Every year Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin publishes what it calls "The Mindset List"--fun facts and figures about the incoming crop of freshmen so professors will be able to relate to their new students. Beloit says the list is a reminder that the world view of today's new college students is significantly different from the intellectual framework of those students who entered only a few years earlier. Put another way, it's a reminder that you are getting on in years. One of the list's creators is Beloit professor Tom McBride, who quips, "It is an alert for those of us who may be suffering from hardening of the references." And there's no medicine for this! So to better understand how the class of 2007 thinks, most of whom were born in 1985, read this and feel your age:
1. The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1985. 2. They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan era and probably did not know he had ever been shot. 3. They were prepubescent when the Persian Gulf War was waged. 4. There has been only one pope in their lifetime. 5. They were 10 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember the Cold War. 6. They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up on takeoff. 7. Tiananmen Square means nothing to them. 8. Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic. 9. Atari predates them, as do vinyl albums. 10. The statement "You sound like a broken record" means nothing to them. (They have never owned a record player.) 11. They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong. 12. They may have never heard of an 8-track tape. The compact disc was introduced when they were 1 year old. 13. They have always had an answering machine. 14. Most have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they seen a black and white TV. 15. They have always had cable. 16. There have always been VCRs, but they have no idea what Beta was. 17. They cannot fathom not having a remote control. 18. They don't know what a cloth baby diaper is or know about the "Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up!" commercial. 19. They were born the year that Walkman was introduced by Sony. 20. Roller skating has always meant inline for them. 21. Michael Jackson has always been white. 22. Jay Leno has always been on "The Tonight Show." 23. They have no idea when or why Jordache jeans were cool. 24. Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave. 25. They have never seen Larry Bird play. 26. They never took a swim and thought about "Jaws." 27. The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as World War I, World War II, and the Civil War. 28. They have no idea that Americans were ever held hostage in Iran. 29. They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.
30. They don't know who Mork was or where he was from. (The correct answer, by the way, is Ork.) 31. They never heard: "Where's the beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel," or "De plane, de plane!" 32. They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. was. 33. Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama are places, not bands. 34. There has always been MTV. They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter"
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Well, let me get my spectacles on and try to remember....
35. They don't know what "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!" or, "That's a one spicy-a meat-a-ball" means.
Perhaps that's a good thing... Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I feel very old now.
Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
36. They don't remember 'Now you know, and knowing is half the battle' but 'Its morphin time!' holds a special place in their hearts.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*hobbles into thread*
Harumph!
*leaves*
[aside] Some of us have used cloth diapers within the last few years, you know. [/aside]
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
If people born before 1985 need to get out their dentures, makes me wonder where I should be already! (And I would like to point out that my 80-yr-old mother still has all her own teeth.)
Hmmm. I could take issue with some of these.
*They have always had an answering machine.
Believe it or not, even today, not everyone has an answering machine.
*...nor have they seen a black and white TV.
My kids have. I still have a small, portable black and white TV that my mom got as a bank promotion...before 1985!
*They have always had cable.
We have never had cable. But I do remember when cable TV was primarily for people in less metropolitan or rural areas who could only get 2 stations without it.
*They don't know what a cloth baby diaper is...
There are many who still use cloth baby diapers, for environmental and health reason...but even those people will often use disposables for traveling.
*Roller skating has always meant inline for them.
You can still get the "other type" of rollerskates at skating rinks - some of them, anyway.
*Michael Jackson has always been white.
ROFL. No further comment about that one.
*Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.
I still make popcorn the old-fasioned way, on the stove top. I like the way it comes out that way better, though microwaving is undoubtedly easier. Most of the microwave popcorns come with additives I prefer to avoid, however.
*They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.
I still wear hard contact lenses.
*They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.
Hmm, I am pretty sure that my kids know that a computer keyboard was derived from the layout of a typewriter keyboard...And we still have 2 old typewriters in the house, one a mechanical type.
Guess I am just anachronistic.
But the point is that my kids, who were both born after 1985, have been exposed to this stuff.
**Ela**
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Um... even though I may not personally remember some of the events, doesn't mean I haven't seen or heard about them.
Some of these are more opinionated than others and not entirely facts.
quote: Tiananmen Square means nothing to them.
quote: The statement "You sound like a broken record" means nothing to them. (They have never owned a record player.)
quote: They have always had an answering machine.
quote: They have always had cable.
quote: They cannot fathom not having a remote control.
quote: Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.
quote: They never took a swim and thought about "Jaws."
quote: They have no idea that Americans were ever held hostage in Iran.
quote: They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.
