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I was born in 1980 and feel I have to stick up for my
generation. This list insults our early childhood
memories as well as our knowledge of recent history.
I have included individual comments below. Yes, times
have changed. No, kids today aren't from another
planet.
--- "Shapiro, Mark" <mshapiro@EXCHANGE.FULLERTON.EDU>
wrote:
The following might be useful to help put your
students in perspective as
the new semester
starts....
Mark Shapiro
http://www.IrascibleProfessor.com
especially for you people with children...too old today,
Just in case you weren't feeling
Beloit College inthis will certainly change things.
Each year the staff at
sense of the mindset ofWisconsin puts
together a list to try to give the faculty a
year's list:that year's
incoming freshmen.
Here is this
this
The people who are starting college
1980.fall across the nation were born in
the
They have no meaningful recollection of
hadReagan Era and probably did not know he
ever been shot.
Admittedly my memories are vague, but the shooting is
common knowledge.
They were prepubescent when the Persian
Gulf War was waged.
True, but I remember watching the newscasts and
calling friends when I heard that the first shots were
fired.
to them
Black Monday 1987 is as significant
brokeas the Great Depression.
There has been only one Pope.
They were 11 when the Soviet Union
apart and do not remember the Cold War.
I remember.
They have never feared a nuclear war.
I was scared. I'm still scared of India and Pakistan.
The threat of nuclear war didn't disappear with the
USSR.
space
They are too young to remember the
shuttle blowing up.
My 1st grade class watched it on TV. I think the
emotional reaction of 25 confused kids and a teacher
was just as intense as what any adults got from it.
Tianamen Square means nothing to them.
Again, I may not remember, but I am educated.
included AIDS.Their lifetime has always
and
Bottle caps have always been screw off
albums.plastic.
Atari predates them, as do vinyl
record" means nothingThe expression "you sound like a broken
to them.
Albums haven't been popular in my lifetime, but I love
my dad's old vinyl and everyone still knows the
phrase.
player.
They have never owned a record
and
They have likely never played Pac Man
have never heard of Pong.
Pac Man is an arcade classic that everyone has played.
Anyone with even a surface knowledge of video games
has heard of Pong, though few my age have played it.
track.
They may have never heard of an 8
alwaysThe Compact Disc was introduced
when they were 1 year old.
As far as they know, stamps have
cost about 32 cents.
I remember 25 cents, but nothing before that.
machine.
They have always had an answering
only 13
Most have never seen a TV set with
seen a black-and-whitechannels, nor have they
TV.
They have always had cable.
I've never had cable, but I guess that makes me an
oddball even today.
have
There has always been VCR's, but they
no idea what BETA is.
I remember the thrill of getting our first VCR, and
though I don't remember BETA I'm educated enough to
know what it is (or was).
remoteThey cannot fathom not having a
control.
The VCR mentioned above did have a remote control, but
it was attached with a cord.
were
They were born the year that Walkmen
inline forintroduced by Sony.
Roller-skating has always meant
them.
I owned a couple of pairs of wheel skates when I was
younger. Never owned inline.
Tonight
Jay Leno has always been on the
Show.
My Grandma used to let me stay up late to watch Johnny
Carson.
JordacheThey have no idea when or why
play.jeans were cool.
Popcorn has always been cooked in the
microwave.
They have never seen Larry Bird
Little kids do watch basketball. I remember his
retirement.
about
They never took a swim and thought
Jaws.
You're underestimating the power of the VCR's you
mentioned above. I was terrified.
to
The Vietnam War is as ancient history
were everthem as WWI, WWII and the Civil War.
They have no idea that Americans
held hostage in Iran.
WE'RE YOUNG BUT WE DO KNOW SOME HISTORY!
lenses are.
They can't imagine what hard contact
or where heThey don't know who Mork was
was from.
I remember Mork and hs home planet of Ork.
Syndication is a wonderful thing.
beef?", "I'd
They never heard: "Where's the
de plane!"walk a mile for a Camel," or "de plane,
Heard all 3, even if it was only in parodies.
have no idea who J.R. is.
They do not care who shot J.R. and
I don't care who shot him, but I remember not caring
while the adults watched.
we
The Titanic was found? They thought
always knew where it was.
Wrong again.
been white.
Michael Jackson has always
I know Thriller.
Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and
Alabama are places, not groups.
Classic rock is still big. Wayward Son is a personal
favorite of mine.
containers.
McDonald's never came in Styrofoam
Wrong again. Keeps the hot side hot and the cold side
cold, right?
MTV.
There has always been
typewriter.They don't have a clue how to use a
Took my first typing class on one.
to other oldtimers!!
Do you feel old yet? Pass this on
Sorry to rain on the old-timers parade. Or maybe I
just made everyone feel a bit younger. Wait five
years and this might be accurate.
Zach Wolff
University of Arizona
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