A recent email arrived in my inbox advertising a new class in a technical area I’m interested in. The subject line said, “… Secrets Even Your Grandma Can Understand!”. Wow, I thought, you mean even a Grandma who is a boomer might be capable of understanding? Is being Grandma now the lowest bar when learning anything? I mean, what about a Grandpa? or a goldfish? or any uninterested person really?
Who decided that an age group has any bearing on personality or abilities or even political views? Isn’t just another way of saying, “kids these days!” I mean, chronologically speaking, I am older than many. I even just slide into the infamous “baby boomers” range (roughly born from 1946 to 1964). This means that over 7 million people in Canada all share the same attributes with me. You know, befuddled by technology, the inability to learn anything new and poisoned by lead and mercury.
The Good ‘Ole Days
Don’t get me wrong, I have suffered through the same memes as you have likely seen. Many of my peers will proudly proclaim they survived drinking from a water hose or riding their bikes without a helmet until the street lights came on in those good ole days. But, we also could only bank in person between 10am and 3pm and had to use a rotary dial on the phone attached to the wall. Drinking and driving was a big thing (sorry officer, I have to drive since I can’t walk) and being in a car without a baby seat or even a seat belt. Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. How many lives were ruined until we figured these things out and improved? I always keep in mind that these good-old-days memes are created by the survivors, not the victims.
But still all my fellow boomers and I are out of touch with the world? Every Single One of Us: Funny how when young or middle age people are out of touch it is not caused by age. It seems to me that people can be flat earthers for instance at any age. In fact, I would argue that using phrases such as the one in question is “out of touch”. Perhaps at one time grandparents were unable to work well with new technology or ideas, I can’t say. But today, the average age for a first time grandparent in Canada is 52 (2017). They probably have spent much of their working life facing and using new technologies. Perhaps the “grandma” cliche has had its day not the other way around?
This is Not the Boomer You are Looking For
So, yes, I am a boomer, if you mean temporally, but it seems in no way to describe anything about my world view.
For instance, I am a cultural Christian and if asked, may even automatically reply Anglican, but I am in fact a non-religious agnostic atheist. I am well beyond child-bearing years, but any anti-abortion stance I hear still makes me absolutely furiously angry. I am firmly an LGBT / trans ally to the best of my ability and understand climate change is a real and present danger created and perpetuated by humans. If it is even necessary to say, vaccinations are an amazing medical break through and have saved countless lives and quality of lives. Go science! But it is not whether or not you think I’m right about these issues (although I do think I’m right 🙂 ), but it is that they do represent views I hold.
Assigning labels that carry so much baggage without permission or without justification is just insulting and makes a whole person invisible. (Same goes for not respecting a person’s chosen pronouns I would argue.) Of course, if that is the intention, assign a label I guess. But that makes you the a**hole.
Vindication?
I did actually reply to that mass mailing I received and asked (nicely I think) that the business consider not insulting potential customers with ageist remarks. The reply I received made an apology and a commitment to doing better going forward. I feel somewhat vindicated I guess.
Anonymous says
” I always keep in mind that these good-old-days memes are created by the survivors, not the victims.” Well-said. 🙂