Boomers grew up in a time with certain traditions & habits that they took quite seriously—even some of the most everyday things were things they thought were meaningful. But these days, a lot of those same things are things people either laugh at or have forgotten altogether. Here are fourteen things that boomers held in high regard but people now treat like a punchline. We should really give the older generation a little more respect.
Featured Image Credit: AndreyPopov /Depositphotos.com.
Obsessing Over Lawn Perfection
Having a well-manicured lawn was a source of pride for many boomers and they dedicated weekends to mowing, edging & tending to their grass—they really wanted to achieve the perfect appearance. Today, some people laugh at this habit and see it more as an obsession, with plenty of jokes about the lengths some boomers would go to for a flawless yard. But is there anything really wrong with taking pride in how your house looks?
Elocution Lessons
Boomers understood polished, formal speaking as a real-life advantage and they’d take elocution lessons to learn how to pronounce things crisply and control their tone. But many people think that speaking in such a formal way is stiff or fake. They’ll hear it and instantly think of bad politicians or awkward news anchors, even though it’s something that once held a lot of importance. The rise of social media has also made informal language much more common and changed people’s view of how meaningful it can be to speak properly.
Bowling League Prestige
Joining a bowling league was more than just a fun hobby for some boomers, as they saw it as a full social event that came with a lot of respect. Teams had matching shirts and participants seriously prized trophies—league nights were also a big deal. It’s quite different from today, when younger people joke about bowling leagues as “dad night out” and don’t understand the social status that came from being a good bowler.
Framed Diplomas in Living Rooms
Boomers loved showing off their diplomas in the main areas of their homes and while some younger generations see it as bragging, boomers see it as a sign of hard work & education. Younger people don’t even bother to open the envelope that theirs comes in because practically everyone has a degree now. Having one no longer has the sense of exclusivity that it once did.
Having a “Formal Living Room” Nobody Could Sit In
Many boomers’ homes used to have a special living room with spotless couches & glass coffee tables that nobody was allowed to use. It was there for “guests,” which mostly meant nobody at all could use it and that’s why a room like this is seen as being so bizarre these days. They don’t understand how important it was to be a good host to guests—but boomers do.
Backyard Pools
Boomers treated having a backyard pool like a symbol that you’d really made it, as beyond mere swimming, it showed you had extra money & a nice home. You could entertain guests the right way, which is quite different from how many people mock backyard pools today. They see them as money pits that cost a fortune to maintain, especially since they cause endless problems with repairs, insurance & safety issues. Maybe they laugh at these status symbols because they can’t afford them.
Buying Only American Cars Even If Unreliable
Boomers grew up believing that buying American was as smart as it was patriotic—they thought driving a Ford or Chrysler showed loyalty to the country & supported American jobs. Even when American cars were less reliable than imports, sticking with them was a point of pride, but today, people mock it as blind loyalty.
Owning a Cadillac or Lincoln as a Life Achievement
Speaking of driving, owning a Cadillac or Lincoln was a big sign you had reached real success for boomers, who saw these cars as the reward for years of hard work & financial responsibility. Today, young people joke about them as being “old man cars” that they see as outdated & clunky. Some of them believe these cars are completely out of touch with what they see as stylish or desirable.
Amway, Mary Kay, and Tupperware
Boomers genuinely respected people who joined companies like Amway & Mary Kay and treated it like building a real business—they believed rising through the ranks was a sign of legitimate success. However, most people mock these companies as being pyramid schemes where almost nobody makes real money. They don’t understand how or why career moves like these were so important for boomers.
Winning “Employee of the Month” at a Local Business
Winning Employee of the Month showed reliability, hard work & loyalty to the company—at least, according to boomers. Having your name and photo on a plaque was a real point of pride, although people laugh at this as being meaningless recognition nowadays. In fact, they joke about getting a $5 gift card in return for extra unpaid labor and fake appreciation, which they claim isn’t worth it.
Owning a House in a Gated Community
Boomers saw moving into a gated community as a huge life achievement, but it wasn’t merely because of the safety—it meant you had made it, financially & socially. The gates, security patrols and community rules were respected signs of success to boomers. Unfortunately, lots of young people don’t see gated communities in the same way and instead, they believe they’re bland and soulless.
Winning Civic Awards From the Local Chamber of Commerce
Getting recognized by local organizations like the Chamber of Commerce used to mean something, whether it was because you received an award for “Best Business” or “Citizen of the Year.” These were serious points of pride that boomers would display in homes & offices. However, these awards are often joked about today as meaningless titles handed out to anyone who pays for sponsorships.
Thinking Career Advancement Meant “Paying Your Dues”
It was traditional to think that getting promoted at work involved showing up early, staying late, following the rules & waiting your turn—they believed respecting authority was the right path. Today, people mock that attitude and make fun of the idea that loyalty guarantees anything. People today don’t understand that what goes around comes around, especially in terms of work.
Taking Pride in Never Calling in Sick
Likewise, boomers respected powering through illness as a sign of dedication to their work and showing up to work sick meant you were tough & loyal. Taking sick days was something they believed was lazy unless you were seriously bedridden, although people see working while sick completely differently today. People are more likely to argue that it’s selfish and outdated, especially since we’re more aware of public health and burnout.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us on MSN.
