FAQs Anyone?
hel...@hprpcd.rose.hp.com
I noticed that a couple of folks have mentioned that an FAQ might
be a good idea, so I thought I'd take a stab at a rough draft. I'm
sure lots of people will want to change/add things. That's cool,
just don't be mean. I'm trying to help.
Here goes...
*********************************************************************
This is the rough draft of a proposed FAQ for ASGX. Please feel free
to publicly post suggestions. I'll keep track of them and post the
final version when we've worked it all out.
1) Am I in?
The name "Generation X" generally refers to those people born in the
generation after the Baby Boom which followed World War II, roughly
those born between 1961 and 1981.
2) If I'm not in, will I get flamed off the board?
No guarantees, but probably not.
3) Why "Generation X"?
That name was made popular by Douglas Coupland, author of the book of
the same name. While this name seems to be most visible in the press,
others sometimes come up which basically refer to the same group,
including but not limited to:
13th Generation
Baby Bust
twentysomethings
twentynothings
those whining slackers
4) I know about the Boomers (who doesn't), but who are all these other
generations?
For more info on other generations, try _Generations_ by Neil Howe and
Bill Strauss.
But, the short list of most commonly mentioned groups is:
Birthyears Generation
1883-1900 Lost
1901-1924 G.I.
1925-1942 Silents
1943-1960 Boomers
1961-1981 Generation X
1st wave = atari wave
2nd wave = nintendo wave (aka Global Teens)
1982-???? Millennials
Some others of interest include the bad generations like:
Cavalier (1615-1647), Liberty (1724-1741), and Gilded (1822-1842)
which supposedly had much in common with Generation X.
[Note: The generational information here was taken from the book
_13th Gen -- Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail_ written by Howe and Strauss
and "crashed" by Ian Williams, who sometimes posts on A.S.G.X. This
book along with _Generation X_ by Coupland provide much of the
common terminology/vocabulary found on A.S.G.X.]
***********************************************************************
* *
* *
* One last thing... *
* *
* please, please, please observe netiquette here. *
* *
* SHOUTing and unnecesary flames are not respected or appreciated. *
* *
* *
***********************************************************************
--
Helen Holder hel...@hprmfg.rose.hp.com
The only way to get rid of temptation
is to yield to it.
-- Oscar Wilde
Keith Ammann
In a previous article, hel...@hprpcd.rose.hp.com () says:
>I noticed that a couple of folks have mentioned that an FAQ might
>be a good idea, so I thought I'd take a stab at a rough draft. I'm
>sure lots of people will want to change/add things. That's cool,
>just don't be mean. I'm trying to help.
I think your FAQ list is quite good. Now let's see if it gets
acknowledged ... :-/
--
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Keith Ammann is ::
:: "Those who talk about the future are :: Pros...@cup.portal.com ::
:: scoundrels. It is the present that :: and a '90s kind of guy ::
:: matters." -- Louis Ferdinand Celine, :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: French Nazi collaborator :: "Dogs can't vote!" ::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "Not directly." ::
::::::::::::::::::::::::
Christine Delaney
> 1) Am I in?
> The name "Generation X" generally refers to those people born in the
> generation after the Baby Boom which followed World War II, roughly
> those born between 1961 and 1981.
Note that the demographics (birth numbers) suggest that 1964 is the
end of the baby boom. You might point out that 1961 shows an
attitudinal shift ... many believe that if you can remember JFK
getting shot, you are a boomer or earlier. The reason for this is
the tremendous disillusionment that followed the shooting.
Generation X, some believe, was profoundly affected by that
disillusionment.
> 2) If I'm not in, will I get flamed off the board?
> No guarantees, but probably not.
On the other hand, you probably will if you call us whiners. Or tell
us that we just have to work harder (i.e., we're slackers).
> * One last thing... *
> * *
> * please, please, please observe netiquette here. *
> * *
> * SHOUTing and unnecesary flames are not respected or appreciated. *
Netiquette requires abstaining from profanity. This rule is
frequently ignored here ... profanity seems to be a generational
trait. I know that *I* swear without even noticing it. Most of my
friends do too. So, I would put something in here about that.
- chris (who is relieved that someone is taking this up)
--
| Christine DelPrete-Delaney | Speaking only for myself, |
| * ch...@xmission.com | one of my many tricks. |
| * * cdel...@novell.com = |
| "If this is paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower." - David Byrne |
steven r kleinedler
My only comment is that Kajagoogoo needs to be incorporated somehow.
Also, in the spirit of asgx, what if we called it FAQ FAQ FAQ?
Bravo!!!!!
Steve Kleinedler
The Twonkster
(x) What is GENX-L?
