posted
I asked my son (1987) and daughter (1985) the list of questions. The only ones that produced blank stares were:
They did not know Reagan had been shot. As my daughter explained, "I'm sure we'd have heard about it if he'd died."
and
Neither of them had a clue who Larry Bird was or why he was famous.
I was a little surprised that they knew about Tianemen Square and about Americans being held hostage in Iran. They even knew that Canadians had sheltered some Americans and helped them escape.
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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ufonium2
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
They were six when the Soviet Union collapsed. Maybe five. Definitely not ten. Doesn't do much for my confidence in their research.
posted
For the record, I was born in 1973,and I am in agreement with those that think the intended spirit of this glurge is "hey lookit how old you are" rather then "Those young whippersnappers, they don't know nothin'" Now, due to my advanced age, I was around at the advent of cable. However, much to my dismay,we didn't have it. It seems my dad had a personal vendetta against the cable company, and he refused to get it, despite repeated requests from myself and my mom. He finally gave in about 1993.
quote: 35. They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.
It is almost the same as a keyboard. No problem.
Er, that depends on the interpretation of the word use. Sure, anyone can stick a piece of paper into an old manual and get letters to show up, but without being taught, I doubt they could type up a properly formatted business letter with correctly spaced margins and no overstrikes. Then, there was the joy of discovering a typo 3 lines back and trying to roll the paper up and realign it so you can correct it with White-Out.
24k"But...Wordperfect does the formatting for me"Kate
I have a 60 second snack idea for Rachel (Ray): Xanax, vodka, fall asleep.--Adrianne Frost, Best Week Ever. Posts: 2374 | From: Naw-fik, VA y'all | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
Forget Wite-Out -- try making corrections using one of those wacky erasers with a brush on one end. And don't forget to correct all your onionskin copies, but watch out for the carbon paper, it smears something awful.
Four "I survived Katie Gibbs" Kitties
-------------------- If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales? Posts: 13275 | From: Kindergarten World, Massachusetts | Registered: Jul 2003
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I'm an 85er too... working full-time thus not even going to be in Class of 2007 because I'm not bright enough to do so. Let's see how I fair/fare (which is the correct spelling?)
The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1985. - Well duh
They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan era and probably did not know he had ever been shot. - Slip-up #1, not a USer and my knowledge of history is bad
They were 10 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember the Cold War. - I can remember as far back as ten, plus there are these things called books for finding out about the past
They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up on takeoff. - Which one? I've seen it happen live before, and plenty of clips of previous takeoff disasters. And the point is?
Tiananmen Square means nothing to them. - Slip-up #2, no idea
Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic. - Mmm, swing-top and metal Grolsch bottles. Actually I suppose this is probably true in America because no-one ever drinks a drop of beer until they turn 21.
Atari predates them, as do vinyl albums. - My friend bought vinyl just a few months ago, and Atari are rereleasing their classic games on thius funny joystick thing, so hah!
The statement "You sound like a broken record" means nothing to them. (They have never owned a record player.) - Own a record player, and my Mum said that all the time
They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong. - Played both infact. Who hasn't?
They have always had an answering machine. - We still don't, unless you count mobile phone ones.
Most have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they seen a black and white TV. - Up until I was 6 we only had FOUR channels, and I remember being quite content with that.
They have always had cable. - Only when I turned 6 and even then we were one of the first to get it in our street.
There have always been VCRs, but they have no idea what Beta was. - Betamax
They cannot fathom not having a remote control. - What happens when we lose one? Does the world end?
Roller skating has always meant inline for them. - We had roller skates with four wheels when I was a kid
They have never seen Larry Bird play. - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. He was around when I was a kid and we have a ton of basketball videos from that time, so in your face.
They never took a swim and thought about "Jaws." - I have
The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as World War I, World War II, and the Civil War. - Depends on your classification of the word history. I'd say the WTC attacks are history.
They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. was. - Dallas, the evil billionaire, and was shot by the most unlikely of all the suspects, but a name evades me. In your face!
Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama are places, not bands. - America is a band? I have been sleeping under a rock
There has always been MTV. - And it has always sucked
They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter - Wrong... like a record player we had one when I was a kid, and even so how hard can it be???
So in conclusion this tongue in cheek nostalgic glurge come trivia is nothing but the mindless ramblings of some bored college professor. And boy do I feel sorry for his future students.
(Also people still dress like the kid in the picture)
quote:Originally posted by Inkpad: Taking this slightly off topic for a moment...
I read an interview in one of the British newspapers with an 18 year old (ie, born in 1985) woman who is currently enjoying infamy in the UK after being arrested in the loutish Rhodes holiday resort of Falaraki for baring her breasts in a bar.
