this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2024
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Off My Chest

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I get it, ok? Gen Z's reputation isn't great. Many people see us as lazy, unmotivated, and broken.

Can you seriously blame anyone who is a millenial or younger? Be honest with yourself here. If you really have to compare the war times to say that these generations had it easy, your metrics are messed up to begin with. That is a terrible bar.

Many people are heavily thinking about using services like MAID (Canada) when they get old because they know that they'll never be able to retire, even if they work 50+ hours every week.

An entire generation is being written off, despite the fact that some of them are barely even in high school. Who was supposed to teach these kids how to act, and what to know? Who was supposed to guide them? You don't just get life skills from a box of cheerios.

I'm heavily disappointed with a certain group of Millenials for following the exact same things that they've complained about for multiple years. You can't complain about being judged as an entire generation while also complaining about another entire generation without being a hypocrite. Millions of people are usually not a single monolith, sorry to tell you. You are not an exception. No one is.

I do feel lucky in the sense that Millenials dispelled the "American dream" way before I had a chance to hope for it, although I do feel unlucky in the sense that that hope was never there to begin with. It's felt grim since elementary school, and it's just gotten worse. "Look at all of these bad problems that we'll leave you to solve, well after it's financially or environmentally feasible!" Yet, supposedly young people are dramatic for complaining about it. Hell, a lot of us can't even legally vote yet. Do we have to follow the footsteps of France?

People actively and happily ignore science everywhere. In fact, many older adults have recently tried to LOWER education funding, yet these same people will still choose to blame the kids when they don't magically know things.

There has been a massive uptick in mental health issues in young people. Instead of wondering "What caused that?", many people are very eager to just dismiss it all as kids being dramatic. A handful of kids, maybe, but THIS many? You're kidding yourself. You should keep thinking about the "why". Why are so many kids too depressed to function at a basic level?

Let's see here:

I'll probably never be able to retire.

I'll probably never be able to own a home.

People are still actively ignore environmental change, yet they whine about the price of foods going up. (Look at how the farmers are faring this year ffs)

People actively fight medical science.

People actively fight to control the lives of complete and total strangers.

I'm done pretending it's all ok. I'm done acting complacent for random people to feel better about doing nothing for decades. I'm done dealing with it. Aside from my loved ones and my hobbies, what is there to look forwards to? I know people who have a freaking masters degree, yet they're stuck working in fast food. University is NOT a magical "fix-all" solution. That poor dude is paying off that schooling with a minimum wage job. There are only so many high paying jobs.

We're expected to care about everyone else's struggle but our own. We're expected to just deal with it in silence. All for the sake of older generation's egos? I think the fuck not. I fuck up all the time. If you do, you should own up to it. I'll always respect someone who owns their mistakes WAY more than someone who just pushes the blame down.

Don't lie to us and tell us that life is better than it's ever been. If you truly believe life is fully affordable on these wages, donate everything you have to charity and start from scratch. No degree, work experience, nothing. If it's so easy, do it. Just do it. Please, start all over again if it's so easy. Show us. Let's see how long you last, especially if you're single.

Be angry at me, idk. I am not alone in feeling like this, by a long shot. This collective anger will just keep growing. You can't just brash people into being happy. That's a great way to get ignored.

Again, this is aimed towards the people who say those things. Awesome people are in every generation.

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[–] krashmo@lemmy.world 54 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I've never heard a millennial talk down about Gen Z in real life aside from a few cultural comments that every generation deals with. Stuff like "why are they so into anime?" The rest of what you're talking about seems more like internet drama to me than widely held beliefs.

[–] Remmock@kbin.social 39 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Millennial here. We’re the generation that paved the way by being “so into anime”. Never heard that statement about Gen Z before.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 21 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Fidget spinners were the first fad that had me going "kids these days are weird." And I'm sure some old dude said that about my generation when Pogs were huge.

[–] I_Miss_Daniel@kbin.social 14 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Weren't yo-yos kinda odd too though?

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I've seen a headline from a really old newspaper that was like "DO BOOKS CAUSE VIOLENCE IN YOUTH?" and it read like the kind of article you'd see applied to video games now. But with books.

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[–] doublejay1999@lemmy.world 50 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Get some help with your mental health.

You’ve become wrapped up in this generational wars which is entirely, 100% fake and media generated.

