Old Economy Steve: A meme for frustrated Millennials

[Doobie Doo]

Have you encountered Old Economy Steve? He came of age around 1970-something, wears a blue-collared shirt, sports a feathered haircut and has an awkward smirk-like grin. Oh, and he's the main character in a meme for frustrated Millennials -- a generation facing a mountain of student loan debt and dire job prospects that TIME magazine recently called "lazy, entitled, selfish and shallow."

It seems Millennials have a few things to say to condescending Baby Boomers and elders who have some out-of-touch ideas about what it's like growing up in the 21st century's economic climate. The Old Economy Steve meme is encircled by choice little phrases, like "Drives up federal deficit for 30 years... Hands the bill to his kids" and "Has it better than his parents... and his kids."

So what are the meme's origins?

According to the website Know Your Meme, the picture of the young man was first featured in acne-related articles. On May 10, 2012, a user of Reddit, NewNormal, submitted the image (titled "Introducing Old Economy Steven… you know, your dad") to the the website, which featured the same photograph paired with the caption "Fails out of high school...Gets job, buys house, retires happy."

See more examples below. And tell us what you think -- are Millennialsbitter or do they have a point?

Old Economy Steve: A meme for frustrated Millennials | Marketplace.org

 

[IAmGettingAMailOrderBride]

i think the government should ban females from getting employment (outside of brothels and healthcare) because when they started getting jobs, they drove up the cost of living

- blackierobinson

 

[Terrance Curtis Beasley]

I agree

 

[At30wecashout]

Jesus christ. The conversations I used to have with my mom when I could not get a job. She talmbout dressing nice and showing up 15 minutes early.

You know what showing up 15 minutes early to interviews get you nowadays? A 25 minute wait, cause they are busy and they will move you to another
room just to have you wait a few more minutes.

I wish I could just walk into places, tell them I am interested, and be told "Ok, come back Monday." Nowadays you get told *while in the establishment* that

you have to apply online. Not only that, but background checks, unless they rush them, can have you waiting a few weeks for a callback...IF they call you back.

One job I worked, I was hired, but nobody called me back. I had to call in to get the offer for employment

In a lot of ways, the last few generations had it fukking easy. They left a pile of shyt for us 20-30 somethings, and blame us for it

 

[IAmGettingAMailOrderBride]

Houses do cost too much
Back in the day just work a job for two year and you can buy a house
Nowadays you gotta pay it off for the next 15/30 years


- blackierobinson

 

[zayk35]

And now those 18000 houses are worth half a million in Cali....

 

[Anerdyblackguy]

I love this meme. Fukk these baby boomers man


















Except my mom and dad, I love you guys.

 

[pop]

i think the government should ban females from getting employment (outside of brothels and healthcare) because when they started getting jobs, they drove up the cost of living

- blackierobinson

Yep. Womens "advancement" is destroying the country. These c*nts are celebrating because the wage gape is closing not realizing it's because men are being PAID LESS, NOT WOMEN BEING PAID MORE. These worthless feminist whores are essentially celebrating the decline of wages for half the American population. I can't wait till this country truly collapses. I won't have to get my revenge in private anymore.

 

[Doobie Doo]

I feel this meme. I graduated college in 2003 and was job hunting for years doing temp jobs and whatever hustle I could find to pay rent. And my parents just thought I was an idiot "Why can't you get a job, you are doing something wrong?" They just believed the shyt they did in the 60's and 70s was good enough to work in 2005 for instance. Pops like "See if there are any railroad jobs, I was building the railroad in the 60's and worked myself thru college." I'm like "Railroads, pops. Fuggin really?"

 

[ZoeGod]

Being a black millenial in NYC aint easy. But imma get my money soon.

 

[DrX]

yeah the baby boomer gen r idiots man....they'll tell u some dumb shyt like "just dress nice and walk in and strike up a conversation with a worker"

reality is u walk in there and have a security guard tell u to gtfo and apply on line

but that job game is a racket anyway....u only get 1 if u know ppl.....thats why i rather just hustle and do my own thing...fukk outta here with that bullshyt

 

[DrX]

Yep. Womens "advancement" is destroying the country. These c*nts are celebrating because the wage gape is closing not realizing it's because men are being PAID LESS, NOT WOMEN BEING PAID MORE. These worthless feminist whores are essentially celebrating the decline of wages for half the American population. I can't wait till this country truly collapses. I won't have to get my revenge in private anymore.

oh its coming....it will be a sight to see....when reality hit these brain dead zombies...oh my

 

[DrX]

Being a black millenial in NYC aint easy. But imma get my money soon.

yeah race is another factor.....black ppl gotta deal with 2 strikes.....

 

[ROFL_GUY]

been tellin ya dummies shyts a SCAM

Obama Student Loan Policy Reaps Bigger Profit Than Exxon

 

[Family Man]

CAC shyt

This ain't nothing new to black folks. fukk these whining ass CACs and their struggles. I have no sympathy for these New Millennium CACs.