As the oldest members of Gen Z turn 30, it’s once again time for a wave of intergenerational conflict in the eternal “Generation Wars.” However, this debate is, ironically, getting old.

“Generation wars” refers to the imaginary beef between Gen Z and other generations like millennials and boomers. On one side, a younger generation resentful of their circumstances, and on the other, bitterness at the “softness” that Gen-Z grew up with. 

So, why do so many people love to participate in casual ageism? It’s hard to say. Perhaps it’s to feel a sense of inherent superiority, or it is a misguided attempt at connection through humor. But ageism affects everyone – old, young or middle-aged.

Regardless, the jokes are getting irritating.

The generation wars are a phenomenon both online and in real life, but talking about differences in generations has gone from simple fun to personal attacks and harmful assumptions of ignorance. Jokes are jokes, but when they stop being funny and start being mean, they can really offend a lot of people. 

For example, a trend on the internet right now is to make fun of “millennial burger joints,” overpriced burger restaurants that use the hipster aesthetic that millennials are somewhat known for.  

These jokes work because they aren’t really about millennials specifically, but rather it refers to the era these restaurants were popular in. It reminds people of specific scenarios they are likely to have experienced, and despite the name, it has little to do with those born from 1981 to 1996.

Yet, not all jokes are lighthearted. Stereotypes are harmful and mischaracterize entire groups of people. 

Moreover, making mean jabs at someone about their age in any setting is just plain stupid. Nobody can choose when they were born. That was decided by their parents and biology.

Generation wars take an already tense society and try to divide it more. There are far more important or enjoyable things to talk about besides who got luckiest experiencing what and when.

Oftentimes older generations will shame younger people for not knowing things that were common knowledge in their time. 

A 10-year-old probably doesn’t know what a laser disc is because they’re obsolete and have been for a long time. It’s like expecting everyone to know how to use a distaff for yarn spinning. 

Plus, it’s not a kid’s fault if they don’t know how to rewind a cassette tape. It’s their parent’s failing for never exposing their child to a variety of media and ideas.

Older people who participate in generation wars are often the culprit behind their children’s incompetence. Younger people who participate in generation wars are often sticks in the mud that are intolerant of other people’s unchanging features.

Let’s not make this “war” affect the next generation.