Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers Have Completely Different Ideas Of What's Worth Waiting In Line For
Andrey Popov / Shutterstock Back when baby boomers and Gen X were younger, pretty much any exciting event required waiting in line. You couldn't buy tickets for concerts or movies online, and you certainly couldn't just do your Black Friday shopping from the comfort of your own home.
Now that we can purchase and arrange for so many things using our computers or phones, people from different generations have come to have completely different beliefs about what is and is not worth waiting in a line for. Everyone has their limit when it comes to waiting, no matter how cool or popular something is. Depending on how old you are, you are probably more likely to skip the whole thing and just get on with your day when it comes to waits you can or can't see as worthwhile.
What's actually worth waiting in line for, according to each generation.
Boomers are most likely to think standing in line is a small price to pay when something is genuinely worth having.
They may be willing to wait for a big sale or an event they've been looking forward to, especially if they know the experience will be memorable. The line itself isn't necessarily a dealbreaker because they grew up without needing instant gratification.
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At the same time, they're less patient with something that's merely trendy. If the excitement doesn't match the actual value, they'll happily skip it. Give them something they truly want, though, and they're perfectly capable of settling in and making the most of their time being in line.
Gen X usually has a more practical perspective toward waiting in line.
This generation will generally hop in line anytime it's for something that interests them, whether it be a favorite band, a good restaurant, their kid's graduation, or a rare item they've been hunting down. But if the line is moving at a snail's pace and the payoff isn't worth their time, they're not afraid to bail.
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They've also got a decent radar for hype. Something being trendy doesn't automatically make it worth standing around for hours. If there's a real reason to wait, they'll do it with no hesitation. If not, they just move on and try to find a better option.
Millennials are pretty selective about which lines deserve their time.
Millennials won't think twice about getting in line for a limited-edition drop or the coffee shop everyone seems to love. They understand that good things can take time, so if they've already decided the experience at the end will be decent enough, they'll just get on their phone and scroll as they wait.
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They don't make this decision blindly, though. Millennials know they could order something online or find another option without having to stand there forever. A line that's moving painfully slowly might make them just cut their losses.
To Gen Z, waiting in line can be part of the fun.
Gen Z is usually happy to wait when there's something they truly want on the other side. A viral restaurant or a sold-out concert can be all it takes to convince them that the line is part of the experience. When something is fun and will be worth talking about later, waiting doesn't really seem so bad because they enjoy the anticipation.
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Still, they're not interested in wasting time for no reason. When it starts to feel inconvenient, they might end up passing. Waiting isn't a problem until it feels like they're not getting something valuable in return.
Kayla Asbach is a writer with a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida. She covers relationships, psychology, self-help, pop culture, and human interest topics.
