Faith Salie on the Gen Z putdown 'OK, Boomer'

For the young people of Generation Z, who have inherited from their elders a world full of rising waters, disappearing species, crippling debt and crumbling democracies, a cheeky retaliatory phrase is more than warranted, says "Sunday Morning" contributor Faith Salie.

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[kaylaswa]

the sad part is this whole news story really missed the point of the saying. That 25 year old law maker, Chlöe Swabrick, said it because she was giving a speech at parliament and for minutes she was heckled by several other members likely due to her age, sex, and message. This story should have been about the fact that she was attempting to participate and work hard, the very thing that said "boomers" say her generations lacks, and then she was put down in doing so. Her candid reaction may not have been respectful but she was aiming to make a difference and she was in essence told to leave. Big miss CBS.

[MarkfromNewYork]

As a gen x’er I’m sitting this one out.

[tazytka]

I'm a boomer and I endorse non boomers to make a difference!

[itsjustbree]

It's pretty hypocritical how people get upset over "ok boomer" when they are constantly spewing vitriol and making blanket statements about younger generations. Ah, so you don't like it when people dismiss you because of your age? Then maybe you should stop doing it to others. You should expect to be treated the way you treat others. If you make ageist remarks about younger people, then you shouldn't be surprised when they do the same to you. Perhaps that's the point.

[diddiaskew]

Your great and Grand wisdom almost had me sign up to Facebook to respond - almost. Boomers do not deserve respect because they're old, Millennials do not deserve to be disrespected because they're young. We all deserve respect because we are. Respect is not to be bestowed, it can only be lost. One of the surest way to lose respect is to show none.

As for the three messages I found when I signed on to this page: go back 50 years and find the same thing said by the Boomers. Wait fifty years and it will be said about you.

[pilsnrimgaard]

Well thats 3 minutes of my life ill never get back.

[Tomy-]

I don’t mind boomers giving advice. Some of which is actually helpful. It’s the complaining and criticizing that’s unnecessary.

[Monica-ienn]

But boomers also made huge strides in the social movements of today: lgbtq rights, women’s rights, animal rights and veganism, and environmentalism. Putting down an entire generation is just silly. There are millions of people of that age that have contributed greatly to society and humanity and are currently teaching our youth today. We should respect that they have seen a lot and know a lot, even if you disagree with them.

[AmigoKandu]

@2:48 "Now that's something that can bring generations together". We need another large meteor to smash Earth.

[homiebreadpill]

In all its simplicity, the phrase "Ok Boomer" is like saying "Whatever, old man/woman". It's not against just Boomers, it is also a term used for anybody with a closed-minded view likened to that of a baby boomer.

[Hellrazor]

I love all the crying about this. I've been called a lazy millennial my whole life but as soon as they get a taste of their own medicine it's suddenly news worthy and representative of something greater within our society/economy. Salty, salty tears.

[therealpixie]

As an old hippie, I'd like to say not all Boomers are alike, any more than all Gen Z. I, personally, do not need your help with my phone, I recycle, I've been campaigning for substantive action on climate change for twenty years, many of my friends are Gen Zs (and they adore me), I drive a Miata convertible, I know how to shop online, I do not belong to FaceCrack, I despise Republicans and their "champion". In short, I'm a cool 72 yo person you would be lucky to have as a friend.

[garrett]

Boomers make fun us for not knowing how old things work, when most of us do, while they don’t know how to work the new things

[steveszymanski]

Boomers... the most privileged generation in the history of humanity.

[LumiKat]

She's just pissy because she LOOKS like she's old enough to be a Boomer and that at least Gen Z are done putting up with the BS of the older generations while her generation never had the collective balls to actually start making a change.

[JH-pgjh]

Spread the hate a little more Sunday Morning. We teach kindergarteners to be kind and then promote this type of adult behavior. :( the world is a crazy place right now.

[LuisMan]

wow, you're a month to late, boomers

[itsjustbree]

Older people: *say a bunch of hateful and disrespectful things about young people*
In the same paragraph: "I DEMAND THAT YOUNG PEOPLE SHOW ME RESPECT!!!"
Ok Boomer.
#respectgoesbothways

[madmanjoker]

I Don't usually comment on Youtube videos, in fact, this is only the second time ever, but I gotta say YES YOU DO NEED TO RESPECT YOUR ELDERS AND THE PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN YOURSELF. its called being a decent person. One thing that is more common among Boomers is that most of them at least have civility, respect and to be quite honest a better work ethic than other generations. Not saying all Mellianals and Gen-X-ers have a poor work ethic. Oh, and your comment about a game show where Boomers reset their password by them selfs is all that clever. I was born in the early to mid 80's So I'm not really a Gen X or a millennial. I currently work at a company where I have people who are in their 20's who don't know how to reset their passwords or can even remember their password and needing it to reset it every few shifts they work. Both Boomers and Millenials aren't so different but one thing is for sure BOTH generations need to take a hard look at one another and learn from each other and not dismiss or belittle each other. Also, Shame on you CBS Sunday Morning for showing a story that is so dismissive to Boomers and trying to make this borderline ageism slur ok and acceptable and all of the thumbs down help make my point. This story is not in the spirit of what I know Sunday Morning should be.

[stevekile]

I find this repulsive, I'm a boomer. That knows how to Facebook, YouTube, use a computer (desktop & laptop), a smart phone, knows how to read my digital watch and set it, set and use the remote on my TV, VCR, DVD, work on broadcast equipment and on and on. So therefor not as dumb as I look or sometimes as you think I am or as you are. We all learn from each other at any age. So Gen X, Millennials, Snowflakes or what ever you want to call yourselves, get your head out of your butts and pay attention to your surroundings and use your own brain instead of relying on somebody else to use it for you and dictate your life.