Ah, Boomers. The generation that brought us rock ‘n roll, flower power, and some seriously outdated beliefs. Don’t get me wrong, Boomers have seen a lot in their time—they’ve lived through wars, recessions, and more cultural shifts than you can shake a stick at. But somewhere along the way, some of them got stuck in their ways, clinging to old-fashioned notions that just don’t fly in today’s world. So, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and unpack 17 of the most stubborn, eye-roll-inducing beliefs that some Boomers just can’t seem to let go of.
1. “Back in my day, we didn’t have all these participation trophies!”
If you’ve ever had a conversation with a Boomer about the “good old days,” you’ve probably heard this gem. They love to wax poetic about how they had to earn their accolades, none of this “everyone gets a trophy” nonsense. In their minds, today’s kids are soft, coddled, and in for a rude awakening when they enter the “real world.” But here’s the thing – participation trophies aren’t ruining a generation. They’re just a way to acknowledge the effort and encourage kids to keep trying. So maybe it’s time to retire this particular gripe and let the kids enjoy their hard-earned plastic.
2. “You need to go to college to get a good job.”
For many Boomers, a college degree is the golden ticket to success. They see it as the be-all, end-all of career preparation, and can’t fathom why any young person would choose a different path. But times have changed, and so has the job market. These days, plenty of well-paying, fulfilling careers don’t require a four-year degree. Skilled trades, entrepreneurship, and digital industries are just a few examples. So while education is always valuable, it’s time to recognize that there’s more than one way to skin the career cat. College isn’t the only route to a bright future.
3. “If you just work hard enough, you’ll be successful.”
Ah, the good old Protestant work ethic. Boomers love to preach the gospel of hard work, insisting that if you just put your nose to the grindstone and pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you’ll be rewarded with a one-way ticket to Easy Street. But the reality is, that hard work alone doesn’t guarantee success. Factors like luck, privilege, and systemic barriers play a huge role in who gets ahead and who gets left behind. So while a strong work ethic is admirable, it’s not the magic formula some Boomers make it out to be. Success is a complex recipe, and hard work is just one ingredient.
4. “Kids these days are always on their phones!”
If you had a nickel for every time you heard a Boomer complain about “kids these days” and their dang smartphones, you’d be able to buy a shiny new iPhone yourself. They love to grumble about how technology is rotting young people’s brains, ruining their social skills, and turning them into screen-addicted zombies. But the truth is, smartphones are just a tool—and like any tool, they can be used for good or ill. Sure, it’s important to have boundaries and balance. But let’s not pretend that older generations didn’t have their own distractions and vices. (Looking at you, 12-hour TV binges and chain-smoking.) So maybe it’s time to stop shaking our fists at the sky and start embracing the digital age. Those smartphones aren’t going anywhere, Gramps.
5. “In my day, we respected our elders!”
Respect your elders. It’s a mantra that many Boomers live by, and one they love to invoke when they feel like young people are getting a little too big for their britches. In their minds, respect is a one-way street—something that flows from young to old, regardless of whether that respect has been earned. But here’s the thing—respect is a two-way street. It’s something that should be given freely to all people, regardless of age. And it’s something that should be earned through actions, not demanded by birthright. So while it’s always good to be polite and considerate, let’s retire the notion that young people owe their elders unquestioning deference simply because they’ve been on the planet a little longer.
6. “Marriage is between a man and a woman.”
For many Boomers, the idea of same-sex marriage is a bridge too far. They grew up in a time when homosexuality was deeply stigmatized, and the notion of two people of the same gender getting hitched was unthinkable. But times have changed, and so have attitudes. These days, a majority of Americans support marriage equality, recognizing that love is love, no matter the gender of the people involved. So while some Boomers may cling to outdated notions of what a “traditional” marriage looks like, the rest of us are busy celebrating love in all its forms. Because at the end of the day, isn’t that what marriage is really about?
7. “Climate change is just a hoax.”
Climate change denial is a pervasive problem among some Boomers. They refuse to believe the overwhelming scientific evidence that human activity is warming the planet, instead clinging to conspiracy theories and misinformation. In their minds, climate change is just a hoax cooked up by treehuggers and liberals to scare people into submission. But the reality is, that climate change is a real and pressing threat—one that will impact all of us, regardless of age or political affiliation. So while some Boomers may stick their heads in the (increasingly hot) sand, the rest of us are rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on solutions. Because there’s no Planet B, and we owe it to future generations to get this right.
8. “I don’t see color.”
The classic “colorblind” approach to race. Many Boomers grew up in an era where talking about race was taboo, so they adopted this well-meaning but misguided notion that the best way to combat racism was to simply pretend it didn’t exist. They’ll proudly declare that they “don’t see color,” as if that’s a badge of honor. But the reality is, that “not seeing color” is a privilege that only white people have. For people of color, race is an inescapable part of their daily reality—one that shapes their experiences, opportunities, and interactions with the world. So while the intention behind colorblindness may be good, it ultimately does more harm than good. It’s time to retire this old-fashioned belief and start seeing and celebrating our differences. Because diversity is what makes our world beautiful.
9. “Kids today are too sensitive.”
