So, this Gen Z group think - what is their guidebook?

[slackerinabox]

So I got into a funny argument with a gen z-er over the weekend (shoved into us at bar, minor thing) and was struck by the argument method he used - a methodology I see *all* the time on talking head new shows and the like: ignoring the fact that he should just say excuse me and instead obsessing on my word choice. "It's not RUDE.. How dare you call me rude.RUDE, you're rude. Rude rude rude.."" Deflecting at every point and just going on and on because I wouldn't admit that HE was right (that it wasn't a big deal). It was so exhausting that I just walked away and he kept on talking to himself.

Not hung up on one argument, just curious - what is this damn blog they all subscribe to? For "know your enemy" research, there obviously is one source feeding this "knowledge" - since lots of these kids seem to be target workers with purple hair I don't believe it's just the colleges churning them out.. What's their source? it's surely not the Wall Street journal.

 

[brianmanahan]

oof

tell him you feel incredibly seen by his big mood

What's their source? it's surely not the Wall Street journal.

lol certainly not, WSJ hates gen z's antics with a passion

 

[Captante]

So... some random kid bumped into you and refused to say excuse me?

 

[KidNiki1]

So I got into a funny argument with a gen z-er over the weekend (shoved into us at bar, minor thing) and was struck by the argument method he used - a methodology I see *all* the time on talking head new shows and the like: ignoring the fact that he should just say excuse me and instead obsessing on my word choice. "It's not RUDE.. How dare you call me rude.RUDE, you're rude. Rude rude rude.."" Deflecting at every point and just going on and on because I wouldn't admit that HE was right (that it wasn't a big deal). It was so exhausting that I just walked away and he kept on talking to himself.

Not hung up on one argument, just curious - what is this damn blog they all subscribe to? For "know your enemy" research, there obviously is one source feeding this "knowledge" - since lots of these kids seem to be target workers with purple hair I don't believe it's just the colleges churning them out.. What's their source? it's surely not the Wall Street journal.

it was a person. generational terms mean very little in actual one on one personal interactions. sounds like it would have been just as easy for you to capitulate, but you chose not to do so.

 

[JM Aggie08]

This feels like a non-issue that you're conflating into something bigger while trying to get validation to justify your being a grumpy old fuck.

 

[nakedfrog]

In addition to another vote for "you're a grumpy old fuck now", also consider Gen Z has grown up with access to the internet more or less as we have it now. Turns out there's a lot of assholes on the internet. And it's also worth considering maybe you were being an asshole too.

 

[Captante]

In addition to another vote for "you're a grumpy old fuck now", also consider Gen Z has grown up with access to the internet more or less as we have it now. Turns out there's a lot of assholes on the internet. And it's also worth considering maybe you were being an asshole too.

HEY !!! I represent that remark !!!!!!

 

[brianmanahan]

This feels like a non-issue that you're conflating into something bigger while trying to get validation to justify your being a grumpy old fuck.

so, a classic slackerinbox thread

 

[pmv]

I think the OP may be over-generalising.

They ought to get a job as a newspaper columnist, though. That seems to be a staple of the column-writing industry - in that line of work, any time you have a bad encounter with a rude stranger, you turn it into a 'what's wrong with group X' or 'this is a symptom of the unique awfulness of the modern world' thinkpiece.

I reckon there's something about human psychology that means, when encountering someone obnoxious, it's easier to cope with the annoyance that the encounter causes if you turn them into a representative of a larger group or see the event as part of a general social trend, rather than just being left with annoyance at an anonymous random stranger who happened to be obnoxious.

(Though I suspect there's also something circular or self-describing about my theory.)

 

[IronWing]

Sprinkle birdseed on his head.

 

[nakedfrog]

Sprinkle birdseed on his head.

With a crowbar.

 

[dullard]

It sounds like a simple variant of the strawman fallacy. Rather than discuss the main topic where they are wrong, they'd rather discuss a non-important off-topic where they are correct.

"Rude" wasn't the best choice of words (rude usually means ignorant, uncivilized, or intentionally offensive), so they can feel like they "win" the argument by focusing on that word. It lets them ignore the argument about them bumping into you where they were at fault.

As for source, I'd say the human mind's desire to not be wrong. Then the fact that every news opinion show or internet debate uses that type of tactic.

 

[Charmonium]

There will never be any kind of written guide for the Zs. It would just be too f'ing embarrassing.

 

[Captante]

There will never be any kind of written guide for the Zs. It would just be too f'ing embarrassing.

Also they really are not very good at writing OR reading.

 

[Mai72]

So I got into a funny argument with a gen z-er over the weekend (shoved into us at bar, minor thing) and was struck by the argument method he used - a methodology I see *all* the time on talking head new shows and the like: ignoring the fact that he should just say excuse me and instead obsessing on my word choice. "It's not RUDE.. How dare you call me rude.RUDE, you're rude. Rude rude rude.."" Deflecting at every point and just going on and on because I wouldn't admit that HE was right (that it wasn't a big deal). It was so exhausting that I just walked away and he kept on talking to himself.

Not hung up on one argument, just curious - what is this damn blog they all subscribe to? For "know your enemy" research, there obviously is one source feeding this "knowledge" - since lots of these kids seem to be target workers with purple hair I don't believe it's just the colleges churning them out.. What's their source? it's surely not the Wall Street journal.

The source is YouTube pops.

Their place of academia? Reddit.

 

[Mai72]

HEY !!! I represent that remark !!!!!!

Hey Hey Hey!! I resent and double resent that remark!!! Why are YOU looking at me!! STOP LOOKING AT ME!!!

You need to use pronouns he, she! And they, them!!! RUDE RUDE RUDE!!!

 

[MrSquished]

OK Boomer

 

[Captante]

OK Boomer

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I would have felt to make certain he didn't gank my wallet. Then asked if he hurt himself.

And my gen z kid doesn't speak or behave like that. But he would definitely body your old ass in a bar fight if you stepped up.

 

[Captante]

I would have felt to make certain he didn't gank my wallet. Then asked if he hurt himself.

And my gen z kid doesn't speak or behave like that. But he would definitely body your old ass in a bar fight if you stepped up.

I'll bet you taught him to say "excuse me" if he accidently bumped into some old geezer at a bar?



I know my ex and I imparted that message to both my OUR daughters!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

But I'll bet you taught him to say "excuse me" at some point?

I know my ex and I imparted that message to my daughters!

"Our daughters", it's "our daughters". Gosh that's rude!

 

[IronWing]

"Our daughters", it's "our daughters". Gosh that's rude!

Maybe the chicks ain’t hers. Your presumptions about family structure are so 20th century.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Maybe the chicks ain’t hers. Your presumptions about family structure are so 20th century.

Point conceded. I am rude, crude, and unattractive.

 

[IronWing]

Point conceded. I am rude, crude, and unattractive.

Two out of three ain’t bad; the third is the deal breaker.

 

[Charmonium]

HEY !!! I represent that remark !!!!!!

I think you meant to say that you 'resemble' that remark. It's cool though. Most of us over the age of 40 are well acquainted with the vocab of the Looney Tunes universe.