You mean Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?
January 29, 2011 5:26 AM Subscribe
"You mean Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?" I'm looking for a modern equivalent to this phrase, meant to express the youthful ignorance of history, even very significant history. Especially when such ignorance surfaces in a way that's jarring to folks who were there.
I just caught a young programmer friend describing language redundancy with "It's like why 'FOR' exists, when there's already 'WHILE'."
For the non-programmers here, the FOR loop has been around since the very early days of high-level programming, and WHILE is a relative newcomer.
So, I went to rib him with the McCartney phrase, and realized that he's probably never heard of Wings, either. Update, please?
I just caught a young programmer friend describing language redundancy with "It's like why 'FOR' exists, when there's already 'WHILE'."
For the non-programmers here, the FOR loop has been around since the very early days of high-level programming, and WHILE is a relative newcomer.
So, I went to rib him with the McCartney phrase, and realized that he's probably never heard of Wings, either. Update, please?
Best answer: "You mean Arnold Schwarzenegger was in action movies before he became a politician?"
posted by Gator at 5:38 AM on January 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by Gator at 5:38 AM on January 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
"Deep Purple is a band?"
[real quote from 15 years ago, so that may not be as current as requested]
posted by infini at 5:42 AM on January 29, 2011
[real quote from 15 years ago, so that may not be as current as requested]
posted by infini at 5:42 AM on January 29, 2011
I'm sure there's a snarky reference to fixed-wheel bicycles that could be made here, but I can't quite find the phrasing.
posted by chmmr at 5:44 AM on January 29, 2011
posted by chmmr at 5:44 AM on January 29, 2011
There's the real-world example of Bush Press Secretary Dana Perino who went on NPR & confessed she didn't know the Cuban Missile Crisis & Bay of Pigs incident weren't the same thing.
posted by scalefree at 5:54 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 5:54 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I can't think of a particular phrase, but it has struck me that for a 19-year-old U.S. soldier in Afghanistan right now, the war probably began when they were ten years old. (The same for a 19-year-old Afghani, obviously.)
posted by XMLicious at 5:55 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by XMLicious at 5:55 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
From my intern:
"What's Friendster?"
I died. I died.
posted by functionequalsform at 6:00 AM on January 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
"What's Friendster?"
I died. I died.
posted by functionequalsform at 6:00 AM on January 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
Do you have a MySpace?
posted by spitbull at 6:07 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 6:07 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
You might enjoy the "Musically Oblivious 8th Grader" meme.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:08 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:08 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Upon seeing a picture of Crockett and Tubbs from the Miami Vice TV show... Who's that guy with Don Johnson?
posted by bob bisquick at 6:13 AM on January 29, 2011
posted by bob bisquick at 6:13 AM on January 29, 2011
So you had this "pager" thing that would beep to tell you to find a "phone booth"?
posted by TrialByMedia at 6:23 AM on January 29, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by TrialByMedia at 6:23 AM on January 29, 2011 [7 favorites]
You mean Madden was a commentator before he had that video game?
posted by sciencegeek at 6:24 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by sciencegeek at 6:24 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
My wife was talking to a teenager who was talking about how he was a huge of David Cross on Arrested Development, and all his standup CDs. She mentioned Mr. Show, and the kid had NEVER HEARD OF IT.
I think there are also teenagers nowadays for whom Nirvana is just a word in a cool font, above the picture of some weird guy with scraggly hair.
posted by Gortuk at 6:30 AM on January 29, 2011
I think there are also teenagers nowadays for whom Nirvana is just a word in a cool font, above the picture of some weird guy with scraggly hair.
posted by Gortuk at 6:30 AM on January 29, 2011
For something very recent: George W. Bush owned a baseball team before he became President?
A few years ago, I nearly made someone cry when I told them that W was the only President during the entirety of my adult years.
posted by runningwithscissors at 6:30 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
A few years ago, I nearly made someone cry when I told them that W was the only President during the entirety of my adult years.
posted by runningwithscissors at 6:30 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
"George Bush was president twice?"
For the longest time I though Wang Chung was a guy, not a band (partly it's because I only knew that name from the score of To Live and Die in L.A.).
Here's Chris Matthews yelling at a Tea Partier about how Michelle Bachmann thinks the Founding Fathers worked to abolish slavery.
posted by Kattullus at 6:42 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
For the longest time I though Wang Chung was a guy, not a band (partly it's because I only knew that name from the score of To Live and Die in L.A.).
