20 things nobody wants to admit boomers got right

While boomers were there when the first computers came into action, the internet was still something they thought would be a viable option in the Terminator-like futures that ‘80s movies promised (and warned about). They either talked on the phone with loved ones who were far away or sat down with a pen and paper and wrote lengthy letters. Writing a letter might seem as antiquated as the pen used to write one, but there is something more genuine and heartfelt about someone’s handwriting that can’t be matched by a Facebook message. That also goes for birthday cards. Get a stamp and mail them a card. Just don’t rely on a social media post.

Today, dining tables are more like the terminal where groceries wait before being lifted off to the fridge or pantry. With the TV being so centralized in modern-day homes, it’s hard for many to realize that eating meals at the table was the absolute norm. It’s how many boomers were raised, but as they became busier with work, and their kids transformed into the latchkey variety, that tradition started to die off. Boomers tried to keep it going though, and they were right to do so. Eating without the distraction of the small screen, and allowing for conversations to be had, is something many would benefit from having in their lives.

Does anyone else remember how much time one, especially their boomer parents, used to spend on the phone? Now, many don’t even get their ringer on and are tossed into a mental whirlwind if they receive a call. Talking on the phone gave way to a verbal connection that just cannot be emulated via text.

The idea of streaming was amazing when it started, but with so many options now, boomers were correct when they decided to stick with their basic cable packages.

There is nothing wrong with online dating or apps. They are simply an evolution. However, boomers didn’t have that. Perhaps a chat room here and there, but no. That generation hit the pavement. They met in the real world because they were the last generation to have a “third place.” That third place is an additional spot that isn’t home or work. That means a local bar, a club, etc. With the rising cost of living (and life in general), and people just opting to stay home and scroll, the idea of third places has been minimized. Leaving many to rely only on apps and algorithms for love.

So boomers aren’t the end-all be-all of fashion. That’s not what this means. It just means that when older generations left the house for work, or on a date, or even to school, there was thought put into their ensembles. They didn’t just toss on sweats, Crocs, and a hoodie and call it a day.

If one’s phone were to die and contact needed to be made, it’d be nice to have a physical place where all one’s contacts were written.

There’s something magical and relaxing about an evening with Jeopardy. Plus, a little extra knowledge never hurt anyone.

Does anyone really know what they’re paying for nowadays? With everything being paperless and online, it’s a task to know when and where one’s funds are going every month. Balancing a checkbook used to be the norm for boomers, and they were onto something. It helped them actually track their money instead of just hoping their account had enough to cover those automatic payments.

QR code menus have got to go.

Social media is full of people posting their pictures here and there, but one thing that’s often MIA is loved ones. Most of the time, pictures with relatives are reserved for the holidays and not a random summer trip. Is it because travel photos garner more likes than those with grandparents? Who knows, but Boomers would travel to visit people and not just places, and in a time where in-person connection is something many are yearning for, perhaps it’s time to book a trip just to see a familiar face and not just a far-off place.

The 24-hour news cycle changed society, and not sure if it was for the best. 

Some kids can pick up a phone and instantly know how to get to Roblox, but then can’t turn around and hold a pencil. This is just one of the reasons the world needs to bring learning cursive back. It’s just about learning a way to write; it’s about defining motor skills.

When Boomers told their kids they couldn’t just hop up and answer the phone during dinner, they set a precedent that has all but been abandoned because now, people can’t eat without a fork in one hand and their phone in the other.

When it came to parenting, boomers didn’t have everything right. Let’s be clear about that, but what they did do was give their kids enough independence that when those kids grew up, they didn’t ultimately freak out when it came time to do the most basic human tasks.

If there is one generation keeping classic TV alive, it’s boomers and their love of old-school sitcoms, and you know what? They’re correct. That style of comedy might seem out of date, but it’s TV shows like that that are the foundation of all the shows many love today.

Life was simpler when people couldn’t be reached 24/7.

How many would benefit from having a weekly home-cooked meal with those they cared about?

There is a convenience to having pictures stored in an online cloud, and there’s less physical waste but there are moments that deserve to be captured, printed, and either stored or framed in one’s home.

The number one thing media about post-apocalyptic worlds get wrong is when people use paper maps. The second MapQuest came about, humans abandoned the need to learn any and all navigational skills.