Boomers who are really difficult to be around often display these 6 behaviors without realizing it

by Lachlan Brown | August 11, 2025, 9:41 pm

Ever had that family gathering where you’re counting down the minutes until you can politely escape?

Or maybe you’ve found yourself avoiding certain conversations at work because you know they’ll end in frustration?

Look, I get it.

Generational differences are real, and sometimes they create tension that’s hard to navigate.

But here’s the thing—when we consistently find ourselves struggling to connect with certain Baby Boomers in our lives, there might be some unconscious patterns at play.

And I’m not talking about obvious stuff like political disagreements or different music tastes.

I’m talking about subtle behavioral patterns that can make interactions feel draining or difficult, often without the person even realizing they’re doing it.

The tricky part?

These behaviors usually come from a place of good intention.

They’re often rooted in different generational experiences and values.

But understanding them can help us navigate these relationships with more patience and clarity.

Let’s dive into six behaviors that tend to make some Boomers particularly challenging to be around.

1. They dominate conversations with unsolicited advice

You know that moment when you’re venting about a work situation, and suddenly you’re getting a 20-minute lecture on “how things were done back in the day”?

This happens more often than you’d think.

Some Boomers have a tendency to jump straight into advice-giving mode, even when you’re just looking to be heard.

It usually comes from a genuine desire to help.

They’ve accumulated decades of experience and want to share their wisdom.

The problem is, they often miss the cues that you’re not actually asking for solutions—you just want someone to listen.

This can make conversations feel one-sided and frustrating.

You end up feeling unheard, while they walk away thinking they’ve been helpful. It’s a classic case of good intentions creating distance instead of connection.

2. They dismiss new technology and methods without trying them

Ever tried explaining a new app or workflow to someone, only to hear “I don’t need all that fancy stuff” before you’ve even finished your first sentence?

This knee-jerk rejection of anything tech-related or modern can be incredibly frustrating to deal with.

And it’s not just about smartphones or social media—it extends to new ways of doing business, communication styles, and even problem-solving approaches.

The thing is, this resistance often comes from a place of feeling overwhelmed or left behind by rapid change.

But instead of admitting that, it’s easier to dismiss these innovations as unnecessary or overly complicated.

What makes this particularly difficult is when it affects collaboration or efficiency.

You might have a solution that could genuinely help, but you hit a wall of resistance before you can even demonstrate its value.

The result?

Missed opportunities and a lot of unnecessary friction in both personal and professional relationships.

3. They make everything about their own experiences

Picture this: you’re sharing something meaningful that happened to you, and within seconds the conversation has somehow shifted to a story from 1987 that’s only vaguely related.

This pattern of redirecting conversations back to their own experiences can make interactions feel exhausting.

You start a sentence about your struggles with work-life balance, and suddenly you’re hearing about how they worked 60-hour weeks and “didn’t complain about it.”

It’s not that their experiences aren’t valid or interesting. The problem is timing and awareness.

When someone is trying to share something important, constantly pivoting to your own stories sends the message that what they’re saying isn’t as significant.

This behavior often stems from a desire to relate and connect through shared experiences.

But it backfires because it leaves the other person feeling like they can’t finish a thought without being interrupted or overshadowed.

The conversation becomes less about mutual exchange and more like competing monologues.

4. They resist acknowledging when they’re wrong

Have you ever been in a situation where facts are presented, but the response is doubling down instead of reconsidering?

This stubborn refusal to admit mistakes or change perspectives can make conversations feel like you’re hitting a brick wall.

Whether it’s something small like directions to a restaurant or something bigger like outdated information, some Boomers will dig in their heels rather than acknowledge they might be off base.

Part of this comes from growing up in an era where authority and certainty were highly valued.

Admitting you’re wrong could be seen as weakness or losing face.

But in today’s world, where information changes rapidly and collaboration is key, this rigidity creates unnecessary conflict.

What’s particularly frustrating is when you can see the mental gymnastics happening—the rationalizations and deflections to avoid that simple “you’re right, I was mistaken.”

It turns what could be a quick correction into a drawn-out battle of wills that nobody really wins.

5. They critique without understanding context

Nothing kills enthusiasm quite like having your decisions questioned by someone who doesn’t fully grasp the situation you’re dealing with.

Some Boomers have a habit of jumping to criticism based on surface-level observations, without taking time to understand the full picture.

They see you working from a coffee shop and assume you’re not serious about your career.

Or they question your life choices based on standards that don’t apply to your generation’s reality.

The housing market, student debt, career paths, relationship timelines—so much has changed, yet the critiques often come from outdated benchmarks.

What worked in their twenties might be completely unrealistic today, but that context gets lost.

This pattern is particularly draining because defending every decision gets exhausting.

You end up spending more time explaining your choices than actually discussing what matters to you.

The frustrating part?

They often think they’re being helpful by pointing out what they see as obvious problems, not realizing their perspective might be missing crucial context.

6. They interrupt and talk over others

There’s something uniquely frustrating about trying to make a point when you keep getting cut off mid-sentence.

Some Boomers have developed a habit of interrupting conversations, seemingly without awareness of how disruptive it is.

They jump in with their thoughts before you’ve finished yours, or they start talking over you when they disagree with where your point is heading.

This behavior often comes from decades of being in environments where being heard meant being loud and assertive.

In many workplace cultures they grew up in, interrupting was seen as engagement rather than rudeness.

But the impact is clear: it makes others feel unimportant and unheard.

When you’re constantly being interrupted, you start to withdraw from conversations altogether.

Why bother sharing your thoughts if they’re going to be steamrolled?

The irony is that this behavior often pushes away the very people they’re trying to connect with, creating distance when they probably want closeness.

Final words

Look, I’m not trying to bash an entire generation here.

Every age group has its challenging personalities, and plenty of Boomers are amazing to be around.

The point is that these behaviors—whether it’s dominating conversations, dismissing new ideas, or constantly interrupting—can create real friction in relationships.

And the tricky part is that most people exhibiting these patterns genuinely don’t realize they’re doing it.

Understanding these tendencies isn’t about giving up on difficult relationships or writing people off.

It’s about recognizing the patterns so you can navigate them more skillfully.

Maybe that means setting clearer boundaries in conversations, or finding ways to redirect when things go off track.

Sometimes it’s about picking your battles and letting the small stuff slide.

The goal isn’t to change anyone—that’s not your job.

It’s about protecting your own energy and maintaining your sanity while still showing up with compassion when possible.

After all, we’re all products of our experiences and the times we grew up in.

A little awareness and patience can go a long way toward making these relationships more bearable for everyone involved.

Lachlan Brown

Lachlan Brown is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Brown Brothers Media, a digital publishing network reaching tens of millions of readers monthly. He holds a Graduate Diploma of Psychological Studies from Deakin University, though his real education came afterward: a warehouse job shifting TVs, a stretch of anxiety in his mid-twenties, and the slow discovery that studying the mind is not the same as learning how to live well. He started experimenting with Buddhist principles during breaks at the warehouse and eventually began writing about what he was learning. That writing became Hack Spirit, a widely read personal development site, and his book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism became a bestseller. His work breaks down complex ideas into frameworks people can apply immediately, whether they are navigating a career change, a difficult relationship, or the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Lachlan splits his time between Singapore and Saigon. He writes about high-performance routines, decision-making under pressure, digital innovation, and the intersection of Eastern philosophy with modern life. His perspective comes from having built things from scratch, failed at some of them, and learned that clarity comes from practice, not theory.