There's a specific "boomer" trait that I keep noticing, that I don't really understand. I'm going to refer to it as "Uncanny Denial". My dad had it, when it came to things he considered kids' stuff. He liked to watch Bugs Bunny cartoons with us, but he wouldn't watch anything that had relatable characters. I suspect he may have been a bit put off by the whole uncanny valley consideration, but I don't think that was it. I think in his case it was an emotional block common to that generation. Men could laugh and cuss and that’s about it except for special occasions, i.e. cry “this one time” or stroke out for good.
My mom had it in spades, as they say, since she was the religious sort so I won't even get in to all that. Suffice it to say I believe she likely checked every boomer box and doubled down on her favorites, and denial of reason was too of her list.
My S/O, on the other hand has a unique blend of the two when it comes to gaming. She just doesn't see it as a valid form of entertainment. It's especially confusing when it's a proven method of profit. Granted, it’s only really profitable to a handful of celebrities on a large scale, but it’s a valid means of income for a lot of people, especially in developing parts of the world.
I’m going to theorize that it takes a special kind of skill set to mentally navigate one’s way into a boomer mindset but uncanny deniability is key.
As one takes years tactically abandoning, nay, eradicating reason there’s a necessary array of imaginary mechanics (falsehoods) woven in with the truths one can accept. Anything that exposes those falsehoods is simply not seen.
I think it’s similar to not being able to recognize color from peripheral vision, or not noticing something is out of place or missing simply because it’s expected to be that way and it’s overlooked until it becomes necessary to acknowledge.
Boomers never have to acknowledge those falsehoods. There’s always a way to circumnavigate or simply dismiss evidence contrary to whatever they want to believe.
My dad couldn’t wrap his head all round the fact the Cars and The Incredibles are two of the greatest movies of all time.
My mom couldn’t acknowledge the Bible makes more sense if interpreted metaphorically, rather than literally.
My S/O can’t seem to grasp that Splinterlands cards are becoming more valuable than the fiat dollars she grinds for at the expense of her time and health, both physical and emotional.
So, historically, when one is acting irrational the remedy was one to several slaps across the face, in rapid succession if Bugsy taught me anything at all (because that lousy banana peel trick never sent my little brother sliding across the kitchen and crashing comically into a stack of dirty cookware. Not once).
But, since we don’t really smack people for their own good anymore (probably overall for the better) I’m at a loss for how to snap these crazy fucks out of their tunnel vision. I mean, there has to be an angle, right?