GENX-L is a bunch of elitest beautiful people from a.s.g-x who decided to
form their own LISTSERV. If you want on, send a note to MMG...@PSUVM.PSU.EDU
and they will determine if you are worthy enough to join their ranks.
*HEAVY SARCASM OFF*
(sorry, but I had to. I think it should be included in the FAQ, but not in
the way I worded it at all)
-Matt, who also hates spring.
Tim Irvin
ch...@xmission.com (Christine Delaney) writes:
>
>A few comments:
>
>> 1) Am I in?
>
>> The name "Generation X" generally refers to those people born in the
>> generation after the Baby Boom which followed World War II, roughly
>> those born between 1961 and 1981.
>
>Note that the demographics (birth numbers) suggest that 1964 is the
>end of the baby boom. You might point out that 1961 shows an
>attitudinal shift ... many believe that if you can remember JFK
>getting shot, you are a boomer or earlier. The reason for this is
>the tremendous disillusionment that followed the shooting.
>Generation X, some believe, was profoundly affected by that
>disillusionment.
economic trends, those born in the early 1960s have more in common with those
a few years *younger* than those a few years older.
I think the rules for succeeding in society changed a lot after the mid-to-
late 1970s, and those who reached adulthood before that time were often able
to prosper under the old rules. Those born later rarely can. And the rules
to live by can also influence one's social outlook. I think in this respect,
we can't completely separate the social and economic factors. Part of what
we are as 13ers seems to be defined by changing economic "rules."
I claim that when it comes to confronting the future, those born in (say)
1961 face circumstances much more similar to those born in 1967 than those
born in 1955--yet the age gap is the same either way. And that would
*certainly* influence attitudes and general outlook on life.
For now, I'll consider economic factors before and after the year 1978.
The real cost of housing has risen considerably since about 1978. Real
*wages* have fallen since 1978. And the debt that we and our children will
pay has skyrocketed upward since 1978. These create new challenges; ones
which people already "of age" by 1978 might not fully understand.
(but I hated '78...I was in junior high that year (blecch) and disco was
hot (double blecch))
>> 2) If I'm not in, will I get flamed off the board?
>
>> No guarantees, but probably not.
>
>On the other hand, you probably will if you call us whiners. Or tell
>us that we just have to work harder (i.e., we're slackers).
But Chriiiiiiiis...it's all so un*fairrrrrrr*... :)
>> * One last thing... *
>> * *
>> * please, please, please observe netiquette here. *
>> * *
>> * SHOUTing and unnecesary flames are not respected or appreciated. *
>
>Netiquette requires abstaining from profanity. This rule is
>frequently ignored here ... profanity seems to be a generational
>trait. I know that *I* swear without even noticing it. Most of my
>friends do too. So, I would put something in here about that.
Then it's just seen as a flame.
(Perhaps the FAQ should caution against those who would come in here as
complete newbies and make intentionally provocative statements--it's happened
twice in just this year.)
Tim Irvin, Programmer/Analyst/Dinosaur Jockey
Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Inc., Sunnyvale, California
Proud Warrior of the GenX Army--13th Brigade, Division #100865
***** all standard disclaimers apply *****
Robert Cooperman
In article <Cnuw...@icon.rose.hp.com> hel...@hprpcd.rose.hp.com writes:
>
>1) Am I in?
>
>The name "Generation X" generally refers to those people born in the
>generation after the Baby Boom which followed World War II, roughly
>those born between 1961 and 1981.
>
>
>2) If I'm not in, will I get flamed off the board?
>
>No guarantees, but probably not.
>
Don't forget, they have to send a copy of their birth certificate
or passport, and US$25.00 to Peter Dubuque, before being allowed
to post. He'll mail them their id card.
>3) Why "Generation X"?
>
>That name was made popular by Douglas Coupland, author of the book of
>the same name. While this name seems to be most visible in the press,
>others sometimes come up which basically refer to the same group,
>including but not limited to:
>
>13th Generation
>Baby Bust
>twentysomethings
>twentynothings
Note: those people born 1961 - 1964, who have turned 30, or
are about to, don't like the term 20-whatever being the name
of a generation. Terms like 20-whatever, or Global teen, are really
not describing a generation, since people in a generation tend
to get a year older each year.
>those whining slackers
Nah. We never whine.
>***********************************************************************
>* *
>* *
>* One last thing... *
>* *
>* please, please, please observe netiquette here. *
>* *
>* SHOUTing and unnecesary flames are not respected or appreciated. *
>* *
(And, we are sure, that if you are a net-anti-social type,
you will read this note, and then see the error of your
ways, and aquire netiquette. NOT)
(BTW, is the Wayne's World use of NOT, hopelessly dated and passe
already?)