Just to name a few that I know don't apply to my friends and myself.
This guy should have reworded the statements.
Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
This one was worded a bit odd. I think last year's was done much better.
Posted by Sho'nuff (Member # 3214) on :
odouls, I thought you wrote, "it's morphine time!", and I was going to question what the heck kids are growing up with these days if that's what replaced G.I. Joe.
Posted by Pod (Member # 941) on :
I'd just like to point out that the events that they are associating are inconsistant.
I was born in 82 and in some cases recall quite a few of those things, and others i don't recall.
Example:
Fall of the USSR: 1991 Iraq invades Kuwait: 1990
I was 9 and 8 respectively.
However, i dont' ever recall the tonight show before leno, i have seen larry bird play, and i can recall having a black & white tv, and no remote control.
Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
yes indeed, Morphine laden Teletubbies is what replaced Gi Joe
Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
Now youve gotta remember, this is a 'mindset' list. It's not neccesarily concerned with the facts, but how today's college freshman recall (or do not recall) them.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Hmm, my computer couldn't load last year's, Jeni, but I remember getting it as an email forward and do remember it being better than this one.
**Ela**
Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
Most students entering college this fall were born in 1984.
1. A Southerner has always been President of the United States.
2. Richard Burton, Ricky Nelson and Truman Capote have always been dead.
3. South Africa's official policy of apartheid has not existed during their lifetime.
4. Cars have always had eye-level rear stop lights, CD players, and air bags.
5. We have always been able to choose our long distance carriers.
6. Weather reports have always been available 24-hours a day on television.
7. The "evil empire" has moved from Moscow to a setting in some distant galaxy.
8. "Big Brother" is merely a television show.
9. Cyberspace has always existed.
10. Bruce Springsteen's new hit, Born in the USA, could have been played to celebrate their birth.
11. Barbie has always had a job.
12. Telephone bills have always been totally incomprehensible.
13. Prom dresses have always come in basic black.
14. A "Hair Band" is some sort of fashion accessory.
15. George Foreman has always been a barbecue grill salesman
16. Afghanistan has always been a front page story.
17. There has always been an heir to the heir to the British throne.
18. They have no recollection of Connie Chung or Geraldo Rivera as serious journalists.
19. Peter Jennings, Dan Rather, and Tom Brokaw have always anchored the evening news.
20. China has always been a market-based reforming regime.
21. The United States has always been trying to put nuclear waste in Nevada.
22. The U.S. and the Soviets have always been partners in space.
23. Mrs. Fields' cookies and Swatch watches have always been favorites.
24. Nicolas Cage, Daryll Hannah, Eddie Murphy, and John Malkovich made their first major film impressions the year they were born.
25. The GM Saturn has always been on the road.
26. The "Fab Four" are not a male rock group, but four women enjoying "Sex and the City."
27. Fox has always been a television network choice.
28. Males do not carry a handkerchief in a back pocket.
29. This generation has never wanted to "be a Pepper too."
30. Ozzy's lifestyle has nothing to do with the Nelson family.
31. Women have always had tattoos.
32. Vanessa Williams and Madonna are aging singers.
33. Perrier has always come in flavors.
34. Cherry Coke has always come in cans.
35. A "hotline" is a consumer service rather than a phone used to avoid accidental nuclear war.
36. The drug "ecstasy" has always been around.
37. Genetic testing and DNA screening have always been available.
38. Electronic filing of federal income taxes has always been an option.
39. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has always been available to doctors.
40. Trivial Pursuit may have been played by their parents the night before they were born.
41. The U.S. has always maintained that it has a "clear right to use force against terrorism."
42. The drinking age has always been 21 throughout the country.
43. Women have always been members of the Jaycees.
44. The center of chic has shifted from Studio 54 to Liza's living room, live!
45. Julian Lennon had his only hit the year they were born.
46. Sylvan Learning Centers have always been an after-school option.
47. Hip-hop and rap have always been popular musical forms.
48. They grew up in minivans.
49. Scientists have always recognized the impact of acid rain.
50. The Coen Brothers have always been making films.
And in 1984, perhaps it was "Too Soon to Tell"...
* Technology analysts questioned the need for briefcase-sized computers.
* The National Children and Youth Fitness Study announced that children were overweight and underactive.
