From Latchkey Kids to "Filtered" Adults: What happened?
Posted by veganguy75@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 95 comments
I joined this group for the unique, unfiltered Gen X humor we grew up with. Recently, I shared a harmless joke about an 80s song by Dexys Midnight Runners, a joke that's been a pop-culture staple for decades. It was even in Clerks.
When it went missing, it made me wonder, are we really at the point where a play on words about an 80s pop song is "too much" now?
I was a latchkey kid with a single mom; sometimes dinner was just a little extra toothpaste. I became successful despite all that. Before the day job, I played the music scenes in NYC and Chicago for years. I’m a guy with a real basement studio (and no USB garbage) who just wants to share a laugh. I've been a long-time member here and I'm not some bot.
How is a pun "offensive" when we grew up singing along to "She was just seventeen"? It’s disappointing to see our wit get stifled. I’d love to stay, but I hope we can still find room for the sense of humor that actually defines our generation.
Slammajadingdong69@reddit
I just got Reddit spanked for responding to a post “things that were appropriate then that aren’t now” and I mentioned a game we played where you tackle the person with the ball. We called the game “smear the q***r”. Literally nobody back then assumed we were talking about a lgbtq person…just the person with the ball, but here we are.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
{community_rule_11}
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
Dude, we used to play that game. It wasn't crazy fun by any means cuz I usually got mt skinny bootie tackled. But I love your line "Reddit spanked". I'm may re-use that
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
{community_rule_3}
Slammajadingdong69@reddit
I too wondered what exactly is the point of this game except punishment
Competitive-Feed-294@reddit
Not sure where or when you grew up, but we definitely understood it was attack on being gay. It was intentionally offensive and that’s why we said it. Not proud of it, just taking accountability.
Snoringdragon@reddit
I miss the nasty line in Dire Staits Money for Nothin'. I didnt think it was attacking gay men, it was so obviously a slam against an actual person who was not gay and just a hairbag. It was a reference to a singular person, not a group. If you knew that it wasn't so bad, it was kinda funny. But no one gets that so that line sounds yucky. Argh.
traumfisch@reddit
It's a line from the perspective pf the protagonist of the song, describing his envy and prejudice
context mattera
tandem_kayak@reddit
We had that too. It was a real thing.
Gaudi215@reddit
The omnipresence of technology leading to a parental surveillance state.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
If you have a question or concern, contact the mod team directly and do not post in the sub.
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
Agreed. I'm about to throw my "smart phone" in the trash and go back to a land line.
happy-gofuckyourself@reddit
Then do it, don’t talk about maybe doing it.
Gaudi215@reddit
Real ones love rotary phones
GoldenRetreiverMom@reddit
I missed your original post. Now I’m curious lol
Areia@reddit
I'm assuming it's the one about Come On Eileen
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
Yep.
Clear_Salt9817@reddit
The b side was “Jizz on Janie”
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
{community_rule_2}
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
Let's just say it was a play on words involving Dexys Midnight Runners and a certain liquid that sounds like 'Come On.' It’s a joke that’s been around since Kevin Rowland first put on those overalls, but apparently, it’s a bit too 'high-fidelity' for the filters here.
BobcatOk7492@reddit
I first heard that joke, over the radio after they played that song....
GoldenRetreiverMom@reddit
I’m surprised because we are supposed to be the “thick skinned” generation 🤷♀️
Diligent_Actuator950@reddit
It's reddit. Moderators get WEIRD.
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
You're not lying! I don't usually post, I just comment, so now I'm realizing.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
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GenX-ModTeam@reddit
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ms5h@reddit
I dunno, maybe we’ve just grown up since we were kids, and jokes about cumming on a woman aren’t really as funny as you thought
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
You're right, that's revolting! But that wasn't the intent of my original post. I'm not winning today.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
If you have a question or concern, contact the mod team directly and do not post in the sub.
The_Info_Must_Flow@reddit
Sanctimonious priests of the new era of No Offense Permitted Ever are ascendant.
Well, offenses towards offenders are def permitted...
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
If you have a question or concern, contact the mod team directly and do not post in the sub.
jtl909@reddit
Young people aren’t religious anymore but they sure found something to replace it.
Original_Mix9255@reddit
May have been a bot that removed it. Don’t sweat it.
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
Thanks, it's just the whole concept of it all. Free speech, making jokes, having fun. I came to Reddit, specifically this group because I felt welcome. When I got "Reddit spanked" as my other friend said, I didn't feel welcome anymore.
