The people in our lives have a lot of wisdom to share with us—so long as we’re willing to listen. However, while some tips are incredibly helpful, others might no longer be all that useful for surviving and thriving in 2023 and beyond.
One Reddit user sparked an interesting but provocative discussion online. They asked members of the younger generations to share what pieces of work and life advice they’ve gotten from older people that they feel might be outdated. You’ll find their opinions as you scroll down.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t automatically mean that everything suggested by members of older generations is ‘wrong’ or that younger people are always ‘right’… or the other way around. The world’s far more nuanced than that.
#1
*If you work hard, show up on time and give your heart and soul to a company, you’ll get promoted and be financially successful.*
In 2023, if you work hard you will never get ahead and die in the harness.
Image source: Local_Sugar8108, Arlington Research
#2
“Work overtime, holidays, nights, weekends, whatever you can. The boss will be so impressed by your commitment that you’ll get a promotion and a raise!”
Nope. He’ll get the raise. I’ll get f**k all. And then I’ll be expected to stay over every time. Goodbye, family, friends. Goodbye, work-life balance. Hello burnout.
Image source: ezekial_dragonlord
#3
If hes / she’s picking on you, it means they like you
Image source: NYTX1987, mstandret
#4
“You can buy a house. It’s so easy”
Image source: tashrader, Kindel Media
#5
dress for the job you want, not the job you have. b***h, i work in a factory. cant be wearing a suit and tie with all this machinery trying to kill me. also, osha said i couldnt.
Image source: indeedicus18, Kateryna Babaieva
#6
Go right into the store and ask for the manager. Give a firm handshake, look them in the eye, and get the job.
Image source: mzialendrea, olia danilevich
#7
Work a summer job waiting tables in the Hamptons and you’ll have enough money to pay for a year of college, room and board, books, and still have extra spending money for the weekends.
Image source: Flaturated, Kate Townsend
#8
As an older person, this is hard.
Here are my best guesses for the worst old people advice:
1. Vote Republican. They are good for the economy and for national defense.
2. Keep some dimes in your pocket to leave for tips.
3. Don’t bother to vote. They are all the same.
4. You don’t need a union. Only losers need unions.
Image source: BillTowne, cottonbro studio
#9
When I was 23, somebody told me I was “significantly behind the curve” because by 23 you’re supposed to own a house and a car. I still can’t wrap my brain around it. Putting aside how wildly out-of-touch that is, even if you had the cash… who looks back on their 23yo self and thinks “yep, that person is totally ready for the responsibility and harsh reality of homeownership?” Not me, that’s for sure.
Image source: therearesomebirds, Ketut Subiyanto
#10
I went to the hospital and somehow managed to stay overnight without anybody asking for my insurance information. Eventually received a hospital bill in the mail for $1200; I was billed the “uninsured” rate.
I asked my parents for advice. “If I submit this to my insurance, it will likely go down, right? Worst case scenario I end up paying the entire $1200 out of pocket?” I said. They told me yes. So that’s what I did…
Couple weeks later, I received another bill from the hospital. They had submitted the claim to my insurance. The insurance company negotiated them down to my $6000 out of pocket maximum and stuck me with the rest. I called the hospital and explained the situation, and asked if I could “unsubmit” the insurance claim and just pay the uninsured rate. The representative laughed at me and said something like “I’m afraid the cat’s out of the bag now!”
The American healthcare system, ladies and gentlemen.
Image source: WittyUnwittingly, Andrea Piacquadio
#11
My older male neighbour keep telling me I can get a girlfriend if I’m persistent and don’t take no for an answer and court her at her home and work everyday because that’s how he got his now wife, like mate that’s F*****g stalking it’s not the 60s anymore
Image source: Visible_Bus6909
#12
My grandma used to tell me never to get tattooes, or I won’t find any work. Now I live in a society where even grannies have tattooes and nobody cares. Nobody. Cares. Just don’t be an a*****e.
Image source: HoboBonobo1909
#13
“Respect your elders”
I respect everyone until you give me a reason I shouldn’t. You don’t need to earn my respect but that doesn’t mean you’re obligated to it just because you’ve been around the block. The most disrespectful and judgmental people I have ever met or dealt with are all “elders”
Image source: HobbesXSV
#14
“Don’t say you can’t afford a kid. You always can make do. Our first kid slept in our dresser drawer”
Image source: Hot-Bint, Satura_
#15
My mother : “Women like it when men take charge and show they know stuff”.
Image source: Dominarion, Adrian Swancar
#16
Work hard at your job and you’ll get a promotion/raise.
Give at least 2 weeks notice to maintain good relationships.