* A CPA organization heralded that computerized audit systems were being used to avoid errors and they were doing much better at spotting mistakes and providing internal audit controls.
* Film critics declared that George Lucas was looking for new directions because Star Wars interest was waning.
* Videotape technology was said to be killing the film industry and slowing cable network development.
* Analysts stated there was no market for Direct Broadcast Satellite systems.
* The U.S. Supreme Court declared sleeping to be a form of free speech.
[ September 02, 2003, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: Jeni ]
Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
Maybe if they start steering back away from the "They" statements...
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Gee, almost as funny today as when I posted it last year . . .
Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
I miss the days of Napster dearly. Not neccesarily the Napster itself, but i remember when Napster was doing well, all my college memories of that period are good. Lots of fun to be had back then. These days...not so much.
Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
Icarus: That time was almost as funny as when I posted it the year before. Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
Well, I was born in 1956, so I guess that makes me a relic. Fine with me.
But all of this, the fact that kids today don't remember so much because they weren't here, is why I am currently in process of writing about the world since I was born. It fascinates me how much the world has changed - and how much it hasn't changed - since I was born.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
1956?!?!?!
Dang!
You're old!!
I mean . . .
OLD!!
Really old!
2003 - 1956 . . . I can't even subtract that high!
Are you, like, in a nursing home?
That's so old!!
Posted by Audeo (Member # 5130) on :
I, having been born in 1984, have contention with only two of these, aside from the history which I might know a bit better than my peers.
quote: 11. They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong.
I would just like to point out that there was a Pac-man game at the laundry mat that we loved to play while mom was doing laundry, and I've heard of pong, my mom told me about it once.
quote: 18. They don't know what a cloth baby diaper is or know about the "Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up!" commercial
The first of these is wrong. My baby brother wore cloth diapers and I remember them from when I was four, and the "Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up!" Is a timeless quote that when said even today around a group born in '84 or '85 will result in gales of laughter. It was the best joke around for years. Better than any potty humor or knock-knock jokes. The rest of them are pretty much true, though I know a bit about them, but I honestly have never heard of "Beta" and am completely confused by the J.R. reference.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
quote:quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If people born before 1985 need to get out their dentures, makes me wonder where I should be already! (And I would like to point out that my 80-yr-old mother still has all her own teeth.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, so does my 80-year-old grandmother! oh wait.
LOL, Adam.
**Ela**
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Man alive, I feel old. Both lists make me feel old, actually, even though one of them was written for my birth year.
It's sad/funny how few people I know here at school who would be able to identify [with] most of the items on either of those lists.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
quote:Well, I was born in 1956, so I guess that makes me a relic. Fine with me.
Finally, another ancient relic on the forum. Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I think a better one would be:
Beta used to be a video tape choice, now its a stage in software development that allows kids to play unfinished games for free.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
quote: 11. They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong.
I'm 18 and not only have I heard of pong, I wrote my own pong game!
Hobbes Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
quote: Beta. Pfff! What good is it? It's not compatible with my system....
We now return you to the science fiction classic, Amazon Women on the Moon . Posted by T. Analog Kid (Member # 381) on :
<rolls wheelchair through thread without comment>
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
quote:4. There has been only one pope in their lifetime.
So has Mrs. Pope.
Maybe I shouldn't post that...
Hobbes Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Monogamy is underrated. Thanks for that, Hobbes.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
How I know I've gotten really old:
I walked past a girl on campus today that I used to babysit!
My roommates were in elementary school when Ace of Base was big.
My baby sister just got her drivers' license.
This is all very freaky, folks.
[ September 02, 2003, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: Annie ]
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Or to make some of the oldies on this forum feel really old, I'm now in college!
Hobbes Posted by T. Analog Kid (Member # 381) on :
This year's high school seniors were born when I was a senior.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Dang. You ARE old! *ducks*
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Silly! I was born in 1986, and not only do I know how to use a typewriter, I used one until about five years ago. (a mechanical one, too!)
I also know about cloth diapers (we use them to mop up all the time) and my roller skating experiences have all been the old type.
I grew up with four channels on tv.
However, the Cold War is ancient History.
I'm so very nearly old...
I'd better start making my cane now.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
quote: I also know about cloth diapers (we use them to mop up all the time)
yes, but has anyone in your lifetime ever used them as a diaper?
[ September 02, 2003, 05:19 PM: Message edited by: Narnia ]
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
quote: yes, but has anyone in your lifetime ever used them as a diaper?