Here's Chris Matthews yelling at a Tea Partier about how Michelle Bachmann thinks the Founding Fathers worked to abolish slavery.
posted by Kattullus at 6:42 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm 29; the other day I was talking to a college student about my job. I mentioned that the word processor we use is kind of clunky and obsolescent. He goes, "Oh, yeah, do they still use Microsoft Word?" I say, "No, we use WordPerfect." He says, "What's WordPerfect?" He had never heard of it — didn't even ring a bell.
posted by John Cohen at 6:53 AM on January 29, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by John Cohen at 6:53 AM on January 29, 2011 [7 favorites]
"William Shatner was on Star Trek?"
posted by unknowncommand at 6:57 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by unknowncommand at 6:57 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
A couple years ago I was on the train sitting nearby a bunch of teenage boys who were shouting "I'm Rick James, bitch!" at each other. This went on for several minutes before one of them remarked, "Hey, hold on, did you guys know that Rick James is a real guy? He's like a musician."
The mind boggles.
posted by milk white peacock at 6:57 AM on January 29, 2011 [19 favorites]
The mind boggles.
posted by milk white peacock at 6:57 AM on January 29, 2011 [19 favorites]
The updated version goes:
"Did you know Paul McCartney used to be in a band?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, it was called Wings"
posted by briank at 6:59 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
"Did you know Paul McCartney used to be in a band?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, it was called Wings"
posted by briank at 6:59 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Mrsspinturtle's work team was getting ready to release a new product, and somebody referenced the release date as "D-Day." Youngster on the team looks confused and says, "what's D-Day?"
true story, sad to say
posted by spinturtle at 7:04 AM on January 29, 2011
true story, sad to say
posted by spinturtle at 7:04 AM on January 29, 2011
Pluto was a planet?
posted by box at 7:09 AM on January 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by box at 7:09 AM on January 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
What do you mean I can't see the picture on your camera? you just took it. Let's take another one then.
-kid that never saw a non-digital camera
posted by Neekee at 7:17 AM on January 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
-kid that never saw a non-digital camera
posted by Neekee at 7:17 AM on January 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
I work in a middle school and you would not believe how many students mistake pictures of John lenon for Harry Potter
posted by dstopps at 7:25 AM on January 29, 2011 [36 favorites]
posted by dstopps at 7:25 AM on January 29, 2011 [36 favorites]
Dial a phone?
posted by Thorzdad at 7:54 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 7:54 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
There was a great scene in the movie "Tap" where a young Savion Glover was talking to Sammy Davis Jr., Sandman Sims, Bunny Briggs, Harold Nicholas, Jimmy Slyde, and a few other tap dancing legends, and he said: "you guys used to work?"
*sigh*
posted by Melismata at 7:55 AM on January 29, 2011
*sigh*
posted by Melismata at 7:55 AM on January 29, 2011
You used to listen to music on what?? (referencing vinyl, but also works for cassettes, and soon enough, CDs).
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:24 AM on January 29, 2011
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:24 AM on January 29, 2011
The idea that people were happy to pay for music is one, or that it was difficult and expensive to record music (or video) is certainly old fashioned.
I actually did this to myself the other day. Forgot that Google wasn't "the internet". And I should really know better, having Gophered and WAISed on BITNET before it was even connected to Internet.
When programming wasn't just mixing together a bunch of pre-done objects. When 640k WAS enough for anyone, because that's all the machine could address. When the operating system, applications and all your data fit on a floppy. When installing a new hard disk meant having to call the manufacturer to get a new BIOS chip that could support it. When a portable computer meant that it, finally, could be lifted by only one person.
I also get this feeling all the time with various youths whose internal history fuzzily starts somewhere in the 80's. Their concept of the world has only ever been that of the more or less constant growth and prosperity from the late 80s until the late 2000s. The idea that you don't get generous raises every year and can't afford every whim at every moment seems like the end of civilization to them. The idea that there were 2000 murders a year in NYC is just beyond their ken. Makes me realize how lucky we really have been, and how hard it must be for them to see their world upended.
And very soon: "what do you mean, 'long distance'?" or "what do you mean 'phone cord'?" or "what do you mean, 'CD'?" or "why does that computer screen go so far back?" or "what do you mean 'develop the film'?"
posted by gjc at 8:41 AM on January 29, 2011
I actually did this to myself the other day. Forgot that Google wasn't "the internet". And I should really know better, having Gophered and WAISed on BITNET before it was even connected to Internet.
When programming wasn't just mixing together a bunch of pre-done objects. When 640k WAS enough for anyone, because that's all the machine could address. When the operating system, applications and all your data fit on a floppy. When installing a new hard disk meant having to call the manufacturer to get a new BIOS chip that could support it. When a portable computer meant that it, finally, could be lifted by only one person.
