Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers Have 4 Completely Different Ideas Of What Makes Someone Rude
MAYA LAB / Shutterstock What one person considers extremely rude can seem completely normal to someone else, and often a generational gap is the reason.
Newer standards of behavior can leave Gen X and baby boomers wondering where everyone's manners went, but being rude isn't always as cut-and-dry as it seems. Standards for politeness really depend on your age and the unwritten rules you grew up following.
Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers all have different ideas of what makes someone rude.
For boomers, rudeness often comes down to basic respect and consideration. Things like interrupting someone, arriving late without notice, ignoring a friendly greeting, and staring at a phone while someone is talking can feel especially disrespectful because they grew up with higher expectations surrounding face-to-face interactions.
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They may also have a lower tolerance for communication that feels too blunt or too dismissive. Someone saying exactly what they think might be seen as being honest today, but back in their day, it was viewed as simply not knowing how to speak to people. Even small offenses like not saying please or thank you can register as major breaches of etiquette.
Gen X generally sees being rude as lacking social awareness.
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This generation doesn't care so much about following a long list of formal social rules. It doesn't always bother them if someone skips small talk or keeps things casual, but being flaky or expecting others to accommodate you can quickly get on their nerves. When someone says they're going to do something and disappears, don't be surprised if Gen X suddenly decides they're done dealing with that person.
They value straightforwardness, but there's a difference between being real and being difficult. Talking over someone or creating drama over small problems can come across as very rude. Gen X usually maintains a you-do-you attitude, as long as you don't make your choices anyone else's problem.
Poor communication is incredibly rude, according to millennials.
Millennials are typically pretty flexible about social rules, but ignoring messages, canceling plans at the last second, or leaving someone hanging without an explanation feels pretty inconsiderate. To this generation, it's not necessarily about following old-fashioned etiquette. It's about realizing everyone has busy lives, and they don't want to have to guess where they stand.
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They can also be pretty sensitive towards people who act self-centered. Making plans without thinking about another person's schedule or expecting instant replies while taking forever to reply themselves can quickly become frustrating. Millennials understand that a little communication can go a long way.
Gen Z relates rudeness to straight-up disrespect.
This generation can be pretty easy-going, especially because they respect the struggles that other people are going through, but ignoring boundaries or making jokes at someone else's expense are huge social turn-offs. They're comfortable with casual communication, so perfect manners aren't necessary. However, they try to avoid making people feel ignored or hurt.
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Gen Zers are quick to spot when someone's behavior is performative or insincere. Giving backhanded compliments or acting differently around certain people based on their status can come across as especially rude. For them, authenticity matters, and being blunt is fine as long as it's not an excuse to be mean.
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.
