9 things boomers do in public that younger generations find painfully embarrassing—but would never say to their face

You know that feeling when you’re in public and something happens that makes you want to disappear into thin air?

Not because it’s evil or dangerous. Just socially loud. Like someone clapping in a quiet elevator.

And here’s the thing: younger people almost never say anything. Not because we don’t notice. We notice. We just don’t want the drama. Or worse, we don’t want to embarrass someone who isn’t trying to be embarrassing.

We smile. We look away. We pretend everything is normal.

Inside, though? We’re cringing so hard our spine locks up.

This isn’t a boomer hate post. I genuinely like a lot of boomers. Many are generous, funny, and far more resilient than people give them credit for.

But there are a few very specific things that tend to happen in public that make younger generations quietly suffer, then keep walking like nothing happened.

Let’s get into it.

1) They talk on speakerphone like the whole room is included

Why is it always speakerphone? Why is it always at full volume? And why does the conversation always sound like it’s happening inside a tin can?

I’ve been in cafés where I could hear every detail of someone’s medical results. I’ve been on trains where I’ve been forced to listen to a full family argument.

I’ve been in grocery store aisles where it’s basically a live podcast episode called “Janet Updates Her Sister on Everything.”

It’s not that phone calls are bad. It’s that speakerphone turns a private moment into a public performance.

Younger people usually won’t say anything. We’ll just put our earbuds in and pray for the call to end soon.

2) They make loud comments about strangers’ bodies

This one is rough because it’s rarely meant to be cruel.

Boomers grew up in an era where commenting on someone’s appearance was normal, sometimes even “friendly.”

But today, loudly saying things like “She’s gained weight” or “That guy is too skinny” hits differently. It feels invasive. And it immediately makes everyone around them uncomfortable.

I once heard someone say at a restaurant, in full volume, “Wow, she must be pregnant.” Three people physically flinched at the same time.

Younger generations have grown up in a culture obsessed with bodies, food, and image. We’re more aware of how sensitive this topic is.

When someone casually makes a comment like that, it feels like watching someone step into traffic.

You want to stop them. But you also don’t want to be the one to start something.

3) They complain to employees like it’s a sport

I worked in hospitality for years, and I can tell you: nobody complains like someone who believes a service worker represents every broken part of modern society.

They’ll argue about the price of a salad like the cashier invented inflation. They’ll ask for a manager because their drink is “too cold.” They’ll speak to a teenager at the counter like they’re negotiating a hostage situation.

And the awkward part is when younger people are standing nearby, watching it happen, feeling embarrassed for everyone involved.

Because if you’ve ever worked in food service, you know the truth. Most people are trying. Most problems are small. And kindness gets you way further than aggression.

There’s a difference between advocating for yourself and treating someone like a punching bag.

One is confident. The other is just ugly.

4) They overshare personal details with strangers

Boomers can be unbelievably open in public.

Sometimes it’s charming. Sometimes it’s alarming.

They’ll tell a cashier about their divorce. Their knee surgery. Their neighbor’s weird habits. Their full opinion on gluten. All before the receipt prints.

I once watched a guy explain his colonoscopy prep in a coffee shop line. I wish I was joking.

Younger generations tend to be more private. We grew up online. We’ve seen what happens when personal stories become public entertainment.

When someone shares extremely intimate details with strangers, younger people aren’t judging them.

We’re just thinking, “Please stop talking before someone records this.”

5) They ignore “inside voice” rules in quiet places

You know when you’re enjoying a calm café or waiting room vibe and then someone walks in talking at the volume of a sports commentator?

Boomers tend to have a different relationship with volume. Especially in places like:

• Libraries
• Waiting rooms
• Coffee shops
• Restaurants that clearly want a peaceful atmosphere

And to be fair, some of this is hearing-related. Some is cultural. Some is personality.

But for younger people, who already feel overstimulated by life, it’s jarring. It feels like someone bringing a leaf blower into a spa.

Nobody wants to be rude, no one says anything.

We just sit there, taking the emotional damage.

6) They tell outdated jokes that don’t land anymore

You know the ones.

• “Take my wife, please.”
• “Kids are so soft these days.”
• “Back in my day…”
• “People are too sensitive now.”

The problem isn’t that humor has to be perfectly polite. The problem is that a lot of these jokes are built on assumptions that don’t match the world anymore.

The joke hits the room and dies instantly.

Everyone does the polite half-laugh. The one that says, “I don’t want to fight, but I also don’t want to encourage this.”

Boomers may think younger generations are too fragile.

Younger generations often think boomers are being casually mean without realizing it.

And the awkward silence that follows is powerful enough to stop time.

7) They become very intense about small “rules”

Boomers love rules, especially tiny ones that don’t matter much.

You’ll see it in public when someone says:

• “You can’t stand there.”
• “That’s the wrong line.”
• “That sign says no.”
• “You’re doing it wrong.”

Even when the rule is unclear or harmless to bend, they’ll enforce it like they’ve been appointed head of public order.

I once saw someone scold a teenager for sitting on a low wall outside a mall. Just sitting. No damage. No disrespect. Just sitting.

Younger generations tend to focus more on whether something is hurting anyone.

When someone gets intensely emotional about a small rule, it feels like watching someone start a war over a paperclip.

We don’t want to escalate. So we stay quiet.

8) They don’t understand modern tech etiquette

I love that boomers are using tech more than ever. But some public tech behaviors still feel painfully awkward.

Like:

• Taking photos with flash on in a dim restaurant
• FaceTiming at full volume while yelling “CAN YOU HEAR ME?”
• Playing videos out loud in public without headphones
• Taking selfies with the screen brightness set to supernova levels
• Asking strangers to fix their phone with zero context

And my personal favorite: Taking a photo and leaving the camera sound on, so it’s just click click click click like a mini paparazzi convention.

They’re not trying to be annoying. They’re just doing their best.

But younger people see it and feel the secondhand embarrassment instantly.

9) Finally, they make bill-paying and tipping weirdly dramatic

Money etiquette has changed. We’ve got apps, QR codes, tap-to-pay, and social norms that lean toward keeping things smooth.

But boomers sometimes treat the bill like a public courtroom case.

They’ll argue over a two-dollar difference. They’ll loudly announce what everyone owes.

They’ll complain about tipping “on principle.” They’ll go into a long speech about how prices have gone insane, as if the waiter controls the menu.

I’ve had meals where everything was perfect until the check came, and suddenly the entire vibe turned into a stressful accounting session.

Younger generations tend to see tipping and splitting as part of social flow.

We’d rather pay a bit extra and keep the atmosphere good than “win” the math.

Because the cost of awkwardness is always higher than the cost of fries.

The bottom line

The funny thing is, boomers usually have no idea they’re doing any of this.

They’re not trying to make anyone cringe. They’re just operating on the social rules they grew up with.

And honestly, we’ll probably do our own version of this someday.

In 20 years, Gen Z will probably write articles about millennials doing something strange in public, like ordering iced coffee in winter or turning therapy language into casual slang.

That’s how culture works. Every generation embarrasses the next one in brand new ways.

If you’ve ever been out in public and felt your soul leave your body while someone loudly shares personal medical details with a cashier, just know you’re not alone.

The best we can do is laugh, be kind, and keep our conversations off speakerphone.

Because none of us wants to be the reason someone else has to fake-smile their way through a public cringe moment.