I also get this feeling all the time with various youths whose internal history fuzzily starts somewhere in the 80's. Their concept of the world has only ever been that of the more or less constant growth and prosperity from the late 80s until the late 2000s. The idea that you don't get generous raises every year and can't afford every whim at every moment seems like the end of civilization to them. The idea that there were 2000 murders a year in NYC is just beyond their ken. Makes me realize how lucky we really have been, and how hard it must be for them to see their world upended.
And very soon: "what do you mean, 'long distance'?" or "what do you mean 'phone cord'?" or "what do you mean, 'CD'?" or "why does that computer screen go so far back?" or "what do you mean 'develop the film'?"
posted by gjc at 8:41 AM on January 29, 2011
Just a few days ago I read the following tweet: "...Mark Wahlberg told Ahmad Rashad on golf course: "You played football? I thought you were just the guy from Inside Stuff."
posted by pwb503 at 8:42 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by pwb503 at 8:42 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
You might find some inspiration in this post on the blue about cover songs that some people don't know are covers.
posted by Beardman at 8:43 AM on January 29, 2011
posted by Beardman at 8:43 AM on January 29, 2011
You mean Michael Jackson was black?
posted by castlebravo at 8:45 AM on January 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by castlebravo at 8:45 AM on January 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Happened to me just the other day:
"You're searching for a phone number in a big yellow printed book? Why would anyone do that?"
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 8:50 AM on January 29, 2011
"You're searching for a phone number in a big yellow printed book? Why would anyone do that?"
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 8:50 AM on January 29, 2011
Best answer: It's been posted a few times on the blue before, but the Beloit College Mindset List could be a starting place.
posted by elgilito at 8:54 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by elgilito at 8:54 AM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
College (art school) graduate: What was Hiroshima, again?
Me: You don't know?
Graduate: I know it was a disaster, like the Hindenburg, but what was it exactly?
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:55 AM on January 29, 2011
Me: You don't know?
Graduate: I know it was a disaster, like the Hindenburg, but what was it exactly?
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:55 AM on January 29, 2011
The Challenger disaster has recently been in the news.
-- What was that about with that teacher Christa something?
-- She was the teacher in the shuttle when it exploded.
-- The #7 or between Times Square and Grand Central?
posted by Tylwyth Teg at 9:17 AM on January 29, 2011
-- What was that about with that teacher Christa something?
-- She was the teacher in the shuttle when it exploded.
-- The #7 or between Times Square and Grand Central?
posted by Tylwyth Teg at 9:17 AM on January 29, 2011
Here's one that is UK centric:
"My daughter watches Dancing on Ice to see Vanilla Ice. You know he has a cover of that Jedward song?"
Sigh.
(links for the benefit of those who have not experienced the joy that is Jedward)
posted by Eumachia L F at 9:20 AM on January 29, 2011
"My daughter watches Dancing on Ice to see Vanilla Ice. You know he has a cover of that Jedward song?"
Sigh.
(links for the benefit of those who have not experienced the joy that is Jedward)
posted by Eumachia L F at 9:20 AM on January 29, 2011
A couple of us were talking about the Kamikazes during WWII and someone asked "OMG, were they named after the drink?".
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 9:27 AM on January 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 9:27 AM on January 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
I always thought Eminem did it quite nicely with the line, "Back when Mark Walberg was Marky Mark..."
posted by rhymer at 9:27 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rhymer at 9:27 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have a friend who's just over ten years younger than me, so she was born in about 1970 or 71. After she and I met Ringo Starr a few years ago she said "You know who that is, don't you? He used to do the voice of Thomas The Tank Engine".
posted by essexjan at 9:42 AM on January 29, 2011 [21 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 9:42 AM on January 29, 2011 [21 favorites]
dc centric real-life example: "so this one city councilman, Marion Barry, used to be mayor?"
posted by yarly at 9:46 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by yarly at 9:46 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've always enjoyed freaking out the Olds by loving the shit out of James Thurber. Thanks, Dad.
posted by everichon at 10:29 AM on January 29, 2011
posted by everichon at 10:29 AM on January 29, 2011
From Overheard in DC on DCist about a year or so ago. Two interns, one turns to the other and complains about having to update her boss's roladex. The other replies "what's a roladex? Upon hearing the explanation, second intern exclaims: "that sounds cool. Where can I get one?"
posted by kaybdc at 10:52 AM on January 29, 2011
posted by kaybdc at 10:52 AM on January 29, 2011
Something about PalmPilots and other non-phone PDAs.
Something about 3.5" floppy disks. (Or even more so, 5.25" disks.) Point them to the Evil Overlord List, which they should mostly enjoy, until they get to #99, "Any data file of crucial importance will be padded to 1.45Mb in size."