Bob Cooperman
r...@xis.xerox.com
Any views expressed are my own and are not intended to
represent my employer.
Daniel B Case
>
>I noticed that a couple of folks have mentioned that an FAQ might
>be a good idea, so I thought I'd take a stab at a rough draft. I'm
>sure lots of people will want to change/add things. That's cool,
>just don't be mean. I'm trying to help.
>
>Here goes...
>
[pretty good FAQ ideas deleted]
That's similar to the one I'm working on, but mine has more info and is 21K
long already-I expect to be done soon (I'm getting to the fun parts) and will
post it soon.
"'My country right or wrong' is like saying,
'My mother drunk or sober'"-G.K. Chesterton
Daniel Case
State University of New York at Buffalo Prodigy:WDNS15D
V140...@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu dc...@acsu.buffalo.edu
Daniel B Case
>Helen! Excellent start!
>
>My only comment is that Kajagoogoo needs to be incorporated somehow.
I'm getting to the recommended viewing/watching/listening section, and I'll
add "White Feathers"
Ian Williams
>*********************************************************************
>
>This is the rough draft of a proposed FAQ for ASGX. Please feel free
[snip, snip]
>[Note: The generational information here was taken from the book
>_13th Gen -- Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail_ written by Howe and Strauss
>and "crashed" by Ian Williams, who sometimes posts on A.S.G.X....
...but gets all his good ideas from The Honger (tm)... Hee hee hee!
Just kiddin', Jim!
-Ian
(I post more than "sometimes," don't I?)
Christine Delaney
>In article <Cnuw...@icon.rose.hp.com>, hel...@hprpcd.rose.hp.com () writes...
>>I noticed that a couple of folks have mentioned that an FAQ might
>>be a good idea, so I thought I'd take a stab at a rough draft. I'm
>>sure lots of people will want to change/add things. That's cool,
>>just don't be mean. I'm trying to help.
>>
>>Here goes...
>>
>
>[pretty good FAQ ideas deleted]
>
>That's similar to the one I'm working on, but mine has more info and is 21K
>long already-I expect to be done soon (I'm getting to the fun parts) and will
>post it soon.
OK, y'all, I recommend you play in the same sandbox and share ideas and jointly
publish this scholarly paper.
Please????
Two twisted minds are better than one :^) (They can get into much
more trouble that way!)
- chris
Binesh Bannerjee
: (BTW, is the Wayne's World use of NOT, hopelessly dated and passe
: already?)
Um... Yeah, Bob, it kinda is... You loser!
Binesh
--
-
martini
Not so much anymore.. oh, and I lost your later post in the Awful Theory
thread that had more than two good topics I'd have responded to, if I still
had it to c&p into the followup.. something beyond just needing a lover to
be beautiful and mental enough to talk to late into the nite, altho that
was one of the topics in that post.. argh!
sheil
martini
steven r kleinedler <srkl...@midway.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>Also, in the spirit of asgx, what if we called it FAQ FAQ FAQ?
Absolutely!
martini
Robert Cooperman <r...@sentience.xis.xerox.com> wrote:
>(BTW, is the Wayne's World use of NOT, hopelessly dated and passe
>already?)
Oh no! It's still a great word..a term that can make you smile when your
mother (who almost never uses slang in her speech) uses it right (in context),
Out of the *blue*! Of course, I nearly fell over when she used 'cool' right,
so go figure..
martini
>>That's similar to the one I'm working on, but mine has more info and is 21K
>>long already-I expect to be done soon (I'm getting to the fun parts) and will
>>post it soon.
Another idea--if you get around to including things like which muppet would
you be, *leave*them*as*questions*! Let the reader figureout that s/he/it
(pronounced like a hick 'shiiit') has to come along and post such stuff, that
we don't hold out answers to stuff like that... :)
sheilagh
Sue Irvin
: Oh no! It's still a great word..a term that can make you smile when your
: mother (who almost never uses slang in her speech) uses it right (in context),
: Out of the *blue*! Of course, I nearly fell over when she used 'cool' right,
: so go figure..
Aacck...I *hate* it when my father tries to say stuff like "cool" in
his conversations. I have one distinct memory of him using "cool"
that still gives me the ookies. I was standing near him when he
said something like, "I thought it was so cool when...". It's not
that he didn't use it properly, but it just sounded very weird
coming out of my father's mouth.
Sue
--
Daniel B Case
The intro to my FAQ makes it clear that it is simply intended as a guide to
discussion on the group (as most FAQs are, check out the *.answers groups) and
not as gospel. Where there are arguments, it simply summarizes the competing
positions and their reasoning.
