I love the Millennials in my life, but THIS is funny

[Siwsan]

[EYESORE 9001]

1. In my experience, it's not just cursive

I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to decipher chicken-scratch scribbles on forms that could very well become court documents someday. Roman letters and Arabic numerals present an insurmountable challenge, apparently.

[COL Mustard]

2. Boomer here

With terrible handwriting. Always had it, tried to write neater but I’m so glad for quality printers.

[EYESORE 9001]

3. I'm a boomer too, and in some ways I'm an insufferable, anal-retentive nightmare

I started down this obsessive path in grade school, practicing my writing even after the training was completed. I took drafting - no CAD (computer-assisted drawing) back then. When I was in the Navy, I attended a two-day class in penmanship. Sloppy writing could culminate in getting written up - theoretically. My writing now is impeccable, and my cursive is very readable.

Just the other day, I chided a 30-year-old for making the number ‘5’ that looked like a ‘3’. No wonder they call me ‘old teller’.

[hlthe2b]

15. I chide physicians and other HCWs who have horrible handwriting and frequently slow down myself to

make sure my writing is legible. From time to time I might even ask colleagues or patients if they can read it.

There are life and death issues with prescriptions, therapeutic and diagnostic orders and related. Not to mention the legal and licensure risks and they will not just blame the pharmacist or others who make resultant mistakes. Yes, I embraced computers and word processing, texting, and other long ago. Verbal dictation using cell phones is wonderful. But ultimately there is no excuse for not being able to write in cursive legibly. And yes, cursive is far faster than block letters. Recently during an ER emergent code, a new nurse attached an empty or malfunctioning oxygen tank with an attached note that was marked "do not use!" in cursive. She couldn't read it. Fortunately someone caught it.

I feel strongly about the need to continue teaching cursive for its "brain-wiring" benefits and neurodevelopment. But, likewise, the thought that many of any given generation would not be able to read the writings of their family or ancestors--go to see our founding documents and get nothing from it because they can't read them--that is so sad to me. And as I noted earlier, mail carriers that can't read cursive street names are becoming problematic. Sure AI technology might replace them--but is that our preferred solution?

[COL Mustard]

28. I used to joke that my handwriting wasn't bad enough

For medical school. Also there were a number of other reasons for me not to have gone...like science and math...but I try to write slowly since it's at least a little better that way.

I hear you about cursive. I have some very old documents written in German Fraktur and I can only read parts of them. There's one picture captioned "English 'Gentlemen'" but many of the others might as well be written in Martian. (It's in a scrapbook that a German officer compiled of his WWI service.)

[Siwsan]

4. I hated penmanship class.

I do still tend to just write things down on a note pad. Except shopping reminder lists. I type those in Docs so I can pull them up on my phone when I'm shopping.

And someone pointed out that this should probably be more accurate if it said 'GenX' instead of Millennials.

[EYESORE 9001]

13. There's no shortage of folks with poor penmanship amongst my cohort as well

Back in the day, I wrote entries into a large record book, followed by subsequent entries from others on a continual basis. No computer records - although there would have still been misspellings. It was all we had for information about what had happened, what remained to be done, etc. Everyone complained about one guy’s left-handed script, which was utterly atrocious. I think he got a little thrill from causing such widespread consternation, but that’s a whole ‘nother thing altogether .

It occurs to me, while tippy-tapping my screed, that my own elders wrote cursively for the most part, but sometimes it was so cramped that it looked like lithographs. I’ve lived through an era that witnessed the apex of handwriting to its continuing downward slide.

[radical noodle]

29. My daughter is Gen X

and she learned cursive, but not penmanship. I quizzed her 3rd grade teacher about it because her handwriting was pretty sloppy but the teacher assured me that "little hands" aren't ready to be neat. Her writing is more legible now but it's never pretty the way we Boomers were taught to write.

When I was managing an office, I would actually have everyone I interviewed for a job write something down for me to make sure their writing was at least readable. Of course, that was prior to having computers doing most of the work.

[CrispyQ]

33. The joy of a Big Chief writing tablet with the blue lines & making ovals & loops that fit & were the same size.

I always enjoyed penmanship even if I wasn't very good at it. In 5th grade a girl in my class competed in a national penmanship contest.

