Friday 13 January 2012

It's sick blad innit?

Yesterday, at work,  one of our PhD students who's in his 20s was chatting with the youngest member of our team (also in her 20s) and the resident male.  Resident male is 42 but likes to get down with the kids innit.

Anyway the PhD student had been in a meeting with some academics where one of the academics had used the word "hip" as in "cool" several times.  "Oh God," said the student "it was sooooooooo embarassing...".  Student goes on to say "It's like my mum, when she says "trendy"...."  Cue much rolling of eyes and shuddering.

"What's wrong with 'trendy'?"  I cry.  Student, young and male colleagues look at me sadly.  Student says "Well, if you want to say 'trendy', that's fine but......".  Doesn't finish his sentence (there clearly is no hope for me) and turns away to continuing chatting with the other two.  Resident male colleague says "Well, 'trendy' is a bit dated; it's like 'stylish'...........  " 'Stylish'!"  I shriek "There's nothing wrong with the word 'stylish' ".  The conversation carried on for a bit longer as other adjectives were discussed - you know "wicked", "sick", "dope", "cool" etc.  Ad finitum.   zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I'm still reeling from shock.  Dear readers, tell me straight, when did words such as "trendy" and "stylish" become embarrassing?  I've never used "hip" myself but I quite like "groovy" and "lovely".  Nothing wrong with "lovely" in my book.

Well, I can't sit here chatting to you all day.  Much as I'd really like to.  I'm taking a break from wrapping Xmas pressies for friends and their gazillion offspring that we haven't seen since before Xmas.  Yes.  That's right.  Wrapping.  Xmas.  Pressies.  In.  January.  Decidedly unwicked if you ask me.

Peace out, blad*. xx


*  "blad" as in "friend" or "bruv".  Not "blad" as in "one of the most commonly used Russian swear words".  No, definitely not.

30 comments:

  1. Since when did the word stylish get on the uncool list. Kids today ha ha. Sometimes I don't understand my generation.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wrapping in January? Peak times for you, blad.

    I did always cringe a bit whenever my mum said 'jazz it up', dunno why.

    x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well if that is the case half of the worlds population are out of fasion. pants to it i say we use words were most comfortable with ;-))And if im out of fashion then so be it its good to be different in fact i bet you those words come round again pretty soon its like fashion clothes just look over time ;-)) dee x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Its all "bare" these days.... well, I think it still is;) x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Language is amazing. I am just 35 and feel really old when it comes to slangs. :)
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. lol I had to laugh, Im afraid I think the word trendy is dated too!. (im 31 and used to take the mick out of my sister whos 42 for using the word) However my husband is also 42 so I take it out of him now!. There are words kids use that seem to change every few years in my day it was cool, wicked, or safe I expect I would be called dated for using the word cool too now!!! now its the word sick! Im sure they will be told their words are dated one day too! I thought the term is Blood not Blud as in Blood brother. Have you ever seen the programme phone shop? think it sums up how daft some kids speak these days!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hmmm, I certainly didn't know. Now, not only will the way I dress embarrass me, but my use of words, too.:0

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my! I dread to thing of the words my two yr olds will be using!

    I've never used hip, stylish or groovy, can't actually thing what I use! Perhaps we should make up some new ones!

    Happy wrapping

    ReplyDelete
  9. freaking ace post
    xx fee

    ReplyDelete
  10. I find the best way to stop my teens from using these silly phrases - is to adopt them myself ]:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your post takes me back to when my Grandson, now 21 was about 10 and we were watching a programme where a fox was tied up. I remarked that it was wicked and he promptly replied that it was not wicked it was horrible and cruel. Clearly his version of wicked was not mine....
    His meaning of wicked was of course 'great'. lol
    Briony
    x

    ReplyDelete
  12. That's a little surreal to think kids today think stylish and trendy are embarrassing words! I always use the word stylish and lovely hahaha oh well each to their own!
    Happy wrapping xxx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hahahaha! You mean you don't speak Young Person, Loo? Thank God, neither do I, and proud of it! I go out of my way to sound like an old fart half the time. I overuse lovely and fab - and I don't care!
    Have a great weekend, hope those Christmas presents are wrapped! xxxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. I first thought 'blad' referred to bladder...and wondered what on earth you were going to write about. Sick bladders? :)

    Hahaha!! you live and learn.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Stylish. Stylish. Stylish. There...look how cool I am!! :-)

    I loved this post, Loo - and, if you ask me - you're way too cool for school.

