10 "Old People" Advice That Millennials and Gen Z Call Useless and Outdated

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When children were young, their parents taught them to respect their elders. Now that they are all grown up, Millennials and Gen Z’ers have taken their feelings to Reddit, saying, “age does not equal wisdom.” So, someone asked the Reddit Community: “What’s a piece of advice that old people like to give that is absolutely useless in 2023? Here are the top responses:

1. Do Something You Love

A Reddit user shared he recommended doing something he loves, and he will never work a day in his life. Admittedly, he said he wanted to become a park ranger. However, his father responded, “They don’t make that much money.”

2. Do Something You Can Tolerate

Another user added, “Do something you can tolerate.” So they said they did something they loved, which grew into something awful. They made no money and lost enjoyment in the thing they once loved.

3. Show Up Unannounced

There were numerous comments on this piece of advice that the community wholeheartedly didn’t believe. One Reddit user said, “My dad insists that if you show up repeatedly, unannounced, in person, you can land any job regardless of your qualifications.”

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4. Work For Free

Another user shared, “Hand your resume directly to a manager. Tell them you’ll work free for a couple of days to prove how good a worker you are.”

5. Just Work Hard, And You Will Be Appreciated

Regarding advancing one’s career, other pieces of advice the community no longer found valuable were, “If you put your head down and work really hard, someday somebody will notice you. When they do, you will be successful.”

6. Be Loyal To Your Employer

Another piece of advice someone found useless was, “My grandparents keep telling me that I have to work, even if they don’t pay me. Rest is for the weak.”

7. Learn How To Use A Phone Book

One Reddit user shared that their aunt advised them to use a phone book to look things up. Their aunt reasoned that the internet might not always be there, so they should learn how to use a phone book. The user believes that if the internet were gone, the world would have more significant issues to deal with.

8. Rent Should Never Be a Majority Of Your Income

One user shared, “Your rent/mortgage should never be more than 25% of your income. If it is, you’re living beyond your means.” They said they were only making $15 an hour, about $600 a week before taxes. According to this user, he thought it was ridiculous that any rent or mortgage above $600/month would be considered living beyond one’s means.

9. Send Five Dollars If You Can’t Pay a Bill

One Reddit user shared, “If you can’t pay a bill, just send them $5. As long as you pay something the company will work with you.” Another user shared their mother told them to call the electric company, tell them the money will be late and it won’t be enough, and to tell them they’re going to be ok with that.

10. Pay For College With a Part-Time Job

A user shared their grandparents told him that they easily can pay for college with a part-time job. They pointed it out as a way to avoid student debt.