nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

The Older Generations of Today

Fukuyama

What is it with the 35-55 generation of today? I have numerous quips which I'd like to share. All of which focus on what can only be described as a generation that are nothing more of a let-down in comparison to generations (now dead) that went before them. They lack the wisdom that comes with age. Nor the passion that comes with youth.

Things that annoy me about middle agers:

They somehow succeeded in fcuking up this country despite gaining power in the best economical conditions possible (worked for by their parents)
They complain about everything and do nothing. Students march. OAPs march (slowly). Graduates March. What do middle agers do? Sit around and blame the Jonses for making them want to keep up with them,
They're ponsy as fcuk. 'Ohh - look at me in my Audi TT'. It's a ladies care mate.
They're conservative on everything - drugs, economical reforms, religion, who to vote for...
They like to think they're with it. The iPhone, sports jacket and BMW make them look 'cool'. It really doesn't. And if I'm that dillusional so early in life (middle age) just shoot me.
They're so consious of social etiquitte (tipping, language used, poltical correctness) they've lost any voice they could have potentially had

They also have a problem with the youth of today with how they are being raised yet fail to recognise that this problem inherently stems from the parents - I.e. their own generation.

You have failed the youth of today. I, as a young 19 year old student, am nor inspired or motivated in any way by any of your actions or achievements. Nor do I wish to carry on in any action in which you partake never mind form any tradition from it. I can think of nothing you have done that is worth repeating.

You have failed your parents. Big time. Messing up the country. Marrying the wrong person. Not knowing how to do basic DIY. Being a snob. Over protecting your children. And your general lack of morality both on a micro (personal) and macro (international) level.

Does the middle-agers of today annoy anyone else?

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

Salty

Kevin Duffy wrote: »

I'm in that age range, I have lots of respect for people, regardless of their age, as do many, many people of all ages, but I have none for your silly statement.

My "silly" statement? Obviously, many people of many ages have respect for everybody. I am one of those people, I still respect people who are older than me, younger than me, whatever.

But I'm 18, I'm at that age where a lot of older people don't respect me on sight, for no reason other than I'm young, especially when I'm in school uniform, when it's obvious I'm young.

I gave this example in another thread, if I'm walking down the street in my uniform, massive bag on my back, and I accidently over-balance or walk into someone, I make eye-contact and apologise, in a genuine manner. Majority of the time, I don't get a reply, or I get a stink eye thrown at me. If I do the same thing when in my regular clothes, I nearly always get an acknowledgment or an apology back. I know I look older when in my own clothes.

Tbh, I wasn't really making reference to that age range. I meant older people in general. I don't see why you took my post so personally. 35 isn't old at all.

Kevin Duffy wrote: »

Really? Why did he make the age range 35-55 and not specify he meant the parents of 16-19 year olds? Are you just reading what you think you wanted him to have said to suit your argument?

Well I don't know why he singled out that age range. I don't have magic insight into his mind. I'm not reading what I think so it'll "suit my argument." I assumed that's what he meant that's all. Hardly a crime.

EDIT: Sorry just realised I did refer to that age group. I meant older age groups in general. My bad:o I'll change that.

Show Time

Dean0088 wrote: »

What is it with the 35-55 generation of today? I have numerous quips which I'd like to share. All of which focus on what can only be described as a generation that are nothing more of a let-down in comparison to generations (now dead) that went before them. They lack the wisdom that comes with age. Nor the passion that comes with youth.

Things that annoy me about middle agers:
They somehow succeeded in fcuking up this country despite gaining power in the best economical conditions possible (worked for by their parents)

They complain about everything and do nothing. Students march. OAPs march (slowly). Graduates March. What do middle agers do? Sit around and blame the Jonses for making them want to keep up with them,

They're ponsy as fcuk. 'Ohh - look at me in my Audi TT'. It's a ladies care mate.

They're conservative on everything - drugs, economical reforms, religion, who to vote for...