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:34 AM on January 29, 2011
Something about 3.5" floppy disks. (Or even more so, 5.25" disks.) Point them to the Evil Overlord List, which they should mostly enjoy, until they get to #99, "Any data file of crucial importance will be padded to 1.45Mb in size."
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:34 AM on January 29, 2011
Combining a couple of previous entries:
"Did you know Paul McCartney used to be in a band?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, they covered Guns N' Roses 'Live and Let Die.'"
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:38 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Did you know Paul McCartney used to be in a band?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, they covered Guns N' Roses 'Live and Let Die.'"
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:38 AM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
What are the Windows A: and B: drives used for?
posted by txsebastien at 11:45 AM on January 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by txsebastien at 11:45 AM on January 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Two that happened to me recently...
First one (overheard) between IT person and new person setting up an account:
IT person: What's your last name?
new person: "Patton" like the general.
IT person: Who?
New Person: George Patton? General Patton? From WWII?
IT person: Literature isn't my strong point...
This from just last night, I was telling a twenty-something person about how I'd missed my exit while trying to get to Long Island and gotten lost NYC during the 90's.
Me: I was lost in New York City once, and the people were really nice. My experience consisted of [insert me acting out asking directions every two blocks].
Younger person: You didn't have GPS?
posted by patheral at 11:48 AM on January 29, 2011
First one (overheard) between IT person and new person setting up an account:
IT person: What's your last name?
new person: "Patton" like the general.
IT person: Who?
New Person: George Patton? General Patton? From WWII?
IT person: Literature isn't my strong point...
This from just last night, I was telling a twenty-something person about how I'd missed my exit while trying to get to Long Island and gotten lost NYC during the 90's.
Me: I was lost in New York City once, and the people were really nice. My experience consisted of [insert me acting out asking directions every two blocks].
Younger person: You didn't have GPS?
posted by patheral at 11:48 AM on January 29, 2011
Two more:
My child once heard the Beatles on the car radio and was shocked: "They totally jacked that from Britney!"
Last Veteran's Day, a young person was assigned to read a list of vets from the church, which she did like this: "John Smith, Korea; Bob Jones, Viet Nam; Sam Doe, World War Eye Eye," etc.
posted by SLC Mom at 12:02 PM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
My child once heard the Beatles on the car radio and was shocked: "They totally jacked that from Britney!"
Last Veteran's Day, a young person was assigned to read a list of vets from the church, which she did like this: "John Smith, Korea; Bob Jones, Viet Nam; Sam Doe, World War Eye Eye," etc.
posted by SLC Mom at 12:02 PM on January 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
You might enjoy the "Musically Oblivious 8th Grader" meme.
Eh, it needs more "GenXers and Boomers make fun of the musically oblivious 8th grader" and less "high school and college students make fun of the musically oblivious 8th grader."
(On topic: "There was a group of people called 'Boomers' before that one Cylon model?")
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:15 PM on January 29, 2011
Eh, it needs more "GenXers and Boomers make fun of the musically oblivious 8th grader" and less "high school and college students make fun of the musically oblivious 8th grader."
(On topic: "There was a group of people called 'Boomers' before that one Cylon model?")
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:15 PM on January 29, 2011
''if a business isn't on google, they aren't a real business''
From a librarian (second hand story though).
posted by geek anachronism at 12:27 PM on January 29, 2011
From a librarian (second hand story though).
posted by geek anachronism at 12:27 PM on January 29, 2011
There was a good one in When Harry Met Sally that was applicable for a couple of decades: "She's so young that when I asked her where she was when Kennedy was shot, she said, 'Ted Kennedy's been SHOT?'"
posted by scody at 12:43 PM on January 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by scody at 12:43 PM on January 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Oh, and a real-life one that happened several months ago when I was talking to the young woman washing my hair at my stylist. She said she and her boyfriend were thinking of taking a trip up the California coast to Big Sur, and wondered if I'd been there and if there was anything interesting along the way. I enthusiastically began to tell her about Hearst Castle, until I realized she had no idea who William Randolph Hearst was. So I said that he was the guy who was the basis for Citizen Kane, until I realized that she had no idea what Citizen Kane was. So I said that Citizen Kane was the film that made Orson Welles famous.
You can see where this is going.
posted by scody at 12:48 PM on January 29, 2011 [23 favorites]
You can see where this is going.
posted by scody at 12:48 PM on January 29, 2011 [23 favorites]
Two from real life-
The first time my son (12 at the time) encountered a rotary dial phone he had no idea how to actually dial a call.
