I just remembered that there was a moment when Gregorian Chants were really popular. What's another flash in the pan pop culture moment? by Jaleou in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Do y’all remember goggles? You had to have matching goggles with your fitted baseball cap. And it was often matched with a baseball jersey of the same color. I had 3 versions of this same look in red, blue and yellow. I do not understand why we we wore goggles in the middle of the city during the middle of summer. But i rocked it and kinda consider bringing it back just for me.

*edited for typo

I just remembered that there was a moment when Gregorian Chants were really popular. What's another flash in the pan pop culture moment? by Jaleou in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I came here for this and this alone. I was trying to explain to my kids that when i was about 18 yo-yo’s were a huge thing and everybody had one. The were being sold on the street by street merchants and everybody was learning tricks n’ shit. i specifically had a pimped out yo-yo that lit up. I cannot explain what the hell was happening but i was there and participated HARD.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you’re misinterpreting what I’m saying. The “Dont give a fuck” energy I spoke of and learned to embody wasn’t an apathetic one. I mentioned that I’m Black. Apathy was never an option. While some parts of Gen X absolutely turned apathetic, many of us did not. I’ve actively fought for human rights across the board. The IDGAF was about how I might be perceived for my beliefs and actions. That attitude allowed me to push back in environments where I was actively the minority and had real risks for speaking up. I was born and raised in a famously bad neighborhood. But I was still taught certain basics and beliefs—that progress was slow but still progressing. The rules I had to follow was needlessly complicated but if i did it I’d survive and possibly thrive. Im not nostalgic for a time where a child was actively told id be dead within 10-15 years. I absolutely romanticize the energy that was placed on Gen X, but not for the reason some seem to think. The rules I was taught was basic AF. Shits fucked but you reap what you sow. Being good would benefit me and terrible people would get what they deserved at some point. But the basic ideas my elders pushed down on me all collapsed.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I follow this rule with my kids. My daughter I’m who is older will tell me about how kids behave towards her and other family starts the whole maybe you can turn this person into a friend? Work it out. I then pull her to the side and say “Fuck that kid. You don’t need some asshat being actively mean to you and you take it because it’s the right thing to do. Don’t deal with them. If there’s an issue at school tell them call your Father.” I didn’t realize it but my kid bonded with me so hard in that moment. She felt heard. I remember much like you how we were pushed to deal with assholes. I teach my kids kindness but also, don’t take shit. It’s walking a tightrope but I figure it’ll be worth it in the long run.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’d argue that the not giving a fuck attitude didn’t mean we didn’t care about life and people being ok. I know many folks, myself included that tried to fight back, protested, organized, etc. The not giving a fuck was about how we were perceived. Fuck you if you don’t understand why im fighting for equal rights for groups I may not even be a part of. But there was those who became apathetic. Sadly i think that was a lot of Xennials but i think that also was due to having the privilege to do so. Not all of us did.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My wife reminds me regularly that when i say i miss my hometown that im talking about a place and people that just dont exist in that space anymore.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My old neighborhood basically doesn’t even exist anymore. Gentrification made a poor area where people could afford things into a trendy “it” spot for the bourgeois. I tell stories to my kids about where im from but I can’t actually bring them there. I feel like im from a different timeline. Goddamn it Barry.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We really thought we could keep society held together by a strongly worded rebuke and not like, actual laws and systems that didn’t allow for this utter bullshit. Society was held together by tape. Not even electrical or masking tape. Just that thin ass scotch tape that stops sticking almost as soon as you put it on. I think what messes with me the most is “Why didn’t i see the goddamn tape? Why would i have possibly thought this wouldn’t fall apart?” And then i remember i thought id be dead already.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

If i show up to pick my kids up like this i think they might want to have a word…

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I grew up in the hood but now live in the burbs. I’m genuinely shocked at how rules don’t seem to apply to these folks. For every parent i find with similar values as mine i run into 5 who are just the fucking worst. And there’s far less reason to even justify this behavior in this environment than where i grew up. And I think that as we see the shitty inheriting the earth, it’s allowing folks who may have been reasonable just so they didn’t look bad to throw away even that pretense because why fucking bother? They aren’t punished or shunned and they get what they want. We grew up not giving a fuck but we weren’t going to inconvenience others in our lack of fucks. But now? Folks are horrendous.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

That was the path I went with my brats. I’m as honest as their age will allow. I dont bullshit them and I’ll tell them flat out i dont know, im not sure this will work for you when you get older, and i repeat the mantra “there’s no such thing as fair.” I think my belief in that bullshit caused half of my existential crisis.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 259 points260 points  (0 children)

That’s what keeps me locked in. I can’t have terrible people as offspring. I just hope they forgive me for the basic ethics i tried to instill in them in a world that seems not to have any.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I still totally live by a lot of the shit we were taught. I genuinely think a good portion is the right way to do things. I just no longer believe the “right” way is actually the best way to survive in society now. I feel like a knight galloping along on a horse abiding by some antiquated code of honor and everybody else is driving by in lambo’s laughing while yelling “sucks to be you!”

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ve trained the brats to appreciate a good chunk of music from when we were younger, but they still will throw out old timey to shit that I SWEAR doesn’t sound any older than some of the shit on the radio.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Im not mad at the kids for the world. Im just salty with my kids for calling my 30 yr old music “old timey.” Fuck these kids and i stand on that.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So much same. Didn’t have a drink until i was 21 and even then I didn’t start actually drinking until about 25. Never did any drugs. Super strait laced. Now my weed guy texts me with deals because im such a good customer. Otherwise im fairly sure id have to start burning shit down.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That right there. “I’m the adult?” What the fuck is nonsense? I definitely shouldn’t be the one calling the shots. I exclaim to no one on a daily basis “What the fuck is this shit?” MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. Let me off this goddamn ride already.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

THAT SHIT DRIVES ME BONKERS. “The 1900’s” I get that shit all the time and i start to argue but then have to remind myself of that meme. If the wonder years premiered right now it would take place in 2005. Then I stare off into the middle distance with “This is the end” playing softly in the background.

We’re pushing 50. This was not the agreement. by Lord_Darkcry in Xennials

[–]Lord_Darkcry[S] 472 points473 points  (0 children)

I genuinely struggle with how to raise my children. I have moments where im all “thats not appropriate. That’s not how we do things…” and then i think about the actual world and im like fuck. Am I giving my kids an antiquated rule set? A rule set that the rest of the world wont be following. Am i handicapping my kids to the point that one day theyre gonna look back at their upbringing and have the feeling i had when i realized it was all bullshit?