6 Traditional Manners Gen X & Boomers Grew Up Respecting That Sadly Mean Almost Nothing To Young People Today
Pheelings media / ShutterstockWhen baby boomers were growing up in the 1950s and 60s, traditional etiquette was the norm. Things became a little more casual by the time their Gen X kids came along, but even then, certain traditional manners were expected.
Today's crop of young people have barely any use for those old rules, seeing them as outdated and sometimes even rude. No matter how important they may be to older folks, Gen Z and even some millennials want nothing to do with them.
Gen X and boomers grew up respecting these traditional manners that unfortunately mean basically nothing to younger people now
1. Calling to share important news
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Young people really don’t like talking on the phone, which is understandable since they never really had to get used to it. But it’s hard for boomers and Gen Xers to wrap their heads around that when they once had to make phone calls for everything, both big and small.
Most members of older generations understand that young people are more comfortable with texting, and they even do it themselves. But when something important comes up, they always think it warrants a call. Getting a quick text about something serious seems foreign to them.
2. Making proper introductions
Making introductions used to be an event in and of itself. Gen X and boomers learned what to say when introducing someone and what order to introduce people in when they were growing up, just like any other skill.
These days, formal introductions are rare, if not extinct. Young people keep their communication much more casual, so they usually just tell someone their first name with a smile and a nod. The old-fashioned method is nothing more than nostalgia now.
3. Sending cards for all occasions
Sending an actual card in the mail isn’t a totally lost art. There are still billions of cards sold each year, and some young people are trying to bring the tradition back now that analog things are cool again.
You’d probably be hard-pressed to find a young person who sends cards the way Gen X and boomers were taught to, though. Whether it was a holiday or they needed to thank someone, there was a card for that. Cards have become something special rather than something expected.
4. Asking for permission to leave the table
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It’s possible that the words “May I be excused?” haven’t been uttered in years. Along with other classic table manners like keeping your elbows off the table and not starting to eat until everyone is ready, that sounds pretty archaic to young people.
For boomers and Gen X, it was the norm, and not just at dinner parties. Kids were expected to ask their parents for permission to step away, too. It was a different era some people will never understand.
5. Responding to invitations
Once upon a time, invitations came with a request for a reply in the form of an RSVP. Of course, that was back when people sent paper invitations in the mail and expected their guests to decide if they were coming ahead of time and actually follow through.
That’s how boomers and Gen X grew up, but it’s wildly different from what younger generations do. They usually extend invitations through a text, and it’s often not a big deal if someone doesn’t let them know what their plans are in advance or cancels at the last minute.
6. Bringing a gift for the host
The importance of host gifts is kind of up for debate these days. Some etiquette experts think it’s still a good idea, while others say it isn’t necessary. It’s honestly not something most young people will think about, especially when the host is someone close to them.
But it would have been almost unthinkable to go to a party without a gift for the host back in the day. Gen Xers and boomers were taught to never show up empty-handed, even if what they brought with them was small.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
