It’s funny how the narrative changes when a group can actually fight back. Most of the Gen-Xers I know in tech aren’t going back to the office, not because they are ultrawealthy but because they are getting old, are virtually irreplaceable, and are prioritizing life over work after having survived the pandemic.

Also, sure Millenials and Gen-Z are “choosing” to go back. They aren’t compelled in any way. Right.

  • WHARRGARBL@beehaw.org
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    8 months ago

    Is there anything that’s more obviously a “divide and conquer” tactic than all this unhinged generational bullshit?

    It’s insane but effective. A friend who is 25 years younger than me angrily called me a Boomer because my husband and I bought a house in 2020, which means we had advantages that he didn’t get.

    It was our first house, in rough shape, and it was through a VA loan. Every repair was DIY. Meanwhile, the guy who called me a Boomer inherited his house and massive acreage. Also, unlike that guy, we’re pro-union, politically active environmentalists who vote for progressive candidates. Just an absolute wtf moment.

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      8 months ago

      We own a house too, but it’s actually cheaper to pay the mortgage here than to rent an apartment. Even so, it’s similar to yours, and we’re on two programs to help us afford it. It’s our first home, and we bought it in 2019. Since then, the cost of housing has drastically increased here to the point that I don’t think we could afford it now.

      • WHARRGARBL@beehaw.org
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        8 months ago

        Same with us - a mortgage was cheaper than renting what was available. If it wasn’t for a “zero down” VA loan and crazy low interest rates, we wouldn’t have been able to buy.

        It’s horrible to see millions of younger adults hemorrhaging money on rent because they don’t have 20% to put on an overpriced house, but as you stated, that isn’t due to the year someone was born; it’s because the rich are kicking us down.

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          8 months ago

          We had no money to put down whatsoever, which led me to believe we couldn’t buy a home. We had to take out an additional loan for the down payment because we had no savings. I was actually surprised we got approved because my husband had just gotten his permanent residency, and I was effectively broke following addiction related career loss.

          • WHARRGARBL@beehaw.org
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            8 months ago

            Ah that extra loan hurts. Good thing you have your Super Special Boomer Advantage wealth socked away for vacations and retirement!

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              8 months ago

              Yep, all those gold bars! But iirc the loan is part of a program for low income people and we haven’t actually had to make a payment on it yet, just the mortgage itself.

              It was hell applying though. I had to send receipts for every time I got reimbursed for travel from work and write detailed explanations. Don’t ask me how it all worked because tbh I’m still confused lol