[–] Colour_me_triggered@lemm.ee 15 points 6 months ago (1 children)

To an extent. But income inequality and the housing crisis is manufactured by the older generations. In my city it's impossible to rent a 3 bedroom house because ALL the houses are being horded by established home owners and rented on Airbnb. They have a VERY comfortable life and don't need the extra income. It's just greed. Meanwhile people under 45 basically have to get assistance from parents and also have good jobs in order to have any hope of buying a home. (A flat/condominium of course, no way we could afford a detached house).

[–] doublejay1999@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

REPEAT. AFTER. ME.

“Capitalism, Did, This”

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[–] Damage@feddit.it 48 points 6 months ago (2 children)

All the generational crap is just another "war of the poors". It's foolish to antagonize people based on their age, the real issue is the structure of our society.

[–] uienia@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

It is indeed one of the most succesful "divide and conquer" propaganda tactics reactionaries have ever come up with. People are different and have grown up in different environments regardless of their age. Generation theory is basically the astrology of sociology.

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[–] Signtist@lemm.ee 29 points 6 months ago

Man, that sucks that you're getting all that flak about your generation. I'll be honest - I'm surprised to hear it; myself and every other millennial I know is so proud of gen Z. You guys are such genuinely no-nonsense people, it's really refreshing.

I've got a few gen Z coworkers now, and I'm always surprised how they can nonchalantly swear in front of their supervisors, and just straight-up say when too much is being asked of them. And they do it with such confidence that nobody confronts them about it! It's nice to see a generation that hasn't been beaten into submission by the rhetoric that they need to grovel at the feet of anyone that society claims is their "superior."

I don't have a lot of hope for the future of my country, or the world at large, but I think that if anyone can find a way to bring people together and make a change, it's you guys. I wish it wasn't something that needed to be hoisted upon your shoulders, but I really don't see millennials making that kind of positive change. And if y'all want to say "Fuck no, I'm not doing all that." I'd say fair enough, and still think highly of you.

The world sucks, and every generation knows that better than the last. Don't let people who had it easier than you tell you that you should be someone you're not.

[–] Deceptichum@sh.itjust.works 29 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I’m a millennial and I don’t blame you one bit, or think any of that shit about you.

It’s the same nonsense the media said about us, and those before us.

I’ve never even met a person in real life that thinks or says the shit the media pushes, but I can imagine there’s a few out there.

[–] mozz@mbin.grits.dev 11 points 6 months ago

I came here to say this -- I admire the younger generation. My generation just wanted good jobs, and past the age of about 25, forgot all about what happened to the world or anything like that.

The "Occupy Wall Street" generation for the most part still had the option of good participation in the economy but quite a lot of them rejected the whole premise and got involved in productive protest, to the point they almost got a socialist elected president.

Gen Z as far as I can tell is a lot more fucked than whatever came before them, and is staunchly refusing to play the game of flipping burgers and renting apartments for their whole life. Not like they have much choice but good on them for reacting accordingly, and fuck the haters

[–] Ultragigagigantic@lemmy.world 25 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I’m heavily disappointed with a certain group of Millenials for following the exact same things that they’ve complained about for multiple years. You can’t complain about being judged as an entire generation while also complaining about another entire generation without being a hypocrite. Millions of people are usually not a single monolith, sorry to tell you. You are not an exception. No one is.

It's the 1% vs the working class, not generation vs generation.

Although the 1% would sure love it if we divided ourselves in more easily managed groups

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[–] Pronell@lemmy.world 23 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

I'm almost 50 and I feel terribly sorry for absolutely anyone younger than me for what's been done to the world.

I do have a house... but will also probably never retire. I don't envision a long life in part because of climate change and all the reactionary politics that have come with it. (I wanted to add that I'm not sorry to the alt-right kids but... did the world leave them better outlets?)

It's fucked. I didn't break it and can't afford to buy it.

I hope the ants can do well in the inevitable war against the cockroaches.

[–] Shampoo_Bottle@lemmy.ca 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I don't think anyone should have to feel that way, to be honest.

I'm sorry for making you feel that way today. This was intended to be aimed towards the people who do say those things about the younger generations. I'll edit that in. Not everyone who is an older adult is bad, not by a long shot. Many of you are awesome.

[–] Pronell@lemmy.world 10 points 6 months ago

Oh shit no, I'm not aiming anything back at you. I'm frustrated at the two prior generations, as are most people in the world.

I'm pissed at the tax cuts for billionaires and their ability to warp our institutions to their interests.

I don't know how to stop, avert, even slow their efforts. I understand the helplessness you all feel but don't have solutions either.

Because there aren't any. I couldn't prescribe one nor detail half a dozen potential ones. Maybe I'll be here to push one forward.

