{discussion} "ok boomer"

[Hirota]

Thinking ok boomer is a meme.

Go back to your ineffective street march millennial, the environment is waiting for you to tantrum hard enough to fix it.

Everyone: Don't make me bring "OK Boomer" and other such crap up to the rest of the Mod Team. They're a lot less forgiving than I am. If all you've got is name-calling, go find a school playground.

No no Farn, I think you absolutely should bring it up, so that's what I'm doing here.

It's been repeatedly employed as an attempt at stiffing honest discussion by employing lazy namecalling. Thats something moderation should be looking at on a case by case basis.

[The New California Republic]

Farn said that there may be a mod discussion on it:

https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?t=475180&f=20&view=unread#p36444201
Very borderline, but figured I'd report it since it doesn't attack any argument but the poster.

Meh. I'm thinking the Mod Team will be having a discussion on the "OK <whatever>" thing soon.

[NoAvailability]

Eh, as long as you hit the whole "millenial" thing as well, I'd argue fair is fair. "Ok Boomer" evolved as a counterresponse to that, so if we just take out both, things should be fine.

[Prozitia]

Ok, boomer

[The religious state of rhysium]

Quite ridiculous that you would get offended by such a meaningless insult.

[Konolas]

I feel like urban dictionary has a good explenation

When a baby boomer says some dumb shit and you can't even begin to explain why he's wrong because that would be deconstructing decades of misinformation and ignorance so you just brush it off and say okay.

[Prozitia]

Quite ridiculous that you would get offended by such a meaningless insult.

This.

[New haven america]

I don't mind it. It's a good way to fight against those who tend to hate new or progressive ideas simply for being new or progressive ideas.

Does it get overused or misused? Sure. Does that make it worth getting rid of? Not really, no.

[The Free Joy State]

Interesting how, in an attempt to oppose the OP, some people appear to be supporting their viewpoint. Not only in apparently attempting to use the meme to shut down the conversation, which is what Hirota pointed to as problematic, but also by describing "OK boomer" as a:

… meaningless insult.

(Cropped; emphasis mine).

If it is meant to be derogatory -- as insults are -- surely that adds support to the OP's argument?

I've seen above that Farn has said the Mods may have a discussion on the "Okay..." thing. As this is a discussion thread, I feel I should be okay saying that I personally feel it would be positive to look at where such phrases are being used to attack someone solely on the basis of who it is thought they are and not their argument, and on the basis of their perceived age. On a case-by-case basis.

[Idzequitch]

The meme is kind of annoying (as memes are apt to be, I suppose).

My main issue with it isn't in the sense of it being flaming, or an insult, really. It's more along the lines of spam. It's really just a lazy memed up way to say "I'm ignoring everything you've said." It cuts off discussion, it doesn't contribute anything to the thread, and it's rude and sarcastic to boot (which admittedly, there's no shortage of rudeness or sarcasm in NSG anyway). I have seen posts that include the phrase, but then include more substantive content, and I see far less issue with those. But if your whole post just says "ok boomer," that feels pretty spammy to me.

[Konolas]

The meme is kind of annoying (as memes are apt to be, I suppose).

My main issue with it isn't in the sense of it being flaming, or an insult, really. It's more along the lines of spam. It's really just a lazy memed up way to say "I'm ignoring everything you've said." It cuts off discussion, it doesn't contribute anything to the thread, and it's rude and sarcastic to boot (which admittedly, there's no shortage of rudeness or sarcasm in NSG anyway). I have seen posts that include the phrase, but then include more substantive content, and I see far less issue with those. But if your whole post just says "ok boomer," that feels pretty spammy to me.

Alright, old person

[The Free Joy State]

The meme is kind of annoying (as memes are apt to be, I suppose).

My main issue with it isn't in the sense of it being flaming, or an insult, really. It's more along the lines of spam. It's really just a lazy memed up way to say "I'm ignoring everything you've said." It cuts off discussion, it doesn't contribute anything to the thread, and it's rude and sarcastic to boot (which admittedly, there's no shortage of rudeness or sarcasm in NSG anyway). I have seen posts that include the phrase, but then include more substantive content, and I see far less issue with those. But if your whole post just says "ok boomer," that feels pretty spammy to me.

That thought also occurred to me. Especially when "Okay, Boomer" (or equivalent) is the sum total of a person's post on a more frequent basis.

[Alanis Star]

I won't be offended if it is a meme itself. But I'll take it as an indicator that you have nothing substantial to say/support/teardown my views.

I think Idz and Joy have said everything I wanted to say, so there is that. It's not an insult, but as an overused meme, it's an annoyance, and I will take it that you are not going to contribute to the discussion.

[The Chuck]

Also going to point out that there are rules against the "ignore cannon" spam and I was wondering if this would fall under that umbrella or if that applies primarily to RP/etc.?

[Grenartia]

I feel like urban dictionary has a good explenation

When a baby boomer says some dumb shit and you can't even begin to explain why he's wrong because that would be deconstructing decades of misinformation and ignorance so you just brush it off and say okay.

Pretty much. Its the ultimate way to deflect a troll, in all honesty. Like, even ignoring them is kinda useless. But "ok boomer" is the new "cool story bro".

[The Free Joy State]

I feel like urban dictionary has a good explenation

Pretty much. Its the ultimate way to deflect a troll, in all honesty. Like, even ignoring them is kinda useless. But "ok boomer" is the new "cool story bro".

