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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?

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Staff Writers 69 Comments
Is It OK To Say "OK, Boomer?"
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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:

A lot of [Baby Boomers] don’t believe in climate change or don’t believe people can get jobs with dyed hair, and a lot of them are stubborn in that view. Teenagers just respond, ‘Ok, boomer.’ It’s like, we’ll prove you wrong, we’re still going to be successful because the world is changing.

 

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.

Date posted: Oct 17, 2022
Staff Writers

Staff Writers are content experts, community members, educational partners, and bloggers. Articles are reviewed by the Age Friendly Institute.

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Every generation was taught to respect their elders, except zoomers. I think it's because their used to saying anything they want on line and remaining anonymous / not held responsible for their actions. Not listening to their parents because they are( busy )on their phone, and getting a unrealistic sense of accomplishment.(thinking they're the best thing since the invention of the wheel.

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Hello my name is Jack Grenan and I coached college , Professional and HS basketball as well as taught for more than 30 years. After recovering from cancer, a small school in Michigan, Holton Schools gave me the chance to return to what I love and coach 8th grade boys basketball. AFTER some loss of sleep and over thinking what /How I will have these youngsters address me I decided on ,"Sir!" Like my old days in the military. ( I did not see action)
At first some of the young men actually called me an OLD man behind my back and snickered, But things changed as we started to win more games that any BBall team at the HS had won in a while! Other Schools respected us and knew to play Holton they would have to work.
Finally it all paid off when the workers at the scoring table, the refs at the game who interacted with teens who actually called them sir, and especially when we went to restaurants and the waitress herd over & over again , excuse me ma'am can I please have more water, excuse me ma'am, thank you ma'am, this was great food ma'am.....Finally out of curiosity a the waitress who was waiting on a table of no adults , just players asked the team if she could ask them a question, there response was yes ma'am!
The boys smiles proudly as she asked them, You are the first team I have ever waited on with such great manners and calling me ma'am and saying please and thank you all the time! Why did you do this and no other does? There response, Oh our coach is old school and he decided to have us do that the first day of practice and we were told to call him and the other coaches "Sir" and adults sir or ma'am or miss! At first we didn't like it but now we are proud of it when we see how people like you respond. Thank You for telling us that you like it!
On that bus ride home NO ONE TOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THE GAME , but they will forever remember the reaction of adults when t young small school basketball players from Holton Michigan amazed a young waitress with their maturity and respect! It was one of my proudest moments in 30 years of coaching and teaching!
May Your Family be safe and your heart filled with Love!
Dr. Jack Grenan Blessed colon cancer survivor

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HMMM so many choices of how to respond. One is , Well share with me all you have accomplished in your life, job, raising a family , be a soldier, OH I FORGOT YOU DO NOT ENEVN KNOW WHAT BEING DRAFTED IS LIKE! Go by Arlington Cemetery or your local Cemetery and read on the many markers that give Honor to those who have served.
Oh , and finally come back talk to me after you have proven you can make it without mom & dad four 10 years and without Government Handouts !
I truly hope you learn quickly about life!
Dr Jack Grenan Blessed survivor of 4th stage colon cancer & a 4 month coma!

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I'm a Boomer and I think it's funny. I hadn't heard of "Zoomer" either.

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Ok Boomer is a comment that shows the speaker has no respect for the opinion of the other person. I realize and respect that the younger generation has to inherit the world that we give them. We have let them down regarding the envirionment. This is becoming more obvious to all people everyday and collectively we should look for solutions. Negating the opinions of others is counter productive. Boomers realize they have screwed up and want to help.

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