Some boomers fully embrace their generation with pride—the stories, the opinions, the solid love for a landline phone. Others? Not so much.
There’s a whole subset of boomers who are absolutely convinced they’re nothing like the rest, even as they say the most boomer-y things imaginable. They mean well, of course, but you can usually spot the signs pretty fast. Here are 15 classic things boomers say when they’re still in deep denial about being part of their generation.
1. “I’m actually really good with technology.”
Usually said moments before they hold their phone at arm’s length and squint at it like it’s written in code. It’s not that they’re terrible with tech; they’re just convinced that knowing how to open an app makes them Bill Gates. The phrase itself is a giveaway. People who are genuinely tech-savvy don’t feel the need to announce it. They just quietly update their iOS without turning it into a family event.
2. “I’m not like those other boomers.”
This is basically the generational version of “I’m not like the other girls.” It always comes with a slightly smug tone, as if they’ve somehow opted out of their birth year by sheer force of personality. Then they complain about avocado toast and think TikTok is a government spying tool. Sure, Jan. You’re totally not like the others.
3. “Music was just better back then.”
To be fair, everyone says this about their generation, but boomers tend to say it with a kind of finality that shuts down all further conversation. They’re convinced nothing has topped Fleetwood Mac, ever. And while they might secretly bop along to Dua Lipa in the car, publicly they’ll insist modern music is just noise with bass. Every. Single. Time.
4. “We worked hard for everything we had.”
They’ll say this while living in a fully paid-off house they bought in 1983 for the price of a loaf of bread. It’s not that they didn’t work hard—they absolutely did—but the economy wasn’t trying to eat them alive, either. Gen Z and millennials working three side hustles might raise an eyebrow here, but the boomer in denial will double down, especially if someone mentions house prices.
5. “Back in my day…”
There it is. The gold standard of boomer phrasing. Even the ones who claim they’re ‘not like the others’ can’t resist a good nostalgic moan about how everything used to be better, cheaper, or less complicated. The irony? They often say it while using modern conveniences like contactless payments, Google Maps, or online grocery orders, all of which were definitely not “in their day.”
6. “People just don’t want to work anymore.”
This one usually pops up after they hear someone under 40 complain about burnout or low wages. The boomer-in-denial reflex kicks in, and suddenly, it’s about “work ethic” and not “systemic inequality.” It’s a classic line, and you can almost hear the invisible follow-up: “We had grit.” They forget that grit alone doesn’t cover rent in 2025.
7. “I don’t even feel that old!”
No one said you were! But boomer-in-denial energy often includes a refusal to acknowledge birthdays past 50, even as they reference films from 1976 like they came out “just the other year.” It’s lovely that they feel young, really, but if you’re quoting The Beatles and calling a phone “the mobile,” it’s okay to just own it.
8. “Kids today have no manners.”
This one usually comes out after witnessing someone under 30 with dyed hair, a loud laugh, or—god forbid—an opinion. It’s the default line when things don’t feel familiar. Meanwhile, the same boomer is interrupting a cashier to talk about their Tesco Clubcard points. But sure, it’s the youth who lack etiquette.
9. “I just don’t get what all the fuss is about pronouns.”
This one’s a staple among the boomers who say they’re “tolerant,” but still think gender identity is a confusing phase best ignored. They’re not angry, just “confused.” In reality, it’s often more about refusing to learn new social norms than actual confusion. But in their head, they’re still the progressive ones because they “don’t judge.”
10. “We didn’t have anxiety back then.”
Sure you did, Carol—you just called it “nerves” and pushed it deep down with a smile and a glass of wine. This one’s said with a strange pride, like mental health is a modern fad rather than a newly acknowledged issue. They don’t mean harm; they just genuinely don’t realise that panic attacks existed long before Instagram. We just didn’t have words for them.
11. “Everyone’s so sensitive these days.”
Often said while getting deeply offended that someone suggested maybe we don’t need a Piers Morgan opinion on every topic. The irony is usually lost on them. Sensitivity is fine when it’s theirs, but not when it’s someone else’s. And that double standard? Classic boomer-in-denial behaviour.
12. “We used to make things that lasted.”
True, and also fair. But they forget that they now replace their microwave every three years and buy six packs of socks from Amazon. It’s selective memory at its finest. There’s a deep longing for “quality over quantity,” but modern convenience has clearly won the war. Still, it doesn’t stop the nostalgic rant when something breaks.
13. “TikTok is rotting everyone’s brain.”
They’ve never used the app, but they’ve got strong opinions about it. They assume it’s all dancing and nonsense, even though half the users are watching cooking tutorials and oddly soothing carpet cleaning videos. Meanwhile, they spend two hours a day scrolling Facebook and commenting “Lovely!” on posts from people they haven’t seen since 1989.
14. “I don’t need therapy, I just get on with it.”
Which is totally fine… until “just getting on with it” starts looking a lot like shouting at strangers in a garden centre. Boomers-in-denial often see therapy as a luxury rather than a tool. They’re convinced their ability to suppress emotion is a badge of honour. In reality, that stiff upper lip has probably done more harm than they’d ever admit.
15. “I’m basically a millennial at heart.”
This one’s always delivered with a cheeky grin after admitting they love Spotify or once watched an episode of Fleabag. It’s cute… but no, Geoff, that doesn’t make you a millennial. You can absolutely be young at heart. But if you also hate change, side-eye oat milk, and think emojis are confusing, it’s safe to say your generational roots are still showing, proudly.