Don’t buy Starbucks or Avocados and you will be able to buy a home in no time.
Image source: justhereforpics1776, Guilherme Stecanella
#17
If you’re loyal to that company they’ll take care of you.
Image source: rrrdesign, Andrea Piacquadio
#18
1: go in to apply in person – they are just going to tell you to go online.
2: ask to meet the manage to make an impression – the manager doesn’t care and wants you to f**k off so they can work
3: send a thank you note for the opportunity – unless they plan on hiring you, they have already forgotten who you are.
4: go above an beyond to get a raise – f**k that. Act your wage because otherwise they are going to take advantage of your hardwork and never reward you for it.
5: buy a house in cash – literally impossible nowadays
6: all debt is bad – you literally need debt to build up a credit score and you need a credit score to be able to get any kind of housing.
7: don’t take days off if you don’t have to – look perfect attendance is a lie they hammer into grade schools to make you feel guilty for taking your paid time off that is part of your total compensation. If you don’t feel bad collecting your paycheck, do not feel bad taking the paid time off you are entitled to.
Image source: sunnysideHate, Tima Miroshnichenko
#19
People usually reply something about tattoos making you unemployable, but I was once told you couldn’t even have a beard or mustache at a job interview.
Image source: RagnarHedin, BM Capture
#20
If you break the law and try to take over the U.S. government, you will never be able to be president.
Image source: D_Buc
#21
Save your money, it will be useful in the future. Lol! What money? What future?
Image source: Noobeaterz, Karolina Grabowska
#22
I’ll play. My MIL just hit me with “both political parties are the same”, this afternoon on a 2.5 car trip. Needless to say I had a lecture prepared…
Image source: SamJackson01, Kelly Sikkema
#23
My dad: If you want to work somewhere, you have to show up there in person asking for a job!!!
1. I have no company I “aspire” to work for
2. I have a feeling the receptionist would just go, “uhhh I don’t give the jobs around here, please check our online job postings and leave weirdo”
Image source: angeltay
#24
I love how Dave Ramsey will say get 32 more jobs delivering pizzas to pay off debt. Well Dave, I would love to work and pay off my student loans. However, my job takes up 60 hours of my life. I’m salary and make no OT. Then you factor in that I have kids and have to take care of them. school events, sports, and just regular daily being a family s**t. Oh, and while I don’t go to church. That’s part of his bs advice too. Now, please explain to me how I’m supposed to do this?
Image source: mrtouchybum, Mike Jones
#25
Anything involving bootstraps.
Image source: fra_bahlaan, Jonathan Borba
#26
At this point? Nearly all of it. They give advice for a world they purposely destroyed.
Image source: AutisticHobbit, Kenneth Jencks
#27
That we *need* to know cursive.
I use cursive more than I use block/print but that’s only because my hand gets lazy and my letters drag anyway. I’m a grown person with a grown up job in an attorneys office. I have never once had to use or read cursive nor have I been asked if I can
Image source: asexualrhino, Aaron Burden
#28
Don’t get divorced
Image source: Crystal_Marie_Rose, cottonbro studio
#29
‘Hard work will pay off’
(Simply because there’s a ton of young people who work really hard every single day and they aren’t recognized for it)
Image source: Wecanbuildittogether, energepic.com
#30
Drug dealers will offer you free drugs in an attempt to get you addicted.
Image source: Hey_nice_marmot_
#31
My mom LOVES to say people need to walk into businesses with a paper resume, and ask to speak directly to the manager to introduce themselves.
She thinks this will almost guarantee a job at any business. She told my boyfriend to go to BOEING and ask for the manager to introduce himself. When I point out that most places want applications online, or that a lot of businesses have people outside of the manager do the hiring, she gets mad and says that’s just to weed out the people who aren’t willing to put in effort….
Image source: VermicelliNo2422
#32
“Just get a job in the summer to pay for tuition.” Yep
Image source: chemastray, Andrea Piacquadio
#33
Get a college degree so you can get a high paying job, do whatever it takes, take out a loan if you have to.
Image source: verstohlen
#34
If you burn your finger cooking, stick it in the butter.
A big, solid car will keep you safe! You know, like a big old studebaker made of steel with no crumple zones to absorb the impact.
Don’t sit close to the TV. The radiation will ruin your eyes.
Circa 1936 –
Lionel Logue: I believe sucking smoke into your lungs will… will kill you.
King George VI: My physicians said it relaxes the… the… the throat.
(From “The King’s Speech” (2010)
Image source: blueSnowfkake, jorditudela
#35
Don’t take a shower or bath during a storm, you can get electrocuted
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