As part of the interview, she said that she and her friends didn't pay much interest in current affairs ( despite her doing a college course in Media Studies).
When asked by the interviewer who was the UK Prime Minister, she didn't know. She also had no idea who the President of the United States was. She also said, if I remember correctly, that none of her friends would know either.
I was truly staggered.
Hijack over.
Inkpad
It worries me too how such simple things to know as the US president, or which political party are currently in power in your own country, or which countries are involved in the Iraq war truly staggers me. I would've thought it was impossible not to know. There was a girl in college who got it ripped out of her because she couldn't name even the simplest of answers to questions, such as the US president, or where Iraq was, or who won WW2. Her excuse was that she wasn't interested in politics - it didn't wash with me, that's basic knowledge.
Ironically she then had a go at someone for being stupid for not knowing something about Biology. I was quick to point out the hypocrisy.
-------------------- Vox populi vox canem Posts: 1985 | From: Reading, England | Registered: Dec 2002
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quote:The statement "You sound like a broken record" means nothing to them. (They have never owned a record player.)
Unless they're a DJ. Sure, they'll probably call it a "turntable", but it plays records.
-------------------- seriously , everyone on here , just trys to give someone crap about something they do !! , its shitting me to tears. Posts: 16061 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Archie2K: WARNING - REALLY LONG POST AHEAD
There has always been MTV. - And it has always sucked
No, it hasn't. Once upon a time, MTV showed videos. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No "Road Rules." No "Real World." No VMA. Just videos, Every once in a while, they would throw in some "news" about, say, Madonna or Michael Jackson, and go back to showing videos. It was what you watched on a sleepy summer day, when nothing else was on. Your parents hated it, or at the very least, didn't get it, so you watched it even more. Alas, those days are gone. I assure you, however, that back in it's glory days, MTV did not suck.
quote:They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter - Wrong... like a record player we had one when I was a kid, and even so how hard can it be???
Harder then a computer.(See my post above.) There is no "delete" key on a typewriter. Don't even get me started on setting margins, changing ribbons, and re-typing a whole page because of one or two typos.
I have a 60 second snack idea for Rachel (Ray): Xanax, vodka, fall asleep.--Adrianne Frost, Best Week Ever. Posts: 2374 | From: Naw-fik, VA y'all | Registered: Nov 2002
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Momanon
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
I was born in '78, and I know pretty much everything on the list, except one thing - Who shot JR? Oh, sure, I remember Dallas (and Dynasty, and Falcon Crest, etc.) but I never really watched them because I was a sitcom freak. Plus, I usually had to get ready for bed around 10pm I remember my parents being really into the show. I think people had t-shirts that said "who shot JR?" (or am I thinking of Laura Palmer?) To this day, I don't know "WHO" actually shot him, but I don't really care because even if you told me, I wouldn't know who the character is.
I've seen lists like this in my inbox, but it's more like what do "children of the '80s" remember. Things like:
Everything on Nickelodeon - Pinwheel, You Can't Do That on Television, Today's Special, Dangermouse, Turkey TV, or even the fact that Nickelodeon would quit broadcasting around 9pm
Rainbow Brite, GI Joe, Thundercats, He-Man
Alf, Charles in Charge, Diff'rent Strokes, Punky Brewster.
guruwan2b
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
posted
Soon a whole new generation may be able to answer the question "Who shot JR?". Talk is there is to be a new movie with Bruce Willis vying for the role of J.R. Ewing. Colin Farrell is being tapped for Bobby. Read about it here. Click on New Movie.
So if I told you who did shoot JR, I might be putting a spoiler in here!
Here's a hint: MARY MARTIN'S SON IS SHOT BY BING CROSBY'S DAUGHTER.
-------------------- Too much of this navel gazing and we'll disappear up our own arses. Danvers Carew Posts: 7465 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Elbe, meow mix master: I assumed Dr. Bellows shot him, I mean Jeannie did drive him insane.
My fantasy "I Dream of Jeannie" episode would have involved having Dr Bellows finally *out* the Good Major and Jeannie and have the last laugh. Maniacal laugh of course...I'd also love to see a "Bewitched" episode where the snoopy neighbour finally gets Abner to look outside just in the nick of time. Poor woman...
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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guruwan2b
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
posted
I was wondering where that came from, Christie. I'm guessing you meant to e-mail and posted instead? Kim
-------------------- Too much of this navel gazing and we'll disappear up our own arses. Danvers Carew Posts: 7465 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:Originally posted by guruwan2b: I was wondering where that came from, Christie. I'm guessing you meant to e-mail and posted instead? Kim
:blush: no I posted a comment here that was meant for another thread. I was hoping I caught it before anyone else noticed...guess not darn it.
