I went out for lunch to a café the other day and our table was served by a couple of waiters who all seemed to have a similar vibe about them.

They just. Did. Not. Seem. To. Care.

No smiling. No banter. No small talk or polite conversation. Just this blank look on their faces.

You sit there and think “did they hear me”? You ever so politely repeat yourself in case they didn’t. 

But they did. They got it. There’s just no engagement. Face colder than a witch's tit. No refills of your water. No "would you like another coffee?"

Like, hello!? Is anybody in there? Is anyone home? Why are you all moving so slowly? Shouldn’t you be rushing the joint taking orders and filling coffees? 

When I was young it was drilled into us: when you’re waiting tables and taking orders. You work your way up from "dish pig" to front of house. You basically run round busy as a bee, trying to impress your boss, trying to win your guests over. Taking wagers of who might get a tip. 

"Can I help you, sir? What more can I get you?" You’d help the elderly into their seats. You’d bend over backwards to make everyone happy. 

And these guys are on at least $23 an hour. 

And I know what you’re thinking, maybe I’m the a-hole. Maybe I’ve forgotten mum’s many sermons on good manners and etiquette.

So I asked the people who I was out to lunch with - they all thought the same thing. I asked friends who are teachers, I asked parents with kids around that age.

Guess what? They’ve all noticed the same thing happening.

Hell, there’s even a TikTok trend called ‘the Gen Z stare', which describes what I saw at the café - the vacant look a Gen Zer gives in response to a question or statement. If it’s in TikTok then it must be a thing, right?

So the question is why?

Was it Covid? Was it everyone wearing masks? So much of how we communicate is through facial expressions, maybe they’ve missed out on years of social queues and norms? Is the smartphones? Is it both?

Or, maybe, just maybe, they just don’t give a shit?

Maybe we have on our hands a generation of young people who don’t really think they NEED to be bothering with mundane things like work. 

Disclaimer: this is is obviously not an entire generation of young people. And some people are just shy. I get that. We've all had excellent experiences. But, y'know. Is this a thing you too have noticed? 

I went out for lunch to a café the other day and our table was served by a couple of waiters who all seemed to have a similar vibe about them.
They just. Did. Not. Seem. To. Care.
No smiling. No banter. No small talk or polite conversation. Just this blank look on their faces.
You sit there and think “did they hear me”?&nbsp;You ever so politely repeat yourself in case they didn’t.&nbsp;
But they did. They got it. There’s just no engagement. Face colder than a witch's tit. No refills of your water. No "would you like another coffee?"
Like, hello!? Is anybody in there? Is anyone home? Why are you all moving so slowly? Shouldn’t you be rushing the joint taking orders and filling coffees?&nbsp;
When I was young it was drilled into us: when you’re waiting tables and taking orders. You work your way up from "dish pig" to front of house. You basically run round busy as a bee, trying to impress your boss, trying to win your guests over. Taking wagers of who might get a tip.&nbsp;
"Can I help you, sir? What more can I get you?" You’d help the elderly into their seats. You’d bend over backwards to make everyone happy.&nbsp;
And these guys are on at least $23 an hour.&nbsp;
And I know what you’re thinking, maybe I’m the a-hole. Maybe I’ve forgotten mum’s many sermons on good manners and etiquette.
So I asked the people who I was out to lunch with - they all thought the same thing. I asked friends who are teachers, I asked parents with kids around that age.
Guess what? They’ve all noticed the same thing happening.
Hell, there’s even a TikTok trend called ‘the Gen Z stare', which describes what I saw at the café - the vacant look a Gen Zer gives in response to a question or statement. If it’s in TikTok then it must be a thing, right?
So the question is why?
Was it Covid? Was it everyone wearing masks? So much of how we communicate is through facial expressions, maybe they’ve missed out on years of social queues and norms? Is the smartphones? Is it both?
Or, maybe, just maybe, they just don’t give a shit?
Maybe we have on our hands a generation of young people who don’t really think they NEED to be bothering with mundane things like work.&nbsp;
Disclaimer: this is is obviously not an entire generation of young people. And some people are just shy. I get that. We've all had excellent experiences. But, y'know. Is this a thing you too have noticed?&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Best of 2025: Ryan Bridge - The Gen Z stare

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d98d997c-fbcb-46c8-9a67-b3bd0029916c/transcript

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