so i'm officially an adult in the age-sense of the word although my maturity lags far behind... but this still applies.
i hate it when "older people" try to use lingo to make themselves sound creditable to or influence the younger generation. it just sounds like they are trying way too hard. kids/young people can see right through your attempts to "get them at their level" and you just end up looking/sounding like a gigantic tool and your targets are even less likely to pay attention.
the best example out there right now is that lame-ass commercial for ontario health something-or-other; you know the one - "your kids are starting to learn a new language", "get your free brochure about how to talk to your kids about drugs" (sidebar: are there seriously parents out there that need step-by-step instructions from a government-produced brochure in order to talk to their kids?), etc. not only do i feel extremely mortified for the kids that had to be in that commercial (when can they show their faces at school again?) but i also feel embarrassed for whoever came up with the concept. how can you watch that without turning red and covering your face in shame? i can barely watch it without rolling my eyes so hard i fall out of my chair.
along the same lines, i was reading this article (see below) about skateboarding in the city and part of the title uses the phrase "THE SK8TE DEBATE"... a classic case of trying to deploy popular (well, used to be popular) slang in order to reach a broader/different audience. however, mission failed. you get a citation for "improper use of popular shorthand" - it'll be a $50 fine.
here's the article:
"When is a skater not above board?"
It's just as illegal in Toronto as in Fredericton to skateboard on city streets, yet it's a rule few riders here know about and rarely see enforced
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