Young people of today are more boring than boomers, Gen X and Millennials

[heartofglass23]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/03/beige-fluencers-life-surprises-young-people-aspiration?CMP=fbgu&utmmmedium=Social&utmsource=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0PxKouPrXgwdoLlNIulkPxkAZfMF55TNjqjE7yd6x1Kqe4ulSSDRj2ogcaemmAfMVqhItFWdAqtFw9PTAFfXSSXQn74reNvZAThFxOOakwicv-_oDAF7fE3xTokI5GU#Echobox=1688374866

This guardian article points to what I've been observing for a while: really boring youngsters.

They shun sex,drugs and rock 'n' roll.

My young adult DC drink less than I did at their age, go out less, holiday less, work harder, save more, go to fewer gigs, hardly ever go to the cinema. They have boring haircuts, wear minimal make up, are very serious in demeanour.

Then there's the social conservatism. I've heard young people being more anti abortion, pro death penalty, anti benefits, pro marriage, slut shaming, more law abiding, more individualistic.

It's a different world they're making for us and I don't think I like it!

Agree with this.

My ds (20) told me the other day that I was more Gen Z than he was...wasn't sure what to make of that

I really loathe this idea that even if they do drink less etc they’re boring

I'm a millennial too and have plenty of stories to tell. They are just so meaningless and vapid compared to the positive mental and physical health that comes from not drinking or smoking. The stories normally involve a great deal of naivity and silly risk taking behaviour on my part. I look back in horror at the positions I put myself in. Do you really want that for your children? Your daughters, if you have any. I don't.

As for ladettes, are you really harking back to a time when Denise Van Outen was your feminist icon?

Hairstyles were long. Layers became a thing around 1996 and everyone had layered hair. Maybe they copied the pixie cut of the time but I don't remember some kind of United Colors of Benneton tapestry of diverse hairstyles.

As for the slut shaming, have you heard some of the songs out lately? WAP anyone?

Lately? That was three years ago and just because music is more explicit (not a new thing and music lyrics in previous years were not exactly great either) doesn’t mean slut-shaming isn’t still happening.

It doesn't matter if you like the world or not, they've got more time left on it.

There was nothing feminist about ladette culture- just another way of persuading young women that it's cool to let men ignore their boundaries.

They can't win! Hard working, none smoking, very little to drink and cause no trouble....these are the kids we brought up and should be proud of!
Better than the ones being anti social and making everybody miserable.

Sounds mostly very sensible to me.

Who gets to decide what's boring and what's not?

Social media is having an impact i think - would you evidence of your wilder days published on the internet for all time.

Glad I’m a millennial

This . My children definitely look after their health / skin more than I ever did !
I still enjoy a mid week bottle of wine and a few cigarettes ,whereas my children would never drink midweek or smoke…am so glad about that .

Something else previous generations didn't have to put up with - narcissists creating threads on MN slagging them off, for the likes/lolz.

Still, this one seems mostly to have backfired on you, eh OP?

Most of them are not as conditioned as we were at their age. They have a lot more choices and options open to them, most young people l know are working full time as well as studying, including my own young adults. They are concentrating on making themselves valuable so they can work overseas. Mine have no intention of staying in the UK and l don't blame them.

My son drinks a bit but also eats ok and goes to the gym, he works, goes out with friends etc been all over the world on holidays etc I think he’s doing fine. He does need to save a bit but also live. I wouldn’t compare my life at his age with his current life let alone call him boring, says more about someone who would say that than the kids today tbh.

The grads in my office must be the exception then 😀

I don't think drinking, sex drugs rock and roll
makes you an interesting person. It makes you quite boring to those not inebriated to such an extent you don't know you are talking rubbish.
Give me someone who is educated, interested in the environment and social justice. Certainly don't see the 'anti-abortion' etc stuff you talk about. Quite the opposite. Most seem to think they have no need to get married, they are masters of their own destiny (bit misguided there), understand their rights, are not afraid of saying 'no' to sexual pressure.
And better not go on about 'horrid haircuts' every generation has a few, and these days most seem fine.

I do agree that the younger generation today are more ‘straight laced’, ie they aren’t as wild as the youth of the 60s, 70s and 80s. This is a generalisation of course.

However I think there is good reason for this - the youth of the past could live how they wanted to and there wasn’t as much of a financial cost to their future…why not bum around partying for a few years, you’ll still be able to rent a flat in London, afford to eat and heat your house. Nowadays unless you get yourself into a good career quickly you won’t be able to afford to live on your own. There isn’t as much time for partying and wildness when the cost of living is so high.