The freshmen who entered high school in 2001 were born in 1987.
1. Home computers are not new. They've always been there. These kids
look at a typewriter like a baby-boomer looks at a Model T.
2. They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan Era, probably do not
know he was shot, and probably have little understanding why there is a
current brouhaha over letting some guy named John Hinckley take day trips
out of St. Elizabeth's.
3. They were pre-school when the Persian Gulf War was waged.
4. Black Monday 1987 is as significant to them as the Great Depression.
5. There has been only one Pope. The only George Bush they know is
currently in office.
6. They never saw a map with the Soviet Union on it. They first studied
geography after the break up of the Soviet Republic.
7. They have never feared a nuclear war. "The Day After" is a pill to
them, not a movie.
8. They were not born when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986
and have no recall of the event.
9. Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
10. They never had a polio shot, and likely do not know what it is.
11. The question, "Where were you when President Kennedy was shot?"
sounds as ancient to them as the question "Where were you when Pearl Harbor
was bombed?" 12. These students know only compact discs and cassette
tapes. The expression "You sound like a broken record" means nothing to
them. Most likely they have never owned a record player and have no idea
why a person would have to buy a needle to play music.
13. They may have heard of an 8-track, but chances are they probably never
have actually seen or heard one.
14. For them, listening to Elvis Presley is like a baby boomer listening
to Rudy Vallee.
15. As far as they know, stamps have always cost at least 30 cents.
16. They have always had an answering machine.
17. Most have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they
seen a black-and-white TV. They have always had cable.
18. There have always been VCRs, but they have no idea what a Beta-Max is.
19. They cannot fathom not having a remote control.
20. If you asked them who the Madonna is, most would identify her as a
singer before they would identify her as the mother of Jesus.
21. Roller-skating has always meant in-line for them.
22. The only "Tonight Show" host they have ever watched is Jay Leno.
23. They have no idea when or why Jordache jeans were cool.
24. Quotes such as "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" and "Here's
looking at you, kid" have no meaning for them.
25. Crack cocaine has existed their entire lifetime.
26. The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as WWI, WWII, or even
the Civil War.
27. Beatle John Lennon was dead years before they were even born.
28. For them, trying to name the four Beatles is like a baby boomer trying
to name the Benny Goodman quartet.
29. They have never heard the terms: "Where's the beef?" "I'd walk a mile
for a Camel," or "de plane, de plane!"
30. Most of these students have no idea that the word "gay" can also mean
"happy."
31. Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama are geographical
locations to them and not nusic groups.
32. Whoopi Goldberg has always been in the center square of "The Hollywood
Squares" for them. They have no idea who Paul Lynde is.
33. They have never ridden in a car without seat belts.
34. The Civil Rights Movement is as far back into history for them as the
Great Depression is for baby boomers.
35. The only Duke they know is a university. John Wayne was dead years
before they were born.
36. Most likely they do not know a silver dollar or two-dollar bill ever
existed.
37. The only time they ever saw John Glenn blast off into space is in a
space shuttle.
38. George Orwell's "1984" was never a futuristic novel for them.
39. There has always been MTV.
40. They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. is.
41. They have no idea what a "test pattern" is.
42. They have never seen Larry Bird play, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a
football player.
43. They have always had Walkmen.
44. They have never lived in a world that did not have 1-800 toll-free
telephone numbers.
45. The title Ms. has always existed for them.
46. Very few know that the word "rap" can also mean "to knock," as on a door.
47. The special effects in "Star Wars" look antiquated and fake to them.
48. They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong.
49. There have always been red M&Ms, and blue ones are not new. What do
you mean there used to be beige ones?
50. Probably none of them has ever dialed a rotary telephone.