They like to think they're with it. The iPhone, sports jacket and BMW make them look 'cool'. It really doesn't. And if I'm that dillusional so early in life (middle age) just shoot me.

They're so consious of social etiquitte (tipping, language used, poltical correctness) they've lost any voice they could have potentially had

They also have a problem with the youth of today with how they are being raised yet fail to recognise that this problem inherently stems from the parents - I.e. their own generation.

You have failed the youth of today. I, as a young 19 year old student, am nor inspired or motivated in any way by any of your actions or achievements. Nor do I wish to carry on in any action in which you partake never mind form any tradition from it. I can think of nothing you have done that is worth repeating.

You have failed your parents. Big time. Messing up the country. Marrying the wrong person. Not knowing how to do basic DIY. Being a snob. Over protecting your children. And your general lack of morality both on a micro (personal) and macro (international) level.

Does the middle-agers of today annoy anyone else?

How i would love to be a young rebel without a cause once again.
Good work on the post and the thread young sir.

Redlion

cml387 wrote: »

Mortgage paid.

Hahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

True. But you're missing out on all the young 19/20 year old girls that us 19 year olds enjoy! :P

Show Time

Redlion wrote: »

True. But you're missing out on all the young 19/20 year old girls that us 19 year olds enjoy! :P

When i was 19/20 it was all about getting drunk at the weekend and trying to pull an easy girl when out clubbing.

BESman

OP's post is spot on. Its just been phrased in a way which will inevitably insult and alienate a lot of people in the age bracket specified.

This is more of a generational argument. I have far more respect for people of my parent's generation (the real elderly 55 - 85), the circumstances in which they grew up in and the things they accomplished in their lives.

These people grew up in Ireland in the 50's, 60's and 70's. A much different Ireland to that of the last 20 years. Many of this generation (particularly those in rural, working class families) had no such thing as bus services or cars to bring them to school, endured corporal punishment, did not have free third level fees, had limited prospects of employment after school, and had few of the technologies available today that make life easier. My father worked hard every day of his life and never received a hand out. My mother gave up work to be a home maker as there was no such thing as a "career woman" or affordable childcare in those days. Yet this is the generation that built Ireland and paved the way for the generation after them (which the OP describes as 35 - 55 I think).

This generation (health warning - heavy generalisation) have had everything easier. I think it is unfair to insult a generation on this basis as each generation will inevitably enjoy this advantage due to advances in technology and the standard of living that occurs naturally over time. However a generation should be judged on what they achieve as a result of these advantages. In my opinion this generation has squandered these advantages. They're overly materialistic, as the boom years and subsequent crash illustrate all too well. As OP mentioned, they are far too concerned by etiquette, political correctness, conservatism and molly-coddling their offspring so that they will end up as incompetent and inept as their parents. They have few practical skills, mostly involved in sedentary, paper pushing jobs and never worked a hard day in their lives. They have wrecked the country and have no single achievement to distinguish their generation over another. I have worked with people of this generation and have come across far too many examples of what the OP described and am therefore unconvinced of any arguments in their defence to date. I hope the next generation is an improvement.

Await venomous backlash

Redlion

Show Time wrote: »

When i was 19/20 it was all about getting drunk at the weekend and trying to pull an easy girl when out clubbing.

Ah ya missed out! The best girls are the ones that aren't easy to pull

FTGFOP

ITT the don't-know-they're-borns criticise people older than them for not being like people much older than them.

slavetothegrind

ah deano, sure you've every chance to do better yourself now.
i have bookmarked this thread and will return in 20 years to see how you have fared.

as for pulling 19 year olds, in my day that would have been by the knee length jumper:(

Kevin Duffy

_meehan_ wrote: »

Well, it's obvious that people in an older age bracket have zero respect for teenagers, even though we are expected to respect them 100%. I always respect people older than me, but I definitely do not get the same treatment shown to me.