This goes back a few years- One of my co-workers didn't know that Michael Bolton didn't actually write (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay and When a Man Loves a Woman. I didn't know whether to cry or beat him to death with a CD.
posted by JohntheContrarian at 12:55 PM on January 29, 2011
The first time my son (12 at the time) encountered a rotary dial phone he had no idea how to actually dial a call.
This goes back a few years- One of my co-workers didn't know that Michael Bolton didn't actually write (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay and When a Man Loves a Woman. I didn't know whether to cry or beat him to death with a CD.
posted by JohntheContrarian at 12:55 PM on January 29, 2011
An obvious one, but real life:
Me: I just re-watched The Hustler. Paul Newman was so great!
Kid: What, from the salad dressing and stuff?!
posted by Tylwyth Teg at 12:57 PM on January 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
Me: I just re-watched The Hustler. Paul Newman was so great!
Kid: What, from the salad dressing and stuff?!
posted by Tylwyth Teg at 12:57 PM on January 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
My stepson, asking about predecessors to the iPod:
"So, this Walkman thing... you had to carry tapes with you, to change them out when you wanted different music?"
Me: "Yep."
SS: "Didn't that... take up more room than the Walkman itself?"
Me: "Yes. A lot of the time, you'd just listen to the same tape over and over."
SS: "And this was considered portable?"
Me: "It was the best thing available, so, yeah. And you should have seen how much tapes cost. When I was your age, minimum wage was under $4, and a tape easily cost $10 or $15."
SS: "People PAID for music!?"
posted by Leta at 12:58 PM on January 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
"So, this Walkman thing... you had to carry tapes with you, to change them out when you wanted different music?"
Me: "Yep."
SS: "Didn't that... take up more room than the Walkman itself?"
Me: "Yes. A lot of the time, you'd just listen to the same tape over and over."
SS: "And this was considered portable?"
Me: "It was the best thing available, so, yeah. And you should have seen how much tapes cost. When I was your age, minimum wage was under $4, and a tape easily cost $10 or $15."
SS: "People PAID for music!?"
posted by Leta at 12:58 PM on January 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
I still cringe thinking about the time I had to teach my daughter that records had two sides and had to be turned over....
posted by Space Kitty at 1:05 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Space Kitty at 1:05 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
So I said that Citizen Kane was the film that made Orson Welles famous.
You can see where this is going.
Ah, yes, I think I know. You explained that Orson Welles was the voice of Unicron in the animated Transformers movie, and she said, "There was an animated Transformers?"
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:21 PM on January 29, 2011 [14 favorites]
You can see where this is going.
Ah, yes, I think I know. You explained that Orson Welles was the voice of Unicron in the animated Transformers movie, and she said, "There was an animated Transformers?"
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:21 PM on January 29, 2011 [14 favorites]
Not sure if this is quite the same thing, but...
Was at a party a couple weeks ago with people who were, on average, about 5-8 years younger than me. Somehow, the subject of Scientology came up, and how depressed we all were to find out that one of our favorite celebrities was a Scientologist. They were shocked and distraught when I brought up Will Smith, who they remembered as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. And then I brought up my greatest disappointment : finding out that Beck was a Scientologist. And they totally didn't get it! One girl even said, "Who cares about Beck?"
And I couldn't help but thinking that if they were my age -- and remembered seeing Beck at alt-rock festivals -- they'd be far more disappointed in him than in Will Smith, whom, by the time I had reached concert-going age, I'd already come to think of as kinda played out.
posted by Afroblanco at 1:44 PM on January 29, 2011
Was at a party a couple weeks ago with people who were, on average, about 5-8 years younger than me. Somehow, the subject of Scientology came up, and how depressed we all were to find out that one of our favorite celebrities was a Scientologist. They were shocked and distraught when I brought up Will Smith, who they remembered as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. And then I brought up my greatest disappointment : finding out that Beck was a Scientologist. And they totally didn't get it! One girl even said, "Who cares about Beck?"
And I couldn't help but thinking that if they were my age -- and remembered seeing Beck at alt-rock festivals -- they'd be far more disappointed in him than in Will Smith, whom, by the time I had reached concert-going age, I'd already come to think of as kinda played out.
posted by Afroblanco at 1:44 PM on January 29, 2011
At A Gamestop, 2 pre-teens looking at Guitar Hero & Rock Band incarnations:
Kid 1: What's an Aerosmith?
Kid 2: I dunno.
Me: A band.
posted by pointystick at 1:49 PM on January 29, 2011
Kid 1: What's an Aerosmith?
Kid 2: I dunno.
Me: A band.
posted by pointystick at 1:49 PM on January 29, 2011
Best answer: Kid 1: What's an Aerosmith?
Kid 2: I dunno.
