For the people who are part of the millennial generation, you’ve probably heard from baby boomers, among other people, that millennials are the generation of crybabies. Not only that, but they are also the source of a multitude of problems, including not contributing enough to the economy. Apparently, wasting money is the top priority of this generation because we really cannot get enough of that avocado toast.

     Yes, avocado toast. That is what millionaire Tim Gurner said was the source of the problems that many millennials are facing today. Don’t worry, it’s not the crippling student debt, sub-par economic situation, horrible healthcare prices and static wages that move at a glacial pace.

     The simple fix is to just stop eating all those avocados as some people have been joking about. Gurner’s exact words were, “When I was trying to buy my first home, I wasn’t buying smashed avocado for $19 and four coffees at $4 each” (Washington Post). Is that supposed to be funny?

      I think what millennials are really tired of hearing is how the dirty economic situation we are in now is our own fault and that we are asking way too much to be “handed out” to us. As a millennial myself, I find these kinds of statements and attitudes ridiculous and false.

     God forbid we catch up with the rest of the industrialized world and create an either highly subsidized or free system of public higher education to keep people from taking out astronomical amounts of debt. Tuition prices have skyrocketed since the baby boomers were in college a few decades ago, which is a big contributing factor to some of the generational feud. When you’re thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt after you graduate, it’s going to take a lot longer to find the financial security to buy a house, start a family or even leave your parent’s home.

     Millennials also grew up during the time of the Great Recession, so we witnessed downsizing as people we knew got laid off. We still see the insecurity and other remnants from the recession stick with us today, and that is far from the fault of millennials.

     Why else have people been calling us a bunch of crybabies? Apparently, none of us can take a joke, which is the most laughable thing I’ve ever heard. Millennials even make fun of their own unfortunate situations and misery through memes and humor. Maybe it is more about how we as a generation are becoming less tolerant of racism and homophobia, and do not accept those ideas in the form of a joke.

     So, what really is the deal with people trashing millennials and blaming them for the world’s problems? The real problem may lie in the fact that every generation has something negative to say about the generation that comes after them. Remember when instead of the millennials it was Generation X? And even before Generation X it was the baby boomers.  

     Another factor in blaming our problems on specific generations could be cultural differences, as well. Musical differences, technological and other advancements and globalization change the way people grow up compared to other generations, which creates a greater difference in understanding between age groups.

     Maybe next time we are about to trash a generational group, we should think about these significant gaps that prevent us from understanding each other and where we are coming from.

Chloe is a senior Anthropology and German major . She is the BU Democrats Communications Coordinator and German Club Vice President. She is the Assistant Op/Ed Editor for The Voice