Tuesday, June 10th, 2008...2:09 am
#1: Don’t Say Awesome, Dude, or Yo, You Copped Fire, Son
My husband says all the ways not to act old can’t be depressing (i.e., things he himself does), so as #1 I offer up using language that has no right to come out of lips that are more than 45 years old….make that 35….make that 14.
Using too-young slang is akin to wearing a yellow miniskirt or driving a Zipcar: It makes you seem older because you’re trying so hard to be comfortable with something that was obviously minted by and for a generation that came way after yours. Yeah, I have one post-40 friend who can say awesome in what sounds like her native tongue, but most people in the middle ages shouldn’t try to say anything more modern than “cool.”
Of course, you don’t want to swing too far the other way and use outmoded words like keen, neat, or smart.
Groovy is acceptable when used with irony. Great is always okay.
But rad? Ill? Tight? Please.
14 Comments
June 11th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Dude, your site is awesome I can’t wait to show it to my daughter did I tell you she is going to McGill we are so mega rocked out by it but we can’t figure out how the h-e-double-toothpicks are are going to communicate w/ her via Skype and BTW is skyped a verb now?
Dig it.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I am almost sorry I opened this, because I’m in the middle of a meeting in a small conference room, and I just laughed out loud. But it was worth it; this is funny stuff! (If I were more clever, my comment would read like the one above…)
June 12th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
#11 — do not appear downtown with your teenagers when you are wearing a “halter” top, no matter how hot it is — they don’t want to know you have breasts, much less that you’re trying to hold them up so they don’t bounce on your waistline.
#11.5 — same goes for bikini tops.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:00 am
I guess that means I’m not allowed to use “curse words” either?
June 13th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Hey, I LIKE my yellow mini skirt.
Great blog Pam!
June 13th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I’m hoping I might be that unnamed, post-40 friend who is so cool that she gets away with saying awesome.
Maybe not.
Dare I say this is an awesome, truly hilarious blog?
June 15th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Since I’m allowed to use “great,” I’ll use it. Great blog, Pam. Very funny and, I sheepishly admit, very true on pretty much all accounts.
But now you owe me a favor —- could you recommend a good realtor as I will now need to give up my apartment in the Village at the end of my lease!
Jeff I.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Liam Neeson!!LOL I saw him in Crucible too, and wasn’t close enough for the spittle, but I def saw it!
How about “Don’t dance.” I’m sure I give away my age when I break into Seinfeld’s “Elaine.”
Thank you, very funny
June 24th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
How about “hassle”? For my money, it’s one of the enduring linguistic legacies of the 60s. I think it’s still used pretty widely and isn’t cringe inducing, but I’m interested in other opinions.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Pam — this blog is awesome fun. you’re the cat’s pajamas.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
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January 4th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Yo, dude. You copped some fire. Your website is awesome! However, girlfriend, since I am like way cool, I don’t need advise but will always miss those lazy days at the lake with you.
July 28th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
[...] HNTAO fan Karen Guerra, a professor in Houston, recently wrote to suggest I include something here about the overuse by the young of the word “awesome.” Uh, yeah, Karen, I had noticed that, but foolishly thought I had it covered way back with HNTAO #1: Don’t Say Awesome, Dude, or Yo, You Copped Fire, Son. [...]
October 25th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
No awesome? I’m 45 and was a teen when that was coined. I’ve been saying it, and will continue to do so.
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