Dear Amy: I am an 18-year-old intern working for a large office.
I am the only student in the office, and everyone else here is old enough to be my parent or even grandparent.
I consider myself very good with adults. However, I am not sure how to respond in some situations. When small groups get together, the adults often talk about their children.
This doesn’t bother me so much. My problem is when they complain about their teenagers and kids, and then expect me to represent the entire under-25 demographic.
For example, they say, “I can’t understand how teenagers are so rude, they are always texting,” or they ask me, “Why do you guys constantly disrespect us with your texting?”
Meanwhile, they have never seen me with my phone out.
I love hearing about their kids, but I hate being stereotyped.
I’m really trying to form my independence and gain the respect of the other people in the office, but I’m tired of being seen as a child. I’m also not sure what to say when the group starts stereotyping and belittling my age group.
I would really appreciate a polite, diplomatic answer to respond when I am caught in the middle of one of these conversations. — Not Your Kid
Dear Not: I agree with you that this is tiresome. Just as you shouldn’t characterize all elders as being obnoxious and clueless, your colleagues should understand that no one person could represent an entire demographic.
The next time this happens, go “Jeopardy!” Pull an Alex Trebek and answer their questions in the form of a question.
For example:
They: “Why are you kids so all-fired rude, always messing around with your textometer machines?”
You: “Gosh — I don’t know! I don’t text very much, certainly when I’m with other people. Are you saying your kids do this? What do you think is going on?”
Write to askamy@tribune.com or Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
