Gen Xer: God, this is so Gen Z.
Zoomer: What is?
The latest survey on your dating habits. Apparently 90 per cent of 18-24 year olds have ‘quizzed a potential date about their political beliefs, financial situation and religion before agreeing to meet’. No wonder none of you ever get laid.
What’s wrong with that?
It’s like a job interview! And get this – one in four openly discuss having a family. That would be the last thing I’d have talked about at your age. The bloke would’ve run a mile.
Why? If your values aren’t aligned it’s better you both know ahead, right?
Gen X, aged 45 to 60, did it by landline
Yeah, but if you’re sitting there, like, ‘Tick-tock! Can you hear my ovaries?’ it’s got to be off-putting.
TikTok? I thought you guys didn’t have social media back then?
Biological clock! Babies! Don’t worry, this is even worse: 16 per cent want to talk about exes before meeting, too. So un-chilled. Can’t you just find this stuff out organically?
How does that work?
In person. Over time. Then maybe you would realise you could overlook the misaligned values because you fancied the pants off them.
Huh? That just sounds really toxic. Very un-boundaried.
You say that because every date you’ve been on was chosen by an algorithm.
So remind me, how did you choose?
They kind of chose me. Usually when I was legless on a Friday night. Speaking of which, have you seen the new Bridget Jones film? Now she’s an example of Gen-X dating – went from shagging her boss to marrying a family friend.
In this one she also gets together with a younger man, so maybe there’s something to be said for dating a Gen Z, after all.
She does. With Leo Woodall: Dexter from One Day. Phwoar! I definitely would.
That’s actually really objectifying. He said in an interview that being an on screen ‘heartthrob’ can feel very ‘exposing and vulnerable’.
Zoomers (AKA Gen Z), aged from around 16 to 30, love dating apps
Of course he did. So hard, being young. I’d love to be objectified, quite frankly.
I think you’ll find you are. Society objectifies women constantly.
I didn’t mean like that. I meant by someone like Leo Woodall.
Well, apparently he and Renée Zellweger have both said that age-gap relationships are a thing. We just never see them on screen.
So where are all these hot 25 year olds queueing up for an ex-raver? I’m clearly not doing enough pilates.
I thought you told me that 25 year olds were un-chilled.
Yeah – but I wouldn’t say no to a fling. I just can’t imagine having no shared cultural references with someone. I literally couldn’t be with a person who thinks that the Flumps are marshmallows. Or who doesn’t remember Blockbuster Video.
Blockbuster? Is that porn?
No! Your generation is porn obsessed. Blockbuster was where you went on the third date, to rent a video.
Wow. I actually miss the pre-digital age.
You weren’t alive!
But it sounds so simple: old-school dating… Like, actually meeting someone in real life.
You can’t even answer the phone! You’d have a heart attack if someone tried to chat you up.
True, I’d think it was a bit weird. Like, I’d question why they weren’t relying on the apps.
What about just being introduced to someone at the pub? And seeing where it led?
I never go to pubs.
Oh yeah, sorry. Forgot you’re allergic to fun. Good luck with the apps, mate.
OK, Boomer.
Hey! I’m only 49!