When millennials enter the “real world,” they tend to encounter offensive stereotypes that apply to their generation. Many of these “observations” stem from the Baby Boomer generation, who often fear job instability due to millennials. Ironically, millennials are the children of Baby Boomers, which may explain why these stereotypes are extremely childish and blown out of proportion. Funny enough, I’ve noticed many of these “millennial traits” in middle-aged people, which brought me to the following conclusion: Baby Boomers are more millennial than millennials.
1. They’re entitled. Not once in my five years as a Dairy Queen cashier did I meet an outright rude, ignorant millennial. Sure, I encountered a somewhat impudent teenager every now and then, but I was never verbally attacked by one. Baby Boomers, however, are quick to jump down my throat if I accidentally charge them an extra 20 cents for an ice cream cone. Members of the older generation often imply that mistakes are entirely avoidable, especially when it comes to simple tasks or minimum wage jobs. Outward disrespect to young cashiers, who are often in high school, reeks of entitlement to me, especially when the “disrespector” is older, and doing pretty well for himself/herself. Additionally, middle-aged people today tend to view millenials as entitled, self-righteous beings, as they’ve grown up in an increasingly technological age, where inconveniency simply “doesn’t exist” – so they assume. Well, technology and its many attributes aren’t exclusively for millenials, and baby boomers tend to be “device addicts” themselves.
2. They’re considered the “Me” Generation. Baby boomers often believe millennials to be ignorant and self-involved, when, in reality, they themselves are considered the “Me” generation. According to an article in “Time” magazine, millennials are “lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents,” when, just this past May, the cover of “Time” magazine read: “How Baby Boomers Broke America.” The article proceeds to describe how millennials are prone to fixing the mistakes of Baby Boomers: “The new achievers are doing what they do not because they are gluttons for frustration, but they believe that America can be put back on the right course.” Millennials are constantly accused of being lazy, self-absorbed beings, who don’t take responsibility for their actions. If anything, Baby Boomers are shifting their own mistakes onto the younger generation, holding millennials accountable for America’s “downward tailspin.” While middle-aged people typically view millennials as self-involved and arrogant, what’s more egotistical than accusing others of your own wrongdoings?
3. They’re impatient. If a Baby Boomer needs something, they require it right then and there. I too, can account for this, as I have many middle-aged relatives who tailor chores and events to their own time schedule. Similarly, returning to my job at Dairy Queen, plenty of Baby Boomers become flustered and openly disrespectful if they have to wait more than five minutes for their ice cream. Another common misconception about millennials is they’re always needy and inconsiderate, though said traits tend to me more evident among members of the Baby Boomer generation. I will admit, technology and the increasingly efficient internet makes impatience a virtue, as all of life’s inquiries can be answered in less than a second. That being said, real-life interaction is entirely different, and I would never be openly rude or disrespectful to an innocent cashier, as opposed to my middle-aged counterparts. As mentioned before, technology definitely contributes to our increasingly impatient society, though Baby Boomers tend to be outwardly needy and quickly irritated, especially when compared to millennials.