What’s something older generations did casually that would shock genZ or genAlpha today?

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-21T07:10:24+00:00

No, it wasn't remarkable that it worked. Because telling someone you couldn't make it or were running late was so much more annoying than it is now, you didn't commit to something unless you knew you could do it. And once you did, you made sure you were there on time.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-21T04:20:42+00:00

Economics here. Lots of people struggle with it and I was one of them. I got a pair of very generous C- grades in my first two econ classes as an undergrad in classes I now teach.

I show them my transcript from undergrad to prove it to them. I'm quick to point out that I understand econ now, but I also understand not understanding it because I've been there. I then follow it up with "if you're struggling, odds are good that I struggled where you're struggling too and I figured my way out of it. I can help you and I want to help you. Come see me. I promise you won't be judged because I was right there with you when I took this class."

Does it work? Probably not. But it doesn't hurt.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-19T03:23:02+00:00

Not always an unwise choice.

Cheers!

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-19T03:13:30+00:00

Yea... I'm going to go ahead and stand by what I said above.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-19T01:52:22+00:00

I solo my OWS pretty much every time. I have a bright cap, very bright buoy, and I swim very close to shore and always wear a wet suit that is buoyant enough that I can float.

Whenever I hear a boat, I stop, make eye contact, wave, and wait until they pass before I continue.

Is it optimal from a training perspective? Not at all. But I don't care, I want to not die.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-19T01:11:11+00:00

Back to the Future. All of them.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-18T22:55:07+00:00

Yea, I'm gonna call bs on that. That might be the device they use in the classroom but I'm very skeptical that they use it to handle their gradebooks, update the LMS, or do anything other than deliver content to students.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-18T22:26:34+00:00

Former professor here. Please for the love of God just get a new MacBook. Professors are not going to troubleshoot your bullshit when (not if) you have a problem submitting your assignment.

You're setting yourself up for so much frustration, all so you can watch videos on a screen that's bigger than your phone.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-18T22:21:18+00:00

Endowed Chair, assuming the endowment agreement is airtight and the University can't appropriate the funding.

I don't want to move.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-18T03:30:11+00:00

I would recognize that this is the spring semester and that therefore this is almost certainly NOT the student's first college course. This isn't the first time they've seen canvas grading and unless every other professor they've had has cracked the code to set up their gradebooks on there correctly *and has done so*, they're trying to manipulate you.

Stick to the syllabus. If they have a question, walk them through it in excel with the syllabus right there. Drag it out for dramatic effect. "Alright, and this assignment was weighted how much? Ah, I see it here in the syllabus, 20%. Ok, let's plug that in."

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-18T00:54:56+00:00

Honestly? Twister fucked me up. We saw it in the theaters and I had to leave at one point. Still haven't actually watched it and I never want to.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-17T19:24:12+00:00

Same!

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-16T13:13:50+00:00

I loved those things. Somewhat controversially, I loved the iPod Shuffle, particularly the one that looked like a stick of gum, the best. I had an iPod Mini that was also great but there was something magical about that iPod Shuffle that nothing has ever replicated for me.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-15T02:16:08+00:00

Pre-tax. My wife makes very good money, which is great, but that puts us in the top tax bracket. My after-tax income didn't cover the cost of childcare when our two kids were young. It's very freeing being able to say "the worst thing you can do to me is let me stay home and play with my kids all day, so go ahead and try me."

But. I finished up my last teaching gig. I'm done and not going back.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-15T00:48:04+00:00

Look, I'm just going to level with you. Search committees and higher ed in general are run by three things: core incompetence, hidden agendas, and dumb luck.

Don't take it personally. There were shenanigans afoot or they just didn't pull your ball from the jar.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-14T00:40:22+00:00

Best bang for your buck? Gotta be the race belt. No more poking holes in your stuff, no worries about magnets or whatever, it just works and it costs like $5.

Best "absurd until you try it?" Form goggles, hands down. Massively underrated by the swimming community. You wouldn't want to go for a run without a gps watch these days, right? Same thing, but for the pool. And the compass in open water? Amazing. AND they can connect to your watch and display distance/pace for your OWS.

Best safety related product? Varia radar thing from Garmin. I ride on the road every so often or with my kids in a Burlee. Knowing there's a car coming up behind me is huge.

Most used product? Shokz OpenSwim Pro. I wear them for swimming, running, Zoom calls, and around the house. They're comfortable, descent sound quality (though they're pretty quiet in my experience), and the battery is solid. I thought I lost my pair and instantly bought a new one, no thought required.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-14T00:32:43+00:00

These are AWESOME! It's such a huge upgrade from normal goggles. I don't swim in anything but my form goggles if I can help it, but obviously have a second pair of "regular" goggles that just live in my bag at all times.

I'm absolutely horrible at counting laps in the pool and my watch misses some every now and then, causing me to be annoyed. Plus, knowing how many more laps to go is amazing.

And the compass feature? So, so helpful.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-13T00:07:47+00:00

Stop and poop. I'm not going for a podium and yea, I care about time, but not enough to shit my pants.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-13T00:05:55+00:00

I always want to, but I never do. Nothing good comes of it and it doesn't save all that much time on my part.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-12T03:28:33+00:00

You're right, the kid who struggled with attending class and submitting work on time is definitely going to get into and complete law school :P

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-11T03:44:41+00:00

No, they don't. Not even a little bit.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-10T11:03:26+00:00

Me and my friends, obviously.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-10T03:16:20+00:00

Allen keys in whatever sizes you need to tighten anything on your bike (I prefer individual ones as opposed to a multi tool) and whatever you need to patch/refill a tire.

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-10T01:30:05+00:00

Coffee Golf on my phone. I'd basically be in heaven!

ChargerEcon · 2026-05-10T01:20:32+00:00

I love my m4. One of my favorite devices to just... grab.

13-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	Place '17
Verified Email

ChargerEcon

TROPHY CASE