They call us “The Elderly”.

[OK Corgi Rancher]

I don't trust anyone who can't use a rotary phone or can't fold a paper, gas station road map... And I only trust a few people who can do those things.

 

[PanhandleGlocker]

I'm gen X, we grew up in your wake resulting in the highest rates of suicide and substance abuse of any generation. We raised ourselves while boomers partied, they got "free love" we got AIDS. Millennials are crap because they were raised by boomers to think they were special. Gen X hated the boomers before it was cool.

you mean… I'm not actually special?

 

[Bravo1413]

I don't trust anyone who can't use a rotary phone or can't fold a paper, gas station road map... And I only trust a few people who can do those things.

I owned gas stations in the 70’s and 80’s, now you can’t even find one. There mega fuel depots now. And try and find a map when you’re on vacation. Oh wait, there on your phone now.

 

[Gadsden]

They did get us where we are today. Took all the benefits of being in the most prosperous country in the world and ran it into the ground by being self absorbed. Like I said it isn't every boomer, and the ones here are less likely to be involved due to there place on the political spectrum. Prior generations were concerned with the success of future generations, the boomers didn't the opposite leaving a social and economic mess that will take decades to clean up, if it can be cleaned up.

As was noted you are quick to defend your comments, no matter how mistaken they are, by referring back to only certain portions of what you said and skipping over the rest. You also fail to address the basis of your allegations which, in this case, concern a whole generation of people you write off as the single cause for the issues we are experiencing in our nation. According to you boomers are also selfish and so out of touch with today's world they lack the ability to master new skills.

I can't speak for everyone of course and I know there are some who refuse to embrace technology and that's fine, that's their choice to make. As for me, I didn't have the advantage of having a computer in my classroom like the younger generations do now. When I grew up, we solved our problems and completed our papers the old fashioned way, with a pen and paper and if one was lucky, a typewriter. However, in my old life, (I've had two careers) I went on to work for the most technical division of our company. I, along with several other "boomers", were responsible for designing, installing and maintaining state of the art data and phone systems for several 911 Centers, our Level One Trauma Center/Hospital and many other major organizations that depended on cutting edge technology in their day-to-day operations. My wife (also a boomer BTW) still works in a highly technical environment where she oversees other engineers (some who are boomers) who, among other things, are writing software for next generation products.

Additionally, I, along with everyone I know and grew up being taught responsibility, respect for others and that you had to work for what you wanted. These are traits that we have ALL passed on to our children who have now grown up to be contributing members of society and are now teaching the same things to their children.

It seems to me the only close-minded and self-centered one in this conversation is you, HillsideDesolate. Now I know that you come from a different generation than me however, unlike you, I won't hold your beliefs and attitude against all the others that grew up with you because, as I said earlier, we are all individuals and we can't be judged by the actions of others simply due to some shared similarities that we had no control over.

 

[hipshot]

If you can remember it, you weren’t really there…..

Those were the good old Days of my youth, the 80s and 90s are pretty fuzzy to me

 

[Chief Sapulpa]

....the garbage man on the other hand, the one that rode around on the back of the truck, cool AF.

I was a garbage man for the final 10 years of my working career which proved to be very profitable. No I wasn't cool and didn't ride around on the back of the truck but the waste industry is like liquor stores and funeral homes.

 

[Chief Sapulpa]

...or can't fold a paper, gas station road map... And I only trust a few people who can do those things.

It takes a special skill to fold a newpaper to be able to read it on the subway and not invade other rider's space.
...or read a gas station road map.

 

[Cold Smoke]

One thing I found fascinating as a Gen Xer, my kid is in Civil Air Patrol and one of the nav skills they’re booting up for the kids is sextant navigation along with compass and topo. I think this generation coming up is pretty awesome as people go by and large though there are exceptions. I’d say us oldies that knew America when it was cool should do everything we can to give a based and ambitious generation a cool America again. Let’s bring back gas guzzling muscle cars, bands that weren’t much to look at but could seriously rock out and bell bottoms. I really miss bell bottom Levis….

 

[Raido Free America]

They call us ”The Elderly”
We were born in the 40-50-60’s.
We grew up in the 50-60-70's.
We studied in the 60-70-80's.
We were dating in the 70-80-90's.
We got married and discovered the world in the 70-80-90's.
We venture into the 80-90’s.
We stabilize in the 2000’s.
We got wiser in the 2010’s.
And we are going firmly through and beyond 2020.
Turns out we've lived through EIGHT different decades...
TWO different centuries...
TWO different millennia...
We have gone from the telephone with an operator for long-distance calls to video calls to anywhere in the world.
We have gone from slides to YouTube, from vinyl records to online music, from handwritten letters to email and Whats App.
From live matches on the radio, to black and white TV, colour TV and then to 3D HD TV.
We went to the Video store and now we watch Netflix.
We got to know the first computers, punch cards, floppy disks and now we have gigabytes and megabytes on our smartphones.
We wore shorts throughout our childhood and then long trousers, Oxfords, flares, shell suits & blue jeans.
We dodged infantile paralysis, meningitis, polio, tuberculosis, swine flu and now COVID-19.
We rode skates, tricycles, bicycles, mopeds, petrol or diesel cars and now we drive hybrids or electric.
Yes, we've been through a lot but what a great life we've had!
They could describe us as “exennials”; people who were born in that world of the fifties, who had an analog childhood and a digital adulthood.
We've kind of “Seen-It-All”!
Our generation has literally lived through and witnessed more than any other in every dimension of life.
It is our generation that has literally adapted to “CHANGE”.
A big round of applause to all the members of a very special generation, which will be UNIQUE.
-Author unknown
Keep on keeping on!

Looking back from this high perch, 77 years old, it has been an amazing ride. In my case, from not having electricity, in-door plumbing, having never heard of a TV, to a compooter whiz, setting here, spouting hillbilly wisdom! If the world changes as much the next 77 years, as it did the last 77, I can't even imagine what this world will be like? Life in old age is GOOD, ENJOY EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[THAT Gurl]

you mean… I'm not actually special?

It's okay. You're special to me.