Dunno.

[–] Cuttlefish1111@lemmy.world 22 points 6 months ago

The only real solution is the elimination of billionaires running the world. Do your part

[–] Colour_me_triggered@lemm.ee 21 points 6 months ago (2 children)

M8 I'm a millennial and almost 40. I've only just managed to buy property. (The cheapest I could find in my city despite having what would normally be considered a comfortable middle class income). I get it. But on the bright side, the boomers will all be dead soon and as long as gen X know their fucking place, we can fix this shit hole together.

Things will get better, we just need old age to take care of a few of the people in charge.

[–] Adalast@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago (3 children)

It'll only get better if the Boomers leave their houses to their kids like has been done for centuries instead of cashing out on their "investment" and selling to a landleech.

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[–] Huschke@programming.dev 4 points 6 months ago

I'm not sure about your country, but at least in my country the most popular political party among young people (especially uneducated men) is the right-wing party so I doubt think things will get better when the boomers die out.

[–] BruceTwarzen@kbin.social 21 points 6 months ago

That's fine, same happened to millenials a few years ago.

[–] GardenVarietyAnxiety@lemmy.world 21 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Another Elder Millennial here.

I don't blame Gen Z. My hope is in Gen Z. I know that's a shitty burden to carry, but as others have said I'll do what I can in the time I have.

Don't give up. Motivate others and keep motivated. There is absolutely power in numbers, we just have to stay positive.

I kmow we're in "Mitigation Mode" and it is gonna get shitty, but you will fully inherit this world at some point. Salvage what you can and let the boomers rot.

[–] Spaghetti_Hitchens@kbin.social 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Take (bizarre) comfort in the fact that all older generations have looked down on the younger generations. We have evidence of it in newspapers from the 1700s.

The oldest will die soon. As will mine (whatever. I'm Gen X, okay?) Eventually your generation will be the oldest, looking down on the younger generations for being dumb and lazy.

Don't feel bad for being tired of the wheel that continually crushes us all.

[–] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It goes much further back than that. I believe there are old Roman texts where older people complain about the younger generations.

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[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 16 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Don't give up now, we need your strong, youthful bodies to hoist the blades on the guillotines.

[–] jdf038@mander.xyz 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I mean I can try as an older millenial but if the Committee on Public Safety drug tests for workers comp injuries I might be SOL

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I thought the Millennial Council has agreed that Drugs Are Good In Moderation?

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[–] ArbiterXero@lemmy.world 15 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Elder millennial checking in…

I’m sorry we haven’t been able to do more to make the world better.

Stick with me little bro, I’ll pave the best path I can so you can march on after my time has passed.

[–] Orbituary@lemmy.world 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Youngest Gen X/Millennial cusp, here.

OP blames Millennials. I blame Boomers. Boomers don't blame Silents. Boomers got the boon, but it's not their fault either.

WWI and WWII created an unprecedented opportunity and glut of wealth. That wealth drove greed. Greed motivated bad behavior, which eroded the notion of worker loyalty in lieu of profits. More greed broke wage and productivity models, broke company loyalty, broke common decency... Rinse, lather, repeat, ad nauseum.

We're all fucked. I wake up nightly when I don't smoke enough weed to keep me sedated. I wake up and wonder why I try daily. I'm treading water. For a pittance.

Fuck our government. Not boomers. Not Gen X. Not Millennials. Not Gen Z. Fuck corporations. Fuck politicians. Fuck the police. Fuck our systemic need for validation and fame.

Fuck.

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[–] cerement@slrpnk.net 14 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] Shampoo_Bottle@lemmy.ca 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It's terrible. This shouldn't have had to be a thing.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 13 points 6 months ago

As a younger millennial y’all have weird behavior and music and slang and you’re doing ridiculous things with your facial hair. And so did we. Our parents did it too as did our grandparents.

Fixing this world is on all of us and I’m sorry we haven’t been able to save you from having to help or carry that burden. Lot of assholes and all that. You didn’t deserve this any more than we did.

So fuck shit up. We did. I’ll stand with you as you do it. Be angry, but be pointed in your anger and don’t let us discount you. You’ve got more time to live with the consequences than we do.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 12 points 6 months ago

to be fair the media seem to love creating this generational divide. we had our fair share and you will too.

divide and conquer, i guess.

[–] Hugin@lemmy.world 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Elder gen X. Your generation does seem unmotivated. But I think it's justified. Jobs expect a lot and offer very little to your generation. Why toil for little reward for a company that dump you the moment something better comes along. Why try to save for a house you will probably never be able to buy in world on fire.

