Younger Coworkers..

[Spawn67]

So due to an unstable economy where I live I had to take a job in a restraunt (no not fast food!). I of course am one of the only "older" folks there. Id say about 98% of what we talk about on this board everyone no has any clue whatsoever what I am talking about. Seems I have to watch what I say cause it shows my age..Hell Im not even 40 yet!!
Anyone else deal with this at your job?

[Mikey]

This reminds me of comments I read on youtube all the time.

As an example somebody might post a video of a 60's song and most people only know the song because it was on Family Guy.

[Brazoo]

I'm a regular at this cafe next door to my apartment and I end up hanging out with a lot of people under 25, so yeah, I totally get you.

It goes both ways - I have no idea what they're talking about a lot of the time too! Partially because I'm not always up to speed on what's happening now, and partially because I think this next generation is totally crazy.

[Brazoo]

This reminds me of comments I read on youtube all the time.

As an example somebody might post a video of a 60's song and most people only know the song because it was on Family Guy.

Yeah - that and it also use to drive me crazy when people only knew songs from covers - but now these kids know songs from samples.

These damn youngsters!

[HardyGirl]

Actually among my co-workers, I am one of the younger ones. Most of them know about the music, and one of the teachers who's male talks Star Trek w/ me, but none of them really know about the toys.

[CaptainTrenchcoat]

I get that all the time. I've worked retail management most of my career and most of the new employees are in their late teens and early 20's. I used to joke that I was old enough to be their dads if something had happened in high school. Now I'm actually old enough to be their parent. 42 here. I don't make that joke anymore.

[toys2cool]

I have a lot of teens in my family so I keep up with them

[SeattleEd]

I stay away from the foodie service industry unless you working the management level in the home office, even then, I stay away. LOL.

Seriously, in the digital media market I am living in the situation and it's funny seeing the young gen think they know much or are walking with attitude only to see them hit hard knowing how it will turn out because it's cute seeing them take steps that are not new.
I'm guilty of feeling this way when I was young only to be too arrogant to take the advice of those that are familiar. Learned the hard way but the wiser and it's funny seeing what has been preached come to fruition on a first hand level.

[kennermike]

I stay away from the foodie service industry unless you working the management level in the home office, even then, I stay away. LOL.

Seriously, in the digital media market I am living in the situation and it's funny seeing the young gen think they know much or are walking with attitude only to see them hit hard knowing how it will turn out because it's cute seeing them take steps that are not new.
I'm guilty of feeling this way when I was young only to be too arrogant to take the advice of those that are familiar. Learned the hard way but the wiser and it's funny seeing what has been preached come to fruition on a first hand level.

Theirs always Dicks!inside Joke

[SeattleEd]

Theirs always DIcks!inside Joke

[saildog]

I'm guilty of feeling this way when I was young only to be too arrogant to take the advice of those that are familiar. Learned the hard way but the wiser and it's funny seeing what has been preached come to fruition on a first hand level.

Me, too!

However, anyone who has ever been in the military knows about how long that arrogance lasts in that setting....if it pops up at all. I learned pretty quick that if you want to make it, you better have a mentor and be willing to be one to the next batch of "noobs".

[GUYx1]

I really feel for you. I work in IT and there are always people in their early 20's. Tried talking comics with the comic guy. We are in a different world.
Tried talking weird movies to the weird movies guy.
"Who's David Lynch?"
God forbid I ever bring up video games or music.
Forget the 1960's I can't even bring up songs from 2002 that people have heard of...

[SeattleEd]

Forget the 1960's I can't even bring up songs from 2002 that people have heard of...

Yeah, I hear ya. I bring up a few and some look right through or scoff. Some are even surprised of the newer bands I know. Funny looks.

It's all a generational thing. Some outgrow it and others tend to delve in it. LOL

[Adam West]

The biggest thing I notice with younger workers (I am making a generalization but have personally found it to be the rule and not the exception) is general lack of a hard work ethic and absolutely zero loyalty to the company. The CPA association I belong to says to get used to it because this is how it's going to be. No more loyalty due to seeing their own parents laid off and the work ethic issue has been attributed to having a safety net (i.e. moving back with mom and dad if things don't work out). They did say that younger workers are excellent multi-taskers due to technology but need mentors to help them transition into the work force. I guess they are one of the first generations to be super coddled by their parents and don't realize how tough life can be out in the real world

[GUYx1]

When I was first laid off, I eventually found work with Apple. It was really depressing when I had co workers who were 20 years old and had not only been able to Take the elusive POST OFFICE exam, but had actually become postal workers, only to find the work BORING and they quit. (Quit without another job waiting for them)

I had one co worker that kept talking about his $300 jeans he had purchased that week.
It was really depressing because half the people working there had pierced tongues and were living at home and the other half were over 40 and trying to not lose their homes due to being laid off. Everyone was really cool, but I remember when piercings were a rebel thing with a cool factor instead of just being a normal kid thing to do as it was at Apple. I could really feel the age gap. Plus seeing so many people dressing with their jeans unzipped & completely undone, left me feeling like the most conservative person there. I guess I just don't get out much. Of course there was also the "Evil Wesley Crusher" figure bent on corporate domination. That was really creepy to see a 20 year old be the boss of me. I have seen this sort of character depicted in films, but never pictured him so young or so corporate that he literally held my life in his hands. At 41, I don't FEEL that old. Not until I see how different 20 can be. Then I just feel weird because that is a place I really don't want to be at anymore. I just try to relate as best I can and shake my head. Some elements are cool, other elements so alien.
Makes me wonder why the fictional Vampires would ever be bothered to be interested in young folk.