The 2016 WEF essay by Ida Auken basically gifted the internet one of its best memes ever: “Welcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better.”

As a proud Gen Xer and dividend investor, I’ve spent years roasting Millennials and Gen Z. I’ve called them entitled, historically illiterate, and borderline socialist more times than I care to admit. (Sorry, kids.)

But lately I’ve started wondering… what if I’ve been a bit of a jerk?

What if a big chunk of their anger isn’t just “woke ideology,” but cold, hard reality? Six-figure student debt, insane housing prices, stagnant wages, and an economy where it feels like the ladder was pulled up right after my generation climbed it.

When you’re staring at rent that eats half your paycheck and loans that’ll follow you into retirement, “You’ll own nothing and be happy” doesn’t sound like a vision. It sounds like a threat from people who already own everything.

The irony is brutal. While I sit here collecting dividends and watching my portfolio compound, many younger people are being told to embrace the “sharing economy” — basically renting everything forever while my ISK laughs in the background.

So yeah… maybe I should shut up a little before yelling “kids these days.” Their frustration is messy, often poorly aimed, and sometimes straight-up dumb. But part of it is actually justified.

Does this mean I’m becoming a socialist? Hell no. The best revenge against “own nothing” is still the same: buy stocks, build assets, and keep compounding.

I’m just saying — this old dog is trying to be slightly less insufferable about it.

What do you think?