Peter Dubuque
>Aacck...I *hate* it when my father tries to say stuff like "cool" in
>his conversations. I have one distinct memory of him using "cool"
>that still gives me the ookies. I was standing near him when he
>said something like, "I thought it was so cool when...". It's not
>that he didn't use it properly, but it just sounded very weird
>coming out of my father's mouth.
I know exactly what you mean...it's like there's a bit of
self-consciousness in his voice that inserts a little self-referential "not"
right before the "cool". It's the same sort of self-consciousness that
makes people look foolish when they try to swear in a foreign language.
--
_______________________________________________________________________
Peter F. Dubuque dub...@husc.harvard.edu
Everyone has some redeeming quality...their mortality, if nothing else.
_______________________________________________________________________
Allan M. Ayres
wrote:
> My favorite Dad-ism is the following (after learning that the music he
> heard me playing was REM and U2): "I *like* the REM and the U2!" Egad...
> he's cute anyway. Then he blushed (this is where I got the blushing thing).
> Jenny
> *laughter*
> *the* REM? *the* U2?
> *laughter*
My ex-roommate's mother one day informed him that she had heard
about a group that was coming to town during the summer...
...'The Chicagos'.
:-)
--Allan
Christine Delaney
>My favorite Dad-ism is the following (after learning that the music he
>heard me playing was REM and U2): "I *like* the REM and the U2!" Egad...
>he's cute anyway. Then he blushed (this is where I got the blushing thing).
Overheard at a friend's house in 1980:
Friend: I'm going to that concert on Friday.
Mother: What .. that AC Speed Car concert?
Friend: <sound of eyes rolling>
Was it the Cars, AC/DC, or REO Speedwagon? Or was it truly some
perverse combination of the three? I guess I will never know.
Ian, any guesses what AC Speed Car would sound like?
- chris
| Christine DelPrete-Delaney | "Sister, sister, he's just a play thing; |
| * ch...@xmission.com | We want to make him stay up all night." |
| * * cdel...@novell.com = - David Byrne |
| Speaking only for myself, one of my many tricks. |
David Ian Salter
> My favorite Dad-ism is the following (after learning that the music he
> heard me playing was REM and U2): "I *like* the REM and the U2!" Egad...
> he's cute anyway. Then he blushed (this is where I got the blushing thing).
> Jenny
> *laughter*
> *the* REM? *the* U2?
> *laughter*
My mom does the same thing, only even more extreme. She seems to toggle
"The" to the opposite of what it should be. This is especially true
with film titles, i.e.
"Did you like FUGITIVE?"
"I saw THE JURASSIC PARK."
This is done with the same regularity that native Russian speakers (or
at least Chekov on Trek Classic) swap v's and w's when speaking English.
Perhaps there is some mental process involved when speaking the names or
titles of pop cultural icons of another generation that is analogous to
speaking a foreign language.
-David
--
David Ian Salter * "Do I contradict myself?
sal...@netcom.com * Very well then, I contradict myself;
Los Angeles (Hollywood) * I am vast, I contain multitudes."
(but Boston born-and-bred) * -Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself"
Currently working on: "Separated By Murder" (CBS MOW - April 12th)
AVID Assistant Editor
Ian Williams
Sue Irvin <tsi...@netcom.com> wrote:
>
>Aacck...I *hate* it when my father tries to say stuff like "cool" in
>his conversations. I have one distinct memory of him using "cool"
>that still gives me the ookies.
Stupid Feeling (tm)
-Ian
Daniel B Case
>Jennifer Basil (ba...@bio.bu.edu) wrote:
>
>> My favorite Dad-ism is the following (after learning that the music he
>> heard me playing was REM and U2): "I *like* the REM and the U2!" Egad...
>> he's cute anyway. Then he blushed (this is where I got the blushing thing).
>> Jenny
>> *laughter*
>> *the* REM? *the* U2?
>> *laughter*
>
>My mom does the same thing, only even more extreme. She seems to toggle
>"The" to the opposite of what it should be. This is especially true
>with film titles, i.e.
>
> "Did you like FUGITIVE?"
> "I saw THE JURASSIC PARK."
People in Buffalo (and in the adjacent parts of Canada) often prefix highway
route numbers with "the", as in "The 290's backed up heavy between Main Street
and the Thruway." It drives me nuts.
>This is done with the same regularity that native Russian speakers (or
>at least Chekov on Trek Classic) swap v's and w's when speaking English.
>Perhaps there is some mental process involved when speaking the names or
>titles of pop cultural icons of another generation that is analogous to
>speaking a foreign language.
