This new generation has no concept how to interact

[ce36ei]

Am I becoming an old man? I’m still in my late 30’s.

Went on a hiking trip this last week. Absolutely epic. 40 miles in 48 hours and almost a mile of elevation gain. Anyway, just an observation. It’s normally common on a trail to acknowledge someone you pass. Eye contact, nod, hello, something. Everyone in the early or mid 20’s you can almost see the stress in their eyes when they see you coming. They either look down, or give that glassy stare into space. It’s weird! I’ve noticed how weird they act in meetings at work. They’re scared to death to interact and will absolutely never use the phone when a simple 5 minute conversation is better than trading 6 emails and wasting their and my time.

Old man rant over.

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

Am I becoming an old man? I’m still in my late 30’s.

Went on a hiking trip this last week. Absolutely epic. 40 miles in 48 hours and almost a mile of elevation gain. Anyway, just an observation. It’s normally common on a trail to acknowledge someone you pass. Eye contact, nod, hello, something. Everyone in the early or mid 20’s you can almost see the stress in their eyes when they see you coming. They either look down, or give that glassy stare into space. It’s weird! I’ve noticed how weird they act in meetings at work. They’re scared to death to interact and will absolutely never use the phone when a simple 5 minute conversation is better than trading 6 emails and wasting their and my time.

Old man rant over.

Expressing the wrong idea or feeling gets one ostracized in the modern world.

The younger folks lack the ability to just be cool and ”live and let live.”

(Or maybe you look like a serial killer.)

 

[Hank Reardon]

Am I becoming an old man? I’m still in my late 30’s.

Went on a hiking trip this last week. Absolutely epic. 40 miles in 48 hours and almost a mile of elevation gain. Anyway, just an observation. It’s normally common on a trail to acknowledge someone you pass. Eye contact, nod, hello, something. Everyone in the early or mid 20’s you can almost see the stress in their eyes when they see you coming. They either look down, or give that glassy stare into space. It’s weird! I’ve noticed how weird they act in meetings at work. They’re scared to death to interact and will absolutely never use the phone when a simple 5 minute conversation is better than trading 6 emails and wasting their and my time.

Old man rant over.

I don't know about meeting on the trail, but my two 20-something daughters will do about anything to avoid talking to someone on the phone. Online chats, texts, emails...OK. But actually talk out loud to someone? No effing way.

I imagine it's part of growing up with such communication devices. No need to speak to people.

 

[sglowrider]

Am I becoming an old man? I’m still in my late 30’s.

Went on a hiking trip this last week. Absolutely epic. 40 miles in 48 hours and almost a mile of elevation gain. Anyway, just an observation. It’s normally common on a trail to acknowledge someone you pass. Eye contact, nod, hello, something. Everyone in the early or mid 20’s you can almost see the stress in their eyes when they see you coming. They either look down, or give that glassy stare into space. It’s weird! I’ve noticed how weird they act in meetings at work. They’re scared to death to interact and will absolutely never use the phone when a simple 5 minute conversation is better than trading 6 emails and wasting their and my time.

Old man rant over.

I did some digging..... is this you?

 

[largemouth]

Am I becoming an old man? I’m still in my late 30’s.

Went on a hiking trip this last week. Absolutely epic. 40 miles in 48 hours and almost a mile of elevation gain. Anyway, just an observation. It’s normally common on a trail to acknowledge someone you pass. Eye contact, nod, hello, something. Everyone in the early or mid 20’s you can almost see the stress in their eyes when they see you coming. They either look down, or give that glassy stare into space. It’s weird! I’ve noticed how weird they act in meetings at work. They’re scared to death to interact and will absolutely never use the phone when a simple 5 minute conversation is better than trading 6 emails and wasting their and my time.

Old man rant over.

The potato goes in the front.

 

[ce36ei]

I did some digging..... is this you?

I wish I had hair like that!

 

[Joe_Hoopsier]

Our 20-25 yr old Engineers at work, with customer facing roles suck at it. We've had ~15% over the last 3 yrs actually quit just because they had to have 4-5, 20 minute conversations a week with different customers. Makes me want to scream. They get so scared it's just ridiculous.

 

[kkott]

I don't know about meeting on the trail, but my two 20-something daughters will do about anything to avoid talking to someone on the phone. Online chats, texts, emails...OK. But actually talk out loud to someone? No effing way.

I imagine it's part of growing up with such communication devices. No need to speak to people.

Yeah, I think it's just repitition and practice. The best thing for me to learn to interact with people, and honestly one of the jobs I learned the most from, was having a paper route. Having to collect from neighbors/customers, deal with money, field complaints or requests... it taught me a lot at a young age. Fast forward to being a Dad and I'd get a little frustrated with my son because he wouldn't look adults in the eyes when speaking and had a wet fish handshake. His last couple years in college he waited tables at a micro-brewery and sports bar and learned the art of small talk, dealing with customers, etc... and now he gets along well with other adults, looks them in the eye, etc... and is quite engaging. I guess that's what I'd suggest, if your kids don't have these skills, maybe try and encourage them to take a job where they interact with the public and adults.

