Things you can't believe people have never heard of

Bluecat. ??

Last week we offered the plasterer (in his twenties) a coffee. He didn't know white coffee was coffee with milk.

I didn't realise that Japan was smaller than China until about 5 years ago.

Mortifyingly, while in China, I asked a Chinese colleague how their government were appointed (I KNEW, I was having a senior moment).

I remember reading about the poet Robert Browning using the term "twat" in one of his poems. His publishers had to ask him gently what he thought that it meant. Turned out that he had read a reference to "an old nun's twat" somewhere and thought it was some sort of religious headgear.

Incidentally, anyone shocked by pearl necklaces is strongly advised never to Google "snowballing."

After all train cancellations to the north out of Euston, I found myself after a lot of trouble, in Cambridge to make a connection.
My granddaughter said “Nan, are we still in London?”

walked along singing and doing Jake the Peg . Everyone just stared .............

They might have been staring because a Rolf Harris song isnt considered very PC any more since his conviction for sex offences against children.

Comptometer operator (one of my many jobs) was greeted with a blank look from grandson. Not surprising really.
Years ago, I called across to my friend who worked in the local chemist, busy that day
“Rita, have you got any amphetamines?” She ignored me and just gave me a look...I thought they were a jumped up type of Pro Plus.
Enjoying this funny thread, thank you.

welbeck In the story your relate, which I remember, they had an alert assistant who was on the ball.

Mine featured the exact opposite. A geography graduate, who did not know where in the world a country was, that is not infrequently in the news, because of its proximity to China

That was a reply to someone r looking up ‘Pearl necklace’!

Me too and I definitely haven’t had a sheltered upbringing!!

Sorry welbeck for spoiling this thread. Truly.
I never for a minute thought it would garner such interest. And so many comments.
pantglas led me on miss. She did it first!!

Apologies. That was infantile & my attempt at humour.

My apology is sincere though. That said now it’s been spoilt, perhaps you could start one of your own? A serious one about blue ring binders and such like. I wouldn’t post on that, I promise!

?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-55315623

took an Egyptian asst to realise that Egypt is not in asia...

Monica, i heard something similar to your story about arteacts in a museum.
they thought some pieces were lost/stolen as they had been missing for decades.
one day a young asst was dusting off some old boxes and found the serial numbers were out of sync.
can't remember the exacts but something had long ago been put in the wrong region's boxes.
so it had a happy outcome. but even in a learned institution, basic errors are made. think the middle east was involved.

before the turn of the century, i was working in the field and needed some information kept in the office.
i rang and spoke to a temp admin asst.
i described the folder behind her and asked her to get it down.
she said she couldn't see anything like that. and that all the files were in metal cabinets. i said this was a large blue ring binder on a shelf behind where she sat.
she insisted no such thing was there. i thought it's just poss someone has taken it to use at their desk, though unlikely, it never moved.
got back to the office and there it was where i said.
i asked her why she hadn't found it. she said she had no idea what a ring binder was.
nor a folder. nor a file except hanging in a cabinet.
obviously she had no motivation at all to helpful which i also found baffling.

welbeck picking up your point I think it should be something they ought to know.

Some years ago, I worked for an international consultancy firm and I wanted all the files on a project in Taiwan. I searched the Asian section of the filing system for files on Taiwan, but without result.

I then went to speak to the relevant secretary and asked for help. She told me that she thought Taiwan was in the Middle East and that is where all the files were. This secretary had a degree in geography.

i agree with DanniRae.
i wish this thread had stuck to its original theme of historical or cultural reference terms that younger people, mostly, are unacquainted with.
if you all wanted it to go another way i wish it could have been given another title so i could have avoided it.
it hurts my mind

Oh lordy I've had a great laugh at this read. Have been on Google and now know the meanings of 3 new sayings, not that I'll ever use them lol. I've been hibernating for a very long time....

I find it wierd when Top Gun and Pretty Woman get a blank look from young people today.

GCHQ

I had to explain the currently fashionable terms “ incel ” and “woke” recently to someone I thought was a most intelligent woman. Does she never read social commentators?

Blinko

I googled tea bagging and ok, I get that. But no such luck with string of pearls. All I got was houseplants and Glenn Miller.....

You need to search for Pearl necklace not string of pearls. You might prefer not to.
I’ve had to look up a few terms mentioned on this thread. Eye opening!

me neither!

OK, I've now looked up the list of unknowns and added to my education.
Going back to the original purpose of the thread, I remember using a teletext machine and how modern I felt!
I had to explain and demonstrate shorthand to my son (please don't say that has an alternative meaning nowadays!).
I also had to explain 'old' money to him, eg 2 Bob, half a crown, a tanner, threepence, farthing, etc.
There, now that was a less impolite part of the discussion I hope ?

Now I want to join you! Stop it ?

I know. ?