OPO: Things people just don't seem to do anymore

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1. That thing where you twirl your finger next to the side your head to indicate that someone is "crazy".

― the baby from three men and a baby, but all growed up (nordicskilla), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Adam your rapid-fire moniker changes are making me dizzy.

Also: pump fist in the air going "hwoo hwoo hwoo" a la the Arsenio Hall show.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

2. Eat treacle and huddle closely over a wireless radio to hear President Taft assure the nation that the Great Meatpacking Crisis of 1910 will be settled shortly 'by means of our National Guard and buckshot.'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think that's in line with the spirit of the question

― ModJ (ModJ), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I am allowing for a liberal interpretation. But if you insist:

3. "Wanna come over and play some Atari games?"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Eat treacle

I initially read this as "ear treacle." I'm glad I was wrong.

― america's first municipal lunatic asylum (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:41 (twenty-two years ago)

More plz!

― the baby from three men and a baby, but all growed up (nordicskilla), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Oddly enough I did the Arsenio and the head twirling loco thing at my office today.

― LiquidTide (LiquidTide), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:41 (twenty-two years ago)

the rotary dial motion

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Die from smallpox, then.

― ModJ (ModJ), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:43 (twenty-two years ago)

when visiting her in London I responded to something my sister said by slapping my hand against my chest and going "daieee..." in a retarded voice. She started laughing at me and asking if I was 14. Nothing like a little sister to force you back into old habits.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:46 (twenty-two years ago)

My supervisor totally once did the "crazy" handgesture after a co-worker walked away. But like me, he might just be 14.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Family bowling

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Purchase food at an automat

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

minigolf

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

minigolf

I played miniature golf earlier this year.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Me too.

― the baby from three men and a baby, but all growed up (nordicskilla), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Have milk delivered

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Purchase gasoline at a full-service gas station (yeah, i know - NJ and OR excepted)

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Get given free milk in breaks at school.

― the baby from three men and a baby, but all growed up (nordicskilla), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Do they...still give away free stuff with cereal? It doesn't seem like they do.

― the baby from three men and a baby, but all growed up (nordicskilla), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Walk on the moon

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Vote

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:53 (twenty-two years ago)

wish they were Prince

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:53 (twenty-two years ago)

free milk in breaks

Oh the inadvertant misreadings.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:54 (twenty-two years ago)

care

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 15 January 2004 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

THE TWEE THE TWEE MY GOGGLES DO NOTHING

Take dictation.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 15 January 2004 04:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Gather the family around the radio to listen to the latest episodes of popular radio serials.

― As Sweet As Melody (Dee the Lurker), Thursday, 15 January 2004 04:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Walk on the moon

or alternately, moonwalk à la MJ

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 15 January 2004 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

go "wick-wick-WACK" with the hand motion

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 15 January 2004 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

(thank god)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 15 January 2004 04:22 (twenty-two years ago)

refer to lame people as 'herbs,' attractive people as 'foxes' or 'studs' - maybe this is all generational shit tho. i never said any of that shit. maybe it was all rap records and tv sitcoms then?

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 15 January 2004 04:25 (twenty-two years ago)

the watusi, the mashed potato, the twist, the madison, the frug, the running man (unironically), the shimmy, the alligator, the harlem shuffle, the electric slide (oh but on the rare occasions that they do LOOK OUT cause you will have big ole ladies all over the floor).

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Thursday, 15 January 2004 05:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I used a payphone with a rotary dial today. I'm surprised that Alexander Graham Bell didn't answer instead of my grandmother.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Thursday, 15 January 2004 05:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha well theres one - use a payphone. Cant think of the last time I used one.

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 15 January 2004 05:42 (twenty-two years ago)

My cell coverage doesn't work in Memphis.

Ha. People don't seem to go to Memphis anymore, either.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Thursday, 15 January 2004 05:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Love another human being.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 15 January 2004 06:24 (twenty-two years ago)

People don't leave pies on window sills to cool down anymore.

― Alfie (Alfie), Thursday, 15 January 2004 09:02 (twenty-two years ago)

beat rugs in the garden

― MarkH (MarkH), Thursday, 15 January 2004 09:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Send regular letters to friends, except if they've moved to a faraway country.

beat rugs in the garden

Rug beating still goes on in Finland, though not in the garden. Many apartment buildings have special racks for this.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 15 January 2004 09:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Have two lounges, ie. sitting room/drawing room. Or sculleries, for that matter.

