Generation diZappointing

[marylander1940]

2 hours ago, Archangel said:

Here when I thought this thread was done…It keeps hanging on when it should quit – just like boomers. 

Don't bump threads you don't like!

[Archangel]

@Vegas_Millennial, yours wasn’t the post that revived this thread. I actually find your punny remark clever.

But that notwithstanding, there was no reason to revive this thread. As long as people here bitch about Gen Z, I will rail against Boomers. I agree that Gen X and Millennials have been unfairly stereotyped – but even that is based in this pseudo-scientific generation model that I find hugely unhelpful and frankly unhealthy precisely because of how divisive it is.

[CuriousByNature]

1 hour ago, Archangel said:

@Vegas_Millennial, yours wasn’t the post that revived this thread. I actually find your punny remark clever.

But that notwithstanding, there was no reason to revive this thread. As long as people here bitch about Gen Z, I will rail against Boomers. I agree that Gen X and Millennials have been unfairly stereotyped – but even that is based in this pseudo-scientific generation model that I find hugely unhelpful and frankly unhealthy precisely because of how divisive it is.

I admit I have some unfair biases towards GenZ, and I think its based on the differences I see between their attitudes and mine.  This string has caused me to look more closely at my own reasons for my biases, and I think I may have judged GenZ too harshly.  There are aspects of the GenZ reality that I could probably benefit from.  For instance, I wish I was more willing to leave jobs that aren't satisfying, the way many GenZs have no problem doing, rather than holding onto this archaic idea that my employer will reward me for my loyalty.  I'm one of those people who was raised to have a 1950s or 1960s attitude about many things, which is not in itself a bad thing, but it makes me somewhat old-fashioned in 2025.  Actually, I was probably old-fashioned back in the 1980s when I was growing up... LOL.  

[Archangel]

7 hours ago, CuriousByNature said:

For instance, I wish I was more willing to leave jobs that aren't satisfying, the way many GenZs have no problem doing, rather than holding onto this archaic idea that my employer will reward me for my loyalty.

Part of the problem is that Millenials and Gen X should be the ones in positions largely still occupied by Boomers, so Millenials and Gen X are still in positions that would open up for Gen Z. There are all sorts of reasons for that, but the reality is the employment structure that had largely worked before as people aged out and new people come in isn’t working because the older crowd is sticking around longer. What’s irksome is the older crowd for blaming the newcomers for not adapting when it’s precisely the older crowd who is causing the problem because of their unwillingness or inability to adapt.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, Archangel said:

Part of the problem is that Millenials and Gen X should be the ones in positions largely still occupied by Boomers, so Millenials and Gen X are still in positions that would open up for Gen Z....

In the last 5 years at my company, the last of the Boomers left senior management and we have seen a wave of Gen X employees being quickly promoted up the ranks to senior management, and millennials into middle management.

For example, I am a Millennial and I was just made a manager about 2 years ago.  I supervise a Gen Z, a Millennial, and a Boomer.  That Boomer is retiring next month.   The chain of command above me is a Millennial, then Gen X, Gen X, Gen X.   We all report to an elected Board of politicians: 1 Boomer and 6 Gen X.

 

Edited April 18 by Vegas_Millennial

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, Archangel said:

...There are all sorts of reasons for that, but the reality is the employment structure that had largely worked before as people aged out and new people come in isn’t working because the older crowd is sticking around longer...

That darn Civil Rights Act, passed when the Boomers were young activists, is partly to blame.  Before the Civil Rights Act, it was common for companies to have mandatory retirement ages to push the old generation out of the workforce.  But the Civil Rights Act made people over 40 a protected class and saw the end of mandatory retirement.

[Archangel]

1 hour ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

That darn Civil Rights Act, passed when the Boomers were young activists, is partly to blame.  Before the Civil Rights Act, it was common for companies to have mandatory retirement ages to push the old generation out of the workforce.  But the Civil Rights Act made people over 40 a protected class and saw the end of mandatory retirement.

No good deed goes unpunished.

I have colleagues in positions tantamount to mine in other locations who are 65, 70, one I know is 73. It’s simply ridiculous. They’ll never spend all their retirement! 

[Archangel]

Just now, Archangel said:

They’ll never spend all their retirement! 