MercyfulFrigate@reddit
Reddit hasn't been free speech focused in years. Got to keep that IPO money rolling in.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
If you have a question or concern, contact the mod team directly and do not post in the sub.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
If you have a question or concern, contact the mod team directly and do not post in the sub.
DarkScorpion48@reddit
If you value free speech then Reddit is the last social media you should use
Pumpnethyl@reddit
I posted a video from Ice-Ts band. It got locked after 10 minutes, had a bunch of views and got some great, non-offensive comments. Delicate? The damn song existed and was a big deal when released. The whole album was great but that one song causes a ruckus
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
Unreal!
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
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TheM3lk0r@reddit
Cop Killer by any chance?
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
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GenX-ModTeam@reddit
If you have a question or concern, contact the mod team directly and do not post in the sub.
ggoptimus@reddit
Mods have removed half of my posts. It’s this sub.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
If you have a question or concern, contact the mod team directly and do not post in the sub.
Lopsided_Tomatillo27@reddit
The most offensive thing about clutching one’s pearls over making an obvious joke about this song is the assumption that the double entendre wasn’t intended by the band.
It’s as if you’re being accused of taking a song about a guy trying to get a girl to have sex with him and making it dirty.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
{community_rule_3}
Thatstealthygal@reddit
It's NOT dirty! It says that right in the song!
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
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Thatstealthygal@reddit
You know, that "she was just 17" thing was a massive glitch in the otherwise sweet if shallow experience of the movie Yesterday. There is NO WAY IN HELL that I Saw Her Standing There would fly today without a million critical TikToks.
Textiles_on_Main_St@reddit
That song was written when Paul was 17 or so…
regeya@reddit
I don't get the comment about USB. Huh?
huitzilopochtla@reddit
Very long story very short: in audio recording circles, USB-connected mics and other gear are seriously looked down upon.
(I’m not advocating anything and am not interested in discussing the merits. Just explaining the comment.)
DarkScorpion48@reddit
It means he only records in analogue I guess
Spacecow6942@reddit
I guess he's using analog equipment and proud of it.
MaligatorMom2@reddit
Nah. I’m glad that the younger generations aren’t growing up the way I did. I look back now and see how fucked up it was and how sexualized young girls were.
I feel like the best thing about our generation is the ability to change and grow and experience life for all the good and bad.
I also thought we all agreed that only weak bullies punch down, so let’s just live and let live.
HoochShippe@reddit
I grew up hearing “ Christine Sixteen” by KISS on the radio. That song is cringe af when I think about it now.
auntieup@reddit
Try being a female minor in the world where these things were the dominant culture. 💔
Thatstealthygal@reddit
I raise you as always with the undeniable banger Are You Old Enough from sleazy old Dragon.
At least he's asking, I guess.
flytingnotfighting@reddit
lol acting like that song was ever fucking ok
Dude, grow the fuck up.
LastOneSergeant@reddit
I think American language and culture is evolving away from direct (like the Germans) to be more indirect (Japanese).
But everyone can still be a an ashole. You just have to be subtle about it.
People who hide behind indirect polite language seem insincere.
They suck.
trelene@reddit
I'm seeing a post removed on your profile a few hours ago, and this is the stickied comment: "Repost, Duplicate or Similar Posts - Posts may be removed if they are a recent repost (within three months), duplicates, or similar to existing posts. Please make an effort to look through current posts to avoid duplication," If that's what you're talking about, then it wasn't removed because anyone considered it offensive, and you should stand down.
Which btw you should just do even if it whatever you're talking about *was* removed because someone somewhere thought it was offensive. You're an anonymous account posting on an internet site with millions of users; this situation is the polar opposite of 'personal', so don't take it personally.
LetThem_1972@reddit
nailed it
edkishinevsky@reddit
Youll be ok op. Keep ur mind sharp. Ur gonna need it
Competitive-Feed-294@reddit
Is OP announcing their departure from the sub because we don’t appreciate adolescent humor? And when did jizz jokes define our Generation?
Athrynne@reddit
Maybe instead of making a big public stink about it, you message the mods and ask them?
auntieup@reddit
What’s funny to some of us isn’t funny to other people. What those people feel is as important as what you feel. It’s really that simple.