Heh! I was just talking to my nephews about American Idol yesterday, and asked them what they thought of the judges. One of them pointed out that Steven Tyler looks like a lady. Thinking that this was a pretty clever Aerosmith reference for a six-year-old, I said "yeah, Dude Looks Like a Lady!"
To which he replied with all the patience a first-grader can muster when dealing with his well-meaning but idiotic aunt, "yeah, that's what I said."
"I know," I said. "But it's an Aerosmith song. 'Dude Looks Like a Lady.'"
"What's Aerosmith?"
"Steven Tyler's band."
All three nephews chorus: "Steven Tyler is in a band?"
posted by scody at 1:59 PM on January 29, 2011 [10 favorites]
Kid 2: I dunno.
Heh! I was just talking to my nephews about American Idol yesterday, and asked them what they thought of the judges. One of them pointed out that Steven Tyler looks like a lady. Thinking that this was a pretty clever Aerosmith reference for a six-year-old, I said "yeah, Dude Looks Like a Lady!"
To which he replied with all the patience a first-grader can muster when dealing with his well-meaning but idiotic aunt, "yeah, that's what I said."
"I know," I said. "But it's an Aerosmith song. 'Dude Looks Like a Lady.'"
"What's Aerosmith?"
"Steven Tyler's band."
All three nephews chorus: "Steven Tyler is in a band?"
posted by scody at 1:59 PM on January 29, 2011 [10 favorites]
Since Afroblanco mentioned Beck, that reminds me of another one, though this is probably too elaborate to work for your purposes: A friend of mine went to a Beck show that was part of a tour for the Midnite Vultures album, which was Beck's blatant homage to Prince, funk, R&B, etc. My friend would have been in his early 20s then, and he had been a Beck fan since Beck made it big with "Loser." He was standing by these kids in the audience who were maybe 18 years old and really into the Midnite Vultures material. Then Beck does a whole second set: unplugged performances of songs like "Pay No Mind," maybe some songs from One Foot in the Grave, etc. The kids were giggling amongst each other, as if to say, "Who would have expected this from Beck?!"
Here's a pithier one: I saw a customer review on one of Prince's albums that said, "Prince is like a black Beck."
posted by John Cohen at 2:05 PM on January 29, 2011
Here's a pithier one: I saw a customer review on one of Prince's albums that said, "Prince is like a black Beck."
posted by John Cohen at 2:05 PM on January 29, 2011
You mean Madden was a commentator before he had that video game?
You mean Madden was a football player and coach before he was a commentator?
posted by one_bean at 2:17 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
You mean Madden was a football player and coach before he was a commentator?
posted by one_bean at 2:17 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
My co-worker is 24. Recently he told us that he'd never heard of Kurt Cobain until he saw Courtney Love's Cribs on MTV.
posted by bendy at 3:04 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bendy at 3:04 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Similar: Mr. TBSSmith and I were at a record (!) store and there was a high school kid looking at Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire, mentioning that he had never heard of this previous Bird album. We told him that Bird used to be in a band before that, one called Squirrel Nut Zippers. He said he never heard of them.
Also, my dad had the Paul McCartney-was-in-a-band-before-Wings moment in the 80s. He had the same reaction.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 3:10 PM on January 29, 2011
Also, my dad had the Paul McCartney-was-in-a-band-before-Wings moment in the 80s. He had the same reaction.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 3:10 PM on January 29, 2011
For a hilarious backwards version of this, see this current FPP with Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel, circa 1994.
posted by marsha56 at 3:48 PM on January 29, 2011
posted by marsha56 at 3:48 PM on January 29, 2011
Best answer: George Foreman? You mean the grill guy?
posted by Mike1024 at 4:04 PM on January 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by Mike1024 at 4:04 PM on January 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
I used to share an office with a young woman who had never heard of the movie Airplane!
Kids these days, I tell ya...
posted by workerant at 7:20 PM on January 29, 2011
Kids these days, I tell ya...
posted by workerant at 7:20 PM on January 29, 2011
Might not be exactly what you're looking for, but there was a question on Cash Cab about a Big Band era band leader (the answer was Glenn Miller), and the twenty-something person in the cab called their teen babysitter.. and the babysitter thought had clearly never heard of Big Band and suggested the answer was the Beatles. It was... sad.
posted by Mael Oui at 7:48 PM on January 29, 2011
posted by Mael Oui at 7:48 PM on January 29, 2011
I was in a Burger King last year when I heard a group of young teenagers ridiculing "the stupid 80's crap stuck on the walls." I nearly choked on my fries.
posted by AndrewStephens at 8:09 PM on January 29, 2011
posted by AndrewStephens at 8:09 PM on January 29, 2011
Yeah Will Smith always throws the young'uns for a loop! Will Smith was on TV? Will Smith is the Fresh Prince? The Fresh Prince was a rapper before the TV show?