― Silly Sailor (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 15 January 2004 09:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Finland is a curious place.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Thursday, 15 January 2004 10:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I now only have to imagine Gareth and the payphone and all is right with the world.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 15 January 2004 10:37 (twenty-two years ago)

*1. That thing where you twirl your finger next to the side your head to indicate that someone is "crazy".*

I just finished watching "The Exorcist" and Lee J. Cobb did that!

― weather!ngda1eson, Thursday, 15 January 2004 11:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes! And someone did on that Dennis Rodman show last night! And my wife pointed out someone doing it on Sex And The City! Is it coming back?

― the baby from three men and a baby, but all growed up (nordicskilla), Thursday, 15 January 2004 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.historyslice.com/kids/toys/hoop1.jpg

― Nemo (JND), Thursday, 15 January 2004 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

What about hula hoops? Haven't seen those in quite a while...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 15 January 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.bcl.co.uk/images/kp%20gifs/kp1.gif

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 15 January 2004 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

...speak to each other anymore - it's all texting and email (and, uh, messegeboards) nowadays.

Also, nobody uses combs anymore.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Thursday, 15 January 2004 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

say "dingy-bahooo"

― jed_ (jed), Thursday, 15 January 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 93 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

i had these brazillian neighbors once, a couple....

― kephm (kephm), Thursday, 20 October 2005 02:58 (twenty years ago)

Do the Wayne's World pelvic thrust and say "Schwing!"

hahahaha i... uh... say schwing sometimes... kind of as a joke i guess? i don't even know.

i'm kind of ashamed of it.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 20 October 2005 04:13 (twenty years ago)

i also have a totally unshakeable attachemnt to the "that's what she said!" joke (it is a great joke with many applications)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 20 October 2005 04:14 (twenty years ago)

"____-um? i nearly ___ him!"

― astor riviera (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 20 October 2005 04:19 (twenty years ago)

Telling their kids that the Boogieman will come and get 'em if they don't eat their vegetables

― Eva van Rein (Gaia1981), Thursday, 20 October 2005 04:58 (twenty years ago)

jazzercise

― astor riviera (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 20 October 2005 05:00 (twenty years ago)

Quote Fletch.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 20 October 2005 05:03 (twenty years ago)

Telling the truth. Everyone lies these days unlike in days of yore when no one ever fibbed and a white lie was telling someone that no, they really did not look fat in that dress rather than certain "fabrications" about WMD and asylum seekers throwing children overboard. Well as opposed to the past "reds under the bed" fairytales. So the falsehoodmeter is just more exaggerated now. But still ... there's just not as much respect for the *truth* today and major political lies are legitimated as "spin." Pfft.

― saleXander / sophie (salexander), Thursday, 20 October 2005 05:20 (twenty years ago)

Take responsibility for their own actions.

― Mingus Dew (Mingus Dew), Thursday, 20 October 2005 05:39 (twenty years ago)

1. BATHING MACHINES.

― Roxymuzak, Mrs. Carbohydrate (roxymuzak), Thursday, 20 October 2005 05:40 (twenty years ago)

suck my cock

― geoff (gcannon), Thursday, 20 October 2005 05:45 (twenty years ago)

2003 was "that's what she said" year in the comix store I work at

also, a lot of Spanish speakers in NE Georgia totally say mamacita

― emilys. (emilys.), Thursday, 20 October 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

I say "cor blimey" from time to time, in a non-affected manner as well.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 20 October 2005 16:30 (twenty years ago)

Grime

― Confounded (Confounded), Thursday, 20 October 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

Carry a rolled-up newspaper under their arm on the way to work.

― knife (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 22:05 (twenty years ago)

They do still carry it down the hall to the crapper.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 22:11 (twenty years ago)

counting out change starting at the amount you spent and ending at the bill amount you gave them

― emilys. (emilys.), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 22:21 (twenty years ago)

take responsibility for the conditions of their world

― steve ketchup, Wednesday, 26 October 2005 01:39 (twenty years ago)

Play marbles or jacks (as opposed to Basement Jaxx)

― j.lu (j.lu), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 02:20 (twenty years ago)

counting out change starting at the amount you spent and ending at the bill amount you gave them

There are still clerks out there who do this. They're predominantly older employees, though. The last time it happened was when I was at Radio Shack buying a coaxial cable; I was so pleasantly surprised that I couldn't help but thank the clerk for doing that.

