As an early 90’s millennial, I’ve never noticed a “gen z stare” as described in news articles like a “blank face that shows lack of social skill or ability to think”. The only times I’ve witnessed it happen and seen the older person accuse them of “gen z stare” is when the older person says something off hand or dumb but isn’t self aware enough to realize they’re being weird. Hell, I’ve given people a blank face countless times because I was taught it was better to say nothing at all sometimes. Especially when it came to talking to older people at work.

I remember when I was 16, some middle aged guy at work accused me of having no personality. In reality, I kept all conversations short as possible with him (like almost everyone in the store) because they were casually racist and misogynistic.

  • Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
    113·
    9 hours ago

    I don’t think you fully appreciate what it’s like to grow up with boomers for parents. Your generation can basically ignore them, without any direct interaction. All you lose, is a birthday card. We grew up with them in our face, every single day. You can’t argue with these people. All you can do, is stare at them like they’re fucking idiots…because they are. Confronting them, is next to impossible, unless you are prepared to go to war over the stupidest shit imaginable.

    This isn’t our “social deficiency”. It’s theirs. We grew up with no way of communicating with a generation of Karens, other than deliberate non-engagement.

    • stray@pawb.social
      7·
      6 hours ago

      That’s exactly my experience growing up as a millennial. I think what you (and hater articles) are describing as a gen z thing is normal human behavior when caught in a situation with emotionally unhealthy people, especially if it’s an abusive power imbalance.

    • Bongles@lemmy.zip
      6·
      7 hours ago

      Boomers aren’t really the parents of Gen Z if that’s what you’re saying, except on the extremes (the youngest boomers with the oldest Gen Z and they had kids past around 40 years old). That’s mostly Gen X and older millennials who had kids young. I, as a younger millennial, have boomer parents and even they almost aren’t.

      ~(I typed this and had one of those “god, I don’t care anymore” moments, but it’s typed already so here you go)~