I used to work at a hikers’ hostel on the Appalachian Trail. A group of hikers needed a ride into town but were short on cash. One of them suggested they offer the hostel owner some weed in exchange for a ride. Another one said, “He doesn’t smoke weed. He’s old, like in his 40s.” He actually was in his 50s and bought his weed from me lol
Yeah. But if we’re talking about Baby Boomers, they really leaned into the “caused a mess and standing in the way of fixing it.”
For over 50 years they had every advantage that’s now denied young people, and as a cohort, Boomers are the shining example of failing upwards. They now roost at the top of whatever ladder they bumbled up and exist primarily to punch downwards.
So, I don’t know that your pattern holds true for the specific epoch of the last 50-60 years, as, for the first time in modern history younger generations are worse off than their parents or grandparents. And that blame can readily be heaped at the feet of “Generation Me,” who have broadly, and uniformly worked to maximize their personal wants at the cost of any economic, social, emotional, environmental, or financial impediment that got in their way. Even now, Baby Boomers suck the air out of politics and C-suites across the country, adamant that they are still relevant and that their opinions are as good as facts.
It’s hard for me to feel sympathy for them, when instance after instance of what brought us to this point can be directly tied to their behavior.
I feel like GenX said, “The fucking old people caused this mess and are standing in the way of fixing it. We need them to die off so someone else can turn it around, but there aren’t enough of us so it’s probably up to the younger generations.”
We never had a lot of collective ambition, which I guess is good because our parents still won’t let go of power.
I used to work at a hikers’ hostel on the Appalachian Trail. A group of hikers needed a ride into town but were short on cash. One of them suggested they offer the hostel owner some weed in exchange for a ride. Another one said, “He doesn’t smoke weed. He’s old, like in his 40s.” He actually was in his 50s and bought his weed from me lol
“We are the first to do this.” -every young cohort going back through time
“The young ones are lacking conservative quality that we had” - Every old cohort going back through time
Ah the duality of humans :p
Also “the fucking old people caused this mess and are standing in the way of fixing it. We need them to die off so we can turn it around”
There has never been a young generation not saying this. Many of them have been correct too, but few have turned anything around when it’s their turn.
Yeah. But if we’re talking about Baby Boomers, they really leaned into the “caused a mess and standing in the way of fixing it.”
For over 50 years they had every advantage that’s now denied young people, and as a cohort, Boomers are the shining example of failing upwards. They now roost at the top of whatever ladder they bumbled up and exist primarily to punch downwards.
So, I don’t know that your pattern holds true for the specific epoch of the last 50-60 years, as, for the first time in modern history younger generations are worse off than their parents or grandparents. And that blame can readily be heaped at the feet of “Generation Me,” who have broadly, and uniformly worked to maximize their personal wants at the cost of any economic, social, emotional, environmental, or financial impediment that got in their way. Even now, Baby Boomers suck the air out of politics and C-suites across the country, adamant that they are still relevant and that their opinions are as good as facts.
It’s hard for me to feel sympathy for them, when instance after instance of what brought us to this point can be directly tied to their behavior.
I feel like GenX said, “The fucking old people caused this mess and are standing in the way of fixing it. We need them to die off so someone else can turn it around, but there aren’t enough of us so it’s probably up to the younger generations.”
We never had a lot of collective ambition, which I guess is good because our parents still won’t let go of power.