 

[Hank Reardon]

I guess that's what I'd suggest, if your kids don't have these skills, maybe try and encourage them to take a job where they interact with the public and adults.

They both have adult jobs. One is a legal assistant at a FW law office downtown. The other moved to Boston last fall and does financial auditing, so she spends a lot of time on site at various places. The CAN communicate, they'd just rather do things digitally if possible.

Then again, so would I. I used to order food over the phone from restaurants all the time. Now I get pissed if they don't have an online option. Hell, I don't want to talk to anyone either.

 

[hookyIU1990]

I talk to anyone and everyone. I have enough working against me. I don't need this too.

Potential neurobiological links between social isolation and Alzheimer's disease risk - PubMed

It is estimated that 40% of dementia cases could be prevented by modification of lifestyle factors that associate with disease risk. One of these potentially modifiable lifestyle factors is social isolation. In this review, we discuss what is known about associations between social isolation and...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

My son was uncomfortable talking to people, then a restaurant job made him impossible to shut up.

I think a lot of it is realizing that what most people think of you really doesn't matter and even if it does, most people don't think poorly of someone who can just smile and small talk.

 

[kkott]

They both have adult jobs. One is a legal assistant at a FW law office downtown. The other moved to Boston last fall and does financial auditing, so she spends a lot of time on site at various places. The CAN communicate, they'd just rather do things digitally if possible.

Then again, so would I. I used to order food over the phone from restaurants all the time. Now I get pissed if they don't have an online option. Hell, I don't want to talk to anyone either.

Didn't mean your girls specifically, I really meant for about any kid/parent. I'm assuming the more electronics are involved, the less human interaction and that type of job might become even more valuable to kids.

 

[zeke4ahs]

I’m old and have tons of face to face interactions. But I’d almost always prefer communicating online than a phone call.

 

[UncleMark]

I’m old and have tons of face to face interactions. But I’d almost always prefer communicating online than a phone call.

When I was working and needed to get something done other than a straightforward transaction, I always preferred talking to the people I was working with. Otherwise, I'd rather do stuff online.

 

[VanPastorMan]

Am I becoming an old man? I’m still in my late 30’s.

Went on a hiking trip this last week. Absolutely epic. 40 miles in 48 hours and almost a mile of elevation gain. Anyway, just an observation. It’s normally common on a trail to acknowledge someone you pass. Eye contact, nod, hello, something. Everyone in the early or mid 20’s you can almost see the stress in their eyes when they see you coming. They either look down, or give that glassy stare into space. It’s weird! I’ve noticed how weird they act in meetings at work. They’re scared to death to interact and will absolutely never use the phone when a simple 5 minute conversation is better than trading 6 emails and wasting their and my time.

Old man rant over.

I get upset when I see young people who appear to be on a date and neither of them are looking or talking to each other. Both are on their phones. I am thinking, "What in the world are you doing? Get to know each other".

 

[T.M.P.]

I get upset when I see young people who appear to be on a date and neither of them are looking or talking to each other. Both are on their phones. I am thinking, "What in the world are you doing? Get to know each other".

They're probably not on a date. This is just another indicator of how your stupidity gets in the way of reality. Just because a male and female are together doesn't mean they're f**king or trying to. It's not the 1950's and we don't live in Islamabad.. you seriously need to pull your head out of your ass...

 

[UncleMark]

I get upset when I see young people who appear to be on a date and neither of them are looking or talking to each other. Both are on their phones. I am thinking, "What in the world are you doing? Get to know each other".

They're sexting each other, dumbass.

 

[IUclover]

They're sexting each other, dumbass.

Yep, check where the other hand is.

I disagree with OP. I think old and young are equally not social. From my experience, this is more relative to where they grew up.

Midwestern people like to talk. Colorado is a mixed bag due to transplants, but the people who talk the mostly are from the Midwest or East Coast. In Cali, I’ll say it was more cultural. Lived in an area that was probably 80% Asian and Indian and barely got a waive, also during pandemic so that was a factor.

Living in new neighborhood now in Colorado and I’ve found people with dogs like to talk. Otherwise, an unpredictable mixed bag of young and old.

My wife says I should make a card and run for mayor because I somehow start a convo with everyone… and she kind of hates it.

 

[UncleMark]

My wife says I should make a card and run for mayor because I somehow start a convo with everyone… and she kind of hates it.

You sound like my wife. She knows everything about the Wall Mart greeters and the checkout people at the grocery and all about the pharmacist's family and the counter people at the Y and on and on and on. Me, I barely know my coworkers' names.

 

[IUclover]

You sound like my wife. She knows everything about the Wall Mart greeters and the checkout people at the grocery and all about the pharmacist's family and the counter people at the Y and on and on and on. Me, I barely know my coworkers' names.

Yep, that’s me. I know names and fun little facts about my neighbors, local greeters, etc. Somehow know names of people we met 5 years ago on a trail and never talked to again.

I’m like that’s Susan from Wisconsin who has a two kids who went to IU and Illinois. Her other kid works IT in Seattle. She also likes banana nut bread.

