Random Thoughts or Whatever
- Thread starter whoaru99
- Start date
it does...in a big way.
More on aging/time flies thing. Yeah, I know, but.... A couple of days ago, I walking home from the mall and I saw a young man who works at the Dunks near me walking home from work. I was going to crack a joke about "It's time to make the donuts, I made the donuts." Then, I realized that he wasn't born yet when those commercials aired. Talk about feeling old!
At the park where I work, we often have people doing community service.
I cracked a joke to a kid doing 30 hours for reckless driving, one that referenced "The Shawshank Redemption".
Imagine my surprise when he gave me a deadpan stare. He had zero idea what I meant.
This is happening more and more often. I guess that is aging in a nutshell.
The interesting thing is that the joke about The Who when they were new has come full circle. You mention The Who and people say "Who?" It used be because not many people had heard of them yet. Now, it's because they're too young.
Some more points of interest:
Your smiles thread is now 11 years old and 5489 pages strong. Looking back over it brings back memories and reminds me of how much has changed in just over a decade.
The Weird Al song "Mr. Popiel" has become a very interesting listen these days. Remember all of his miracle products? "Now how much would you pay? But wait! Don't answer yet. You also get..."
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Quadman2
Lunatic Member
Try walking into a parts store and the name of a fitting slips-your-mind at the moment and you say, "You know that whatchamacallit, or "thingmajig", and see the vacant look
you get...but maybe deserve it in that, brain-fart moment!Q
Not only that, but the names of some parts have changed and some of the younger staff never heard the original name.Try walking into a parts store and the name of a fitting slips-your-mind at the moment and you say, "You know that whatchamacallit, or "thingmajig", and see the vacant look
Q
Quadman2
Lunatic Member
True, and some of the older car-jargon has changed, with newer terms being used today, ep with the "Tuners".
Q
I have great sympathy for the young generation (whatever ineffectual, nonsensical label they're given).
They know that -
The economy is ruined.
The ecology is ruined.
The job market is ruined.
So, why NOT smoke dope and play video games in your parent's basement? I mean, hell, buying a home isn't even remotely feasible, and even a decent used car is not a surety.
I get it. It is a bleak scene out there. The only grief I have with them is this feeling they take pride in not knowing the most basic of things. I am 52, never once heard Bing Crosby around my house, nor did I listen to him until much older, BUT I KNEW WHO HE WAS.
The pervasive idea among some of these kids (not all, some are very aware) that "Hey, that's history, man. I don't need to know that."
I guess they forgot their Santayana.
They know that -
The economy is ruined.
The ecology is ruined.
The job market is ruined.
So, why NOT smoke dope and play video games in your parent's basement? I mean, hell, buying a home isn't even remotely feasible, and even a decent used car is not a surety.
I get it. It is a bleak scene out there. The only grief I have with them is this feeling they take pride in not knowing the most basic of things. I am 52, never once heard Bing Crosby around my house, nor did I listen to him until much older, BUT I KNEW WHO HE WAS.
The pervasive idea among some of these kids (not all, some are very aware) that "Hey, that's history, man. I don't need to know that."
I guess they forgot their Santayana.
At the same time, I do know a fair number of younguns, 20s and 30s who listen to 60s to 80s rock. Bing Crosby? Haven't met who listen to him, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong and other jazz greats, unfortunately.
As do I. My best friend's daughter, 19 or so, is razor-sharp on old stuff.
But just imagine, you're an artist, you sell nearly a BILLION records, and yet, only a mere 48 years after your death, most don't know who you were.
That's Bing Crosby. I've met many people who don't know who Elvis was.
So, I guess let's all get over ourselves, we'll be forgotten, anyway?
I remember hearing "Yesterday's Heroes" by the Bay City Rollers and the line "We don't wanna be, yesterday's heroes" and thinking "Eventually, you'll be just that." Later on, it was covered by Twisted Sister and the BCRs are all but forgotten and TS isn't far behind.As do I. My best friend's daughter, 19 or so, is razor-sharp on old stuff.
But just imagine, you're an artist, you sell nearly a BILLION records, and yet, only a mere 48 years after your death, most don't know who you were.
That's Bing Crosby. I've met many people who don't know who Elvis was.
So, I guess let's all get over ourselves, we'll be forgotten, anyway?
Me: I need washer fluid.Try walking into a parts store and the name of a fitting slips-your-mind at the moment and you say, "You know that whatchamacallit, or "thingmajig", and see the vacant look
Q
Counter guy: "What your VIN?"
The same is true of antifreeze. Things that used to be universal. Some people have even been told that unless they use a very specific motor oil (brand and weight) they would void the warranty. That sounds more like a greedy dealer running a scam than anything else, but...
I think @Quadman2 would agree with this poem, from ol' Bill Shakespeare. Timely as ever.
Speech: “All the world’s a stage”
By William Shakespeare(from As You Like It, spoken by Jaques)
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin’d,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
Having literally just completed a year employment with an Auto Parts store (ol' Mom n Pop barely hanging on), I can attest both above quotes hit home.
You wouldn't believe the ancient labels I struggled with for parts (some nearly 100 years old, or colloquial, or just outright odd) and I could SMELL the frustration on the old guys who needed that damned part, like, yesterday.
And yeah, wish I had a dollar for every time someone adamantly needed this or that, and I knew it didn't matter a whit.
"I GOTTA HAVE AC DELCO, MAN!!"
Me - "Uh, they don't even try to hide the Chinese glyphs on the box, dude...."
"AC DELCO, BY GAHD!!"
Okay, man, it's your money.
ConradH
Lunatic Member
To keep your perspective, remember that the laments of the old have been the same for thousands of years. Basically, young'uns are a disaster and the world's going to hell in a handbasket. OTOH, I work with some the brightest engineering coop students that have ever walked the face of the earth. They give me hope for the future.
Having worked in stores, a lot of 2nd jobs to bring ends within visual range of each other, I try not to take out my frustration on the person behind the counter. I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of the "kill the messenger" mentality. Also, realizing that a lot of these store employees are trying to help me just like I did with customers, I listen to them. Some of them have saved me money, time and hassle. It's often like letting someone apply a proper field dressing to a wound. It hurts in the moment, but it beats the crap out of the alternative.
Good point! For me, I just find it sad that a lot of what I remember from "the good old days" was before their time. One time, I took my ex-wife to Chili's for lunch and the hostess said "Just the 2 of you?" I was going to say "No, 3. My wife, myself and Harvey." Then, I realized that she was too young to have seen that movie, at least in all likelihood. Once we were seated, I was telling my ex-wife what I thought of and our waitress who was around our age approached hearing what I said. She got a kick out of it.
Quadman2
Lunatic Member
Reminded me of a similarity between an old man and a newborn baby:
no teeth:
hair
focus
and wrinkled.
Old Bill pretty much covered all his old age "bases" in his "monologue".
Q
