What Did You Say??

Morning Girl: OMG, it is not just you! They not only talk super fast, but I think they also put marbles in their mouths when they talk to us "older" folks, just to get a laugh when they see the inevitable perplexed look on our faces and hear us ask, "HUH?"

I can also be standing right next to them and they talk in that sub-sonic level that only they and dogs can hear! I wish us "older" types still knew short-hand, that'd fix 'em. Next time they asked for something I would hand them my response in short hand and let them know that until they deciphered the symbols, they ain't gettin' nuthin'! };->

No, dot, it's not just you. I have two teen-agers, so I'm starting to get the hang of it. But, out of respect for all of the adults they have to communicate with, I insist that they "slow down and speak English" when they are speaking to me. When they were younger they had "inside voices" and "outside voices". Now they have "alien voices" and "intelligent conversation voices". lol

Oh No, it's definitely not just you dotcom! I have to ask my daughter to please slow down and she just gives me the "look". The condescending, impatient look reserved for "old" people. Surely she's not looking at me? LOL

Dot this hits home... When I missed my sons call last Tuesday telling me he made it to boot camp safely thanks to no power, His recruter finally got me and said he THINKS Michaels called him to let him know he was there.. They have to read this card and not speak anything else. So he said He was speaking so fast he couldn't understand a word he said but was pretty sure it was him... sighhhhhhhh..

I was always told to slow down, and all my kids did the same thing except the middle son who had a few years of studdering.But once he slowed down he did very well also.

But yes to fast and sounds like they have a mouth full of something and have you noticed also that their lips almost never move???

Oh I thank you all soooo much. I feel much better. When a young fast talker comes over and sits at the table with me I have to say," can you please talk louder and slower". They laugh and try but it is hard for them,------LOL

Even college kids mumble fast. And they write in fat round letters that overlap each other.

I put it in the syllabus now to speak slowly and use a printer. No handwriting.

The teen who is living with me cannot read cursive. When I leave him a note I have to print it.

Once, when I was hauling rail freight out of Chicago, I pulled into this rail yard and had to use a phone. This was only about ten years ago, and I still didn't have a cell phone. So, I asked this young man where I could find a pay phone. He proceeded to say something in an apparently unintelligible language. I looked straight at him and said, "I didn't understand a single word you just said." He then repeated himself in perfect English. I just thanked him and walked away shaking my head.