Chekov's accent is hardly Russian, and I wonder where Walter Koenig got this
from-a) I know many native Russian speakers, and none of them do this, and b)
I have studied Russian, and there is no "w" sound in it-they have to use "V"
or combine "u" and "a".
Viennese Austrians, however, *do* do this-it has something to do with the fact
that most of them study Latin in grade school.
Daniel B Case
>Friend: I'm going to that concert on Friday.
>Mother: What .. that AC Speed Car concert?
>Friend: <sound of eyes rolling>
>
>Was it the Cars, AC/DC, or REO Speedwagon? Or was it truly some
>perverse combination of the three? I guess I will never know.
>Ian, any guesses what AC Speed Car would sound like?
I have a friend whose mother once mangled Iron Maiden into Metal Mermaids.
Michael J. Le Blanc
>In article <2oftjh$f...@xmission.xmission.com>, ch...@xmission.com (Christine Delaney) writes...
>I have a friend whose mother once mangled Iron Maiden into Metal Mermaids.
Even more embarrassing... my mother once mangled Skinny Puppy into "The
Starving Dogs" ...funny thing was, the name seemed to *FIT*! }:/
> "'My country right or wrong' is like saying,
> 'My mother drunk or sober'"-G.K. Chesterton
>Daniel Case
>State University of New York at Buffalo Prodigy:WDNS15D
>V140...@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu dc...@acsu.buffalo.edu
--
Michael J. LeBlanc (mleb...@world.std.com)
"Mark Twain and I are in very much the same position. We have to put things
in such a way as to make people who would otherwise hang us believe that
we are only joking." (George Bernard Shaw)
Orion
Sheilagh M.B.E. O'Hare <mar...@bashful.cc.utexas.edu> wrote:
>Michael J. Le Blanc <mleb...@world.std.com> wrote:
>>> v140...@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (Daniel B Case) writes:
>>Even more embarrassing... my mother once mangled Skinny Puppy into "The
>>Starving Dogs" ...funny thing was, the name seemed to *FIT*! }:/
>
>your language?" ..but a more catchy phrase for the title.. I mean, I find
>it so *cute* when Dad uses 'cool' in context.. he's *trying* to reach me,
>and he knows there's a gap, and .. I dunno, it makes me forgive his little
>chunk of the generations before me..
> And such an article, if we could include some choice examples, would
>lead the reader into doing some linguistic watching of their own.. I think
>that would be a good thing to shoot for, articles that encourage the reader
>to look around themselves a bit more closely..
>
>sheil
>
[heard around my house]
Skinny Puppies (Skinny Puppy)
Jethro (referring to the singer of Jethro Tull, whose name is NOT Jethro)
"C-plus" (C++, programming language I use at work)
..and various other butcherings of the particulars of my youth..
-o
Peter Dubuque
>[heard around my house]
>Skinny Puppies (Skinny Puppy)
>Jethro (referring to the singer of Jethro Tull, whose name is NOT Jethro)
>"C-plus" (C++, programming language I use at work)
>..and various other butcherings of the particulars of my youth..
Ugh. One of my big pet peeves is hearing people say "he" when referring
to Pink Floyd.
--Peter "Pink's not *really* his first name, is it?" Dubuque
steven r kleinedler
>
>--Peter "Pink's not *really* his first name, is it?" Dubuque
>
>
Sounds like one of those frilly alcoholic punch drinks with a little
umbrella...
Steve Kleinedler
Peter Dubuque
>>--Peter "Pink's not *really* his first name, is it?" Dubuque
>Bartender, I'll have a Pink Dubuque!
>Sounds like one of those frilly alcoholic punch drinks with a little
>umbrella...
More like one of those stiff drinks that makes you choke and makes your
eyes water. And I know what word you're going to pick up on in this
post, so don't even think about it. >:)
Sheilagh M.B.E. O'Hare
>More like one of those stiff drinks that makes you choke and makes your
>eyes water. And I know what word you're going to pick up on in this
>post, so don't even think about it. >:)
I usually don't choke if I don't take too much at once. (grin)
steven r kleinedler
>srkl...@ellis.uchicago.edu (steven r kleinedler) writes:
>
>>>--Peter "Pink's not *really* his first name, is it?" Dubuque
>
>>Bartender, I'll have a Pink Dubuque!
>
>>Sounds like one of those frilly alcoholic punch drinks with a little
>>umbrella...
>
>More like one of those stiff drinks that makes you choke and makes your
>eyes water. And I know what word you're going to pick up on in this
>post, so don't even think about it. >:)
>--
>_______________________________________________________________________
:)
Steve Kleinedler
(great taste, less filling....)