The man says expose yourself in public so here goes...

[oldcynic]

Hmmm. Harder to do than expected. Hope not to offend nice DUers who have been so kind. Raised as atheist, socialist and proud library card holder. Grew up watching unedited movie newsreels about concentration camps, listening to Woodie Guthrie, Leadbelly and Vera Lynn while reading science fiction, Dostoevsky and Freddy the Pig. Also writing letters of protest, sitting in, marching as a body-filler. Was anybody out there at Woodstock? Traveled some. Found what it is like to lose white privilege and lots of other educational stuff. Studied art and anthropology: all you need to inhabit earth. Now avidly read phys.org and despair of so much possibility swirling down the toilet. Firmly believe that overpopulation is the reason. For damn near everything. But in another universe, hairy cheeseballs are identified while still blastocysts and none of this is happening. What are the odds?

[In_The_Wind]

1. Welcome to DU, oldcynic.

I almost made it to Woodstock.

[rug]

2. That phrase has a much different meaning in the Lounge.

[oldcynic]

10. splain yourself, please

Which phrase?
What meaning?
While I've got you, what does n/t mean in the lounge?

[Rhiannon12866]

12. If you see a post that says n/t, that means "no text," that it's only a subject line

Welcome to DU, oldcynic! We're glad to have you with us!

[oldcynic]

16. Thanks n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

18. I see what you did there!

[lunatica]

3. Welcome to DU!

Reminds me of my parents and upbringing, only I lived in another country first so when I finally came to the US I was shocked at the jawdropping ignorance of so many Americans. Of course my first actual living here was in North Carolina where Southern is a whole different language. It took me a while to learn it. I never quite fit in only now I like it that way.

[oldcynic]

11. How long ago?

I lived in the south when it was so deep you could be in serious trouble for using that left-wing, bleeding heart, probably commie word "negro". Imagine my reaction to the same Dixiecrat bastards reappearing in the current cabinet. Is the weather still tolerable only two weeks a year..spring and fall? What I see on tv is not the muggy, soggy, miserable swelter I remember. Forest fires? Hard to believe! Who rescues the alligators?

[lunatica]

13. I'm 68 and I lived in Fayetteville, NC when I was in high school

Yeah, the words used were colored mostly and neegrah. At first, when I was there we lived with my grandparents on the farm and went to the local school when the first black kids were bused in to the white schools. Then my mom moved us into Fayetteville proper and we went to the public school where all the army brats went (Fort Bragg is there). It was the most integrated public school I've been in anywhere.

I never understood how my mother came from there, but I sure got why she left. Her family were really good people, but damn! Provincial as hell!

I have no regrets now though. My life has been a great education!

[oldcynic]

15. polite words where I grew up.

It was n-word all the way. The f-word falls out of my mouth easily but I still can't say that. My parents taught me better. Would you believe North Carolina was once considered the 'liberal' state (in the south)? In twelve years of southern public school I learned about the evils of federal government and the victory of Confederates over those damn Yankees. Last semester of 12th grade we were told there had been a meeting at Appomattox to which Grant arrived drunk and filthy dirty. Saint Lee came in a shiny clean uniform with polished boots and horse and forced the bluecoats to go home leaving glorious Rebs with all their guns so they could do it again. Wonder why the south is a nest of hornets? I'm sure Betsy Devos will improve the southern curriculum.

[hunter]

4. If you search intensively enough you'll find an actual photo of my naked ass here on DU.

We're an elite club.

[lunatica]

14. This post is useless without photos!

[oldcynic]

19. I'm looking, I'm looking! n/t

[femmocrat]

5. Welcome to DU, oldcynic.

From the only other Vera Lynn fan in the Lounge!

[irisblue]

7. welcome to DU & I am a Yugge fan of Vera Lynn.

[oldcynic]

17. Now we are three

Aside from the music and memories (mother hanging blackout curtains) isn't her diction a marvel?

[True Dough]

6. Hey oldcynic

Glad you found your way here. Please forgive me if I accidentally refer to you as Hoyt or docreed2012. They share your avatar.

[mikelewis]

8. I'd say slim to none...

It's all one big blur, man... who the hell can really catch any of it. I once watched a man with the bluest eyes give up the ghost... maybe to him, none of this is happening or maybe all of it's happening all at once. One thing I know for sure is this is a hell of an oasis in a storm. Welcome... though remember... light on the tiller and easy as she goes...

[yagotme]

9. Welcome to DU!

Not old enough for Woodstock, but just love the music from that era.