My mother used them for my elder brother (born 1982). She says it scarred it for her life. She went to disposable diapers and never looked back.
But we may have used them in the absence of anything else, and I've used them on dollies. Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
quote:quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I also know about cloth diapers (we use them to mop up all the time) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yes, but has anyone in your lifetime ever used them as a diaper?
Yes. People still use them.
**Ela**
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
Some babies are allergic to disposable diapers, so cloth are still in use today.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
quote: 1. The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1985.
I was born in 1987
quote: 10. The statement "You sound like a broken record" means nothing to them. (They have never owned a record player.)
Actually, for a very long time we played records (we had a christmas chipmunks album that was a favorite) and still own the record player.
quote: 11. They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong.
My Dad talked about making a pong game a few times...
quote: 15. They have always had cable.
I wish!
quote: 18. They don't know what a cloth baby diaper is or know about the "Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up!" commercial.
I wore cloth baby diapers I think.
quote: 20. Roller skating has always meant inline for them.
I used to have roller skates... they were yellow.
quote: 21. Michael Jackson has always been white.
quote: 29. They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.
Some of my friends wear hard contact lenses...
quote: They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter"
We had one of those too. It was in the "office" (read: linen closet) and I wrote stories on it.
My conclusion: Either I'm really cultured, that list should be more general or say "most of them" instead of "they" or I wasn't really born when my parents say I was...
Fun list though. Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Born in '77.
Feels old.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
Born in '78, feels younger than Ralphie. Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Saw Talking Heads in '77.
Who's calcified now? Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Born in '68, and this list definitely makes me feel old. I graduated *high school* in '86.
This whole thing about Hinkley now going around probably doesn't mean much to those born after 84.
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
*feels young*
Posted by unohoo (Member # 5490) on :
quote: 21. Michael Jackson has always been white.
As I head for old-fartdom.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
OK, Here is my definitive age quiz. (You must answer from memory, no google)
1. Who was Mr. Hooper? 2. When was John Lennon Shot? 3. What was check point charlie? 4. Why was it hard to recognize "charlie"? 5. What happened to John Hinkley? 6. Who was the lead singer for the Police? 7. Who is Eric Heiden? 8. What was the MX missile controversy? 9. What was Mikhail Gorbachev's distinguishing feature? 10. What was the big deal about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team? 11. What were SALT and START? 12. How many medals did the US win in the 1980 Summer Olympics? 13. What was the Peacock Throne? 14. During the summer of 1979, why did it matter if you had an odd or an even license plate number? 15. Who did Nastassja Kinski pose with in her most famous picture? 16. What was Ronald Reagan’s key campaign promise in 1980? 17. What cabinet level department was started by Jimmy Carter? 18. Who was “the world’s most eligible bachelor”? 19. Who ran against Reagan in his second election? 20. What happened to Challenger?
Scoring:
20: Old duffer and/or trivia king 19-15: Been around long enough to know better. 10-15: Mature or atleast well read. 6-10: Wet behind the ears or you've lived in a closet 0 - 5: Either you are just a babe or senility has set in.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
1. Who was Mr. Hooper? - teacher of Head of the Class? 2. When was John Lennon Shot? 1981 3. What was check point charlie? the passing point through the Berlin wall 4. Why was it hard to recognize "charlie"? 5. What happened to John Hinkley? He's in jail for shooting Reagan. 6. Who was the lead singer for the Police? Sting 7. Who is Eric Heiden? 8. What was the MX missile controversy? 9. What was Mikhail Gorbachev's distinguishing feature? the birthmark on his forehead 10. What was the big deal about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team? first B-ball team made of professionals 11. What were SALT and START? disarmament treaties 12. How many medals did the US win in the 1980 Summer Olympics? zero - we boycotted because it was in Moscow 13. What was the Peacock Throne? 14. During the summer of 1979, why did it matter if you had an odd or an even license plate number? It determined what day you were allowed to buy gas. 15. Who did Nastassja Kinski pose with in her most famous picture? 16. What was Ronald Reagan’s key campaign promise in 1980? You will be better off in four years by me cutting taxes. 17. What cabinet level department was started by Jimmy Carter? Education. 18. Who was “the world’s most eligible bachelor”? JFK, Jr. 19. Who ran against Reagan in his second election? Walter Mondale 20. What happened to Challenger? Blew up on takeoff. Posted by martha (Member # 141) on :
My parents did not buy a TV until Mike and I were both in college.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Katherina: You scored 10/20. I won't give the correct answers yet in case anyone else wants to try.
