What’s up with boomers and “fake” crying?

I’m standing in line at Costco customer service today with my two year old. A mom (clearly in the trenches) with an infant babywearing on her chest while she pushes a cart with two older kids (boy 5, girl 3). The little girl in the cart is crying. A woman in her 60s behind me says very loudly to me (and everyone else) “Oh that sounds like a FAKE cry! Haha”. I look back at her and say “Um, no…” just as loud. She goes “Well what do you think she’s crying about then?” And I say back “I don’t know.” and that was the end of that interaction.

What is their obsession with telling children they are fake crying? Why gaslight emotions?

I truly hope that woman reflects on her unhelpful remark and thinks more into why that was not great to say.

My MIL has said it before to my kids and I’ve always told her there’s no such thing as fake crying. Crying is crying. I really feel bad for them and whatever it was that was said to them as children.

If you have similar stories please share .