_meehan_ wrote:

My "silly" statement? Obviously, many people of many ages have respect for everybody. I am one of those people, I still respect people who are older than me, younger than me, whatever.

Yes, the bit in bold of your first post is silly, for being so emphatic and generalised.

_meehan_ wrote:

Also, I don't think the OP was saying that people who are 35 are old, I think he means people who are old enough to have children in the age bracket of 16-19.

_meehan_ wrote: »

Tbh, I wasn't really making reference to that age range. I meant older people in general. I don't see why you took my post so personally. 35 isn't old at all.

Well I don't know why he singled out that age range. I don't have magic insight into his mind. I'm not reading what I think so it'll "suit my argument." I assumed that's what he meant that's all. Hardly a crime.

I know you don't have an insight into his mind, which is why I addressing your interpretation of the OP and your statement that he meant something he didn't say and was referring to an age range that he didn't specify.

As to people's manners towards you - there is no age barrier on manners, some people of all ages are rude. You seem well mannered as you tell it there, fair play. Sadly, we don't always get the responses to manners that we should.
And I didn't take your post personally. Disagreeing strongly is not the same as taking something personally.

Irish Guitarist

I'm 35. I think anyone who is aged 0 to to 34 and anyone who is over the age of 36 is wrong.

Not really. Actually I stopped thinking over thirties were old when I was about eighteen.

I used to have long hair until a year ago. I used to get more comments from teenagers about my appearance than I did from older people. In my experience teenagers (not all but a lot of them) expect everyone to dress the same as they do whereas older people are more accepting, probably because they've seen more fashions come and go. They have probably had kids or grandkids who they had arguments with over their clothes and just gave up trying to change them in the end.

Sticky_Fingers

PrincessLola wrote: »

uh-oh, a lot of offended 30 something year-olds on here.:pac:

Cheer up 80s babies!!
The truth is most people in their late teens/early twenties see anyone over thirty as old.:pac:

You might want to check your maths there, most 80's babies would be in the mid to late 20's, I'm was born in the year of our lord 1981 and am "only" 29.

As for the OP, he seems to forget that most of the people he derides as causing the ruination of this country are the very ones who built it up in the first place. From his ivory crib he seems to forget that while we are currently going through a terrible economic time it is by no means the first that the feckless 35-55 year olds have had to face, the 80's were a pretty bleak time in this country, an abiding memory from my childhood was hearing about job losses and factory closures seemingly on a daily basis while the murder of "informers" up North was even more regular.

Osgoodisgood

Dean0088 wrote: »

What is it with the 35-55 generation of today? I have numerous quips which I'd like to share.

Then why did you not include any quippage you young scallywag?
A steaming pile of ill-informed moans doth not a quip make.

They complain about everything and do nothing. Students march. OAPs march (slowly). Graduates March. What do middle agers do? Sit around and blame the Jonses for making them want to keep up with them,

Psst .......OP. Who do you think has to fund the country for the next 20 odd years?

They're conservative on everything - drugs, economical reforms, religion, who to vote for...

You really know your average boardsie inside out don't you?

You have failed your parents. Big time. Messing up the country. Marrying the wrong person. Not knowing how to do basic DIY. Being a snob. Over protecting your children. And your general lack of morality both on a micro (personal) and macro (international) level.

Hmmmm. Methinks Dr Phil needs to make a little space in his diary.

Salty

Kevin Duffy wrote: »

Yes, the bit in bold of your first post is silly, for being so emphatic and generalised.

Well, this is just in my experience. It happens pretty much every time I'm in town. (another thing which I failed to mention in my post.:rolleyes:)

I'm probably unlucky and just coming across all the pr!cks.

Dravokivich

Hookah wrote: »

The older generations weren't like that in my day.

i once heard them talk about the forests from before they were fields.

