Boomers and their video calling obsession?

[Finlesswonder]

Anyone else noticed this? Work and family members, if they're a boomer then 9 times out of 10 they try to video call you. I think they discovered this during lockdown and have now become obsessed
I'm a millennial btw

Sourisblanche I am so sorry.

You're absolutely correct. I'm not sure how I managed to type Gen Z, I knew I was Gen X 🤦‍♂️

Sort of proves why text messages don't work for me as I'm using my phone 😂

I think all this thread has proved is that we are all different (I'm not [for all you Python fans]), and that regardless of age, some people like to video call and some don't.

Age is but a number.

My dad is in his 80's. Not sure if he's a boomer or not? But he bloody loves a video call. Always at inconvenient times but like clockwork every week.

I think I'm an older millennial as DH is gen X and he is only 3 years older than me. My parents and in-laws are boomers. I mostly communicate with them via landline or Facebook messenger. My grandad uses zoom sometimes which is amazing at his age, he is 96.

Boomer here. I don't video call anyone - with perhaps Covid lockdowns being the exception.
I have been out with friends who frequently take video calls from their offspring (18-30 age group) in spite of having told them in advance that they will be out with friends.
In fact, I find the complete obsession with the younger adult generation constantly contacting their parents for every little thing more annoying. I went out on a shopping trip with a friend one day. Between her 2 adult daughters and her DH, she was contacted no less than 20 times during our outing - all for trivia.
Lunch with another friend a few weeks ago - 2 hours max, and she took 2 video calls from one of her DCs. And if they ignore the calls they get bombarded with text/WhatsApp messages so they may as well answer.

I don't know which one of these stupid names I am(born 1958). But I hate my fat face so video calls, selfies etc are definitely out. I'm not massively good at texting either but I do love chatting to my friends and family on the phone or face to face and unusually for mn they don't seem to find me an inconvenience.

Good grief.

What a thing to complain about.

1. you'll be older one day

2. you will miss them when they've gone

3. you're a very judgmental millennial!!

In fact, I find the complete obsession with the younger adult generation constantly contacting their parents for every little thing more annoying.

Thats a sweeping statement too though isn’t it. My adult child is independent, as are my friends adult children. Maybe your friend didn’t successfully teach her children independence and boundaries as they were growing up.

Do you know what 'patronising ' means?

None if my friends (Gen X) call each other at all and neither do my parents who are in their 70s. Everyone just sends messages.

My kids and their friends video call all the time and my dd's teenage friends, send loads of voice notes.

I would never send a voice note because I hate the sound of my voice when it's recorded!

I’m a boomer. Never do video calls.

Why does ‘boomers’ or anyone else using video call make it an ‘obsession‘? If they ‘discovered it in lockdown’, does that mean if they made phone calls before that time, that they were then obsessed with phone calls pre lockdown? If I send texts, an I ‘obsessed‘ with texting? 😐

Can you have a word with my mum please? She raised me to be independent, with opinions, and to have enough confidence to stand by my opinions. Now she doesn't like it when my opinion is different from hers.

Mind you, this is the same woman who spent the first two years of my life teaching me to walk and talk, and since then tells me to sit down and shut up 🤣

What's wrong with video calling

I've found the responses in this thread very encouraging - showing that most people treat these stupid 'generation' labels and stereotypes with the contempt they deserve.

The description "boomer" is used these days in a negative or derogatory sense. "Boomers" are generally considered to be the smug generation who bought their houses cheaply and paid off their mortgages long ago.

They were the first to benefit from the council house right to buy scheme and they enjoyed job security along with good private pensions. Basically they are accused of enjoying the best of everything whilst dumping up-coming generations in the shit. "Boomer" is never a compliment and the OP has basically proved this.

Your lecturer's use of "baby boomers" was not an insult as it is fine to use it in a sociological context.

I don't think other terms, such as Gen Z, are seen as insulting because they don't have the same connotations as I've described for Boomers.

It’s our millennial kids who insist on FaceTime. We hate it.

It's a trend I have noticed on public transport - either video call or on speaker. Neither is appropriate for public transport without headphones!

Perhaps the joke answer to stop this should be asking them to rotate a PDF before they can video call.

Conversely, the new gen of employees are absolutely appalled at the idea of calling anyone on the phone and would prefer to do live chat or email.

Nope. I just scrape into Boomer category but I absolutely hate when anyone tries to video call, as does everyone else I know of this age. It's usually my young adult kids that video call.

Yes i video call my Grandchildren at least once a week, they live hundreds of miles away. Should i not use tech to see my Grandchildren because it bothers you? One day you will be Grandparent, i hope you remember your words.

😐 Is that meant to be funny?

It’s a bit different to an adult child having to check everything and call often, even when you have said you’re out with friends. Surely you wouldn’t disturb someone then unless it’s urgent. My kids wouldn’t because I’ve raised them to be independent, think for themselves and respect that I have a life of my own. So totally different to whatever point you’re trying to make.

In your circle, noticing that 90% of Boomers video call is not ageist.

Assuming that this in general is in deed discriminatory and ageist.

You are entirely wrong. Attributing particular characteristics - positive, negative or neither - to a diverse group for no reason other than that they belong to that group is textbook ageism (and racism, sexism, homophobia etc).

I don't know why I'm feeding you though. I have better things to do with my day.

I don't think other terms, such as Gen Z, are seen as insulting because they don't have the same connotations as I've described for Boomers.

I think lots of these terms are used as insults now, there are lots of threads where people generalise about younger generations too, calling gen z snowflakes, saying they’re scared of hard work etc. It all silly. People are different regardless of when they were born.

😂😂😂😂 love it.