I don’t think I’ve ever been out to eat with someone my own age and seen them get angry because of an accident on the part of the server. It’s a behavior observed exclusively in people about my parents’ age.

Baby Boomers, the generation of my parents, people older than my friends and myself, they get angry at inconvenience, at not getting their way. You've seen it; you know what I’m talking about. I’ve never encountered a twenty-something telling me to smile while I work. I’ve never seen anyone under forty get testy when a store’s out of stock of what they want.

It all boils down to this: Baby Boomers get offended when they’re not catered to; Millennials get angry at being hurt or becoming the victim of negligence.

Honestly, we’re just trying our hardest over here. And all we want from each other is to know we’re trying. It’s that emphasis on the motivation that makes all the difference. Did you mean to screw me over? Was it your intention to hurt me? Or were you just trying to help or do your job?

Baby Boomers look at the result in front of them and they are either pleased or displeased. Who cares about the behind-the-scenes work? When I’m the elder, don’t I deserve your respect?

What, exactly, are we supposed to be kissing your behinds for? Ruining the economy? Thanks. (But no thanks.)

The truth of the matter is that we’re living in a time when minimum wage doesn’t fulfill its original purpose (of being a living wage, the minimum wage needed to live). We’re running ourselves ragged, working too much, drowning in debt, trying to keep up with the constant social bombardment that comes with belonging to the internet age. We’re trying, okay? You made a mistake? That’s okay—it happens. You can’t help me? I know how awful it is to tell someone that, it’s okay, thanks for trying.

I’m not here to throw the first punch, or bite someone’s head off when they step on my toe. That’s not to say I won’t throw the second punch; I know quite a few people my age who are more than willing to bite back (and more than a few fights have blown up this way through misunderstandings and perceived malice). No Millennial I’ve met has the penchant for egocentric thinking I’ve seen from Baby Boomers. Millennials may end up at the wrong conclusion prematurely, but oftentimes it stems from the belief that people (especially people we look up to or those in positions of power) were aiming to cause harm. We’re not mad because things aren’t how we want them, but because we believe they have been fully aware and intentionally weaving a malicious narrative (aka “callout culture”).

For the life of me I can’t figure out where this divide comes from. Does it come with distance? As I get older, as I get further from service jobs, will I lose my ability to empathize with those people? Or is it because of the general idea that kids today are nothing but spiteful and lazy? Is it because I spent my teenage years in the recession and haven’t gotten used to getting everything I want?

I can’t fathom ever reaching a point in my life where I think anything not satisfying to me is some kind of personal attack.

Disclaimer: I know all-too-well that this is not always the case. In general, though, as far as I’ve observed. Generalizations never hold for all involved simply because people don’t work like that. I know there are careless, thoughtless people my age. Maybe I’m just too egocentric myself to think beyond my anxiety-ridden, scenario-running brain and have tricked myself into thinking everyone my age is so ready to consider all angles.

But the general trend still stands, as far as I can see. I don’t understand why older generations feel like that can or should be up in arms every time things aren’t their way, but please, stop. It’s not necessary, or kind, or wanted.