Microeconomics classes in America teach undergrads that 'rational' people only care about increases in wealth and do not care about non-wealth-increasing activities. It is such a wrong model about human behavior but it gets repeated like gospel every year at most schools in the country. So it's no wonder that people are out there, suggesting that we're all idiots for not focusing exclusively on wealth accumulation through our 20s as they were taught that is what 'rational' people do.

It's a tactless question, sure, but it should also be expected from a society that idolizes wealth the way ours does.