Also read: generations in the workplace, age discrimination, older workers, Generation Y, generation facts, reader comments

DiversityInc readers had a lot to say about "A Boomer's Lament: Earbuds, Texting & Toilet Seats." Here are some of their unedited comments:

I'm 25, have been employed with the same company for 2.5 years and consider myself to hold both modern AND traditional views.

As a modern, young employee I feel that technology provides a great advantage. Why not perform a task in 6 hours today that would have taken you 8 hours in the past? Our work culture strives for efficiency and the use of technology is just one of many ways to achieve it. Yes, technology has changed the world of work and communication. We want to get the most out of our employees, and utilizing current technology helps us accomplish more in a shorter amount of time.

In some ways, however, my traditionalist views take over. How has technology changed the ways in which people relate to and communicate with each other? One could argue that our need for speed and efficiency has created a generation apathetic towards proper spelling and grammar; a generation that favors quantity over quality. Sometimes I fear that technology is creating more of a gap than we realize; we forget we're actually communicating with a living, breathing human being.

Now for my feelings on generational differences in behavior unrelated to technology. Younger generations will almost always attempt to correct the mistakes of past generations (as they see them) in their own lives. My generation witnessed the sacrifices our parent's made to stay "committed to the job" first hand. Stress, weight gain, missed little league games and school plays: is it any wonder we're trying to keep our now-adult lives well rounded? Balance is good for everyone, and I am honestly proud to say I'm from a generation willing to stand up for ourselves and our right to a better quality of life.

--Megan Moroney

Having been born the day World War II ended, I'm the original Baby Boomer. That being said, my generation, and my son's, have done a terrible job passing on basic manners to our children. It is undeniably rude to text, take cell phone calls or listen to music during meetings, including one-to-one conversations with co-workers. Since younger generations were not raised with that basic truth, workplaces need to have express policies banning ear buds, cell phones and crackberries during meetings. It's also quite disconcerting to be forced to listen to someone else's cell phone conversation from the next restroom stall (or anywhere else, for that matter).

--Granny Bunny

The title and content of the piece sound like a combined take off on Rapper's Delight and Grand Master Flash... "don't push me 'cuz I'm on the edge!I'm the same age as television (Google it or do the math) and I get your point Barbara: constant texting (e.g. in meetings) is rude; for some people "cell phone etiquette" is an oxymoron; the toilet seat excuse was just lame, and so on.Then I remember my parents: bent out of shape about my telephone use as a teen; unable to comprehend most of the music of the sixties; working their respective butts off for two weeks vacation and a gold (plated) watch after 30 plus years at the same job.Look, there's no excuse for rudeness, disrespect or sloth. On the other hand, I respect young people for not being content to happily spend their work lives inhabiting cubicles, staring at computer screens or attending mindless meetings or acting engaged in soul numbing tasks. You love your work Barbara …. you're lucky, not everyone has it like that.There's nothing particularly sacred about our generation's work ethic … our divorce rate and the behavior of some of our young people should tell us that. And all too often we have grown up to be what we liked least about our parent's generation … intimidated by and averse to change; threatened by non-conformity; driven by material success.
--jonscott williams

I learned as part of growing up that to do something else when someone was talking was disrespectful. This is why I become so annoyed at the grocery store when I don't have the checkout clerk's attention. You look someone in the eye when you speak to them. Insisting on respect and an honest day's work is not above the call of management and teaching that is part of both management and HR's responsibility.

--Rich Harrison

I have to chuckle whenever I read about "Boomers" complaining about "Millenials" and their work habits. Who do they think brought up and taught the "Millennials"? (Didn't Harry Chapin do a song about this?)

PS- I was born in 1950, FWIW

--Fred Schott

Fred you are right on track, we raised them, we taught them, we gave them these "expectations" and now wer are confused! You are also correct, Harry wrote the song and we are living the results. Life is about adapting, they have and we had better catch up!

--Alvin Lee