Marky Mark's brother was famous before he was? Who's Marky Mark anyway? hahaha
posted by Cainaan777 at 8:48 PM on January 29, 2011
Marky Mark's brother was famous before he was? Who's Marky Mark anyway? hahaha
posted by Cainaan777 at 8:48 PM on January 29, 2011
About 18 years ago my family was on a trip down south.
We stopped at a tourist trap/gas station.
I was waiting in line to pay for gas.
Daughter: "Daddy, can I have some gum?"
Me: "Sure honey, pick out a pack."
Daughter: "Where is it?"
Me: "Right there, by the pictures of Elvis."
Daughter: "Who's Elvis?"
At this point EVERYONE IN THE STORE STOPPED TALKING AND LOOKED AT ME.
So I looked at all the faces staring at me and said:
"Forgive her, for she knows not what she says", then I looked at her and said
"Baby, Elvis is the King." At which everyone smiled and went on with their business.
posted by jack.tinker at 9:58 PM on January 29, 2011 [15 favorites]
We stopped at a tourist trap/gas station.
I was waiting in line to pay for gas.
Daughter: "Daddy, can I have some gum?"
Me: "Sure honey, pick out a pack."
Daughter: "Where is it?"
Me: "Right there, by the pictures of Elvis."
Daughter: "Who's Elvis?"
At this point EVERYONE IN THE STORE STOPPED TALKING AND LOOKED AT ME.
So I looked at all the faces staring at me and said:
"Forgive her, for she knows not what she says", then I looked at her and said
"Baby, Elvis is the King." At which everyone smiled and went on with their business.
posted by jack.tinker at 9:58 PM on January 29, 2011 [15 favorites]
Heard just this minute on the TV show "New Tricks":
He: Those who do not remember history of doomed to repeat it.
She: Who said that?
He: Santayana?
She: the musician?
eerie: synchronic and recursive?
posted by at at 10:54 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
He: Those who do not remember history of doomed to repeat it.
She: Who said that?
He: Santayana?
She: the musician?
eerie: synchronic and recursive?
posted by at at 10:54 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh, and a real-life one that happened several months ago when I was talking to the young woman washing my hair at my stylist. She said she and her boyfriend were thinking of taking a trip up the California coast to Big Sur, and wondered if I'd been there and if there was anything interesting along the way. I enthusiastically began to tell her about Hearst Castle, until I realized she had no idea who William Randolph Hearst was. So I said that he was the guy who was the basis for Citizen Kane, until I realized that she had no idea what Citizen Kane was. So I said that Citizen Kane was the film that made Orson Welles famous.
You can see where this is going.
Something very similar happens to me whenever the topics of Buddy Holly, Elvis, or pretty much any musician from before about 1995 comes up in a conversation. Once I made the mistake of mentioning The Inkspots and spent the next half hour defending myself against charges of racism, cultural insensitivity and general ignorance because the person I was speaking to was under the age of 30.
We truly do live in a Golden Age.
posted by motown missile at 10:59 PM on January 29, 2011
You can see where this is going.
Something very similar happens to me whenever the topics of Buddy Holly, Elvis, or pretty much any musician from before about 1995 comes up in a conversation. Once I made the mistake of mentioning The Inkspots and spent the next half hour defending myself against charges of racism, cultural insensitivity and general ignorance because the person I was speaking to was under the age of 30.
We truly do live in a Golden Age.
posted by motown missile at 10:59 PM on January 29, 2011
I was standing with a coworker and discussing a friend who had named their new baby Madison. She told me that she has mentioned it to two other coworkers in their early to mid twenties and said to them - "They named the baby Madison, you know, like in Splash", at which point the two younger coworkers looked at her and said deadpan - "What's Splash?"
posted by triggerfinger at 11:01 PM on January 29, 2011
posted by triggerfinger at 11:01 PM on January 29, 2011
You mean people besides Cruella De Vil use those old--what did you call them--rotary phones?
posted by mtphoto at 11:19 PM on January 29, 2011
posted by mtphoto at 11:19 PM on January 29, 2011
At a gas station I said "No, not regular, I need unleaded" and got the Blank Stare Of Frozen Incomprehension.