:pac:

blueyedson

Dean0088 wrote: »

The fact you don't know my age tells me you didn't read what I wrote therefore you're full of excrement.

Well thats true I didnt read all your post, got bored with all the generalisations/post too long fail

You troll good or else you think all 35+ are same blah blah

well are all 19 yo the same too? :rolleyes:

Show Time

Redlion wrote: »

Ah ya missed out! The best girls are the ones that aren't easy to pull

When i was a pissed or stoned 19 year old any old hole would have done. Standers went up as i got older.

[Deleted User]

Dean0088 wrote: »

What is it with the 35-55 generation of today?.........................
Things that annoy me about middle agers:
They somehow succeeded in fcuking up this country despite gaining power in the best economical conditions possible (worked for by their parents)

They complain about everything and do nothing. Students march. OAPs march (slowly). Graduates March. What do middle agers do? Sit around and blame the Jonses for making them want to keep up with them,

They're ponsy as fcuk. 'Ohh - look at me in my Audi TT'. It's a ladies care mate.

They're conservative on everything - drugs, economical reforms, religion, who to vote for...

They like to think they're with it. The iPhone, sports jacket and BMW make them look 'cool'. It really doesn't. And if I'm that dillusional so early in life (middle age) just shoot me.

They're so consious of social etiquitte (tipping, language used, poltical correctness) they've lost any voice they could have potentially had

.............................
Does the middle-agers of today annoy anyone else?

I dunno where the f*** you live but I don't see many 35 to 55 year old folks that fit that description.

Matthew23

all the people i know around that age alwasy seem to be tellin me what to do. It gets on my nerves abit but i suppose ill be like that then too!:D

saa

lol at the comments touched a nerve did it?

I read the first part of the post and was like what a load of... but look its humour, stereotyping sure there is snobbery and conservatism that really annoys me but that's always been around. Chill.

Terry

Dean0088 wrote: »

What is it with the 35-55 generation of today? I have numerous quips which I'd like to share. All of which focus on what can only be described as a generation that are nothing more of a let-down in comparison to generations (now dead) that went before them. They lack the wisdom that comes with age. Nor the passion that comes with youth.

What have you done for us middle-aged people, apart from try to get us to buy you a few cans?

Things that annoy me about middle agers:

Let's dissect this.

They somehow succeeded in fcuking up this country despite gaining power in the best economical conditions possible (worked for by their parents)

I wasn't one of the 166 TDs who allowed the bankers **** us over.
I worked as much as possible from the age of 15, so that's 20 years of work. Ok, about 10 paying tax, but that was down to my employers. In fairness, I never signed on when I was working.

How, as an average 35 year old, is the current economic climate my fault?

They complain about everything and do nothing. Students march. OAPs march (slowly). Graduates March. What do middle agers do? Sit around and blame the Jonses for making them want to keep up with them,

Poor child has never seen a proper strike. You grew up in the good times. The **** has yet to hit the fan.

What age group would you put Aer Lingus pilots in?

They're ponsy as fcuk. 'Ohh - look at me in my Audi TT'. It's a ladies care mate.

I don't own a car. Don't need one.
Dude next door has 4. That throws your "keeping up with the joneses" theory out.

They're conservative on everything - drugs, economical reforms, religion, who to vote for...

Drugs: You have me there, but I've felt the same way for years.
When I was your age, I used to believe all the pro-cannabis propaganda, but then I grew up and realised it was all written by stoners who just want to be high all the time.

Economical reforms: Power needs to be taken away from the bankers. They need to be held responsible for their gambling.

Religion: It's ridiculous. It really is.
It's also a joke that religions (namely the Catholic Church here) have so much power over government decisions.
In saying that, they don't have the power they once had, and that leads me to your fourth point...

Who to vote for: If you are stupid enough to vote for one particular party, as opposed to who you believe will do the best job, then you're a ****ing retard and are the same as about 75% of the voting public, which includes you, as you are of voting age.