Speaking of…

I heard on Morning Joe the other day, but didn’t get to listen to the story, that younger workers are taking “early retirement” periods between jobs when they switch now. That’s not exactly a bad idea. One, they have the energy and stamina to enjoy it at a younger age. Two, given the state of affairs in the world today and all the talk about crashing markets and social security implosions with no promise of an actual retirement later, it makes sense to hedge your bets a bit. In economics, money is always worth more to you now than later. Maybe the same is true for retirement?

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, Archangel said:

Speaking of…

I heard on Morning Joe the other day, but didn’t get to listen to the story, that younger workers are taking “early retirement” periods between jobs when they switch now. That’s not exactly a bad idea. One, they have the energy and stamina to enjoy it at a younger age. Two, given the state of affairs in the world today and all the talk about crashing markets and social security implosions with no promise of an actual retirement later, it makes sense to hedge your bets a bit. In economics, money is always worth more to you now than later. Maybe the same is true for retirement?

That's very similar to the "gap year" Millennials popularized at the turn off the century.  They worked hard at high school, so deserved a year off before going to college (so they claimed).  For most of my high school friends, that "gap year" turned into a "gap decade"; enabled by their Boomer parents who let them live at home without an education or a career.

1 hour ago, Archangel said:

No good deed goes unpunished.

I have colleagues in positions tantamount to mine in other locations who are 65, 70, one I know is 73. It’s simply ridiculous. They’ll never spend all their retirement! 

Everyone wants to be useful.  Relaxing on the beach or playing golf gets boring when you have no work or stress from which to escape.  Too many successful men can't see themselves departing from their field of training later in life and still be useful, which is unfortunate.

I envision retiring in my mid-40s.  I'll have the money to not work another career; but, I'll want to be productive and contribute to society outside of the bedroom 😉.  My current career is engineering and government, and I have advanced degrees in both.  Despite my training, I look forward to working in the arts in my next career... Not for the money (I'll take minimum wage), but for the experience and see what other talents I can develop without the need to build up a nest egg.

Back to the topic of Gen Z:

They'll be fine.  But, I do find it amusing when a Gen Z whines that he can't be upper management yet and "shouldn't have to wait years" to be managing teams.  Everyone can benefit from experience; and, the vocal Gen Z who whines about not being in charge has the most to learn from experience working for others.

Edited April 18 by Vegas_Millennial

[Archangel]

6 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

Gen Z whines that he can't be upper management

I started as the head of the branch office when I was 27; looking back, that was such folly on the part of those higher up. I knew everything and made every mistake that could be made. I’m no longer at that branch, and it frankly amazing it’s still there after the series of mistakes I made and the tyrannical top-down changes I imposed. I’ve been at this branch since and can, again frankly, say that I learned from those mistakes and I’m now surprised that things are so successful despite how little I actually know. I’m not so sure it’s a Gen Z thing as it is a young person thing. 

[+ sniper]

9 hours ago, Archangel said:

No good deed goes unpunished.

I have colleagues in positions tantamount to mine in other locations who are 65, 70, one I know is 73. It’s simply ridiculous. They’ll never spend all their retirement! 

A lot of people have an ailing relative or some such for whom they are providing support and they're not just working for themselves. I still work so that when one or more of my siblings hits the skids, I don't have to take them in.  I'm also hedging against nursing home Medicaid getting gutted.

[Archangel]

11 hours ago, sniper said:

A lot of people have an ailing relative or some such for whom they are providing support and they're not just working for themselves.

I guess I just never understood this aside from a spouse and maybe a child or parent – and only maybe then. I wouldn’t have anyone to care for me. I don’t understand this obligation in large part because I don’t feel it and know no one feels it toward me. 

[Archangel]

@samhexum – 🤔❓

[marylander1940]

On 2/6/2025 at 6:15 PM, samhexum said:

@marylander1940 still remembers the era when you had to wait all day for the technician to come out to fix your sundial.

And yet I'm still able to walk miles daily. 

A life well lived with plenty of exercise 

[marylander1940]

On 4/18/2025 at 10:24 AM, Vegas_Millennial said:

In the last 5 years at my company, the last of the Boomers left senior management and we have seen a wave of Gen X employees being quickly promoted up the ranks to senior management, and millennials into middle management.

For example, I am a Millennial and I was just made a manager about 2 years ago.  I supervise a Gen Z, a Millennial, and a Boomer.  That Boomer is retiring next month.   The chain of command above me is a Millennial, then Gen X, Gen X, Gen X.   We all report to an elected Board of politicians: 1 Boomer and 6 Gen X.

