Its funny how different generations have their own special milestones, their shared memories and events. I wouldn't expect anyone young now to know about the test card at the end of TV each night at midnight for example, although us 'Grandparents' all saw it.
These shared memories are the cornflour that binds the individuals from one particular era as opposed to another. Each generation has its own culture. Sometimes these cultures feed into each other and sometimes they seem completely separate.
A recent discussion I had with a youngster revolved around football. More specifically it was about famous goals and I mentioned Maradona's infamous one, the Hand of God. My young colleague, full of tales of Rinaldo and Neymar, had never heard of it and I realised that it was a generational thing and that such collective experiences are almost mutually exclusive and unknown to subsequent generations.
These iconic memories are like collectables. We collected them at the time and put them neatly in the keep-net for later inspection. When I was a kid I 'collected' names, the names of things and of especial interest were dinosaurs, military ranks, monsters, weapons, martial arts, words and rock bands. I could have held my own with anybody on any of these topics back then.
I suppose I've been collecting names and 'labels' ever since, probably even ideas. I've never been sure if this is a trait common to those of us termed geeky or is it simply a lifelong obsession with words and labels.
Do you feel that you have collected words, ideas and iconic memories from your generation readers?
I think that everyone does to a greater or lesser degree, Woodsy, whether they realise it or not. I still call Snickers bars Marathon, M&Ms Treets, and Starburst (not the mag) Opal Fruits. That's collecting names, isn't it? Incidentally, Snickers are reverting to their original name for three months in Morrison's.
ReplyDeleteYes. It is hard to break those habitual names Kid. I still call DVD's videos and pop songs records! I'll have to look out for those Snickers. A mate once sent me some Ol' Jamaica he'd found in a shop too! Wow, I loved that choccy, felt like I was sippin rum when I was 8!
DeleteI've got an Old Jamaica wrapper from around the mid-'80s up on my wall. Used to love them (still do), but half a bar at a time is probably enough for me. Maybe it was the rum?
DeleteThey were a mouth full Kid. All those raisins! Which reminds me of ... Amaizin Raisin ... and how can I forget Aztec, my fave.
DeleteI recently played Ziggy Stardust the LP and found that I knew every word of every song! After 49 years! Ziggy played guitar!
ReplyDeleteI love the story Bowie tells on how he came to the Ziggy look, it was the mid 60's and he heard some one shout out to him on the Kings road and he turned and it was Vince Taylor dressed head to toe in crushed red velvet with matching dyed red hair " ere Dave! Look what I Bought, It's only a map to Atlantis!!" Bowie wasn't so sure about this "Original" map but was quite taken by the look! Angie Bowie tells it different but of course she would, she was the ex!!
DeleteSorry forgot to sign off - Mark J Southcoast Base
DeleteWhat a superb tale Mark. I adored Bowie as a kid. He was my idol but I regret never having a bowie cut. That's fascinating about the red velvet and red hair. I have a scrap book somewhere full of my magazine clippings from the Seventies and all Bowie! Angies there too. I regret lending some Bowie albums to a mate - Pin Ups, Aladdin etc - in my late teens cos I then moved country and never got them back. I really regret Images being in that pile, the double album full of his early stuff when he was David Jones and the Lower Third. It linked to another LP in the missing group, the Wonderful World of David Bowie by MfP I think. Again, all his earliest songs. Fortunately I still have many of my albums including Ziggy, Space Odd, Man Who Sold, David Live and my fave Hunky Dory.
DeleteI don't think Treets became M&Ms. They were similar products, but it wasn't a direct name change, like Marathon to Snickers, was it ?
ReplyDeleteMish.
Not sure Mish. They are choc covered peanuts for sure and a similar taste. What I really miss is Bar Six! I loved that choco wafer snappable bar. I suppose Kit Kat was just too much competition.
DeleteI believe that Treets to M&Ms was a direct name change, but perhaps they made them ever so-slightly differently to tie-in with how they were in America. M&Ms reverted to the name Treets for a limited time a few years ago, so the manufacturers clearly regard them as the same thing.
DeleteBlimey, so Treets did become M&Ms.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone recall a double barred rum truffle choc called Cadbury's Special Recipe ?
Nope. Don't know that one. I do remember Bournville Sandwich though, milk choc outers with a dark choc filling. Or was it a Cadbury's Sandwich?
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