They like to think they're with it. The iPhone, sports jacket and BMW make them look 'cool'. It really doesn't. And if I'm that dillusional so early in life (middle age) just shoot me.

I don't own an iPhone (or a smartphone of any make). I'm going to buy one soon, but it's only for work.
I never intend to buy a sports jacket. I don't even know what one of those is.
Again, no car.

If you would like me to shoot you, just send me a PM with your contact details. Please have access to a gun, because I don't own one.
Would you like a kill shot, a wound or something like a paintball?

If it's a kill shot or a wound you are looking for, then I suggest you seek professional help. Preferably from a child, or a psychiatrist aged between 20 and 34.

They're so consious of social etiquitte (tipping, language used, poltical correctness) they've lost any voice they could have potentially had

So you would prefer us to tell everyone to go and **** themselves?

Is that what you do?
Do you walk into a (for example) a pub serving food, order some food and a pint, sit at a table and then give the server a shít load of abuse? Do you then pass comment on their ethnicity if they're not Irish?
Do you refuse food from them if they are foreign?
Do you only eat bacon and cabbage?

They also have a problem with the youth of today with how they are being raised yet fail to recognise that this problem inherently stems from the parents - I.e. their own generation.

Here you are denying that people should be responsible for their own actons.

You have failed the youth of today. I, as a young 19 year old student, am nor inspired or motivated in any way by any of your actions or achievements. Nor do I wish to carry on in any action in which you partake never mind form any tradition from it. I can think of nothing you have done that is worth repeating.

That makes you sound lazy.

You have failed your parents. Big time. Messing up the country. Marrying the wrong person. Not knowing how to do basic DIY. Being a snob. Over protecting your children. And your general lack of morality both on a micro (personal) and macro (international) level.

This just gives you away altogether.

Does the middle-agers of today annoy anyone else?

I doesn't.

Here's the deal.
Now I'm more Fraud than Freud, but it's quite obvious that you feel that your parents don't love you, and that you have failed them in some way.

Going by your age and the age of those you claim piss you off, your mother was knocked up when she was 16 going on 17.

Your mother's mother was 21/22 when she gave birth to your mother, and she let you do whatever you wanted to do when you were a child (last week included).

you think that you have achieved something by completing first year in college, and your fellow students convinced you that all drugs should be legal, and that "The Man" is holding you down.

"The Man" is anyone who acts the same way as your mother.

Go and have a ****. It'll cheer you up.

PrincessLola wrote: »

uh-oh, a lot of offended 30 something year-olds on here.:pac:

Cheer up 80s babies!!
The truth is most people in their late teens/early twenties see anyone over thirty as old.:pac:

(I used to think anyone over 25 was old, now that I'm 20 I think its anyone over 35)

Learn how to count backwards, 90's baby.

XD lol and so forth.

cml387 wrote: »

Mortgage paid.

Hahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

Me too. Yay!

Show Time

Terry wrote: »

What have you done for us middle-aged people, apart from try to get us to buy you a few cans?

Let's dissect this.

I wasn't one of the 166 TDs who allowed the bankers **** us over.
I worked as much as possible from the age of 15, so that's 20 years of work. Ok, about 10 paying tax, but that was down to my employers. In fairness, I never signed on when I was working.

How, as an average 35 year old, is the current economic climate my fault?

Poor child has never seen a proper strike. You grew up in the good times. The **** has yet to hit the fan.

What age group would you put Aer Lingus pilots in?

I don't own a car. Don't need one.
Dude next door has 4. That throws your "keeping up with the joneses" theory out.

Drugs: You have me there, but I've felt the same way for years.
When I was your age, I used to believe all the pro-cannabis propaganda, but then I grew up and realised it was all written by stoners who just want to be high all the time.

Economical reforms: Power needs to be taken away from the bankers. They need to be held responsible for their gambling.

