Man, I'm 26 and I have to actively google what most of gen alpha slang means, like goon or skibidi. Isn't even English anymore. There's no hope for anyone in this accelerating postmodern mess *eggplant emoji*
You're old[er] in spirit, and I mean that as a mighty compliment!
Goon as slang? Does that mean something else now? That word has existed for years.
Skibidi is not one I know.
For the life of me, I can't recall the exact word, but a few weeks ago I used one that I've been using for years only for my ex (a millennial) to tell me it means something naughty and sexual and I had to look it up and she was right and I thought 'are you effing kidding me?' Damn, what was the word...it'll come to me at some point in the middle of a sleepless night (the silver lining to bad sleep!)
I saw a great note the other day, I think it was from a younger millennial. She said she wanted to go back to uni and do an English lit course again just to have arguments with people about woke stuff and the younger generation's general snowflakery (my word, not hers).
Other than 'I don't like your opinion', I've got no idea anymore what Americans mean when they denigrate each other by saying they're 'woke'. Something went wrong when it was appropriated by white people.
Woke has become the default insult. Did you ever see that viral video of the American [conservative] academic who got stumped when asked what 'woke' actually meant? Most people can't explain it, sort of like gaslighting and critical race theory and similar terms.
Original meanings of so many words have been butchered/adapted over the years. One word that gets my goat is 'awesome' and how it's completely misunderstood and misused my Americans.
Also fun, when I'm in the classroom, is explaining how the meaning of awful has changed, and how it used to be 'awe-ful'.
Gaslighting has a clear history and a clear meaning, but yes, it's definitely used inappropriately these days, because some people like the sound of it, or are simply mimicking what they've heard (much in the way that some people call other people narcissists).
Critical race theory is another uniquely (and odd) American concept. There's nothing new about it, structural and institutional racism has been studied for many decades, and not disputed in any country other than the US. Nowhere else gave it a special and confusing name. It's entirely uncontroversial elsewhere, in the same way that structural sexism is an uncontroversial claim. It's obvious, even for people who have never studied how societies and norms work. The evidence is well establish.
Chuck coined the use of snowflake as an insult. I wish all generations understood the original meaning, because it's a good insult when used correctly, instead of using it to mean fragility.
"Pejorative reference to uniqueness. Chuck Palahniuk has often been credited with originating the modern pejorative use of "snowflake" in his 1996 novel Fight Club, which contains the quote: "you are not special, you are not a beautiful and unique snowflake"."
A thumbs up is rude now?? Jesus. I'm just going to avoid everyone to be on the safe side from here on out lol. Anyway, I dig your podcasts. Puzzo and Chillax.
Appreciate it! I'm not sure how secretive this is or whether I/we are allowed to ask - are we of similar age? I think you're more firmly in the millennial range, or am I way off?
Since I posted this, I've deliberately gone off the deep end with emojis. Just throwing all caution to the wind and dishing out emojis willy nilly, consequences be damned. It's like a social experiment (I hope it doesn't get me cancelled).
I smiled all the way through this and was disappointed when it ended. you have a lovely voice. my mum is early 50s and always sent a thumbs up instead of saying 'okay'. unrelated to her doing that, we had a big family-wide conversation about emojis at one point and many of us said we perceived the thumbs up to be passive aggressive. so now me and my mum and brother will send thumbs up to each other instead of saying 'okay' but we're doing it ~ironically~ 🙃
also when I send a 🔥 on instagram I am saying the person looks hot in the picture
Thanks for the kind words - I, uh, do believe it’s been a while since your last audio post (hint hint) - has there been just the one (Substack tips to success, I believe) or are there others I’ve missed?
A family-wide conversation about emojis? I can’t imagine talking about anything like that with my fam. My parents are glued to FB and my mother still doesn’t realise that you don’t have to like and click on and share EVERY single post.
I fear the worst with the fire emoji. I’ve sent one or two on Instagram and now I’m wondering how the recipients took it. Oops. I swear, I’m just trying to be more active over to promote my book, I really don’t like IG. A necessary evil, I think.
Just been told by someone I trust (a good marketing person) that I need to get on TikTok. Damn…
yeah I've only done one audio post so far. I'm not sure audio is for me (but you never know!)
I'm sure the fire emojis weren't taken as anything else! emojis are subjective and have different meanings to different people. I once lived with a flatmate for a whole year who would end every text with 🤗 and I at no point realised that was a hug emoji, I thought she was just really enthusiastic about jazz hands
if you want to market yourself, tiktok is defo the place to be!
You're way too kind. Be careful, that might be all the encouragement I need to rattle off a few more of these ditties. Let's not get too carried away now!
Man, I'm 26 and I have to actively google what most of gen alpha slang means, like goon or skibidi. Isn't even English anymore. There's no hope for anyone in this accelerating postmodern mess *eggplant emoji*
You're old[er] in spirit, and I mean that as a mighty compliment!
Goon as slang? Does that mean something else now? That word has existed for years.
Skibidi is not one I know.
For the life of me, I can't recall the exact word, but a few weeks ago I used one that I've been using for years only for my ex (a millennial) to tell me it means something naughty and sexual and I had to look it up and she was right and I thought 'are you effing kidding me?' Damn, what was the word...it'll come to me at some point in the middle of a sleepless night (the silver lining to bad sleep!)
*cracked watermelon emoji*
I'm still flummoxed about thumbs up being deemed passive aggressive.
Younger generations just making shit up to be annoying at this point.
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Absolutely. I'm flummoxed about all this stuff.