[Tree-Hugger]

35. GenX learned cursive

I had penmanship classes for gradeschool and penmanship was graded in it's own spot on our report cards throughout high school. I learned penmanship in both public school and Catholic school. There was a difference in some of the letters and my Catholic school teachers would deduct points if I used the cursive learned in public school.

GenZ is the generation that largely has not been taught cursive. The schools around me have brought it back. My kids (GenZ and Gen Alpha) have both learned it, but there was a large gap where it was not taught at all.

[moose65]

40. Nope

GenXers (of which I am one) are older than millennials, and we definitely learned cursive. I think you mean GenZ.

[multigraincracker]

12. I have unreadable penmanship.

I had an Anthropology Professor set me straight.
I apologized to her one time about my penmanship and she, correctly, explained to me I suffer from Dysgraphia. A condition on the language spectrum. I was a psychology major and had never heard about that. It also include spelling. She also told me “if the message is conveyed, spelling does not matter” unless you are dealing with a closed minded individual.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. "message is conveyed" is narrow binary thinking; it's closed minded

Open minded people realize that there are degrees of conveyance. Telegraphing, pulling teeth, putting thorns on the message, or flowing, smooth and easy to comprehend. Very occasionally bad spelling is better, such as when emulating maga.

Empathetic people try to write to make it easy for the reader to understand. This means taking reasonable care with spelling so that the reader doesn't stumble and have to re-read and ponder before grasping the meaning. What effort is reasonable varies with writer and situation of course. otErways de msg is convayd but mite make unsertinty and dout in teh reeders mind. Badd spellin mudds the messge und sits up rode blocs. itall so reqwires prover eating.

[multigraincracker]

23. Einstein was a terrible speller.

He was more intelligent than about everyone else. Intelligence is not measured by grammar or spelling. The language spectrum is a real learning disability that some are born with and end up being told they are dumb and stupid by parents, teachers and others that are ignorantly blame it on intelligence.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

24. All good points. . . . . nt

[Zipgun]

25. I read and understood what you wrote, even though you did more than just mess up spelling. Kind of seems you are shaming

people with bad penmanship and poor spelling, like me, while claiming to be empathic. I don't have those issues because I want them, am not empathic or am lazy. I've faced my share of shame, ridicule and berating over my life because of them. I HAVE tried to improve them, and often rewrite hand written messages when I can't type them. I have mid dyslexia and some other mild issues that seem to be the cause. There are other things that require good fine motor skills that I also suck at. I am over 50 and can say, with certainty, it's not going to change. I know it sucks for others to have to read my chicken scratch. But it sucks for me also. I really beat myself up over it still. I feel shame and anxiety over it. There are forms that I can't get in digital form that have to be filled out by hand, those are a nightmare to me. And honestly, after reading your post, I didn't feel that good about myself.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

38. Not shaming, but my apologies regardless. I wrote: " reasonable varies with writer and situation of course"

As I get older and a little eyesight issue has crept in, I find myself more dyslexic than I have ever been. A (guessed) rise from 2% to 7% is felt more than a rise from 22% to 27% (arbitrary figures; I understand the issue but haven't had to deal with it for a lifetime like some people have had to and they have dealt with it).

Please don't feel shame. Just do your best to take reasonable care and hold your head up. That means not huge amounts of time unless you have the time and the desire. Whatever comes out is what it is, no shame. You have good reasons to feel good about yourself.

My intention was never to shame dyslexics or those who would like better motor skills. I apologize if it made anyone uncomfortable.

My intention was to wake up those who think simple conveyance is all that is required. There is more to communication than the kernel of a message.

[Siwsan]

5. I recently found a note that my father had written to me.

It was just a sort of receipt for something he had taken care of for me. I absolutely treasure it. Weird, I know, but not a day goes by that I don't think about him. He was the parent who loved me unconditionally. That written note just feels like a connection.

[NJCher]

7. Feels like a connection

‘Cuz it is a connection.

They do stuff like that.