It's like when employers say people don't want to work anymore. Well yeah people don't want to work. That's what wages are a bribe to get you to do something you don't want to do. If the bribe isn't good enough then people won't take it.

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 5 points 6 months ago

Your generation does seem unmotivated.

I don't know man, they called us the Slacker Generation at the time. The world Gen Z is inheriting is a goddamn disaster. At least we could get a degree in something silly like Philosophy and still expect to get a well-paying job, because a degree (any degree) was a ticket to a nice life, and it didn't put you in the poorhouse. Gen Z is fucked.

[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 11 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Millennial here. Your complaints are absolutely justified. FWIW, I fucking love zoomers. At the workplace, y'all are consistently the happiest (infectiously so!), while simultaneously refusing to just bend over and take the bullshit that the rest of us have been conditioned into. We lost or never had the self respect that zoomers wield like fucking armor.

Can't really pitch a good outlook for things like the climate disaster or neonazis coming out of the woodwork. We're kinda fucked there. And you're fucked even harder. And your kids are beyond fucked. Etc.

But even within the turd this planet is becoming, there are still a few gems. YOU give me a hope that not much else does now-a-days: if we can survive long enough to meaningfully tackle the climate, then we can tackle the toxic elements of our society too, and y'all are already pros at that.

👊

[–] silver13@lemmy.world 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Millennial here. You are completely right. You were born in a world and a system where you are constantly told everything is all right if you just work and consume and yet everything is falling apart and we are destroying our world and ourselves doing so while the "rewards" seem to be further away and feel more shallow than ever. It does not make sense and it's perfectly understandable to get apathetic over it. I only wish you would get more angry about it and less indifferent, but at the same I see that there is already way too much anger in the world and people are already constantly screaming at each other. Also, we didn't do enough either and failed to bring much substantial change. Gen Z ist right in the way they feel. You are not lazy or unambiguous or "lacking drive" or whatever. And it's also not the internet or smartphones or games or anime or whatever. It's a society headed to its doom by living a lie that's rotten to the core and the carrot you are supposed to chase starts to smell foul.

[–] silver13@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

Oh and also don't give a fuck about those millenials who started to play along and kicking down as soon as they got their share of what little is left of the cake. Fuck those pathetic little class traitors.

[–] ezmack@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 months ago

I don't know where you're at in your career but as an older millenial genx or boomers complaining about your work ethic is a joke dude. They ran these companies into the fucking ground lmao. When I was younger I kind of liked that office space 'nothing matters' affect but man, you do not want to work with/rely on those people at all.

Was kinda nice seeing the shift to writing think pieces about zoomers after all the shit they talked about millennial over the years but they'll move on. Just ignore it. But seriously watch these people at work they're useless. My parents paid for college with a summer job; I worked 40+ hour weeks in high-school. There's no comparison on work ethic here

[–] doublejay1999@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

NO NEWS FOR A WEEK YOUNG LADY.

[–] card797@champserver.net 5 points 6 months ago

It's gonna be ok. We're gonna take over at some point and stop this dumbfuckery. We'll do it together.

[–] ArugulaZ@kbin.social 3 points 6 months ago

I mean, hey, that's how Gen X was viewed. Lazy slackers with no faith in the system. You're in good company.

[–] awwwyissss@lemm.ee 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I feel your pain. I've lost faith in humans. I saw a post on here saying something like "I actually think people are great", and just thought wow, ignorance is bliss.

Thankfully older generations are dying. You said some disparaging things about your generation at the beginning of your post, and that's not how I see you. I see hope in your generation. I'm excited for you to grow up and take over from the shitheads running the show now.

For what it's worth, remember that older generations have heavy metal and other pollutants in their brains. Also, it takes time for societies to change.

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

remember that older generations have heavy metal

Fuck yeah we do 🤘🏻🎸🎙

and other pollutants in their brains

...oh. :(

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[–] nadiaraven@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

I'm a 36 year old millennial in the middle of getting my social work degree. I'm here to try to make a difference, and I want to be on your generations team. Of course take care of your mental health, and part of that is finding a way to take action any way you can, big or small, to make things better for you and the people around you. I'll be trying to do the same. I know it can feel impossible when it's hard to see the results, but change has happened before and I belive it can happen again.

[–] Melkath@kbin.social 2 points 6 months ago

We're all tired...

Except the breeders.

They're panicking and cannibalizing the rest of us.

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