Gen Z Reveals Out Of Touch Things Older People Say

Buzz Feed

4 days ago

Gen Z'ers, millennials, Gen X'ers, and boomers...we've all got our fair share of differences. But of course, we coexist on this planet together, which often means disagreements between the generations. Whether it's a heated debate at family dinner or a fiery internet discussion, I know we've all been there.
And I know I sound like...well, a boomer...when I say this, but there's actually a lot we can learn from each other. So recently, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to share some out-of-touch phrases and comments older generations don't realize are actually not cool — and they're so spot on, I'm sitting here shouting, "SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!" So here's what people said:
"'AI is going to take over your job someday!' said to me nonchalantly by a (retired) boomer patient. First, what an insane thing to say out loud! I would never think to tell someone that they will be unemployed and useless someday or that their job will become obsolete. Second, I work for an eye doctor and almost nothing I do can be done by AI, even as it continues to advance."
"In my early 20s, I started taking care of my mental health. My parents found out I was taking anxiety/depression medication and my mom said, 'Isn't it just mind over matter?'"
"My dad doesn't believe there is any sort of wage gap, despite me literally being paid less than my male counterparts who were worse at the job."
"I was stalked by an ex for an entire year, and all my mom could say was, 'But he's such a sweet boy! He really loves you! Stop being so mean to him!' My father patted me on the back and declared, 'That's how a man gets a good woman,' as if I should find this flattering instead of scary."
"When seeing a woman use a carrier for her baby while shopping in a store: 'Only lazy people don't carry their baby.'"
"A middle-aged woman told me that me not having a job is because of my lack of motivation and drive. Miss girl never had a job in her life and thought that in order to get one, you need to hand in a resume and they'll call you within a day. LOL...should I tell her about employment ghosting and the current state of the economy?"
"I lost 75 pounds, and my mom comments every time she sees me, 'Now that you've got your figure back, men will be knocking down your door.' On Easter she said, 'You get thinner and more beautiful every time I see you.'"
"'You don't have ADHD, you're not hyper enough.' If that's true, then why was I at eight years old saying I needed to use the bathroom and instead just standing outside in the hallway because I got overstimulated by the classroom and hyperfixated on otters?"
"My almost 60-year-old boomer father still believes in the 60-20-20 financial rule, which is to set apart 60% of your paycheck for bills and utilities, 20% of your paycheck for luxuries (travel, shopping, etc.) and the other 20% of your paycheck for emergency funds. With the way that the economy works right now, it's an unrealistic BS rule that doesn't really work anymore. Everything keeps getting so much more expensive that I'm almost living paycheck to paycheck."
"Whilst working at Starbucks on Christmas, I got asked if I was an orphan since I was working on a holiday. I was like, ma'am, you're the one here buying eight drinks for your family to have while you open presents..."
"My landlady told me, 'Just get your groceries at a cheaper store and don't buy Starbucks and you'll be able to save for a house.' Ma'am, we pay you to live in your house — you must know that is our biggest living expense."
"My aunt pulled the whole 'walk in and demand a job, and they'll give it to you since they will be impressed with your moxie and skills.' Umm, when was the last time you had to find a job?"
"My mother recently got remarried; she is her 76 and her husband is 81. He's a very nice guy, but has no idea how the world works. He bought his first home in cash in 1994 by driving around until he saw a 'for sale' sign. No joke, he got 10 acres of property and a house for $200K in what is a very nice area of New Jersey. He tells my wife and I, who constantly got outbid for houses, that we shouldn't rent and one nice Sunday just drive around until we see a house we like and then make an offer. I will never understand how boomers became so out of touch with reality."
"I was helping out a friend and working as a cashier at a local grocery store. An older lady who came through my lane asked me if I wished I had gone to college so I wouldn't have to do a job like this. Lady, I have a day job, I manage an accounting department in a large construction company and make a six-figure income."
"'Depression is made up. You get stressed from being lazy.'"
"'All these kids just taking out student loans so they can party; you can go to college for free in this state!' I swear, boomers lack any critical thinking or even just a quick little Google search! It's infuriating!"
"My grandpa (67 years old) told me and my brother we could BOTH get a FEW things from the gas station, and he gave us $5. Not $5 each, but $5 for us to SPLIT. That's not even enough for both of us to get a drink."
"I was a struggling actress in LA and my mother used to say, 'Just go into the studio and find a famous director and tell them you want a job.' Other old people would tell me to 'go find a famous person and give them your scripts!' In what reality would I even get close to a famous person without security throwing me onto the ground? Studios have gates with guards, and agents don't take unsolicited scripts. So yeah, I never made it in Hollywood despite all the 'great' advice of my elders."
"One of my best friends who is openly transgender was called a 'delusional fucker' and 'ungodly' by a churchgoing lady in her late 60s. My friend clapped back, 'Thank goodness your racist, ignorant, accusatory and arrogant generation is dying off slowly but surely.' For context, this was at a Target store a couple of years back."
"In the elevator of the downtown skyscraper I worked in. It was National Secretaries' Day. Two of us (young women) were going to a management meeting on another floor when a guy from the investment firm on the top floor said to us, 'Is your boss taking you girls out for lunch to celebrate today?' My friend gave him a look that could kill while replying, 'No, we're taking our secretaries out.'"
"When I was 19, my great-grandma decided to watch my favorite movie on TV with me. But two-and-a-half hours into the three-hour movie, she turned it off and spent half an hour complaining, 'Movies just don't have any closure anymore.'"
"My wealthy stepmother loved to travel the world and kept suggesting my husband I do it too. Um, our property taxes are more than your house cost in 1969."
"I don't remember any of the specific out of touch things my grandparents said before they passed away, but I do remember being baffled by how clueless they were about the world around them considering my grandfather spent multiple hours every day reading the news and my grandmother spent multiple hours a day watching it. Between local news, CNN, newspapers, and magazines, they were constantly consuming information about current affairs — but they still managed to be comically uninformed."
What's the most out-of-touch thing an older person has said to you? Tell us in the anonymous form here, or post your response in the comments below.
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