Every generation has thoughts and opinions on how we should treat each other. What is right verses what is wrong. You might think it's universal, but it is not. There is a word very important to building healthy relationships. Some could argue it is the foundation of building good communities. That word is respect, and every generation has its own way to communicate it.
Respect is how we treat one another ethically and fairly. Respect allows us to coexist more peacefully. It boosts empathy and tolerance. Respect builds better communication and understanding. Respect allows for differences of opinion, culture, identity, and inclusiveness.
Respect spelled out on a corkboard.Image via Canva - Photo by mattjeacock
A quick definition in context for the word respect from Dictionary.com, "esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person."
These are the unique, four very different ways the generations of Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z share it:
Boomers (61 to 79 years)
Boomer looking stylish.Image via Canva - Photo by capturenow
This is a generation of traditional values. They believe in a hierarchical structure (most powerful or seniors on top) and prefer the formal to the informal. Healthy Workforce Institute writes, "To the boomers, obedience is a sign of respect. They generally give respect to anyone who is an elder. Respect for their experience and knowledge takes the form of listening. Boomers want you to listen and not discard their opinions or complete their sentences."
Older woman slips on her shades. media3.giphy.com
In general, Boomers expect you to respect them because of their age and position. With a lifetime of experience, it's fair they should believe you owe them in the least, some 'benefit of the doubt.'
Generation X (45 to 60 years)
Gen X looking professional.Image via Canva - Photos by kertlis
Gen X isn't sure they can trust you. That means respect isn't just thrown around freely. Having watched the pitfalls and lies their parents went through, the irresponsible government actions, and a trail of history laying down example after example of untrustworthy behavior, Gen X are a bit careful with where they place their faith and respect. An article on Defender Network writes about the Gen X experience saying, "... being tasked with discerning which adults provided info/advice that made sense and which ones only talked nonsense. But either way, whomever we encountered, we treated them the way we wanted to be treated."
A funny clip from a Saturday Night Live skit. media1.giphy.com
Looking for an authentic experience, Gen X may be a lit bit anti-authoritarian. Yet, as long as people display some trustworthy behaviors, they will recognize them back with respect.
Millennials (29 to 44 years)
Millenial on a sunny day.Image via Canva - Photo by plprod
The big buzzword for Millennials is equality. Often they feel unappreciated. With elders believing they fall short in lifetime experience and younger generations feeling they haven't lived enough, either way it can feel a little disrespectful. Healthy Workforce Institute writes, "Millennial’s feel respected when they’re asked for their input and are included in decision-making. They feel disrespected when they are excluded."
"We are bookend millennials.: media3.giphy.com
This is a generation that's started to work on self development and self actualization. There's a strong lean into emotional intelligence and evolving into their best bodies. They want you to see their work and encourage others to do the same for themselves. Psychology Today explains that Millennials are obsessed with their own self-improvement. Feelings of exaggerated self expectations are piled upon by feelings of lack of acknowledgement from the other generations. They seek to be respected and equally want to respect you too.
Generation Z (13 to 28 years)
Gen Z all smiles.Image via Canva - Photo by FatCamera
Gen Z isn't much about respecting people without them earning it. That someone should be respected because of their age, nope. This is a generation that seeks justice, accountability, and identity recognition. Your Tango writes the generation sees respect as using inclusive language, intolerance to offensive behaviors, setting clear boundaries, offering trigger warnings, and questioning authority.
Tom Cruise in the movie Risky Business. media3.giphy.com
With more information available at their fingertips, getting to see a broader picture of the world, and they've found the status quo to be lacking. No generation before has been given so much access to truth when people are willing to hunt it down and find it. Gen Z says, "You want my respect? Show me you deserve it."
Final Thoughts
Giving people the benefit of the doubt might be more worth it than we think. It's easy to pile on and point the finger at who isn't doing it right. Respect can also be giving people a second chance. Allowing others to make mistakes and then try to do better. Hovering over them screaming, "No. That's not right." doesn't really motivate like it once was thought to do. Respect may actually take a little risk in that you can be burned. Of course, you can also find someone willing and wanting to respect you right back.
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"Now I'm intrigued." 
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Female shopper looking for help
21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.