(Woops, I miss counted).
[ September 02, 2003, 11:49 PM: Message edited by: The Rabbit ]
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Marth, Of the 20 questions I posted, only one is from a TV show and that one was PBS.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
1. Who was Mr. Hooper? The grocer on Sesame Street 2. When was John Lennon Shot? Nineteen Eighty-Something (early 80s) 3. What was check point charlie? The checkpoint through the Berlin Wall 4. Why was it hard to recognize "charlie"? He spoke to the angels through a speaker. Unless this is connected to the previous question, in which case I have no idea. 5. What happened to John Hinkley? He went to prison for shooting Reagen 6. Who was the lead singer for the Police? Sting 7. Who is Eric Heiden? Olympic skater. (Racing, not figureskating) 8. What was the MX missile controversy? Something about where they should/shouldn’t be based. 9. What was Mikhail Gorbachev's distinguishing feature? A red, blotchy birthmark 10. What was the big deal about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team? It was made up of pro basketball players 11. What were SALT and START? Disarmnement treaties 12. How many medals did the US win in the 1980 Summer Olympics? None 13. What was the Peacock Throne? The Shah-ship of Iran 14. During the summer of 1979, why did it matter if you had an odd or an even license plate number? I haven’t a clue. 15. Who did Nastassja Kinski pose with in her most famous picture? A snake 16. What was Ronald Reagan’s key campaign promise in 1980? Not to bargain with terrorists. 17. What cabinet level department was started by Jimmy Carter? Education 18. Who was “the world’s most eligible bachelor”? Prince Charles. Or the guy Cary Grant played in An Affair to Remember 19. Who ran against Reagan in his second election? Mondale 20. What happened to Challenger? Exploded on takeoff Posted by unohoo (Member # 5490) on :
Here's a couple of my answers added to katharina's list:
1. Who was Mr. Hooper? - teacher of Head of the Class? 2. When was John Lennon Shot? 1981 3. What was check point charlie? the passing point through the Berlin wall 4. Why was it hard to recognize "charlie"? many of the vietnamese soldiers didn't have uniforms or dressed to look like the regular farmers (and probably were) 5. What happened to John Hinkley? He's in jail for shooting Reagan. 6. Who was the lead singer for the Police? Sting 7. Who is Eric Heiden? Olympic Speed Skating Champ 8. What was the MX missile controversy? 9. What was Mikhail Gorbachev's distinguishing feature? the birthmark on his forehead 10. What was the big deal about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team? first B-ball team made of professionals 11. What were SALT and START? disarmament treaties 12. How many medals did the US win in the 1980 Summer Olympics? zero - we boycotted because it was in Moscow 13. What was the Peacock Throne? Shah of Iran 14. During the summer of 1979, why did it matter if you had an odd or an even license plate number? It determined what day you were allowed to buy gas. 15. Who did Nastassja Kinski pose with in her most famous picture? 16. What was Ronald Reagan’s key campaign promise in 1980? You will be better off in four years by me cutting taxes. 17. What cabinet level department was started by Jimmy Carter? Education. 18. Who was “the world’s most eligible bachelor”? JFK, Jr. 19. Who ran against Reagan in his second election? Walter Mondale 20. What happened to Challenger? Blew up on takeoff.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
****SPOILERS FOR QUESTIONS*****
Story: The head of one of the divisions of my dad's company is an engineer from Vietnam. When he came to America, he chose an American name to go by. He picked Charlie - because it was easy to remember and definitely cut a lot of comments at the time (twenty years ago) off at the knees. Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
dkw: I give you 15/20 (with a bit of partial credit).
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
unohoo, 13/20. The three you added to Kat's are all correct but Kat's still have several errors.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Hint: John Hinkley never went to jail.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
How embarassing for me. Of course, my story means I should have known the answer to "What is 'charlie'?"
---
Oh, that's right. He's in Broadmoor (close enough), isn't he? I remember the controversey when they thought he might get out. Sondheim put him in a musical.
[ September 02, 2003, 11:53 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
The Natasha Kinski one is with a snake. I remember that one even from being a kid. Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
Oh, I know, Icarus. Dinosaurs walked the earth when I was young.
And Ela - I knew I wasn't alone around here.
