Talking 'Bout My Generation

What kind of example do we set?

I'm about 60, and I've been watching the behaviour of some of my contemporaries. 

 

The man barges his rough-as-guts Mercedes through carpark traffic, then stops to block the exit so he can get out to harangue the hapless person who hooted at him when he forced them to slam on the brakes. He's obviously used to being able to intimidate his way through life with menacing shoutiness, and while his age inappropriate clothes and carefully casual long grey hair says he rates himself, the size of his gut suggests it's been a while since some physical self-respect and self-control have been part of his regimen.

 

The overdressed creature who struts to the head of a queue at a cafe counter and demands to be served first, and then abuses the barrista when they politely tell her there were others there first. No hint of embarrassment and the sort of entitlement you'd associate with an under-socialised and petulant teenager.

 

The sharply dressed, salt and pepper business type who barges in to a group by talking over the top of others, and becomes hostile when they're told they're being rude.

If this is the level of behavior some of us are demonstrating in public, no wonder that the word "boomer" is picking up such opprobrium for self-entitlement, and some self-reflection might be a good idea.