I saw a great note the other day, I think it was from a younger millennial. She said she wanted to go back to uni and do an English lit course again just to have arguments with people about woke stuff and the younger generation's general snowflakery (my word, not hers).
I'm kind of with her!
😶🌫️🤯🤬👍👍👍👎
'Woke stuff' is a uniquely US cultural wedge.
Other than 'I don't like your opinion', I've got no idea anymore what Americans mean when they denigrate each other by saying they're 'woke'. Something went wrong when it was appropriated by white people.
Woke has become the default insult. Did you ever see that viral video of the American [conservative] academic who got stumped when asked what 'woke' actually meant? Most people can't explain it, sort of like gaslighting and critical race theory and similar terms.
Original meanings of so many words have been butchered/adapted over the years. One word that gets my goat is 'awesome' and how it's completely misunderstood and misused my Americans.
Also fun, when I'm in the classroom, is explaining how the meaning of awful has changed, and how it used to be 'awe-ful'.
Gaslighting has a clear history and a clear meaning, but yes, it's definitely used inappropriately these days, because some people like the sound of it, or are simply mimicking what they've heard (much in the way that some people call other people narcissists).
Critical race theory is another uniquely (and odd) American concept. There's nothing new about it, structural and institutional racism has been studied for many decades, and not disputed in any country other than the US. Nowhere else gave it a special and confusing name. It's entirely uncontroversial elsewhere, in the same way that structural sexism is an uncontroversial claim. It's obvious, even for people who have never studied how societies and norms work. The evidence is well establish.
We're kindred spirits, Caz. I don't think there's ever been a thing you've said I disagree with!
Give it time! 😂
Chuck coined the use of snowflake as an insult. I wish all generations understood the original meaning, because it's a good insult when used correctly, instead of using it to mean fragility.
"Pejorative reference to uniqueness. Chuck Palahniuk has often been credited with originating the modern pejorative use of "snowflake" in his 1996 novel Fight Club, which contains the quote: "you are not special, you are not a beautiful and unique snowflake"."
All I can say about this is I still haven't forgiven my sister for spoiling Fight Club (the film) all those years ago. 😭
Noooooo. She was mean!
A thumbs up is rude now?? Jesus. I'm just going to avoid everyone to be on the safe side from here on out lol. Anyway, I dig your podcasts. Puzzo and Chillax.
Appreciate it! I'm not sure how secretive this is or whether I/we are allowed to ask - are we of similar age? I think you're more firmly in the millennial range, or am I way off?
Since I posted this, I've deliberately gone off the deep end with emojis. Just throwing all caution to the wind and dishing out emojis willy nilly, consequences be damned. It's like a social experiment (I hope it doesn't get me cancelled).
Yes, millenial. I read awhile back that there are two types of millenials... Just found this (old) article - https://creative.artisantalent.com/2-types-of-millennials
I fall into the old/Oregon trail millenial range
Oregon trail as in you played that primitive computer game at school? Hell, I remember that, you must be on the cusp.
Yes, sir. Proud '88er
I smiled all the way through this and was disappointed when it ended. you have a lovely voice. my mum is early 50s and always sent a thumbs up instead of saying 'okay'. unrelated to her doing that, we had a big family-wide conversation about emojis at one point and many of us said we perceived the thumbs up to be passive aggressive. so now me and my mum and brother will send thumbs up to each other instead of saying 'okay' but we're doing it ~ironically~ 🙃
also when I send a 🔥 on instagram I am saying the person looks hot in the picture
Thanks for the kind words - I, uh, do believe it’s been a while since your last audio post (hint hint) - has there been just the one (Substack tips to success, I believe) or are there others I’ve missed?
A family-wide conversation about emojis? I can’t imagine talking about anything like that with my fam. My parents are glued to FB and my mother still doesn’t realise that you don’t have to like and click on and share EVERY single post.
I fear the worst with the fire emoji. I’ve sent one or two on Instagram and now I’m wondering how the recipients took it. Oops. I swear, I’m just trying to be more active over to promote my book, I really don’t like IG. A necessary evil, I think.
Just been told by someone I trust (a good marketing person) that I need to get on TikTok. Damn…
yeah I've only done one audio post so far. I'm not sure audio is for me (but you never know!)
I'm sure the fire emojis weren't taken as anything else! emojis are subjective and have different meanings to different people. I once lived with a flatmate for a whole year who would end every text with 🤗 and I at no point realised that was a hug emoji, I thought she was just really enthusiastic about jazz hands
if you want to market yourself, tiktok is defo the place to be!
I was right now years old when I discovered that was a hug emoji. My German brother-in-law uses that a lot in texts to me. Uh...hmmm...
Or maybe he’s just sending you a hug 🤗
Perhaps, but...I don't a hug from him!
Maybe it means something else in Germany/in whatever age range that is! As I say, different connotations!
It's very easy to listen to you talk, dude. I'm gonna need you to narrate a few books for me please.
You're way too kind. Be careful, that might be all the encouragement I need to rattle off a few more of these ditties. Let's not get too carried away now!
Funny 🤣 🤣🤣
Ok, so help me out... What the hell does "Netflix and chill" mean?! 🤔 I'm 42 and too old/uncool to know as well 😅
Not too old and definitely not too uncool!
Although, I think once you get to your/my/our age, being uncool is a badge of honor/honour (just for you, Stephanie, both spellings! 🤣👍)
As someone helpfully pointed out, it's our generation's equivalent of 'wanna come up for a coffee?'
Does that help?
So glad I'm not alone with not knowing this - thanks for being there with me ☺️
This is vital information 🙈 I seriously would never have thought twice about casually suggesting this to someone 😂
Thanks for the heads-up!
You and me both 😄