When I was born, there were only 48 states. No one had ever been into space. Dwight Eisenhower was President. "The Wizard of Oz" had never been on television. Telephone numbers didn't have a prefix, they had an exchange - ours was FIreside 6 (you dialed the first two letters and the number, then the rest of the phone number). You not only couldn't curse on television, you couldn't even say the word "pregnant".
Ain't it cool?
Oh, and the questions:
John Lennon was killed in December of 1980 (on the 8th of the month, I think, but I'm not sure). Horrible, horrible day.
John Hinkley was found not guilty by reason of insanity after shooting Reagan, and put in a mental institution. He said he did it because he was trying to impress Jodie Foster. Just heard on the radio today that he's trying to get unsupervised overnight visits with his parents.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Some of the stuff in the first list offends me until I realize how clueless some people in my generation are. What did bother me was Reagan, Tianamen Square, PacMan/Pong, answering machine, cloth diaper, Iran hostages. But it is true that Michael Jackson has always been white.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Rabbit, I disagree with your quiz and the scoring. It is more of a test of trivia knowledge than age. I am one of the oldest people on this forum, and while I am familiar with the subjects of many of your questions, I would not know the answers to many without first looking them up.
Example: I know who Mr. Hooper is. I don't remember the exact year that John Lennon was shot without looking it up, though I do remember the event.
Considering my age relative to the rest of you "youngsters" , I should make a 20, but I wouldn't.
**Ela**
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
Mr. Hooper was huge. Sesame Street was still good after he died, but it was never the same.
His departure was, I think, a profound moment for many young children. It made death real for us, because Mr. Hooper was so real.
UofUlawguy
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Ela, I thought I acknowledged in my scoring system that thsi was as much a test of memory as of age, but I don't think it is a test of trivia. The questions on my list are regarding things that were significant during the late seventies and early eighties when I came of age. They were not trivia, they were the headline new items.
The possible exception is the year John Lennon died. I remember it clearly because he was shot during finals week of my first quarter at the University. Because the two events are connected in my memory, it is easy for me to figure out that he was shot in Dec. of 1980.
Posted by Professor Funk (Member # 5608) on :
Disclaimer: I answered these before I read anyone else's answers.
1. Who was Mr. Hooper? The grocery man on Sesame Street
2. When was John Lennon Shot? 1980
3. What was check point charlie?
4. Why was it hard to recognize "charlie"? They didn't wear military uniforms, they might have been ordinary peasants.
5. What happened to John Hinkley? I think they named a high school after him.
6. Who was the lead singer for the Police? Sting. He also played bass.
7. Who is Eric Heiden?
8. What was the MX missile controversy?
9. What was Mikhail Gorbachev's distinguishing feature? A big red birthmark on his head
10. What was the big deal about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team? They were professionals
11. What were SALT and START?
12. How many medals did the US win in the 1980 Summer Olympics? None - we boycotted because of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan
13. What was the Peacock Throne?
14. During the summer of 1979, why did it matter if you had an odd or an even license plate number? I think they divided up gas rationing that way.
15. Who did Nastassja Kinski pose with in her most famous picture?
16. What was Ronald Reagan’s key campaign promise in 1980?
17. What cabinet level department was started by Jimmy Carter?
18. Who was “the world’s most eligible bachelor”?
19. Who ran against Reagan in his second election? George McGovern? Or was it Mondale?
20. What happened to Challenger? It exploded after take-off. Darn O-rings.
***************
I guess I did tolerably well for being born in 81.
[ September 03, 2003, 01:27 PM: Message edited by: Professor Funk ]
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Well, Rabbit, maybe I am just uninformed, but I am sure I am older than you, and I have no idea who Nastassja Kinski is.
**Ela**
Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
Odouls, I don't know where you found that list, but it is NOT the list Beloit realeased for the class of 2007. The real list is here.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Why was it hard to recognize Charlie? Because he only spoke to the Angels over a speaker phone. They never got to see his face.
Posted by Sweet William (Member # 5212) on :
Pong was in an episode of The Simpsons:
Everyone whose planet has mastered interplanetary travel please raise your hand
I played Pong at this pizza place by my junior high. None of my friends could go there because the place had pool tables.
Kristen shot J.R., BTW. I could never figure out how this balding old man with a drinking problem could cheat on his wife with sooooooo many willing women.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
I did find a variation of this list on AOL today. Since I don't fully agree with the list already posted (and apparently, other posters are saying nearly the same thing) lets see how this list fares.
