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30 Things We Can't Believe Baby Boomers Still Do

For those born between 1946 and 1964, the world has undergone remarkable changes that millennials and Gen Z can scarcely fathom. From the advent of color television to the rise of the internet, Baby Boomers have witnessed seismic shifts in technology and culture. Yet, amidst the relentless march of progress, there remain pockets of nostalgia—cherished remnants of a simpler time that Baby Boomers still cling to with fondness.

From the tactile pleasure of writing in cursive to the ritual of watching the evening news, these seemingly mundane practices have become emblems of a bygone era, imbued with the warm familiarity of childhood memories. Join us as we explore 30 nostalgic things that only Baby Boomers truly appreciate, a poignant celebration of the enduring power of tradition in a rapidly evolving world.

Write in Cursive

Write in Cursive

Cursive is beautiful, we admit it. It gets things written so much faster! That Boomers stick to writing with loops and swirls just for the fun of it is impressive in itself.

Admit it, what’s better than receiving a handwritten note, all in cursive, from someone you love? Basically unparalleled. Perhaps cursive is one thing that could be worth sticking around… Until you realize that modern technology and jobs call for typing skills rather than fancy handwriting.

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Unpaid Internships

Unpaid Internships

Unpaid internships are, unfortunately, still a prevalent state of work. Boomers need to face the reality that interning is work just like any other position. And unpaid work is just cruel!

Boomers might say that ~experience~ is enough compensation for an internship, but most young people cannot afford spending their time on something that doesn’t cover basic needs, especially if the intern is also a student. It’s a different time, and rent isn’t 10 cents anymore.

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Pyramid Schemes

Pyramid Schemes

Pyramid companies make most of their money by fooling recruits into thinking that payouts will result in their recruitment of new members. In reality, the companies charge hefty entry fees for all recruits, disguising it as a payment for necessary equipment.

These schemes aren’t only a massive waste of time and money, but are illegal! Don’t be fooled by the false promises and cheap products of these multi-level marketing companies because Boomers are already in the thick of their scam!

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Fuzzy Toilet Seat Covers

Fuzzy Toilet Seat Covers

A mere glance at an ancient fuzzy toilet seat cover is enough to give you a mysterious disease. Not only do they look tacky, but it feels weird to put your but on a highly germ-susceptible surface that countless other butts have touched.

We could let the ugliness of the covers go if we got a guarantee that they’re regularly washed. But until that happens, sayonara!

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Home Shopping Networks

Home Shopping Networks

Amazon is a gift from the heavens. While their employment practices are a little suspicious, the entire shopping process has been revolutionized by online industries.

So why spend hours of your time watching QVC for overpriced goods that aren’t even on trend? Surprisingly, home shopping channels are all the rage with Boomers.

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Iron Everything

Iron Everything

Ironing is so time-consuming that the younger generations have nearly abandoned the practice entirely. Exceptions include special events or grossly over-wrinkled fabric, but then the handy steamer comes into play.

Not to mention that the cleaners can fix your toughest wrinkles in a snap so you can spend your time doing much more productive things instead of struggling with hot tools.

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Watch Cop Dramas

Watch Cop Dramas

It’s difficult to avoid any cop shows on cable TV since their inception. They multiply by the dozen, with their predictable plotlines and flat characters, making Law and Order and NCIS  blend together.

And there’s a reason they keep popping up—Boomers can’t get enough! On top of cop dramas, you can’t avoid the firefighter and medical dramas either. Avoid them or fall down an endless pit of procedurals.

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Use Excessive Ellipses

Use Excessive Ellipses

One ellipse at the end of a text is confusing enough, but four? What is that supposed to mean?

If you’re trying to be laid-back and cool, ellipses are not the way to go. They just make a text message regarding your grandmother’s chiropractic appointment unnecessarily ominous.

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Reject Climate Change

Reject Climate Change

Global warming is such a huge threat to the world that younger generations are incredulous about how Boomers continue to deny its existence.

In fact, the vast majority of Boomers advocate for increased burning of fossil fuels, with reporters at Vox stating that Boomers have “exacerbated the climate crisis more than any other generation.”

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Wear Tacky Denim

Wear Tacky Denim

Boomers have no room to pass judgment on ripped jeans when they still looove their jorts. While flared jeans are making a comeback in the retro niche, bootcut and knee-length denim is a vintage style better left to the past.

And skinny jeans? Better not mention the style to the older generation, or brace yourself for a barrage of scolding. At least our jeans actually fit and don’t sag around the hips!

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Spread Conspiracy Theories

Spread Conspiracy Theories

Social media is filled with fake news and unsupported conspiracy theories. According to The Manifest, 96% of of users born after 1950 log into Facebook each week, making them the largest purveyors of false information.

We should focus on real threats to society, like social inequality and climate change, instead of crying about fake moon landings and assassinations.

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Gender Everything

Gender Everything

Believe it or not, pink and blue aren’t the only colors for kids. What if little Susie wanted that dinosaur instead of the baby doll?

It doesn’t matter much to Boomers what the kids actually want, unfortunately, only how the kids fit into ancient gender expectations.

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Corporal Punishment

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment should be at the top of this list of unbelievable Boomer things they still do (or at least talk about). Sorry, grandpa, but the fact that you were spanked by your mother every day in the ‘50s doesn’t make it okay.

Young generations prefer to teach decency with verbal communication and positive reinforcement rather than relying on violence as a learning tool.

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Treat Servers Poorly

Treat Servers Poorly

Service industry workers are offensively underpaid for hours of hard work. They barely make it on salary alone, with many of their tips functioning as part of their paycheck.

Why treat them so poorly? They aren’t any better than Boomers and work twice as hard for the wages of two decades ago. The dollar doesn’t go as far in the 21st century, and we’re all trying our best to get by, so have a little compassion.

