Old people have always had that condescending look while talking about the younger generations - sometimes even disgust, but the new generation has probably had enough of their nagging and taunting.

It stands true that anyone older has always taken up the opportunity to belittle someone younger - we're all guilty of it - so it isn't fair to place blame on just the boomers. It's a generational thing - each generation thinks the one after them is probably getting worse and lazier and the likes.

But why is "ok boomer" making the rounds in huge news publications and office decorum policies?

What is OK Boomer?

It's a meme. At a very superficial level, the whole "ok boomer" fad is just a stupid meme here to last for just a couple of days or weeks. But what's controversial is that it "targets" one specific generation and is considered a "slur."

First, let's get it clear - in no way is ok boomer a slur. It's a response to the same old carried over remarks about the new generation. Here's a more clear explanation for the phrase from the "new generation" itself -

"It's so tiring to hear all the crap that comes our way in an already exhausting society. "Millenials are lazier", "Millennials are ending industries", "Millennials are selfish", blah, blah, blah. And explaining ourselves just calls for twice the more amount of annoyance - so "ok boomer" just works perfectly. It's like us giving up. Giving up on explaining ourselves, giving them facts, and actually being logical. Now, we just want to brush past it - "ok thanks for your opinion, but it doesn't make any difference," is what it really means." Anushka, 19 says.

"It's simple. When you deny climate change, try to intervene with more progressive outlooks and then blame us for not being "good enough" - there's bound to be a time when we get tired of giving logical, factual arguments, we just have to nod and let it go. And that's exactly what ok boomer is." Ayush, 22 said.

Looking at the pattern and context of the phrase being used - it's pretty clear that the tone is just a simple nod of letting go - just as Ayush describes. Millennials are tired of the boomers denying facts, denying rights, and being overly critical and so the response "ok boomer."

Is "Ok Boomer" An Offensive Phrase?

"For a generation that calls us overly sensitive and "easily offended" - they sure took offence real quick when the tables turned." Priyoshka, 23 said.

What's so offensive about the phrase? Is it the tone, is it the generalization, or is it the fact that millennials have just disregarded their beliefs?

"It's disrespectful. I don't know about offensive, but it is disrespectful. When we tell the kids something, it's out of care and concern - and then just saying "ok boomer" and invalidating our opinions is a little rude." Aasha, 71 told us.

"It's not offensive - for all the trash talk we take from that generation, it's safe to say that this is the last thing that should be offensive. We have heard all sorts of words - lazy, unproductive, greedy, selfish and a lot more - so "ok boomer" literally has no value. It's like some saying "ok Chinmayee" and me taking offence. How stupid is that?" Chinmayee, 27 said.

"I read an article which explained this. (ok boomer) I see why it can be offensive, someone talking down to you when you're the adult can be annoying, which is probably why so many people are outraged by it. For me, I don't care. As long as my grandchildren don't use it on me I'm fine." Anant, 74 laughed.

It's true, just like Aasha said - it can be considered disrespectful, but the thing is it's just one phrase that says "ok, I heard you." So it's a little silly to be wound up in its technicalities and various interpretations when it's just a meme that took off spectacularly.

Like Priyoshka said, calling us "overly sensitive" and "easily offended" maybe a little hypocritical when you can take offence to just two words that started off as a silly meme.