Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So I’ll be a contrarian here. Generationally, each younger generation moves further away from the social norms of the older ones. What is or isn’t tacky is basically a fear of being excluded from a higher class. Being of high class or perceived as high class for the silent generation had more consequences. Those consequences being shunned, not being able to marry well, no business opportunities, no income, starvation etc are no longer in play.
Boomers and GenX who want to be perceived as high class still cling to the norms and fear being called tacky. Millennials less so and Gen Z DAGF about it. So yes the norms are changing.
My guess is that the graduating kid and parent really don’t want a ton of junk or memorable gifts. They don’t want something that they have to donate or return or pretend to treasure. As a GenX , I remember paring things down a few years ago when we moved. So many keepsake gifts from relatives that I felt obligated to keep but neither needed or wanted. Being a good GenX, I put them all in a box and lugged them around for 30 years. So while you may imagine, the recipient using that $300 pen as they sign big deals, carrying the Mark Cross briefcase into court, or wearing the cutesy Tiffany necklace when they get engaged..it’s really just going into a box in the attic.
I admire GenZ for prioritizing experiences over material items, diversity and inclusion over classism, and being willing to stop doing things just because the older generations did them.
What you really are saying is that they expect to benefit financially from relationships with family, with no obligation to actually interact in exchange for their "gift." And I'm guessing that "Thank You" notes will be seen as classist too...
Yeah - sounds like a real improvement for society.
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