Gen Z brands coronavirus 'Boomer Remover' as elderly are more vulnerable, get slammed for being insensitive
Even as groups like the World Health Organization are struggling to make people realize the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic — especially after President Donald Trump initially called it a "hoax" cooked up by the Democrats — Gen Z has found a new name for the infection, which had many social users face-palming themselves (and then they realized that they are not supposed to touch their faces amid the outbreak!)
The new term is "Boomer Remover". The term immediately went viral on Twitter after sportswriter Bailey Carlin tweeted: "I have been informed by a relative who is a middle school teacher that students are now referring to coronavirus as the 'boomer remover'"
The term seemed to be a harsher form of an upgrade of the phrase "Ok Boomer" which trended at the end of last year, used to dismiss or mock attitudes stereotypically attributed to the Baby Boomer generation. It also played on the fact that the fatality rate linked to the coronavirus is higher for people above the age of 50.
Soon Twitter was filled with memes and hilarious posts surrounding the new term.
"I'm glad the Boomer Remover is trending and its literally only making Boomers mad. They'll get mad and go on some inane tirade like 'You must respect us, we should have taken away x because y, you are just ungrateful, etc.' I don't care lol. #BoomerRemover" one user said, while another commented: "Then 'stfu kid, the adults are talking' Now 'you ageist piece of shit stop calling it boomer remover' There's this contagious disease more common in the mid-aged called 'Double standard'"
There were also those who pointed out that if a huge chunk of Baby Boomers (individuals born between 1946 and 1964) were wiped off the earth, it would help Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who is currently trailing behind former Vice President Joe Biden, win the Democratic nomination as his voter demographic consists mostly of millennials and Gen Z people.
"Boomer Remover is trending Yo, did god throw us the Boomer Remover so that Bernie Sanders could win the election? Is this divine intervention?" wrote one, while another said, "I am up there in age and I even agree with the Boomer Remover!! I've had my eyes wide open for several years now and wish Boomers would actually listen to what the young people say. #BernieIsRight #BernieOrBust2020"
A third simply opined: "It's election season! The Boomer Remover might help!"
However, a large group of social media users did not see the humor in the new term and instead thought it was tone-deaf and rude.
"Sociality has hit an all time low calling #Covid_19 the 'Boomer Remover' you people should be ashamed of yourself and there will be a special place in hell for you guys," one of them said.
Similarly, another person wrote, "Boomer Remover is not clever, nor funny. It's a basic joke that one would expect to see on a low budget infomercial from a shitty salesperson. It is not funny that thousands more are likely to die. Be a better human. That generation has its failings, but they need us right now."