Respect Your Kids, Discipline Your Elders
There’s a point we need to confront, and it’s uncomfortable: the older generations aren’t the people they used to be, and it’s time to stop talking to them like they are. There’s been this cultural habit, maybe even an expectation, to treat elders as if they’re wise and kind by default, as if age alone guarantees insight and empathy. But that’s not where we are anymore. For too many, that kindness has been replaced by bitterness, that wisdom by entitlement, and that guidance by a refusal to let go of control.
It’s hard to reconcile the image of the sweet grandparent — the one who used to laugh gently at your mistakes or offer quiet, thoughtful advice — with the reality we see now. It’s not that age itself worsens people; it’s what they choose to carry with them. Somewhere along the way, a lot of them let go of compassion and held onto hate and resentment instead. The same people who used to tell you to mind your manners now scream at cashiers. The ones who once talked about how important it is to leave the world a better place seem determined to bleed it dry for one more day of comfort.
And yet, we keep approaching the elderly with this outdated reverence, as if they’re still the same type of people they were when we were kids — who once tucked us into bed. But they’re not. They’ve changed, and not for the better. We have to start being honest about what that means. If someone is using their age to justify bad behavior or spout hatred, we shouldn’t let them hide behind the respect we were taught to give them. Respect isn’t a lifetime pass — it’s earned, and it can be lost.
Of course, not all older people have fallen into this trap. There are still those who remain the wise, kind figures we grew up with, who enrich society with their experience and empathy. But these are becoming rarer, and they deserve our respect more than ever. The broader system we live in doesn’t help. Economic pressures, rising costs of living, and a dwindling sense of community have led many older generations to feel entitled to more, especially when they perceive the younger generation as having “taken” from them. This growing divide fuels resentment on both sides.
The world is shifting, and these new divisive dynamics are part of that. We live in a gerontocracy where young people are little more than sex slaves to the elderly, bound to serve and sacrifice while the older generations hoard and drain every last resource and opportunity. If we want to move forward, we can’t keep pretending the older generations are something they’re not. We have to meet them where they are, not where we wish they were. That means calling out harmful behaviour like when we see it, refusing to excuse cruelty and exploitation as “just how it is,” and recognizing that age doesn’t automatically make someone a good person.
This dynamic isn’t just about bad behaviour; it’s creating a real strain on subsequent generations who are forced to sacrifice their time, energy, and opportunities, only to have their efforts dismissed or taken for granted. From the workplace to family dynamics, the expectation that younger people should simply cater to older generations while offering little in return is unsustainable. Instead of being the wise guides who enrich the world with their experience, many older people have become the ones draining it. They’re not just holding onto what they have; they’re actively taking more, often at the expense of everyone else.
We can’t afford to keep coddling a generation that’s become accustomed to having their bad behaviour excused. If we want a society where respect is mutual, not transactional, we need to set boundaries, hold people accountable regardless of their age, and demand that respect is earned — not just handed out like a medal of honour. Technology and social media have also played their part in amplifying generational divides. The younger generation is attuned to progress and change, whereas many older people are struggling to keep up or even accept new norms. This frustration has only deepened their sense of entitlement, making them feel more justified in their increasingly hostile behaviours.
It’s time for both sides to stop looking at each other through the lens of our assumptions and expectations about one another. Mutual respect must be earned from all generations. If we want to fix this imbalance, we have to demand accountability — not just for the young, but also for the elderly who use their age, wealth and influence as an excuse to abuse power. If we don’t, we’ll keep enabling the very behaviours that are holding us all back.
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