Generation Gap

[Jimmy]

I have been watching some of the posts and again watching the comments that come back to them, and I have come to some great deduction that there is a communications breakdown, and I believe this is largely due to the generation gap.

You could safely say that we do have some problems due to the fact that we all come from different parts of the globe. However; I believe that a lot of the problems could be from the generation gap. This was brought about by a post mentioning 'HR Puffinstuff'.

For example, the other day after having my session in 'Helga's House of Pain', my physiotherapist, I was re-booking my appointment, when the young girl asked when, I replied 'Same Bat time, same Bat channel'. She stared at me with that 'Kangaroo caught in the headlights' look, or if your in Canada, that 'Moose caught in the headlights' look, or even if your in the UK, the 'Royal caught in the headlights' look. :rofl:

Another incident which has stuck in my head happened about 10 years ago. I was at my parents house (when my dad was alive), and my mother was reading the newspaper. All of a sudden she asked what 'Oral Sex' was. I nearly spat my breakfast out. My father said not to worry, but she then went on to say that she thought all these years it was 'aural sex' (talking about it). :doh:

The biggest change I feel today is the language of our children. Not only do they have 'made up' words, they even integrate 'chat room' acronyms into their speech.

So that is why I believe some of the comedic remarks made just simply go over the head of others in the forum.


Jimmy

 

[catjudo]

The biggest change I feel today is the language of our children. Not only do they have 'made up' words, they even integrate 'chat room' acronyms into their speech.

My daughter is barely 5-years-old and she has already started integrating "chat room" acronyms into her speech, although she doesn't realize that's what it is because she doesn't even know what a chat room is. A while back she picked up the phrase "Oh My God" from somewhere and was using it constantly. I told her it wasn't okay and that she had to find something different to say. I have her choices like "oh my gosh", "oh my goodness", etc. Before I knew it she had switched to "OMG". It sounds funny to hear from such a little girl but I much prefer it to her previous phrase. When in public and she sees something that really catches her attention or she really likes and she says "OMG" you can see adults heads snap around and a look of amusement to hear it coming from such a small child.

All that aside, I totally see what you're saying but think it is a combination of generation and cultural issues. I have some friends who are a bit younger than me, who will look at me with that "deer in the headlights" look and I really feel old. I have other friends, one of my best friends, in fact, who are essentially the same age but did not grow up in the US. She speaks perfect English (and with very little accent) and many would not even realize she was not from the US unless you told them. However, on occasion I or someone else will say something and we get this confused, blank look from her. That's when I know it's time for me to step in and give her a quick lesson.

 

[Marlene]

Both of my girls say things like 'splendiferous' and 'ginormas'. The first is a mix of splendid and I have no idea. Where the second is giant and enormous. They're fun and all that. But sometimes it makes me feel a little old to have to sit and think about what a word means. LOL

As the person with the HR Puffinstuff reference, I understand what you're talking about. I've spoken to people who were only ten years or so younger than me who were lost with my references to things from my childhood. But the odd thing is that people who are ten-twenty years older than I am have no problems with the reference and I usually don't have a problem with their references. As my oldest says, 'Things that make you go Hmmm'.

I've often thought that the younger generation should come with a handbook. And if all else fails, you can smack them with it. LOL Please take this with the humor it was intended. Plus I've very recently had two teenagers living under the same roof and I've only begun recovering from that.

Lisa

 

[popeye]

Well first of all where I come from it's called "deer in the headlights" second I have no clue who or what a HR Puffinstuff is. Although I do know the Batman reference. There are several things even my kids don't get like "knowing is half the battle" (G.I. Joe) and "Cowabunga" (Teenage mutant Ninja turtles) Then again I was brought up with the baby boomer generation being my parents so I know Howdy Do Dee. Candid camera, and The shadow. A saying of " you don't know shit from shinola" (a brand name of shoe polish) is very much so lost on today's generation. Plus also "A little Dab will do ya" (brylcream) Even things like "go go gadget arms!" are lost on most people. I am only 28 years old and have noticed that alot of references are even lost on me.

 

[Jimmy]

These are all great posts. We could almost start up a thread with just sayings in it, as I think 'laughter is the best medicine'.
Another saying which has probably has its own variations in other countries is 'A roo loose in the top paddock', or 'A sandwich short of a picnic'.

The reason for all my 'chit chat' on various subjects is firstly to take me away from all the negativity in the world.
I have currently just weaned myself off my antidepressants and the only medication I currently use is the occasional Xanax when times are hard.
The exposure therapy I started four weeks ago is giving great results, and I actually look forward to my weekly sessions even though I hate it when I am there.

Just sharing. I am in a good place at the moment. :thumbs-up

Jimmy

 

[gdf]

I am old enough to remember HR Puffnstuff. The local references are a hoot Jimmy. Some of my US favorites:

One brick shy of a full load.

A couple fries short of a Happy Meal (McDonald's reference).

The "roo loose in the top paddock" reminds me of Popeye's deer reference above. I read once that in Australia that you all have kangaroos like we have white tail deer. They are everywhere especially on the roads.

Hey Popeye, did you know that the white tail deer is the most dangerous and deadly animal in the US? It is responsible for more human deaths than bears, alligators or sharks combined? Oops, sorry wrong thread!

 

[Jimmy]

Wrong thread hey, 'Not the sharpest tool in the shed'!!!!!

 

[anni]

If we're going down this road, I have to admit that it was just last month I finally went to Google and looked up what on EARTH it meant when the conversation here in the forum included IMAO, or IMHO, etc. :) I wasn't going to do anything as intelligent as actually ask, for heaven's sake, of course because every single person apparently was bilingual and knew this langauge.

I'm 52, which of course explains an awful lot.

I also really just hated the heck out of HR Puffn Stuff, and now have that stupid song stuck in my head. :) Sigh.

 

[Lisa]

Haha loving this thread. Well, I'm 24, and a year or two ago I had to look up "What is a blog?" on Google before attempting one myself, because i'd been hearing all this 'blogging' lark and I hadn't a clue what it was. Now, my generation should be ashamed of me... LOL.

 

[Jimmy]

I suppose Anni, your excused. You are really old. I googled IMHO too.

My son and daughter were walking down the road with me the other day and my boy said 'Look at the cool old car Dad'. I said to them both 'That's not old, it is only a 60's car, I was born in the 60's', for which they both replied in unison 'Yeah it is'.
Now did I leave myself open for that one, or is that what kids really think.

My son has done one subject in school for the last three years since I have had him, it was LOTE (Language Other Than English). I did not find out till I saw it at the Secondary School early this year.

Just kidding about the age thing Anni. :thumbs-up:wink:

 

[suzie q]

In my opinion, no one should have to remember H.R. Puffnstuff!! The only show worse than that was Land of the Lost. Just had to love those men in rubber alien lizard suits! What was that stupid little hopping thing that looked like a monkey but wasn't a monkey? When you watch reruns of Lost in Space it really looks soooo corny. Back then it represented high tech special effects of the day!

Damn, I feel old..... my quote..... He's dumber than a creek rock!

 

[Deleted member 541]

I wonder how many of you, remember(or have heard of) Lawrence Welk ??? I remember having to sit through that while my grandfather watched it. OMG!!!!! I am older than dirt......Talk about a generation gap!!!! I am probably old enough to be a mother to a lot of you!!!!!