I've not seen it used one time on this site against someone later reported and warned for trolling -- even once. The only times I've ever seen it used is against people the person deploying it disagree with. Whether those people are expressing viewed associated with the trope or not.

Unless we're using "troll" as a shorthand for "any person who disagrees with me", of course (which is not the definition I've heard of before). As Alanis Star said, at best it's lazily repeating an overused merchandised meme and not substantially engaging with the debate. And, as I've said (and Idz., of course), at worst, it could be seen as spam.

[Marxist Germany]

The meme is kind of annoying (as memes are apt to be, I suppose).

My main issue with it isn't in the sense of it being flaming, or an insult, really. It's more along the lines of spam. It's really just a lazy memed up way to say "I'm ignoring everything you've said." It cuts off discussion, it doesn't contribute anything to the thread, and it's rude and sarcastic to boot (which admittedly, there's no shortage of rudeness or sarcasm in NSG anyway). I have seen posts that include the phrase, but then include more substantive content, and I see far less issue with those. But if your whole post just says "ok boomer," that feels pretty spammy to me.

This is basically what I think the problem is.

[Hirota]

Interesting how, in an attempt to oppose the OP, some people appear to be supporting their viewpoint. Not only in apparently attempting to use the meme to shut down the conversation, which is what Hirota pointed to as problematic, but also by describing "OK boomer" as a:

… meaningless insult.

(Cropped; emphasis mine).

If it is meant to be derogatory -- as insults are -- surely that adds support to the OP's argument?

I've seen above that Farn has said the Mods may have a discussion on the "Okay..." thing. As this is a discussion thread, I feel I should be okay saying that I personally feel it would be positive to look at where such phrases are being used to attack someone solely on the basis of who it is thought they are and not their argument, and on the basis of their perceived age. On a case-by-case basis.

I'm not arguing for a blanket ban. But in scenarios where it's used to stifle discussion (in much the same way trollnaming is generally only actionable where posters were going around calling other posters trolls for the purpose of stifling discussion), as opposed to actual debate.

Gentaria's argument highlights this. Their argument is that it's a workaround to the trollnaming rule. Instead of reporting a troll, the poster advocates creating yet more irrelevant spam.

3 of the 4 examples I linked to in my original post are where that was literally the only thing posted. If thats not disruptive, then I don't know what is.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

I agree with the OP.

It's not that it's offencive, it's that it adds nothing but ad hom to the debate. If you make that post in response to me, I'm going to listen to it (which, in my case, means actually listen to it in speaking speed.) The time I spent listening to it is time I could be spending engaging with people who actually have something worthwhile to add to the discussion, rather than meaningless spam. It's on the same level as 'that's what you are but what am I,' it's a useless deflection that doesn't add anything of value.
To put it in context, post chosen at random:

I feel like urban dictionary has a good explenation

Pretty much. Its the ultimate way to deflect a troll, in all honesty. Like, even ignoring them is kinda useless. But "ok boomer" is the new "cool story bro".

okay, potato

---

That added absolutely nothing. It's not offensive unless there's some weird spud-related issue particularly applying to Gren that I'm unaware of, but it adds nothing. If that was the entirety of this post, it would be spam.

[LiberNovusAmericae]

The meme is kind of annoying (as memes are apt to be, I suppose).

My main issue with it isn't in the sense of it being flaming, or an insult, really. It's more along the lines of spam. It's really just a lazy memed up way to say "I'm ignoring everything you've said." It cuts off discussion, it doesn't contribute anything to the thread, and it's rude and sarcastic to boot (which admittedly, there's no shortage of rudeness or sarcasm in NSG anyway). I have seen posts that include the phrase, but then include more substantive content, and I see far less issue with those. But if your whole post just says "ok boomer," that feels pretty spammy to me.

I agree here. It contributes nothing to the threads.

[The New California Republic]

The meme is kind of annoying (as memes are apt to be, I suppose).

My main issue with it isn't in the sense of it being flaming, or an insult, really. It's more along the lines of spam. It's really just a lazy memed up way to say "I'm ignoring everything you've said." It cuts off discussion, it doesn't contribute anything to the thread, and it's rude and sarcastic to boot (which admittedly, there's no shortage of rudeness or sarcasm in NSG anyway). I have seen posts that include the phrase, but then include more substantive content, and I see far less issue with those. But if your whole post just says "ok boomer," that feels pretty spammy to me.

The problem with classing it as spam is that other similar dismissive phrases like "NO U", "lol no", or inserting an emoji as a response etc arguably would fit into such a broadened definition of spam.

[Luna Amore]

Everyone: Don't make me bring "OK Boomer" and other such crap up to the rest of the Mod Team. They're a lot less forgiving than I am. If all you've got is name-calling, go find a school playground.

No no Farn, I think you absolutely should bring it up, so that's what I'm doing here.

It's been repeatedly employed as an attempt at stiffing honest discussion by employing lazy namecalling. Thats something moderation should be looking at on a case by case basis.

One of your examples looked like it was in response to a genuine post. I don't think those are the best examples of it being used to stifle discussion.

If someone is doing it repeatedly or there's a pattern, I could see it as spam. Other than that, no.

[The Town of StCatharines]

Ok boomer

[Satuga]

Personally as a Gen-z I could care less if mods ban this or not, it's just become so diluted from it's constant use that it's not even funny anymore(Which is what it was originally) it's just a an annoying way to dismiss someone during a conversation at this point.

[Luna Amore]

Ok, boomer

Alright, old person

Ok boomer

*** Warned for spamming Moderation ***