# OK Boomer! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162 "2019-11-08T01:49:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/201 "2019-11-11T18:35:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > No time to read the thread. > > Nevertheless, I had to say it. Good lord I hope you’re just riffing here because dayum. Poe’s Law, it is a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/202 "2019-11-12T04:51:18Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > No, saying it “outright” would mean that I’d actually said it. I haven’t. Not _verbatim_. But this _is_ saying it outright: > [@](#): > > It was pushback against the lazy assumption that the world is a terrible place. **In my opinion it is not**. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/203 "2019-11-12T04:54:18Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > You could have saved yourself a lot of argument by simply agreeing with me right at the start and stating that you weren’t interested in whether the world was a better place now than just after the war. Why on Earth would I agree to play the entire game in your half, when what Millennials are \*actually \*concerned about was obviously **BeagleJesus** ’ point. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/204 "2019-11-12T06:44:47Z")
Just a quick question: Has anyone in the boomer (or older Gen-X) group ever heard this phrase directed at them in a non-ironic, non-bantering context? i know a lot of millenials and have not heard anyone say this seriously. Has any one in the age range made a serious argument to a younger person and have them say “OK boomer” in response? I mean in real life. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/205 "2019-11-12T07:04:00Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > The author of that article is not a boomer. He was born in 1962; that’s way too late. That’s Obama’s generation: the one that doesn’t have an agreed-upon name. _All_ of these terms–_millennial_, _boomer_, _gen-X_–are just the by-products of fatuous journalism, and have become an endless echo chamber of meaningless and empty generalizations. This desire to categorize into “generations” is intellectually lazy and bankrupt. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/206 "2019-11-12T07:04:26Z")
I doubt anyone here in the age range has heard it directed at them in _any_ context outside this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/207 "2019-11-12T14:07:52Z")
Boomer here, and I’m counting on the millennials to save us all from rising fascism. Get out and vote! Seriously, the two younger generations have the numbers to dominate U.S. politics for the next 50 years. Do good with that power. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/208 "2019-11-12T15:06:54Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Just a quick question: Has anyone in the boomer (or older Gen-X) group ever heard this phrase directed at them in a non-ironic, non-bantering context? i know a lot of millenials and have not heard anyone say this seriously. Has any one in the age range made a serious argument to a younger person and have them say “OK boomer” in response? I mean in real life. It was bantering, but I (b. 1961, a tweener) used a setup on a millennial and got “OK Boomer” back. Before this thread, I had never heard it used at all, but it appears someone had. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/209 "2019-11-12T16:16:02Z")
As a Gen-X er, I think it’s great and wish we had thought of it back when we were hearing all of the ‘slacker generation’ stuff. It is a perfect comeback to all of the ‘Millennials are killing X’ headlines and the weird ranting about ‘kids today don’t know how books work’ stuff that’s floating around, and the sheer dismissiveness of it really hits home. One of the key characteristics of boomers is a narcissistic belief in their own importance, and this phrase manages to belittle that importance in two words without using any kind of slur or bad language. The irony of people who complain that Millennials are thin-skinned, easily-offended snowflakes who fall to pieces to easily clutching their pearls at someone saying ‘OK, name-you-identify-yourself-as’ is simply beautiful. I rate this phrase 10/10. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/210 "2019-11-12T17:32:25Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I doubt anyone here in the age range has heard it directed at them in _any_ context outside this thread. As I said earlier, I’ve only seen it used in self-congratulatory memes shared between Millennials about how _ever so mad_ the Boomers are about this phrase. And now I’m seeing it used ironically following a “wtf is up with this Ok, Boomer thing?” conversation. I think it’ll have completely jumped the ole shark before I ever see it used as intended in the wild – much less see a Boomer get upset about it firsthand. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/211 "2019-11-12T17:41:22Z")
LOL, you don’t HEAR it said but you see it online a LOT and that right there is a big difference between Boomers and Millennials because the younguns do way more of their socializing online. I’m a hermit with a very short list of who’s allowed over to my place and I also do the majority of my socializing online and although I’ve not had it used toward me I’ve used it myself quite often because it’s fucking handy. I’ve been pissed off annoyed at the smug complacency of the majority of my age cohort for a good long while now and have railed against the stupid fucking shit they rubber stamped for decades and it feels really good to finally have a short phrase that sums up my irritation and disgust with what my generation has allowed the world to come to. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/212 "2019-11-12T17:44:14Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > LOL, you don’t HEAR it said but you see it online a LOT and that right there is a big difference between Boomers and Millennials because the younguns do way more of their socializing online. But a phrase directed at people who aren’t around to see it isn’t really doing its job 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/213 "2019-11-12T17:58:41Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > As I said earlier, I’ve only seen it used in self-congratulatory memes shared between Millennials about how _ever so mad_ the Boomers are about this phrase. And now I’m seeing it used ironically following a “wtf is up with this Ok, Boomer thing?” conversation. I think it’ll have completely jumped the ole shark before I ever see it used as intended in the wild – much less see a Boomer get upset about it firsthand. Yup. It’s got a great clapback effect, but it’s gonna be overused, abused, and discarded like a 50-year-old retail worker. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/214 "2019-11-12T18:00:34Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > But a phrase directed at people who aren’t around to see it isn’t really doing its job 😛 Okay, Boomer. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/215 "2019-11-12T18:35:53Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Okay, Boomer. That’s “Ok, Boomer”. Boomer. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/216 "2019-11-12T18:36:01Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Not _verbatim_. But this _is_ saying it outright: No, it simply isn’t and I don’t make that claim. That is why the closest thing you can find is nowhere near what you claimed I said. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/217 "2019-11-12T18:38:05Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Why on Earth would I agree to play the entire game in your half I don’t ask that you play in my half but it is generally considered good practice to at least play the same game. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/218 "2019-11-12T18:53:33Z")
> [@BeagleJesus](#): > > I mean you completely missed the very obvious point I was trying to make while asking overly pedantic questions in an effort to reframe the discussion so that you can try and score a point. You don’t get a free pass from having your claims challenged. The discussion wasn’t being reframed, you were being asked to back up the things you said. You didn’t and you flounced instead. > [@](#): > > That behavior is exactly the type of bullshit OK Boomer is used to dismiss. Thus, you were dismissed. And it was a perfect example of what a weak response it is. Someone somewhere else in thread used the phrase “ok sonny”. There is no practical difference between the two. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/219 "2019-11-12T19:45:46Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > And it was a perfect example of what a weak response it is. Someone somewhere else in thread used the phrase “ok sonny”. There is no practical difference between the two. Except that ok sonny doesn’t hit at all. That’s just the same dismissive attitude boomers have showered millennials with from the start. ok boomer triggers old people because they are not used to being the one patronized. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162/220 "2019-11-12T21:44:10Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > As a Gen-X er, I think it’s great and wish we had thought of it back when we were hearing all of the ‘slacker generation’ stuff. We didn’t have the numbers. Millenials and younger aren’t any snarkier than we were, but they have enough population to make their snark the dominant discourse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-boomer/843162.md?page=12)