Is It OK To Say "OK, Boomer?"
It sounds like a cheeky way to blow off the opinion of someone older than you—but does this phrase cross the line when it comes to snark?
The New York Times published a piece that has had far-ranging effects and stoked inter-generational ire just by focusing on what could be viewed as an innocuous phrase: “OK, boomer.” The article explains the rising popularity of responding to older people’s opinions by saying “OK, boomer,” referring to their belonging to the Baby Boomer generation. The phrase began among Zoomers and is meant to encapsulate the angst of Gen Z when it comes to the world they’ve inherited—and there may be some legitimacy. Millennials were the first generation worse off than the generation before them. To quote the article:
The phrase has gained so much attention that one entrepreneurial Zoomer put a design of the words on clothing and sold more than $10,000 worth of merchandise.
Following the article, “OK, boomer” seems to have captured the cultural moment. A 25 year-old politician in New Zealand used it to silence older hecklers, The Times’ own opinion column weighed in on it, and the Internet is still abuzz with the echo of “OK, boomer” fallout weeks after the article was published.
But is it OK to say “OK, boomer?” Detractors say that at best it’s stereotypical, at worst it’s ageism. Baby Boomer proponents say that it’s a flippant phrase and shouldn’t be given more weight than it deserves.
Where do you fall in the debate? Is it OK for teens and young adults to say “OK, boomer” or are they crossing a line? Let us know in the comments.
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It seems that the phrase is used mostly to respond to people who are crossing the line. It is equally "agism" to assume that this younger generation is a hopeless and lost cause. Even generation of old timers has said that about the younger generation, and so far, every generation of humans has made contributions to the advancement of humanity.
ok boomer is telling the person that their opinion does not matter. your view does not matter. it is rude just like when someone says whatever. I always said the definition of whatever is fu you don't know what you are talking about and I am not listening to you. that is exactly what ok boomer means. you don't matter you are stupid and I am not listening.
Obnoxious.
So, how about 'ok, kid' or other to disparage someone based solely on their age -
I'm a boomer. I'm 75 years old and one thing that I and many of my generation agree on is that this current generation is just too sensitive. Tip-toeing through your words, in case, by some slip of the tongue, you might 'offend someone'. Well, I'm here to say that we Boomers are a lot tougher than that. We're the ones who grew up saying, "Sticks & stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.". Buck up, America...you're a lot tougher than you think. At least, some of you are...especially if you're a 'Boomer'.
Say it to me and you'll be nursing a bloody nose.