    Sarahx

    ReplyDelete
  16. how hideous! Have you heard Blossom Dearie's song I'm Hip? It's the coolest song ever!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I can't help but admit I laughed out loud reading this post. I have no idea what's cool to say or not. It's probably very uncool of me to say cool. Anyways Hun don't worry I think this post is pretty hip and happening.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I remember a few years back when my son told me in the most patronising voice "Mum saying cool & groovy is neither cool nor groovy", this was accompanied by one of those long suffering sighs that 14 year old boys do so well!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Haha - I also though it was about an unwell bladder and was tensed for TMI! As I deal in vintage clothes and retro stuff, I'm afraid I've reverted to using 'fab' and 'groovy' and don't care what the young ones think. But of course I'm now a granny and we can do no wrong! Though I quite like 'blad'...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Well, that's it. How un-groovy/un-cool/un-trendy am I?

    Have a great weekend my lovely :o) !!

    xxOOxx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Best not write too much incase I say the wrong thing :0
    I work with 8yr olds now thats an eye opener.
    Have a good weekend
    Cate x

    ReplyDelete
  22. I often call girl friends Dolly Bird. It's such an 'old' expression it probably sounds new again. That's the great thing about language, you can hark back and be in the vanguard at the same time.
    Jean

    ReplyDelete
  23. since english is my 2nd language, i've no idea which is the current "hip" or "trendy" words for kids nowadays hahaha but well i guess i'll have to have kids or listen more to younger kids say but i used to say "awesome" to an american friend when i was in college which i think equivalent to a "cool" word i'm told and advised to use the cool word instead of awesome...gosh if i cant say stylish anymore, what the other word that i can use? hahaha ...xx susan

    ReplyDelete
  24. I was lost at your post title...lol.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Loo, have only just been able to view your blog again...I've never heard of "blad" in either of its incarnations. One of the things my girls hate me to say is "pull your finger out!" they think it's disgusting and vulgar but I grew up hearing it and love using it because I think it's a great expression. They do not get at all and of course think it's all about fingers and bottoms. If they want me to stop using it I'm afraid they're going to have to pull their fingers out! Ha!
    Hope you're well x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love this post.... You had me in stitches!!! I have a 10 year old who says everything is "sick" and I do tend to use the word "awesome" occationally when I'm talking to him. I think it depends on who I'm talking to though... When I with my best girly friends we say all sorts of extreamly un-trendy/un-cool words that I wouldn't say around other friends... Like "ooh splendid" or put "...oh I say!" On the end of a scentence. It's like a carry on film!! Haha xxx

    ReplyDelete
  27. You've been very quiet recently, my lovely. Are you on holiday again. ;-) I've been missing your posts...

    Sarahxx

    ReplyDelete
  28. A young blogger once commented that I was really "sick", it took me a while to work out it was supposed to be a compliment. x

    ReplyDelete
  29. Yep, feeling your pain. My significant other works with young people and he likes to throw in an innit, as well as the odd "and ting" at the end of sentences just to make the "kids" grimace. It works a charm.
    Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog post this week. Your kind words really meant alot. Em x

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hey I STILL refer to things as being ACE or NEAT.... I can only imagine the amount of eye rolling they would attract.... I think they sound a lot COOLER than 'fully sick'....bleckkkkkkkk....hahahahaha.....

    ReplyDelete