Religion: It's ridiculous. It really is.
It's also a joke that religions (namely the Catholic Church here) have so much power over government decisions.
In saying that, they don't have the power they once had, and that leads me to your fourth point...

Who to vote for: If you are stupid enough to vote for one particular party, as opposed to who you believe will do the best job, then you're a ****ing retard and are the same as about 75% of the voting public, which includes you, as you are of voting age.

I don't own an iPhone (or a smartphone of any make). I'm going to buy one soon, but it's only for work.
I never intend to buy a sports jacket. I don't even know what one of those is.
Again, no car.

If you would like me to shoot you, just send me a PM with your contact details. Please have access to a gun, because I don't own one.
Would you like a kill shot, a wound or something like a paintball?

If it's a kill shot or a wound you are looking for, then I suggest you seek professional help. Preferably from a child, or a psychiatrist aged between 20 and 34.

So you would prefer us to tell everyone to go and **** themselves?

Is that what you do?
Do you walk into a (for example) a pub serving food, order some food and a pint, sit at a table and then give the server a shít load of abuse? Do you then pass comment on their ethnicity if they're not Irish?
Do you refuse food from them if they are foreign?
Do you only eat bacon and cabbage?

Here you are denying that people should be responsible for their own actons.

That makes you sound lazy.

This just gives you away altogether.

I doesn't.

Here's the deal.
Now I'm more Fraud than Freud, but it's quite obvious that you feel that your parents don't love you, and that you have failed them in some way.

Going by your age and the age of those you claim piss you off, your mother was knocked up when she was 16 going on 17.

Your mother's mother was 21/22 when she gave birth to your mother, and she let you do whatever you wanted to do when you were a child (last week included).

you think that you have achieved something by completing first year in college, and your fellow students convinced you that all drugs should be legal, and that "The Man" is holding you down.

"The Man" is anyone who acts the same way as your mother.

Go and have a ****. It'll cheer you up.

Learn how to count backwards, 90's baby. XD lol and so forth.

Me too. Yay!

Very well thought out and written reply, I doff my cap to you.

Salty

Terry wrote: »

What have you done for us middle-aged people, apart from try to get us to buy you a few cans?

Let's dissect this.

I wasn't one of the 166 TDs who allowed the bankers **** us over.
I worked as much as possible from the age of 15, so that's 20 years of work. Ok, about 10 paying tax, but that was down to my employers. In fairness, I never signed on when I was working.

How, as an average 35 year old, is the current economic climate my fault?

Poor child has never seen a proper strike. You grew up in the good times. The **** has yet to hit the fan.

What age group would you put Aer Lingus pilots in?

I don't own a car. Don't need one.
Dude next door has 4. That throws your "keeping up with the joneses" theory out.

Drugs: You have me there, but I've felt the same way for years.
When I was your age, I used to believe all the pro-cannabis propaganda, but then I grew up and realised it was all written by stoners who just want to be high all the time.

Economical reforms: Power needs to be taken away from the bankers. They need to be held responsible for their gambling.

Religion: It's ridiculous. It really is.
It's also a joke that religions (namely the Catholic Church here) have so much power over government decisions.
In saying that, they don't have the power they once had, and that leads me to your fourth point...

Who to vote for: If you are stupid enough to vote for one particular party, as opposed to who you believe will do the best job, then you're a ****ing retard and are the same as about 75% of the voting public, which includes you, as you are of voting age.

I don't own an iPhone (or a smartphone of any make). I'm going to buy one soon, but it's only for work.
I never intend to buy a sports jacket. I don't even know what one of those is.
Again, no car.

If you would like me to shoot you, just send me a PM with your contact details. Please have access to a gun, because I don't own one.
Would you like a kill shot, a wound or something like a paintball?

If it's a kill shot or a wound you are looking for, then I suggest you seek professional help. Preferably from a child, or a psychiatrist aged between 20 and 34.

So you would prefer us to tell everyone to go and **** themselves?

