Older People Are Sharing The Things Younger Folks Do That Confuse Them, And I Can't Help But Laugh (2024)

We asked the older members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the things younger generations do that confuse them. Here's what has them the most dumbfounded:

1. "I'm only 30, but I HATE fanny packs, and for the love of tacos, calling it a belt bag makes it even worse."

—Anonymous

2. "Lip filler! Every other young woman at the mall has massive, swollen lips that look like she got stung by a bee. It looks painful."

—Anonymous

3. "Crew socks pulled up to the knees almost! It looks stupid."

—Anonymous

4. "I don’t get 'thirst traps.' What is the appeal of taking a picture of yourself in nothing but your underwear, grabbing your 'bulge,' and posting it for the whole internet to see?"

—Anonymous

5. "The tooth gems people stick on their teeth...Why?"

—Anonymous

6. "Wearing the colorful pimple patch stickers in public. If it's something you want to COVER, why would you want to DRAW ATTENTION to it?"

—Anonymous

7. "Hair middle parts and the hatred of side parts. Almost no one’s face is symmetrical. Middle parts highlight the asymmetry, make your hair look flat, and for some people, make your face less flattering."

—Anonymous

8. "Crop tops. Every thing is a crop top. It’s done. Let it die."

—Anonymous

9. "I don't understand young women wearing oversized, baggy shirts that are so big you can't tell if there are shorts on underneath IN PUBLIC."

—Anonymous

10. "Septum piercings. The large 'booger collector' hog rings kids stick in their noses. I see nothing appealing about them and find it hard to take people seriously."

—Anonymous

11. "Ripped jeans or pants that cost an enormous amount of money. I mean the really big holes that leave you feeling the breeze. Why not just rip some old jeans you already have or buy a standard pair at a reasonable price and tear them apart yourself?"

—Anonymous

12. "I have no issue with stylistic choices like sneakers and dresses, but honestly, I’ve been surprised with the lack of professional wardrobe. What happened to dressing for the job you want?"

—grumpyeggplant55

13. "I can't stand drawing over the cupid's bow with lip liner. Apparently it's supposed to make the lips look fuller, but to me it just makes lips weird and messy. There is something appealing about the Cupid's bow being defined or emphasized."

—Anonymous

14. "Socks with slides or sandals, as we call them. These are what our fathers and grandfathers wore. Socks with sandals were only worn by younger people classed as geeks! It's a hideous look that I’ll never understand."

—wickedqueen80

15. "Any version of the mullet that has seemed to come back around. Just...WHY?"

—panda_13

16. "I don't get that seemingly every teenage guy has the exact same haircut now, and it bugs the crap out of me. Big and poufy up top, with permanent hat hair because the tips swoop up at the bottom. They all look like they're wearing helmets and haven't showered in weeks. I just want to pull them aside and ask if girls actually like that, because you don't see a single man over 25 with that haircut."

—dustable

17. "Why do so many of them wear wool beanie caps in 90-degree weather?"

—zeakins

18. "I'm surprised by the popularization of younger men eating women's asses. It is awfully confusing and extremely unappealing to me, though I know plenty of people have their kinks. Nothing wrong with it. But them being so publicly open about it is the part that is mind-boggling to me."

—Anonymous

19. "I totally do not understand why younger guys are wearing dressy pants that are WAY too short and not wearing socks."

—Anonymous

20. "Bike shorts. Just reminds me of P.E."

—ghulgh

21. "I'm baffled by how tentative younger men seem to be about defining relationships. If you like someone, tell them. Tell them that you are focused on getting to know them and let them get to know you. Don't muddy the waters with always hanging out in groups or quasi-dates."

—Anonymous

22. "In the men's locker room, many young men wrap a towel around their waist to change into their underwear. I don't get it."

—Anonymous

23. "Growing up, I was taught to be self-sufficient and do most things for myself. I fix my cars, do most of the electrical stuff in the house, can cook, and can tie a bow tie. Style is style — I get that, and I'm cool with people expressing themselves however they like. But I'm a little confused by the lumbersexual fad. All these burly-looking dudes who look like the offspring of Jason Momoa and Burt Reynolds, but they can't seem to change a tire, fix a leaky toilet, or iron a suit for a job interview."

—Anonymous

24. "I don't get them wearing suit jackets that are so tight they can't be buttoned. Also, I don't get wearing sneakers with a suit jacket."

—Anonymous

25. "A lot of younger men wear underwear under their swim trunks... Why?"

—Anonymous

26. "I am quite perplexed by younger men’s unwillingness to 'make a move' when they feel some chemistry with a person. I understand dating is hard and there is a risk of rejection, but I have seen my younger brother basically get through high school without ever once kissing a girl or having a date because of this anxiety about being rejected. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. As long as you can take no for an answer and not have an overreaction to it, there isn’t nearly as much risk as some would have you believe."

—Anonymous

27. "I don't understand them wearing impractical clothing, like baggy pants and a black hoodie in Phoenix in July. 'I’m sweating like a pig, but at least I look cool :).'"

—Anonymous

28. And lastly, "Yeezy sneakers, Crocs, and other big, plastic, cheap-looking, impractical footwear."

—messydaredevil43