― This Field Left Blank (Dee the Lurker), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 04:56 (twenty years ago)

Tip their hats in greeting.

― moley (moley), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 05:19 (twenty years ago)

I do a little head-nod often, that I like to think is like a subtle hat-tip or curtsey. I probably look quite potty.

― Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 05:20 (twenty years ago)

hit with runners in scoring position

― Jimmy Mod wants you to tighten the strings on your corset (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 05:21 (twenty years ago)

i... uh... say schwing sometimes... kind of as a joke i guess?

My dept. had an intern this past summer whose last name was Schwing. I resisted saying "Schwing!" to her for two months, and then during her last week I finally asked her, "Do people say 'Schwing!' to you a lot?", and she just groaned. She was in like 2nd grade or something when Wayne's World was around, so she said she had to spend several years of her life having everyone say "Schwing!" to her before she ever even saw the skits or movies.

I also sometimes tip invisible hats to people. Or give mock salutes. I don't know why, it just seems like we need more greeting body language.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 05:27 (twenty years ago)

Does anyone still click their heels? I'm pretty sure that one's gone for good, even in Schleswig-Holstein.

― moley (moley), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 05:58 (twenty years ago)

I clicked my heels the other day but in an ironic non-spontaneous way.

― Bombed Out and Depleted / Kate (papa november), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 05:59 (twenty years ago)

i'm gonna do a lot more heel-clicking. it's way cute.

― g-kit (g-kit), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)

leave me alone

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:20 (twenty years ago)

Tell jokes (well in London they certainly don't)

― BarabadabaDadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:21 (twenty years ago)

run down the street chasing dogs with strings of sausages in their mouths.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:22 (twenty years ago)

(women) standing waiting for the husbands to come home after a night out with the lads, with curlers in the hair, a nightgown on, with their arms folded and holding a rolling pin

― BarabadabaDadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:24 (twenty years ago)

Tell jokes (well in London they certainly don't)

this is a really good one. can't remember the last time i told a joke or was told a joke in the 'classic' sense.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

knock policmens hats off with footballs

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

... I have to go back to Glasgow to hear new jokes. Expensive business, I'm tellin' ya (xpost)

― BarabadabaDadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:27 (twenty years ago)

build death defying rope swings.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:30 (twenty years ago)

saying "Gordon Bennett"

-- Colonel Poo (colonelpo...), October 19th, 2005.

i do this! not on the internet.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:31 (twenty years ago)

share a party line with neighbors and be able to listen in to their telephone calls (I did this as a kid)

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:43 (twenty years ago)

use white-out

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

sniff mimeographs

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

If I knew what a mimeograph was I might well sniff one

― BarabadabaDadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:46 (twenty years ago)

play whist

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:47 (twenty years ago)

"The mimeograph machine (commonly abbreviated to mimeo) or stencil duplicator was a printing machine that was far cheaper per copy than any other process in runs of several hundred to several thousand copies. It was not capable of photocopying a document, as a special stencil had to be prepared by hand. Popular until the early 1970's, especially in the preparation of tests and notes for use in classrooms, it has been largely supplanted by photocopying and offset printing."

The smell was like nothing else. As soon as the teacher would hand out a copy of the test or homework or whatever, every kid would immediately sniff the sheet.

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:49 (twenty years ago)

use 5 inch floppy disks.

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:53 (twenty years ago)

I wish I'd gone to your school (xpost)

― BarabadabaDadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 12:53 (twenty years ago)

You wouldn't have wanted to go to my school -- my teacher had a paddleboard she used to spank children. Classroom spankings don't happen much anymore either.

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 13:06 (twenty years ago)

My elementary school still had one! They smelled unusual. And I think the chemicals or ink involved got everyone high.

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 13:08 (twenty years ago)

ritual slaughter of innocents by druids

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 13:09 (twenty years ago)

Book-It

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

Ask the barmaid for a pen so you can write down the phone number of the person you have been snogging.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

These days the only time i ask barmaids for pens is when I'm doing a crossword...................... please kill me now

― BarabadabaDadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 13:43 (twenty years ago)

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