If you’ve ever expressed a feeling in front of a Boomer, chances are you’ve been hit with some variation of “toughen up, buttercup.” They love to bemoan how “sensitive” younger generations are, with their trigger warnings, their safe spaces, and their feelings. In their minds, the world is a tough place, and the sooner kids learn to suck it up and deal, the better off they’ll be. But here’s the thing—acknowledging and processing emotions isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength. It’s what allows us to be fully human, to connect with others, and to navigate life’s challenges in a healthy way. So instead of telling kids to stuff their feelings, let’s encourage them to express them, and let’s create a world where sensitivity is celebrated, not scorned.
10. “Back in my day, we drank from the hose and turned out just fine!”
Ah, the good old days, when kids drank straight from the hose, rode their bikes without helmets, and played outside unsupervised until the streetlights came on. Boomers love to wax nostalgic about their freewheeling childhoods and tut-tut about how today’s kids are over-protected and under-adventured. But times have changed, and so have safety standards. We know more now about the risks of lead poisoning, head injuries, and stranger danger. So while it’s great to encourage kids to play and explore, it’s also important to take reasonable precautions to keep them safe. Drinking from the hose might have been fine for Boomers, but these days, we’ll stick to the filtered stuff, thanks.
11. “You should stay at the same job for your whole career.”
Job-hopping is a cardinal sin in the Boomer playbook. They believe that loyalty to a company should be rewarded with a gold watch and a cushy retirement package and that jumping ship every few years is a sign of flightiness and lack of commitment. But the reality is, the days of working for the same company for 40 years and then retiring with a fat pension are long gone. These days, job-hopping is often the best way to advance your career, gain new skills, and negotiate better salaries and benefits. So while loyalty is admirable, it shouldn’t come at the cost of your own professional growth and well-being. If a new opportunity comes knocking, don’t be afraid to answer—even if it means ruffling some old-fashioned feathers.
12. “People on welfare are just lazy.”
Welfare is a touchy subject for many Boomers. They grew up in an era where the social safety net was less robust, and the prevailing attitude was that people should pull themselves up by their bootstraps and make their own way in the world. So when they see people relying on government assistance, their knee-jerk reaction is often to assume that those people are lazy, unmotivated, and taking advantage of the system. But the reality is, that most people on welfare are anything but lazy. They’re often working multiple jobs, caring for children or elderly relatives, and struggling to make ends meet in an economy that’s increasingly stacked against them. So instead of judging and stigmatizing those who need a helping hand, let’s focus on creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive—no bootstraps required.
13. “Kids today have it too easy.”
“Kids today have it too easy” is a favorite refrain of Boomers everywhere. They love to regale younger generations with tales of their own hardscrabble childhoods, walking to school uphill both ways in the snow, doing chores from sunrise to sunset, and generally having it much tougher than kids these days. But the reality is, that childhood isn’t a misery contest. Just because Boomers had it tough doesn’t mean that kids today have it easy. In fact, kids today face a whole host of challenges that Boomers never had to contend with—from social media pressure to school shootings to the looming threat of climate change. So instead of dismissing kids’ struggles or comparing them to our own, let’s focus on creating a world where all kids can thrive.
14. “In my day, men were men and women were women.”
Gender roles have come a long way since the Boomer era, but some folks just can’t seem to let go of the old stereotypes. They pine for a time when men were tough, stoic breadwinners and women were demure, domestic caretakers—a time when everyone knew their place and stuck to it. But the reality is, that those rigid gender roles were never a good fit for everyone. They limited people’s choices, stifled their potential, and forced them into boxes that didn’t always match their true selves. These days, we know that gender is a spectrum, not a binary—and that people of all genders should be free to express themselves and pursue their passions, no matter what society’s outdated expectations might be.
15. “Young people are too entitled.”
Entitlement is a dirty word in the Boomer lexicon. They see younger generations advocating for things like fair wages, affordable housing, and student debt relief, and they can’t help but sneer at the supposed “entitlement” of it all. In their minds, these are things that should be earned, not given—and if young people want them, they should just work harder and stop complaining. But the reality is, that the world that Boomers grew up in is not the world that young people are inheriting. Wages have stagnated while the cost of living has skyrocketed, making it harder than ever to get ahead no matter how hard you work.
16. “Tattoos and piercings are unprofessional.”
Boomers have some strong opinions about body modification. They came of age in a time when tattoos were for sailors and rebels, and piercings were for punk rockers and deviants. So when they see young people sporting ink and hardware in the workplace, they can’t help but clutch their pearls and mutter about “professionalism.” But the reality is, that tattoos and piercings have gone mainstream—and they have zero bearing on a person’s ability to do their job. In fact, some of the most successful and innovative people in the world are rocking body art. As long as you’re delivering results, who cares what’s on your skin?
17. “If you rent, you’re just throwing money away.”
For Boomers, homeownership is the ultimate symbol of success and stability. They see renting as a waste of money—after all, why pay someone else’s mortgage when you could be building equity in your own property? But the reality is, that homeownership isn’t always the best choice for everyone. For some people, renting offers flexibility, mobility, and freedom that ownership can’t match. Plus, with housing prices skyrocketing in many parts of the country, buying a home is simply out of reach for a lot of people—no matter how much they save or how hard they work.
