BOOMER VS. ZOOMER

A few months ago, I was driving from Midland to TC with my dad and Billie Eilish’s song “Bad Guy” came on the radio. For you Boomers out there, “Bad Guy” topped the charts all last year. My 52 year old dad suddenly asked about the song. I, somewhat stunned, replied ““Bad Guy,” by Billie Eilish.” My dad exclaimed, “Billy Eyelash! What kind of name is that?” After a piece of my soul died, I accepted the fact that my dad just didn’t listen to the radio regularly. It was not like I was a big Billie Eilish fan anyways. I decided to accept the fact that he just doesn’t listen to the radio. But instead of letting the conversation die, my dad continued to circle back to the name, repeating “Billy Eyelash” probably twenty more times as if he craved not knowing basic pop culture. The next time he said it, I just replied, “OOOOOHHH-KAY BOOOOOOMMER!” “OK boomer” has taken over American pop culture. For those that have not heard it. “OK boomer” is a meme (A catchphrase people share on the internet) that means the old folks just don’t get it. Its popularity displays a sentiment that has been universal throughout time. Teens feel like their elders have this sense of superiority and wisdom that is not based in current times. Meanwhile, elders feel like the next generation’s ideas are dangerous and worse than the ideas they had when they were young. To see whether my conceptions of generational clash have any footing in reality, I talked to a variety of Central Students and staff. by: HENRY HUSCHKE staff writer

What do you think about the older generations in our society? “I think in general older generations like to pick on younger generations, and that’s just normal. That’s always happened. But everybody has their own little unique perspective, so everybody has their own little passions.” -Kelly Smith Gen Y

What do you think about the concept of generations? “The younger people always thought that the older people didn’t know what they were talking about. Now the older people have to remember what they were like when they were younger, because I feel like the younger people still kind of feel this way. You don’t want to hold it against them, you just want to help them learn it together.” -Marla Gerber Gen X

What makes you the most optimistic about the future? “I’ve always been pretty optimistic because every year I get to teach a great group of kids. There’s always a couple of yo-yos, but by and large kids are still kids and kids want to learn.” -Joe Forlenza aka JoFlo Boomer

What do you think about teens? “I think you guys really have it going on. I think you are smarter than we ever were at your age. It kind of blows me away. I do worry about some of the anxiety that is happening with our students. I do worry about a lot of the things younger kids are exposed to.” -Diane Burden Boomer

What do you think of the phrase Ok Boomer? “It reflects ignorance, judgment, ageism, and disrespect. It is dismissive and pejorative and it reflects poorly on younger generations.” -Lisa Dohm Boomer

VS VS ZOOMER

What do you think about your generation? “I think that we are going to be one of the most important generations, although I don’t know how we will handle the challenges facing us. When I look around, I see a whole host of things we are going to deal with. We have a growing climate crisis, an unstable global order, and crushing personal and public debts. I also think that “Boomers” can be resistant to fixing the issues we’ll face in the future, because they won’t have to deal with them.” -Tristan Ringsmuth

How do you see the generational divide right now? “I feel like there is a lot of political polarization going on in the world. It seems like people can’t really decide on anything, and I think you see that divide fall somewhat along those generational lines. I think that this political divide is the root of the generational antagonism. I firmly fall on the younger side of that spectrum, but I understand the harm that the division causes. I really just wish everyone would wake up to the fact that we should embrace science and logic when it comes to our politics.” -Gabe Howard

What do you think about Boomers? “I think there are some good Boomers but I think the vast majority of them are kind of old and out of touch with society. It’s the typical trope that as you age you become closed off and you’re willingness to accept new ideas decreases, and I don't necessarily know if it’s a bad thing, but I do think that it really does reflect in quote on quote Boomer Culture. It doesn’t really match the societal norms people are trying to push in the 21st century.” -Colin Shepard What do you think of the phrase ok Boomer? “I think it can be somewhat humorous, but I almost never actually use it. I think everyone our age knows that “Boomer” that will ramble on about things where they can be wrong. I also think it’s meaning isn’t really tied to age as it is as much mindset. It really just means “don’t be so close minded” and “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” -Colin Miller

What do you think about the elderly? “I think that old people can offer us good wisdom, but they are often way too arrogant and entitled.” -Paige Conners

Okay, Boomer.

In closing, I think we can see that whether one identifies as a Boomer, a zoomer, or somewhere in between, we all have and will be both at some point in our lives. I’m sure when today’s teens are sixty we’ll be skeptical of the iPhone 51 and the Detroit Lions’ first superbowl appearance. Just like I’m sure adults remember when they were our age and thought their parents were strange for disliking their bell bottoms and Walkmans. As long as we keep this in mind, I think we can all agree to disagree.