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Love Diamonds

Love Diamonds

Don’t get us started on diamonds. Not only are they vastly overrated, but the gem isn’t as precious as marketing makes them appear.

Boomers love overspending for basic jewelry that was retrieved using modern slave labor. And moissaniate is a just as beautiful alternative for half the price!

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24-hr News Networks

24-hr News Networks

If Facebook wasn’t bad enough for spreading fake news, biased 24-hour News Networks just spread the news more slowly. Why waste your time watching the TV when you can use the internet to research anything you can imagine?

For tech-averse Boomers, getting your news all in one place (sometimes all on one channel) has been a way of life for, well, most of their lives. However, the media takes advantage of this fact and lines up their most outrageous "political commentary" shows for when they know Boomers are watching. Dear Boomers: these talking heads are not actual journalists. They get paid to keep you mad. Maybe just turn off the TV for a little while. 

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Golf

Golf

Golf already holds the title for most boring sport in the world, but the fact that Boomers still flock to the range makes the activity even tackier.

Sports are supposed to be entertainment enjoyed by a group, usually in an excited manner. Too bad golf doesn’t allow any noise during the game, which increases the snore-fest that is golf on TV.

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Collect Knick-Knacks

Collect Knick-Knacks

Knick-knacks are cute until you trip over a box of doilies and stub your toe on the china cabinet filled with tiny clowns and angels.

Millennials who’ve adopted the minimalism movement gasp over the clutter of Boomers. Like the clutter-queen Marie Kondo herself says, “storage experts” are just hoarders.

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Read Newspapers

Read Newspapers

Newspapers might be more trustworthy than the 24-hour news cycle, but it’s even slower than TV programming to release a story.

By the time a newspaper is printed, anyone with a phone has already read the story. Plus, with a digital subscription, you can share the story with your loved ones. Save the trees, people!

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Always Choose Chain Restaurants

Always Choose Chain Restaurants

Let’s just say that our vision of a nice restaurant isn’t the local Chili’s off the highway. Plus, ordering the same tasteless meal from a chain restaurant isn’t a night out no matter how many times you say it is.

Especially now, people are realizing that small businesses are much better than their corporate versions, and supporting the little guy stimulates the local economy. Use the internet or just drive around town and find a hidden place you never knew about; it could be your new favorite spot!

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Prefer Yahoo

Prefer Yahoo

Google covers everything from documents and email to classrooms and blogs. In comparison, Yahoo is the deadbeat sibling living in the shadow of Google’s success. 

 

Let’s just say this: if “@yahoo.com” is your email address, you’re automatically a Boomer. Sorry, not sorry.

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Typing in All-Caps

Typing in All-Caps

Claiming that you type in all-caps because “it’s just how I type” is not a valid excuse. Everyone knows that eyesight deteriorates with age, so just use the phone setting to increase font size.

Using all-caps seriously affects the tone of a message and shouldn’t be normalized just because Boomers can’t see why they type.

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Complain About Previous Generations

Complain About Previous Generations

Intergenerational strife isn’t new, but it sure is getting superrrr old. Just like this list, there’s always something to criticize. But does it even matter? No.

Most Millennials and Gen Z folks aren’t particularly concerned about what the wiser generation is up to, as long as they can eat their avocado toast in peace.

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Pay for Cable

Pay for Cable

Cable TV packages are so grossly overpriced that any Millennial automatically classifies it as a modern scam. A combination of streaming subscriptions barely add up to the price of cable, an objectively worse product.

No one except Boomers are willing to pay exorbonently for a product that they still have to watch ads on 80% of the time. They don’t even have control over what they watch (not like cable has many options). Trust us, we’re just trying to help. Ditch that cable package!

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Use Metal Detectors

Use Metal Detectors

Do Boomers really think that they’re going to strike gold with a thrifted metal detector on a beach that’s been combed over by hundreds of Boomers before them?

Relax on the sand and enjoy the sunlight; don’t waste your precious time digging for scrap metal!

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Tacky Decorations

Tacky Decorations

Boomer decorations are unparalleled in their tackiness. While some retro trends are being reclaimed by the hipster crowd, peeling wallpaper and cheesy word art will never be cool, especially with how expensive it is.

No matter how many signs you have around your house that remind you to "keep calm and carry on," if you need that many reminders, you're probably better off with an Ambien prescription. (Not a real recommendation; definitely see a real doctor if you're experiencing symptoms of anxiety!)

(image via Midjourney)

Play Racquetball

Play Racquetball

Boomer fascination with racquetball can’t exactly be explained. There’s nothing wrong with the sport itself, and kudos to them for getting in their daily exercise! It’s just surprising that people born after 1950 prefer a closed, oddly scented room to an open tennis court.

Is playing with a wall even competitive? To each their own!

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Refuse to be Politically Correct

Refuse to be Politically Correct

Believe it or not, Millennials are not out to breach free speech with political correctness. We just believe that while walking around, living your best life, you shouldn't purposefully offend everyone else in the process. We also believe that our constitutional right to free speech doesn't shield us completely from the consequences of our words and actions. Wild concept, right?

What’s so hard about treating others with basic human decency, anyway? It’s a shame we even have to ask...

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Wear Snuggies

Wear Snuggies

We admit, Snuggies still look incredibly comfortable. But are they really as practical as they look? No one except Boomers still wear them, so there has to be a logistical problem.

With the advent of sherpa blankets and pullovers, Snuggies have been officially usurped from their cozy throne.

(image via Midjourney)

Write Checks

Write Checks

When is the last time you wrote a check? If it was under two weeks, I’m sorry to say that you’re a Boomer.

Much more convenient methods of payment have emerged in the last decade alone that make long-winded check writing a lost art.

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