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
This list is pure BS. True, I was not born in 1985... Actually i was born in 1984. I know Reagan was shot, I know what a record player is (we even have one in my house), I didnt always have cable, I have both watched and owned a black and white television (bought one for $5 at a grage sale, it got good reception and a decent sized screen, one of the best buys ever, I used it for 2 years before I got a color television, and it worked perfectly during the whole time). Yes, Tianamen Square does mean something to me, probably no less (maybe even more) than the average older American. Oh yes, and I often cooked popcorn with osmething other than microwave ovens. Oh ya, and I have heard "wheres the beef," they did a history channel program on fast food. And so what if there has always been MTV, I sure as shit never watched it.
The whole list is the most utterly inane thing ever.
-------------------- "Dear Lord, please protect this rockethouse and all who dwell within..." Posts: 1093 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003
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judecat1
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
I was born in 1953, I agree with the other "old" folks here that the point of the list is to remind us ole fuddy duddys that you may not always understand all of our cultureal references or jokes. Like a few days something came on the radio at work and I asked on of my co- workers if it was Hendrix. Well since she was born several years (like 10 or so) after he died, how was she gonna know if I didn't. Or on a very serious level -- am I gonna go up to a bunch of you and ask what you were doing when you found out the President was shot (I'm refering to JFK) or even what did you think when you found out John Lennon was murdered. The list is intended to remind ME not to get mad at You if you don't have a clue why I am asking you.
Not very short -- but I'm very long winded. Hope I was at least mostly clear (I'm sometimes not)
posted
"There has been only one pope in their lifetime."
True, but it got me to thinking; who has always been around in my lifetime? I was born in 1960, the only person I can think of who has been in thier current position as long as I can remember is Queen Elizabeth II. I can't remember seeing a Canadian coin w/o her profile on it. As a child I found this unusual- US coins & currency only had pictures of men!
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posted
Mindset List Underscores Cultural Gap Between This Year's Freshman Class, Professors
MILWAUKEE (AP) - For this year's college freshmen, computers have always fit in a backpack and Paul Newman has always made salad dressing. Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie are old enough to be their parents.
I have a 60 second snack idea for Rachel (Ray): Xanax, vodka, fall asleep.--Adrianne Frost, Best Week Ever. Posts: 2374 | From: Naw-fik, VA y'all | Registered: Nov 2002
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Drag, the Magic Puffin
The Red and the Green Stamps
quote:Originally posted by Drag, the Magic Puffin: More appropriate would be: Rules for Headline Writing
OK, so it is correct, but where does it come from? Tradition or something? Besides being very non-intuitive, I never saw that usage in any other language.
Jaime
-------------------- "Everyone has problems. They only vary in design" - Mama Duck Posts: 4988 | From: Spain | Registered: Sep 2001
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Drag, the Magic Puffin
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
I suppose it started from the news companies' desire to fit as much headline information into as little space on the page as possible. "And" carries little information, so it was deemed extraneous. Commas take up very little space and are used for lists in standard English anyway, so they make a perfect substitute.
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OK, this list is much, much better than the one in the OP. No claims that all 18-year-olds have never heard of Tianamen Square or that all 18-year-olds don't know that Reagan was shot. This list emphasizes the generational gap whereas the one in the OP muddies that point with all the slams against young people. However, there are still some silly claims in this list. Such as: 2. They are not familiar with the source of that "Giant Sucking Sound." Wrong. At least some will know this. 4. "Ctrl Alt Del" is as basic as "ABC." Unless they're Mac users. 19. They have never been able to find the "return" key. Unless they're Mac users. 22. They have never gotten excited over a telegram, a long distance call, or a fax. Are they really claiming that no young person anywhere got excited from a long-distance call? Even from a friend or loved one they hadn't heard from in ages? 32. They have always had a pin number. What, did they come out of the womb that way? 39. There have never been dress codes in restaurants. What? I know many restaurants that have dress codes now. If they had said they're less common now then that would be true. 41. They have always been able to make photocopies at home. Change "they" to "some" and this statement would be true. Not all families can afford a personal copier. Brian
-------------------- "Dear Big Foot Smellers: Please don't quote me on some of this information." John F. Winston Posts: 1707 | From: Camarillo, CA | Registered: Mar 2000
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Mr. Furious
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
posted
All I know about 18-year-olds is that they're hot and want to meet me.
At least that's what half of the e-mails in my hotmail account say.
-------------------- Climb up, over the the top Shake it, take control You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying --Jason Mraz Posts: 1686 | From: British Columbia | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I coming to the conclusion that most 18 year old have forgoten how to read or at least have only short term memory when reading. Then again they may just have trouble understanding some of the words.
