There are a few things you should definitely avoid saying to a boomer because there’s a real chance they’ll get mad.
The closed door
Saying, ‘The world has moved on’ is rude. Boomers know things change. Of course they do. However, this saying acts like their opinions don’t matter anymore, like their worldview isn’t important. It is. The truth is, a lot of boomers are still working.
They’re running businesses and babysitting grandkids. They’re dealing with real life. Treating them like they don’t understand change is unfair. It’s not exactly an invitation to keep talking. Way to shut them down.
The little time machine
‘Back in your day’ sounds like nothing. It’s almost playful. But not to boomers. No, they feel like you’re disregarding all their experiences. You’re treating them like something that belongs in a museum.
They’ve been through many decades of different life experiences. They remember moon landings. They remember being drafted. You’re telling them that what they think isn’t important anymore.
The empty calendar
You might think you’re being practical when you say, ‘You’re retired, so you have plenty of time.’ You’re not. It annoys boomers. Why? Because retiring doesn’t mean they’re suddenly free. They’re not your backup babysitter with unlimited free afternoons.
You can’t use them as a default. They still have things to do. But that’s not all. Saying this makes their time seem like it’s not important. It is.
‘Retired’ and ‘available’ are definitely not the same thing.
The radio insult
Try telling boomers how they’re listening to ‘old people music.’ See how they react. We all tie music to parts of our lives. Boomers are no different. Yes, the music reminds them of that first dance. It reminds them of those long summer drives.
Dismissing their favorite songs as ‘old people music’ is insulting. It really doesn’t matter that you’re joking. You’re poking fun at their memories. You’re making fun of something so personal. How would you like it if someone did that to you?
The front yard question
Boomers lived life differently. That includes where they lived. They’ve spent decades in neighborhoods where people actually know each other. They knew their neighbors. They had regular conversations. It hurts when they hear, ‘Why do you care what the neighbors think?’
For them, it really matters what the next-door neighbor thinks. They noticed when your grass looked bad. They noticed when their trash cans were out for days. Boomers take pride in their home. They absolutely care what the neighbors think.
The pension jab
It’s normal to get frustrated. Boomers understand that too. But it’s not okay to say something like, ‘You get to retire. We’ll never get that,’ to a boomer. Sure, you might not mean it as an attack. Yet they take it differently because it sounds like you’re saying that they had it easy.
Newsflash, they didn’t. A few of them do have pensions. Some have savings. But you’ll find many are still working because they had to, and it’s not fair to lump them all in the same boat.
Not all their realities look good. It gets annoying when you assume they do.
The easy life line
They also get angry when you tell them their whole generation ‘had it easy.’ They’ve heard it way too many times. Double-digit mortgage rates? Factory layoffs? Military drafts? Oil shortages? They lived through it all.
Let’s not forget job markets disappearing overnight. Even now, a lot of them are struggling. They’ve got limited retirement savings. No, they didn’t have life handed to them.
The wrong way
It starts with something small. A boomer writes directions on paper instead of in a maps app. Or maybe they print concert tickets. Then, someone says, ‘Nobody does it that way anymore.’ Ouch. They’re completely ignoring a boomer’s preferences.
Boomers know the world has changed. They’re not confused. No, they’re annoyed because you’ve turned ‘different’ into something that’s ‘wrong.’
The rule change
Let’s get one thing straight. Boomers hate censorship. That’s why saying, ‘You can’t just say whatever you want now,’ really irritates them. They grew up in a different world. They studied in different schools and worked in different workplaces.
Of course the rules changed. Boomers understand that.
But they don’t like people trying to police what they’re allowed to say. The tone of this saying is enough to irritate them. It’s like the other person knows more about the world than they do. Sure.
The car keys
Some questions you can’t say casually. Here’s one of them. ‘Are you sure you should still be driving?’ It’s meant with concern. You might be worried about their reaction time. You might be worried about their eyesight. But really, a boomer thinks you’re limiting their independence.
You’re taking away their grocery runs. You’re taking away their Sunday plans. Age alone doesn’t determine how good you are at driving. You really shouldn’t assume they can’t drive anymore.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
OK boomer, 13 habits that younger people find annoying
Not all boomer habits are rude exactly, but some of them tend to do things that’ll get young peoples’ eye twitching.
