the world still isn’t fixed, I’ll be blaming the billionaires, just like I am right now.

    • CashewNut 🏴󠁢󠁥󠁧󠁿@lemmy.world
      cake
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      8 months ago

      I can answer your question: When the Boomers are gone the Millenials will be called “Boomers” and blamed instead.

      I dropped into a European Discord server a while back and got called a Boomer when I mentioned my age (40). I’m a Millennial. Apparently the server was full of 16-19yr old kids so I wasn’t made to feel very welcome. Not been back since.

      But Millenials will most likely take the hit when Boomers are gone except the term “Boomer” is now just a generic insult against people in middle age+.

      • Chr0nos1@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        8 months ago

        As a representative of Gen X, I can honestly say that I’m glad you think they’ll pick on your generation, and leave mine alone.

        • rwhitisissle@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          8 months ago

          Gen X is the new Silent Generation because everyone forgot they even fucking existed. I remember when you guys were supposed to burn down cities and bring about full anarchy in the United States because you enjoyed grunge music and flannel. Turns out all of you were just chewed up and spit out by capitalism like the rest of us.

      • rwhitisissle@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        8 months ago

        Seems likely. I’ve seen plenty of people say “Oh, this old-ass Boomer thinks [whatever shitty opinion here].” And this is in direct reference to people in their late forties/early fifties. And if you correct them and say “that person is Gen X - they’re the child of Baby Boomers,” they’ll pivot to “well, Boomer is a mindset, not age group.” But it does seem more likely to be an insult for old people or people who appear to be out of touch in some capacity.