You forget to read or do not understand the first part of the article. This is part tells you what the list is about and it parameters.
quote:THE BELOIT COLLEGE MINDSET LIST FOR THE CLASS OF 2007
Most students entering college this fall were born in 1985. To them:
As you can see it the questions apply to most students entering college, not all. The last time I looked up the word "most" it meant more than 50%. This does not mean all the statments are true for you. What it does mean is that for most students (more than 50%) each statement will be true.
Posts: 1152 | From: Somewere | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:They have never gotten excited over a telegram, a long distance call, or a fax.
Are they really claiming that no young person anywhere got excited from a long-distance call? Even from a friend or loved one they hadn't heard from in ages?
I think he's claiming that nobody gets excited over the idea of a long-distance phone call any more. In the olden days, calling long-distance was cumbersome and expensive, so the mere fact that someone was phoning you long-distance indicated that the call was important (and therefore something to be excited about). Nowadays long-distance calls are cheap and easy, made for all sorts of ordinary and mundane reasons, and therefore no more exciting in concept than getting an e-mail.
quote:THE BELOIT COLLEGE MINDSET LIST FOR THE CLASS OF 2007
Most students entering college this fall were born in 1985. To them:
As you can see it the questions apply to most students entering college, not all. The last time I looked up the word "most" it meant more than 50%. This does not mean all the statments are true for you. What it does mean is that for most students (more than 50%) each statement will be true.
As long as we're examining the opening this closely, I don't think I agree with this. It's true that the first sentence refers to most students entering college, but the second - by accident or design - seems to refer to students born in 1985. I read it as, "Most students entering college this fall were born in 1985. To [these students who were born in 1985]..."
In other words, I think the pronoun "them" refers not merely to a nondescript "most students", but to that specific subset of "most students" who were born in 1985.
Posts: 1640 | From: New Haven, CT | Registered: Dec 2002
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quote:Originally posted by snopes: Nowadays long-distance calls are cheap and easy, made for all sorts of ordinary and mundane reasons, and therefore no more exciting in concept than getting an e-mail.
Email generally, yes - actually getting an email from someone I know who is not Nigerian, Heather, or Mr. Growth product, is still a thrill to me!
The "kids nowadays!" are thrilled and expert over instant communication via keyboard. I experimented with keyboard-to-keyboard chats back about '87 or so - over radio, no less. Non-IBM computers and 1200 baud! What's new? It was a lot more fun when you had to assemble, test, program, and initiate a conversation manually. The satisfaction factor was - high.
ham "ah, the good ol' days of last year..." bubba
-------------------- Fundamentally Unfundie since 1975 Posts: 7942 | From: Louisiana | Registered: Jun 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Jaime Vargas Sanchez: I was speaking about this the other day - most people my age (I'm 30) remember all the fuss about JR being killed but no one remembers who did it.
So in a way we remember "Who shot JR?", but not who shot JR.
Edited because I confused JR with Bobby, sily me.
I wish I could remember who it was, but it was a long time ago someone told me and I never liked the show.
Has anyone else seen those recent cotton commercials ("the fabric of our lives"). I swear one of them plays a snippet from the theme to dallas, but it never plays when I want to show it to someone.
guruwan2b
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
posted
Kristen Shephard shot JR. She was played by Mary Crosby (Bing's daughter), hence the hint I gave earlier [Mary Martin's son shot by Bing Crosby's daughter ] And when J.R. threatened to have her arrested she announced that she was carrying his illegitimate child. The plot thickened . .
But really, Bobby's resurrection was the hardest to believe. Anyone else remember that?
Kim "Yet another brain cell full of useless information"
-------------------- Too much of this navel gazing and we'll disappear up our own arses. Danvers Carew Posts: 7465 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:THE BELOIT COLLEGE MINDSET LIST FOR THE CLASS OF 2007
Most students entering college this fall were born in 1985. To them:
As you can see it the questions apply to most students entering college, not all. The last time I looked up the word "most" it meant more than 50%. This does not mean all the statments are true for you. What it does mean is that for most students (more than 50%) each statement will be true.
As long as we're examining the opening this closely, I don't think I agree with this. It's true that the first sentence refers to most students entering college, but the second - by accident or design - seems to refer to students born in 1985. I read it as, "Most students entering college this fall were born in 1985. To [these students who were born in 1985]..."
In other words, I think the pronoun "them" refers not merely to a nondescript "most students", but to that specific subset of "most students" who were born in 1985.
My apologies. I think you are right. I would have my wife , but she has been sick for last couple of days and does it anyways to make her feel better. I think she blames me for her cold.
Posts: 1152 | From: Somewere | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
Quite all right; I agree with you that it's a silly list to get annoyed over anyway. I hope your wife feels better.
Posts: 1640 | From: New Haven, CT | Registered: Dec 2002
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darn it.
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, but she has been sick for last couple of days and does it anyways to make her feel better. I think she blames me for her cold.
