From: Bob Dewar (dewar@TECHHEADNET.COM)
Date: Thu Nov 11 1999 - 11:16:41 CST
This is a little thing that I came across earlier this summer from a Cub
Scouter friend. These items do not qualify for the 30 years ago differences,
but it is still a kick to see how things have changed in our lifetimes.
(Sorry for the delay in posting this, but first I was out of town and then I
couldn't find this on the harddrive :-))
Bob Dewar
Useta be everything (and still feels like it is)
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June 21, 1999
Just in case you weren't feeling too old today, this will certainly change
things. Each year the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a
list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of that year's
incoming freshman. I know that this is for college freshmen, and I do not
know how you feel sometimes around our "kids". But this was a kick in the
pants to me, as I oftentimes treat them as short adults :-).
Here's this year's list:
1. The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were
born in 1981.
2. They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan Era and did not
know he had ever been shot.
3. They were prepubescent when the Persian Gulf War was waged.
4. Black Monday 1987 is as significant to them as the Great Depression.
5. There has been only one pope. They can only really remember one
president.
6. They were 11 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember
the Cold War.
7. They have never feared a nuclear war, "The Day After" is a pill to
them, not a movie.
8. They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up, and
Tiananmen Square means nothing to them.
9. Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
10. They never had a polio shot, and likely do not know what it is.
11. Bottle caps have not only always been screw off, but they have no
idea what a pull-top can looks like.
12. Atari predates them, as do vinyl albums.
13. The expression "you sound like a broken record" means nothing to
them.
14. They have never owned a record player.
15. There have always been red M&M's, and blue ones are not new. What do
you mean there used to be tan ones?
16. They probably have heard of 8 tracks but chances are they probably
never have actually seen or heard one.
17. The Compact Disc was introduced when they were 1 year old.
18. They have always had an answering machine.
19. Most have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they
seen a black and white tv.
20. There has always been cable.
21. There have always been VCR's, but they have no idea what BETA is.
22. They cannot fathom not having a remote control.
23. They were born the year that Sony introduced the Walkman.
24. Roller-skating has always meant inline for them.
25. The Tonight Show has always been with Jay Leno.
26. They have no idea when or why Jordache jeans were cool.
27. Popcorn has always been cooked in a microwave.
28. They have never seen Larry Bird play, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a
football player.
29. They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.
30. The Vietnam War is as ancient History to them as WWI, WW2, or even
the Civil War.
31. They have no idea that Americans were ever held hostage in Iran.
32. They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are like.
33. They don't know who Mork was, or where he came from.
34. They have never heard the terms, "Where's the beef?", "I'd walk a
mile for a Camel" or "de plane, de plane".
35. They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. is.
36. The Titanic was found? I thought we always knew where it was.