"Ever notice how your parents can strike up a conversation with literally anyone? Last week, I watched my dad chat with our grocery store cashier for ten minutes about her upcoming vacation while I stood there awkwardly checking my phone. Meanwhile, I've lived next to the same neighbors for two years and still do a weird half-wave when we accidentally make eye contact taking out the trash."
"This got me thinking about all the things that seemed to come naturally to previous generations that many of us have to actively work at. After diving into research and countless conversations with people across different age groups, I've identified eight skills that Boomers often do without thinking twice, while younger generations are frantically Googling "how to" guides. The truth is, these aren't character flaws or generational failures."
"Remember when calling someone was just... normal? Boomers sure do. They'll pick up the phone to order pizza, schedule appointments, or resolve billing issues without breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, many of us would rather spend thirty minutes navigating a buggy chatbot than make a two-minute phone call. The difference? They grew up when phones were the primary mode of distance communication."
Eight everyday social and practical skills are more instinctive for Baby Boomers and less automatic for younger generations. Examples include confidently making phone calls, striking up conversations with strangers, and handling routine interpersonal situations. Differences stem from older generations growing up with phones and in-person interactions as primary modes of communication, reinforcing repetition and necessity. Younger people encounter digital alternatives (text, email, chatbots) that reduce instinctive practice, leaving certain skills to be learned intentionally. These differences are not character flaws but consequences of divergent environments; deliberate practice, scripts, and exposure can build competence.
Read at Silicon Canals
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]