Again, my wife hates it but knowing neighbors has helped me find some tools and some help with rebuilding a fence. Plus they’ll hate me less when I don’t have time to pull weeds from our front yard.

 

[VanPastorMan]

They're sexting each other, dumbass.

What would the honeymoon look like?

 

[ORG]

Am I becoming an old man? I’m still in my late 30’s.

Went on a hiking trip this last week. Absolutely epic. 40 miles in 48 hours and almost a mile of elevation gain. Anyway, just an observation. It’s normally common on a trail to acknowledge someone you pass. Eye contact, nod, hello, something. Everyone in the early or mid 20’s you can almost see the stress in their eyes when they see you coming. They either look down, or give that glassy stare into space. It’s weird! I’ve noticed how weird they act in meetings at work. They’re scared to death to interact and will absolutely never use the phone when a simple 5 minute conversation is better than trading 6 emails and wasting their and my time.

Old man rant over.

It's a generation that has to communicate via technology.

 

[larsIU]

This is hilarious and timely.

My 15 year old daughter was riding in the car with me and we slowed for a stop light. There were some kids crossing the street that were about her age. She suddenly slides down in the seat so as to not be seen.

I inquire on this odd behavior and she advises that her generation doesn't like to see other kids from her generation in public. To the point that if they are all visiting Meijer in their little friend groups they will actively run away from each other as opposed to just chatting.

Odd.

 

[UncleMark]

I inquire on this odd behavior and she advises that her generation doesn't like to see other kids from her generation in public. To the point that if they are all visiting Meijer in their little friend groups they will actively run away from each other as opposed to just chatting.

Wait, your teenage daughter and her little friend group hang out at Meijer???

 

[kkott]

Wait, your teenage daughter and her little friend group hang out at Meijer???

I wondered why you were hanging around Meijer's lately... perv!

 

[kkott]

Wait, your teenage daughter and her little friend group hang out at Meijer???

doesn't surprise me, after observing my GF's 16 yo daugher and her friends and how the interact. They pretty much all use a tracking app so they know where each other are and it seems that not seeing someone is at least as important as seeing the ones you want to.

 

[larsIU]

Wait, your teenage daughter and her little friend group hang out at Meijer???

Haha. No. It just happened there. But she did say they will literally CROSS THE STREET to avoid interaction.

It's f*cked up.

 

[UncleMark]

Haha. No. It just happened there. But she did say they will literally CROSS THE STREET to avoid interaction.

It's f*cked up.

Fvckit. I give up.

Anything in a two piece?

 

[larsIU]

Fvckit. I give up.

Anything in a two piece?

Here you go

 

[larsIU]

Fvckit. I give up.

Anything in a two piece?

Also, we went on vacation last year and it was the first time she was allowed to wear a bikini.

The amount of old dudes staring her down made me rethink my position on owning every gun on the planet.

As well as boarding schools, converting to Islam, etc.

 

[UncleMark]

Also, we went on vacation last year and it was the first time she was allowed to wear a bikini.

The amount of old dudes staring her down made me rethink my position on owning every gun on the planet.

I'm sometimes ashamed of myself when driving through campus. But I get over it.

There's a family across the street I've watched grow up, one boy and two girls, all very close in age. The girls blossomed last year, but this year they've taken to dressing and wearing their hair in the most unattractive fashion possible. Has kept my leering to a minimum.

 

[larsIU]

I'm sometimes ashamed of myself when driving through campus. But I get over it.

There's a family across the street I've watched grow up, one boy and two girls, all very close in age. The girls blossomed last year, but this year they've taken to dressing and wearing their hair in the most unattractive fashion possible. Has kept my leering to a minimum.

Friend of mine was a year ahead of me. Went to IU. Said he rearended a car the first week he was there b/c he was too busy staring at all the coeds.

It's why i wear shades when driving with the wife. Mirrored shades.

 

[UncleMark]

Friend of mine was a year ahead of me. Went to IU. Said he rearended a car the first week he was there b/c he was too busy staring at all the coeds.

Occupational hazard for me.

 

[FrankTGucker]

It's a generation that has to communicate via technology.

BREAKING NEWS

 

[sglowrider]

Have you guys seen Master of None on Netflix? I would have shot myself if their decision process is so convoluted.

The old caveman approach is direct and honest: Me john, you Jane. I like.

Bosh!!

 

[dr.jb]

When I was working and needed to get something done other than a straightforward transaction, I always preferred talking to the people I was working with. Otherwise, I'd rather do stuff online.

talking face to face to someone is always preferred

there's no better way to gauge how full of sh!t they are

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

talking face to face to someone is always preferred

there's no better way to gauge how full of sh!t they are

I don't know

I've met very few Cooler posters, but I’d bet a lot on some being full of shit

Just saying

 

[dr.jb]

I don't know

I've met very few Cooler posters, but I’d bet a lot on some being full of shit

Just saying

no doubt

but then from time to time we're all full of sh!t to some degree, aren't we?

some much more so than others...