They just. Did. Not. Seem. To. Care.
No smiling. No banter. No small talk or polite conversation. Just this blank look on their faces.
You sit there and think “did they hear me”? You ever so politely repeat yourself in case they didn’t.
But they did. They got it. There’s just no engagement. Face colder than a witch's tit. No refills of your water. No "would you like another coffee?"
Like, hello!? Is anybody in there? Is anyone home? Why are you all moving so slowly? Shouldn’t you be rushing the joint taking orders and filling coffees?
When I was young it was drilled into us: when you’re waiting tables and taking orders. You work your way up from "dish pig" to front of house. You basically run round busy as a bee, trying to impress your boss, trying to win your guests over. Taking wagers of who might get a tip.
"Can I help you, sir? What more can I get you?" You’d help the elderly into their seats. You’d bend over backwards to make everyone happy.
And these guys are on at least $23 an hour.
And I know what you’re thinking, maybe I’m the a-hole. Maybe I’ve forgotten mum’s many sermons on good manners and etiquette.
So I asked the people who I was out to lunch with - they all thought the same thing. I asked friends who are teachers, I asked parents with kids around that age.
Guess what? They’ve all noticed the same thing happening.
Hell, there’s even a TikTok trend called ‘the Gen Z stare', which describes what I saw at the café - the vacant look a Gen Zer gives in response to a question or statement. If it’s in TikTok then it must be a thing, right?
So the question is why?
Was it Covid? Was it everyone wearing masks? So much of how we communicate is through facial expressions, maybe they’ve missed out on years of social queues and norms? Is the smartphones? Is it both?
Or, maybe, just maybe, they just don’t give a shit?
Maybe we have on our hands a generation of young people who don’t really think they NEED to be bothering with mundane things like work.
Disclaimer: this is is obviously not an entire generation of young people. And some people are just shy. I get that. We've all had excellent experiences. But, y'know. Is this a thing you too have noticed?
Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.
10 comments:
Wanted to go to the Metallica concert? Can't afford it? No problem, payday loan. Sorted. There is a different mindset out there.
want to leave your job? - dont turn up - have your mates tell the boss theyre working somewhere else. Sorted.
There are plenty of well-adjusted Gen Zers out there. If you find a bad'un, look at the parents.
I seem to recall, when I was young – and that’s a while ago – old-timers saying something along the lines of “young people who don’t really think they NEED to be bothering with mundane things like work”. ‘They didn’t need to live through the slump or the war’.
Perhaps today’s young people don’t appreciate their affluence. But then, maybe we didn’t in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
So no, this is not a thing that I have noticed today, that is, not being any different from my earlier days.
Ryan, I agree completely with your general observation . These guys don't want to work. However i usually find myself asking, - who are the idiots and who are the smart ones?
One of my observations is that also apart from not wanting to work, these young guys are racking up a lot of debt. I have tried to tell them that it has to be paid back eventually -and credit/ debt bubbles always end badly. Again, they just don't seem to care. Interesting ay?
Anon 5.5.pm: Perhaps they realize already that none of the above ( aspiration, healthy ambition, commitment, effort, acquiring skills and experience, etc) really matters when living in " an equitable society" - where all is predetermined for you on " other criteria".
the sooner it all comes crashing down the better. Why should they smile at you and your entitlement.
TikTok in China is a different beast.
There it teaches, it promotes intellect, it invigorates development of the brain......sadly the 'Western' algorithm is designed to rot the brain with banal exercises in the pursuit of the moronic.
To anon @ 7.38. I agree, I'm hoping that a massive crash ( circa 50% off most markets) occurs. Unfortunately it will ruin 80% of the participants and there will be 'blood on the streets) as the wall st. saying goes. Those who will be hit the hardest will be new retirees and the gen z.
It will also produce a massive opportunity.....for those who understand....
@ anon 12:21 its hard to know the extent of the massacre but if the ruling elite (and landlords) think they are going to get away with continuing their entitlments, while peoples income is devastated, I think they are in for a rude awakening. Perhaps that what our Authoritarian overlords need as well. New economic models will present once we are 50% through transition.
Post a Comment
Thank you for joining the discussion. Breaking Views welcomes respectful contributions that enrich the debate. Please ensure your comments are not defamatory, derogatory or disruptive. We appreciate your cooperation.