Walking With Gen Z

Background

It has been almost a year since I moved to Midtown, Atlanta. I live amongst the youths (the ones with money). The average age in my neighborhood seems to be about 23 years old. I’m 42 years old, and have never been known as one for the youths, even when I was one.

In short, I’m a little behind the times on young adult culture and what the kids are into. I know… I was surprised too. I really thought I was with it. Apparently I am not as happening as I had assumed. Who knew?

I have decided that while I walk among them, I should at least take the opportunity to learn about them, if for no other reason than to report my findings back to you. I have quite a lot more research to do, but I figured I’d report a few of my initial findings from my studies. They really are quite fascinating.

Things the Gen Z’s do not understand

Seinfeld references - They don’t get them. Seriously, if you make a Seinfeld reference they will look at you like you are speaking Swahili. They haven’t seen the show. They wouldn’t like the show. They don’t know anything about it. This shouldn’t surprise me, but it does.

Any music reference to a band with instruments - They don’t really listen to bands, just solo performers who neither sing nor play a musical instrument. Basically, if it’s a female “artist” she just raps about how she has sex a lot and hygiene issues. If it’s a male “artist” he just mumble raps about how much money he has. All the “artists” look like they are homeless and have horrible tattoos on their faces. If you point this out, it confuses them.

The Facebook - They have never had an account and they only know what it is because their grandparents are on it. They have their own young people social media apps that you’ve never heard of. They have Click-Clack or Snapfunt or Skiptiy-Duh. They do not Facebook, and if you mention something about Facebook to them, they seem to get a look of pity on their faces.

The idea that they don’t have to take their dog everywhere confuses them - It has never dawned on them that maybe it would be better to leave the French bulldog at home. It honestly never crossed their little minds.

Things that seem to agitate them

Pointing out that their clothes are stupid - Look, I am not the one who told that girl to dress up like a slutty Anne of Green Gables and walk around like that isn’t hilarious. Honestly, you don’t get to wear a “little whore on the prarrie” outfit and then whine that people don’t take you seriously. If I walked into a meeting wearing lederhosen and a stuffed crotch, they’d call the men with the butterfly nets to take me away.

Suggesting that we would all be better off if everyone went back to the office full time - They don’t like that talk one little bit. It makes their little eyes twitch.

Asking them why they wear masks everywhere - They don’t even answer you. It’s not like I’m trying to get all “Republican” on them. It’s an honest question. “You are 22 years old. You’ve been vaxxed 7 or 8 times at this point. You posted each inoculation on Snapfunt for all to see. Now, you are walking down the street, outside, and alone. What’s with the mask?”

They look at you like you are the one who is crazy… Very odd.

Calling them “millennials” - Expect to be corrected quickly. Apparently, they hate those idiots as much as we do. Maybe there’s hope after all.

Things that make them happy

I haven’t found any of those things yet, but I’ll let you know when I do. They do seem to like it when I don’t talk to them. Too bad for them though. It entertains me until spring when I can move to an adult neighborhood.

Non Sequitur

Do you think in the deepest parts of the Democratic Party they are talking to each other about these idiotic January 6th hearings and saying “Oh yeah… we’ve got him now!”? I mean is there anyone that stupid?

I guess it gives the Morning Joe crowd over at MSNBC something to crow about since the whole Russia thing ended up being a Clinton dirty trick. Maybe they can get Mike Barnicle back on to harumph about his “seat of power” some more.

Let’s just hope the ruse doesn’t work and cause Trump to run again. It’s their only hope and I am really enjoying not having him around so much.

Happy Monday all! It’s a new year! Let’s get after it!

—V