And while I value your backstory, every single person in the world has their own, and theirs is just as valuable as yours. I work with 35-year-old Stanford graduates, 24-year-old traumatized immigrants, and a few people in their late 40s who are incredibly nimble and kind. All of them understand that being yourself in the world means that everyone else in the world gets to be themselves too.
Just some advice from someone who’s probably older than you.
SouthConsideration15@reddit
I’m offended by this.
Consistent-Fix-8443@reddit
Your being offended, offends me.
MercyfulFrigate@reddit
Nah if they understood that they'd give other people space to be themselves instead of censoring everything.
Auslander808@reddit
Nimble? I mean that's a fine attribute, just sounded odd.
auntieup@reddit
The world around us changes fast, and standards change too, especially at work. You have to get really good at rolling with all of it. My fellow GenX are experts. ❤️
Lostintimeandspac@reddit
Too many folks are easily offended now adays, including some in this gen. And i think reddit is the place to find them all.
SouthConsideration15@reddit
Yep, Reddit is definitely not representative of GenX or the population as a whole. But a lot of people think it is.
ilovebbcitv@reddit
Le sigh. 😕
AboveGroundPoolQueen@reddit
There are a lot of creepy songs from the 80s about 17-year-olds, and also about stalking. They’re not funny to me even though I grew up with them. In fact, it makes me look back and think about all of the creepy situations and assault situations I had to deal with back then and realize this is why those guys thought it was OK. So no, those songs aren’t fun or funny anymore.
Majik9@reddit
Exactly,
Seventeen by Winger is gross A/F
But OP wants us to live by the same 80's standards. So bring that back? And casual use of slurs in every day language? What else?
CrispyDave@reddit
Doesn't sound very Gen X to get your panties in a twist about some reddit mod either.
It's social media. Who gives a shit?
Dertbag_holder@reddit
Who would’ve known that things would change over the years…
hypothetical_zombie@reddit
Any more, I have a hard time watching music videos from 80s hair bands. So much mic stand humping. Guitar humping. Bass humping. All set to songs about underage groupies.
Back when I was an underaged groupie, they were risque and naughty. Now, at 50-something, they're just sort of gross.
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
Agreed. UI wish more of them were put in that spotlight. Don't get me started about Bowie...
FortuneOpen5715@reddit
I can see that. We had several songs back then mentioning underage girls and we never saw them as problematic back then. I think we have to acknowledge that they are problematic and move forward. Even though I’m still going to jam to Seventeen by Winger.
Regular_or_BQ@reddit
Benny Mardones has entered the chat.
mingvausee@reddit
I’ve always liked that song, I can’t explain it. He just sounds so earnestly helplessly lost in that emotion. I’m a professional session musician as well, that last of my brain recognizes a perfectly crafted song for the genre. But yeh those lyrics def don’t pass the creepy meter.
FortuneOpen5715@reddit
That’s the other one I was thinking of. I love that song! The chorus is so good!
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
I'm still going to enjoy Jerry Lee Lewis and his amazing piano playing even though I don't' approve of his decisions...
Yuck_Few@reddit
I imagine they are pointing out the fact that the song sounds like a PDF
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
I know about Adobe PDFs, I'm not sure what you're referring to otherwise. I always liked this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BODDyZRF6A
DustyBottomsRidesOn@reddit
I get what you are saying, but there's a line between wit and a joke for 12 year olds.
veganguy75@reddit (OP)
Neither am I. This had nothing to do with that originally. My point was why is my joke about that song offensive and why is are the Beat;es singing about 17 YO's not. I seriously am not trying to offend anyone. Maybe I just need to stop posting
saxdiver@reddit
Was it "yes, but WHERE on Eileen?"
Could've been construed to violate rule 5. It's funny, but if it's not your first day on the Internet, you've probably seen it.
CatsEatGrass@reddit
I can’t believe I didn’t already know this joke, but I think it’s hilarious.
somanybluebonnets@reddit
If you’re talking about the post they removed, they said it was a repost. Sometimes they can sound pretty harsh when they take down a post and it’s hard not to take it personally (I’ve had posts removed, too.) but it’s usually just a bot that scans for things and it’s done automatically. You can wait for a while and repost it in a few months or just let it roll off your back and forget about it entirely. Or contact the mods and appeal, if you want to.
You aren’t blocked or anything (like, I saw this post just fine.) so maybe it’ll take some time to get over it, but it wasn’t about you or the joke — it was a bot doing its little job with its little bot brain.