Boomers in the 80s and 90s were fucking depressed. They described their lives as a boring, soul-crushing existence where they did the same hollow shit day in and day out. They hated their bosses, they hated their jobs, their kids, their wife/husband. People had "Mid-life crises" where they tried to fill the void with "a fast car and a young hot fling." things capitalism told them would make them happy. It didn't.
Seriously listen to any media made by boomers when they were in their 30s-50s. It's all jokes about how fucking mundane life is.
Even at its peak, life under capitalism was hollow and soul crushing.
They were basically taught "as long as you keep your head down and play the game, we won't hurt you financially"
Sure, (if you were white and male) you had money, but it took everything else away. Community, friendship, family. Trapped them in a gilded cage. Having to watch their children having even that promise of financial stability ripped from them. And don't get me started on how terrible it was if you weren't a white dude.
I have to wonder if the "selfish, childish boomer" stereotype is something of a coping mechanism. Maybe some boomers are like that because thats their jokerfication.
I have a lot of zoomer friends, so I try not to be too... I dunno, honest? about certain things because it's just depressing. I don't want to feel like I'm contributing to them becoming jaded and cynical, even if I kinda think that's inevitable.
I do like that, I guess due to the internet which millennials grow up into and zoomers grew up with, there's this solid group of people that are all sort of united in being fucked over or see others their age fucked over. This group from like teenagers to 40 are all in this together. Obviously it's a spectrum and generally the older people are the better off they are in terms of material conditions, but everyone can also see the creeping reality that even if they squeaked by, there's less and less for every person after them. The only thing left to consider is if you care or not...
I do give the younger people I know who are politically active a ton of credit though. When a 24 year old in the US has read Marx, that's worth noting with pride. When I was 24 I'm pretty sure I was getting drunk and trying to fight Christmas trees (true story). Their radicalization has happened much more rapidly just due to circumstances and reality. As far as I can tell anyway.
it more than inevitable, it happened years ago. we're already jaded and cynical. I wouldn't worry about that
great post earlier. I miss that feeling that the future will be better and is full of possibility. you describe it well