Sept. 3) -- Most students entering college this fall were born in 1985. To them:
1. Ricky Nelson, Richard Burton, Samantha Smith, Laura Ashley, Orson Welles, Karen Ann Quinlin, Benigno Aquino, and the U.S. Football League have always been dead.
2. They are not familiar with the source of that ``Giant Sucking Sound.''
3. Iraq has always been a problem.
4. ``Ctrl Alt Del'' is as basic as ``ABC.'' //Gosh, I wish adults would catch on to this. Its so annoying telling them to hit C A D and getting a response of "What would that do." Course, those same people don't realize you need a phone line connected to your computer to get on the internet.
5. Paul Newman has always made salad dressing.
6. Pete Rose has always been a gambler.
7. Bert and Ernie are old enough to be their parents.
8. An automatic is a weapon, not a transmission.
9. Russian leaders have always looked like leaders everyplace else.
10. The snail darter has never been endangered.
11. There has always been a screening test for AIDS.
12. Gas has always been unleaded.
13. They never heard Howard Cosell call a game on ABC.
14. The United States has always had a poet laureate.
15. Garrison Keillor has always been live on public radio, and Lawrence Welk has always been dead on public television.
16. Their families drove SUVs without ``being fuelish.''
17. There has always been some association between fried eggs and your brain.
18. They would never leave their calling card on someone's desk.
19. They have never been able to find the ``return'' key.
20. Computers have always fit in their backpacks.
21. Datsuns have never been made.
22. They have never gotten excited over a telegram, a long distance call or a fax.
23. The Osmonds are just talk show hosts.
24. College athletes have always been a part of the NBA and NFL draft.
25. They have always ``grazed'' for food.
26. Three-point shots from ``downtown'' have always been a part of basketball.
27. Test tube babies are now having their own babies.
28. Stores have always had scanners at the checkout.
29. The Army has always driven Humvees.
30. Adam and PC Junior computers had vanished from the market before this generation went online.
31. The Statue of Liberty has always had a gleaming torch.
32. They have always had a pin number.
33. Banana Republic has always been a store, not a puppet government in Latin America.
34. Car detailing has always been available.
35. Directory assistance has never been free.
36. The Jaycees have always welcomed women as members.
37. There has always been Lean Cuisine.
38. They have always been able to fly Virgin Atlantic.
39. There have never been dress codes in restaurants.
40. Doctors have always had to deal with ``reasonable and customary fees'' and patients have always had controls placed on the number of days they could stay in a hospital.
41. They have always been able to make photocopies at home.
42. Michael Eisner has always been in charge of Disney.
43. They have always been able to make phone calls from planes.
44. Yuppies are almost as old as hippies.
45. Rupert Murdoch has always been an American citizen.
46. Strawberry Fields has always been in New York.
47. Rock 'n' roll has always been a force for social good.
48. Killer bees have always been swarming in the United States.
49. They have never seen a first lady in a fur coat.
50. Don Imus has always been offending someone in his national audience.
In all fairness it should be understood that students entering college this fall do have a few items on their own lists that will separate them from many of their mentors:
1. For many of them today, it's all about the ``bling, bling.''
2. They know who the ``Heroes in a half shell'' are.
3. Peeps are not a candy, they are your friends.
4. They have been ``dissing'' and ``burning'' things all their lives.
5. They can expect to get a ticket for ``ricing out their wheels.''
6. They knew how to pop a Popple and trade a Pog.
7. They can still sing the rap chorus to the ``Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' and the theme song from ``Duck Tales.''
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
quote:7. They can still sing the rap chorus to the ``Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' and the theme song from ``Duck Tales.''
Yeah? Well, I can sing the theme song from "Green Acres". So there. Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
That would be the real list I just posted a link to. I like it much better. The first one must be a fake!
[ September 04, 2003, 01:58 AM: Message edited by: Jeni ]
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Hehe... oops.
::mental note: be more smarter:: Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
The statement "You sound like a broken record" means nothing to them. (They have never owned a record player.)
Not quite, a turntable&records are now a musical instrument
Posted by unohoo (Member # 5490) on :
The Rabbit, the reason I got this one wrong
quote: 1. Who was Mr. Hooper?
is because I'm too old to have watched Sesame Street. (assuming that the others have answered this one correctly)
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(And I would like to point out that my 80-yr-old mother still has all her own teeth.)![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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Just heard on the radio today that he's trying to get unsupervised overnight visits with his parents.
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