(Also, "Ice-T was a gangsta before he was a [TV] cop?")
posted by wenestvedt at 8:15 AM on January 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
(Also, "Ice-T was a gangsta before he was a [TV] cop?")
posted by wenestvedt at 8:15 AM on January 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, this weekend I saw a TV show where Vanilla Ice is a house-flipper. It felt like three different decades smashed into one half hour.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:19 AM on January 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 8:19 AM on January 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
My older brother was talking about the Apollo 13 mission with friends, and some young whipper-snapper chimed in, "I remember that movie!"
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 8:50 AM on January 31, 2011
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 8:50 AM on January 31, 2011
At a gas station I said "No, not regular, I need unleaded" and got the Blank Stare Of Frozen Incomprehension.
To be fair, though, this is really the fault of whoever decided to call leaded gasoline "regular" - I mean, we aren't going to come up with a new English word to replace "regular" with in the 21st century just so that gasoline naming conventions can remain unambiguous. Along the same lines as whoever decided to call a manual transmission "standard". You're basically pulling opposite day on someone out of the blue to use these terms since they essentially mean the complete opposite of the normal English meanings of "regular" and "standard".
(Although perhaps it's a good lesson for the young'uns as a gentle introduction to just how shockingly fucked up the world is in many respects because your forefathers couldn't be bothered to think beyond the next bite of their sandwich, which they'll spend the rest of their lives discovering. Tag, you're it! Have fun guys! ;^)
posted by XMLicious at 12:47 PM on January 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: We have had several kids in the library shocked to discover that Tom Clancy also wrote books (as opposed to lending his name to videogames).
posted by timepiece at 1:16 PM on January 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by timepiece at 1:16 PM on January 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
A coworker of mine once said "There's a movie of Phantom of the Opera?" But this was circa 2000, and I suppose it doesn't work as well now that there actually is a movie based on the musical.
posted by baf at 2:45 PM on January 31, 2011
posted by baf at 2:45 PM on January 31, 2011
I once asked my mother what she thought about Tom Jones. She asked me if I meant the book or the movie.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:17 PM on January 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by sciencegeek at 3:17 PM on January 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Since the topic revolves around music, here...
"That dude Jethro Tull? Man, he rocks way harder than that Leonard Skinnerd guy!"
posted by No Shmoobles at 10:49 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
"That dude Jethro Tull? Man, he rocks way harder than that Leonard Skinnerd guy!"
posted by No Shmoobles at 10:49 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Give me my broadsword (and my cross of gold)"
*blank look*
posted by infini at 11:15 AM on February 1, 2011
*blank look*
posted by infini at 11:15 AM on February 1, 2011
"That dude Jethro Tull? Man, he rocks way harder than that Leonard Skinnerd guy!"
Slightly off-topic, but I once took a European History course with the oldest professor I'd ever had. He was probably in his late 80's, early 90's (based on the stories he told us about his personal history). He'd been teaching at the same college since the 1960's, teaching largely the same course. I know this because he used a reading pack that was filled with articles that were easily 50 years old and copied to the point of near illegibility.
Anyway, one day comes along, and he starts lecturing us about Jethro Tull. The man. The great agriculturalist who revolutionized agricultural production. And the ENTIRE time people are sitting there not knowing if it's appropriate to giggle a little. I mean, this is the guy the band is named after, right? He's so ancient, does he even know about this band? It's kind of excruciating. Then, finally the lecture is wrapping up and he adds, "And, YES, I am aware that Jethro Tull is ALSO the name of a Rock and Roll band." and we all laugh a little and there is no tension anymore.
What I find astonishing is that he probably gave that lecture for about 5-7 years before the band existed and he started getting that lecture interrupted by a fit of giggles.
posted by piratebowling at 6:03 AM on February 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Slightly off-topic, but I once took a European History course with the oldest professor I'd ever had. He was probably in his late 80's, early 90's (based on the stories he told us about his personal history). He'd been teaching at the same college since the 1960's, teaching largely the same course. I know this because he used a reading pack that was filled with articles that were easily 50 years old and copied to the point of near illegibility.
Anyway, one day comes along, and he starts lecturing us about Jethro Tull. The man. The great agriculturalist who revolutionized agricultural production. And the ENTIRE time people are sitting there not knowing if it's appropriate to giggle a little. I mean, this is the guy the band is named after, right? He's so ancient, does he even know about this band? It's kind of excruciating. Then, finally the lecture is wrapping up and he adds, "And, YES, I am aware that Jethro Tull is ALSO the name of a Rock and Roll band." and we all laugh a little and there is no tension anymore.
What I find astonishing is that he probably gave that lecture for about 5-7 years before the band existed and he started getting that lecture interrupted by a fit of giggles.
posted by piratebowling at 6:03 AM on February 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
WWII version might be "Wait, the Germans have done this before?"
posted by beerbajay at 5:35 AM on January 29, 2011 [6 favorites]