Is that what you do?
Do you walk into a (for example) a pub serving food, order some food and a pint, sit at a table and then give the server a shít load of abuse? Do you then pass comment on their ethnicity if they're not Irish?
Do you refuse food from them if they are foreign?
Do you only eat bacon and cabbage?

Here you are denying that people should be responsible for their own actons.

That makes you sound lazy.

This just gives you away altogether.

I doesn't.

Here's the deal.
Now I'm more Fraud than Freud, but it's quite obvious that you feel that your parents don't love you, and that you have failed them in some way.

Going by your age and the age of those you claim piss you off, your mother was knocked up when she was 16 going on 17.

Your mother's mother was 21/22 when she gave birth to your mother, and she let you do whatever you wanted to do when you were a child (last week included).

you think that you have achieved something by completing first year in college, and your fellow students convinced you that all drugs should be legal, and that "The Man" is holding you down.

"The Man" is anyone who acts the same way as your mother.

Go and have a ****. It'll cheer you up.

Learn how to count backwards, 90's baby. XD lol and so forth.

Me too. Yay!

This made me laugh.:P You have made my evening:D

mfceiling

And what age group have brought you the internet, iphone, all the latest technology etc...yeah you've guessed it.

Don't get me started on the good for nothing, trousers round your arse, hands down the front of your tracksuit bottoms wasters that are passing as the youth of today!!

hondasam

OP you seem to be just talking about men in your post. Is that the case ?

In your generalisation you are talking about your parents, aunts, uncles etc, is this your opinion of them ?

Seloth

I'm 19 and I'm afraid of people thinking I'm old..and when I was 16 I thought 18 was ancient!

FISMA

Another young one born into the generation of the celtic tiger. Someone that could not remember the EU or the struggles of the past. Someone that honestly believed the nonsense of bankers over their lifetime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0

Did you not have the opportunity to get a credit card?

blackberryguy

Okay! I am 19 and I disagree with the op.
He said that the generation never went on strike haven't nurses, teacher all going on strike? Yes, they have and a lot of these people are aged between 35-55.
Also mentioning Audi TT's and BMW's. What you have to remember is during the brillant celtic tiger years the best selling car in Ireland was the Ford Focus not a luxury car. It is a standard family car. These were bought by a lot of people in this age bracket.
Also, People of the older generation are normally working longer so. They may have extra cash to spend on items such as I-phone's,clothes, cars, etc. What is the problem with that? There's no point of working your hardest and just letting the money lay there in your bank account.
You also say something about the older generation failing there parents.
By marrying the wrong person and being a snob. In my opinion most marriages stay together and most people are nice.You might meet the odd person here and there but that's how the world always worked and also plenty of people of previous generations married the wrong people and were forced into marriages because someone got pregnant. This doesn't happen as often now.
You also mention parents over protecting there kids. This is because they love there kids to bits and they see how children can be taken advantage of. Look for example at the Ryan report. Think of how many people's lives were effected due to the catholic church and the trust previous generations had in the church led to a lot of boys and girls lives being destroyed by kids not being protected enough. Would you prefer to be an over protecting parent or be one with a son or daugther that got abused/kidnapped etc?
OP mentioned people being snobs read this thread started by the op http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=72327129

Oblomov

I wonder if the thread starter has thought:

19, still at home?
Still having all those naty bills paid for?
Still lazing around, wondering what to do with your day?
Still not learnt a trade or profession?
Still trying to gat an education?
Still wondering how those old uns can afford a house, a car and those silly clothes?
Still wondering when you'll be asked to put the world right?
Still thinking what it would be like to be married and have a family
Still wondering what sex will be like with a female?
Still wondering how to budget the monies to pay for everything?
Still wondering how a weekly shop is sorted and prepared and on the table for you to eat.

The wonders of youth, the need for experience and the fear of failure, the wondrous ability to fool yourself into thinking you know it all