 

Isn't this one of the signs of the apocalypse?

Let's get ready for whenever Gen Z takes over!

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

12 hours ago, marylander1940 said:

Isn't this one of the signs of the apocalypse?

Let's get ready for whenever Gen Z takes over!

It'll be fine, as long as they learn what they need to learn by the time they are 40.  That goes for every generation.

"A man's not worth a cent 'til he's 40.  We just pay him wages until then to make mistakes." - Horace Vandergelder, "Hello, Dolly!"

[mike carey]

49 minutes ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

It'll be fine, as long as they learn what they need to learn by the time they are 40.  That goes for every generation.

"A man's not worth a cent 'til he's 40.  We just pay him wages until then to make mistakes." - Horace Vandergelder, "Hello, Dolly!"

There is an apocryphal story of a new hire at IBM making a mistake that cost the firm $1m. When he said to his manager that he expected to be fired for it, the manager's reply was allegedly, 'Why would I fire you when I've just spent a million bucks training you?'

[Rudynate]

On 2/3/2025 at 9:05 AM, Vegas_Millennial said:

Most filing jobs are gone, as data is stored directly in the computer as its created.  As for answering phones, many companies don't even list a telephone number, expecting customers to do business via a website or download an application.  For boys,  there are no full service gas stations left that I am aware of, and part-time every-level jobs in restaurants have been taken over by kiosks.  These jobs used to be a great way for young people with little experience to work part time to earn some money and gain experience.  But as demands for "liveable" wages for entry-level part-time jobs came to fruition, so did the replacement of these jobs with automation.

Just another example of how well-intentioned older generations harmed the next generation by trying to make things easier for them.

Of course those jobs have disappeared from the economy.   But kids can be petsitters, dogwalkers, they can do data entry,etc.  The cleverer ones can build websites and other internet-based side hustles.  The GNC near where I live is staffed by young high-school age jocks. 

[samhexum]

On 4/20/2025 at 1:00 PM, mike carey said:

There is an apocryphal story of a new hire at IBM making a mistake that cost the firm $1m. When he said to his manager that he expected to be fired for it, the manager's reply was allegedly, 'Why would I fire you when I've just spent a million bucks training you?'

And that's when a million dollars could buy you groceries for a year!

 

[Archangel]

 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

8 minutes ago, Archangel said:

 

At least Gen Z is doing better than Millennials were doing 15 years ago when you factor inflation.  The video says Gen Z has 14% more college debt than Millennials, yet that's far below total inflation over the past 15 years.

Gen Z may have to deal with entry level jobs not keeping pace with 2021-2024 inflation, whereas Millennials couldn't even find every level jobs as their unemployment was the highest since the Great Depression.

Any young person will be okay if he stops whining, lives within his means (it's okay to share an apartment with multiple roommates, even with multiple adults in a bedroom), and focus on making himself indispensable to his employer.

[Archangel]

10 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

Any young person will be okay

Not necessarily. That’s too pollyannish. 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 4/27/2025 at 5:16 AM, Archangel said:

Not necessarily. That’s too pollyannish. 

That's one of my favorite movies!  I often remind myself to play the Glad Game.  It works for all generations.  More Gen Z's should try it (trying to stay on topic).

I'll start with an example:  As a Millennial, I am glad that I had a childhood before the Internet and cell phones.

Edited April 28 by Vegas_Millennial
Added an example to be Glad about something

[56harrisond]

“The Gen Z gaze”: Gen Z’s refusal to say hi to customers is setting off older generations

"They just stare at you and don't say anything."

 

"The Gen Z gaze": Gen Z's refusal to say hi to customers is setting off older generations

WWW.DAILYDOT.COM

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"They just stare at you and don't say anything."

 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

10 minutes ago, 56harrisond said:

“The Gen Z gaze”: Gen Z’s refusal to say hi to customers is setting off older generations

"They just stare at you and don't say anything."

 

"The Gen Z gaze": Gen Z's refusal to say hi to customers is setting off older generations

WWW.DAILYDOT.COM

---

"They just stare at you and don't say anything."

 

Last night I was at Silverado in Portland, and exactly ONE Gen Z boy looked at me and said hi and asked me how I was doing after I tipped him for his public dance, out of more than a dozen dancers that were working that night.