[CrispyQ]

31. Many of them can't read an analog clock either.

I read a fascinating article on a study done with people who can & can't read analog clocks. Those who could, had a better sense of how much time had passed over a period of 5, 10, 15, & 30 minutes.

A few weeks after reading that piece, a young woman asked me what time it was. I told her it was a quarter till four. She gave me a frustrated look & asked, "But what time is it?" I remembered the article & told her, "Three forty-five." She said thanks & went on her way.

[moose65]

6. The oldest millennials are in their early 40s

You really think they can’t read cursive writing?

[NJCher]

8. See her post 4

Eom

[Tree-Hugger]

32. That says GenX

GenX are after boomers and are older than Millennials. We had penmanship classes and can certainly read cursive.
It's GenZ that got shafted with the cursive.

[MiHale]

9. My handwriting was always horrible...

My mom hade me practicing the, I believe it was called the Palmer Method for hours. Still sucked…printed then still do…and it looks like turkeys danced on a paper for a little while sometimes I can’t even read it. I have developed my own shorthand that is constantly evolving with little regard for my understanding.

[bobnicewander]

10. I am LXXXIII

83 year old male.

Thanks for the post. I must write slowly for my writing to be readable.

Why do most women have very neat penmanship? Just another thing they do better than we do. Handwritten letters are treasures. Electronic writing is no comparison as mementos.

"me·men·to
/məˈmenˌtō,məˈmen(t)ō/
noun
plural noun: mementos

An object kept as a reminder or souvenir of a person or event."

[hlthe2b]

17. Roman numerals are apparently a subject of increased Google searches prior to each Super Bowl or

Olympics... I guess, whatever gets people interested in learning... LOL

[CrispyQ]

34. I was ordering new house numbers & my husband said "Let's put it in Roman numerals." -nt

[kozar]

11. Great post

How,are the kitties?

Koz

[hlthe2b]

14. Admittedly...

I LOVE IT!

I guess when the older mail carriers all die or retire, none of us will get any personal hand-written mail delivered again... Unless AI can be taught to read cursive, thereby replacing many for any future work?

[mwooldri]

16. Do "Millennials" understand ....

Old German Gothic type font? Sometimes known also as Old English?

Or are we right royally screwed?

[niyad]

19. That brought a smile, so thank you. I had only heard about younger people not

being able to read cursive a few months ago, which surprised me. Shortly after that, as one of our librarians was working on a list of books I wanted put on hold, I was apologizing for the difficulty of reading my small writing. He told me it wasn't that, but that he could not read cursive. Several weeks later, he told me that he was getting better, as he was practicing with my lists.

[paleotn]

20. I read long ago that learning cursive early on helps develop language skills.

The connections of letters helps with the connection of sounds. Makes logical sense. Not my field, but I wonder if language learning is slower now than it was back in the day when we were forced to write that way.

I can read it but never mastered it. My cursive is more atrocious than my printing. When I took my first drafting course in high school, I switched to printing and never looked back. But I can still read my mom's old letters and recipes written in secret code.

[jmbar2]

21. I'm stealing this!

I am a substitute teacher. None of our students can read cursive. Never realized the advantage of knowing it until now...

[FailureToCommunicate]

22. Start without me. I don't do ANY "attacking" till after 9:a.m.... and coffee...

...and reading the top stories on D.U.

[Orrex]

26. Cursive is a font

Last edited Sat May 18, 2024, 10:07 AM - Edit history (1)

Anyone who wants to read it can figure it out in about 30 seconds.

I know that you’re just having fun with it, but the stereotypical Conservative boomer really sees this as a flex when in fact it simply makes then look desperate and obsolete.

Meanwhile the clock on their Betamax is still blinking 12:00.

[ShazzieB]

39. Not sure that's true about cursive.

If it's nicely written, maybe, but not many people write that well. (I can barely read my own chicken scratches sometimes.)

What I do know for a fact is that there are plenty of Boomers (like me and my husband) who are not desperate OR obsolete, knew perfectly well how to program our VHS video recorder (back when we had one), have never even owned a Betamax, and really don't like being chacterized the way you just did!

[Orrex]

41. I was explicitly not talking about you

Anticipating some sort of "not all boomers" response, I deliberately wrote this:

but the stereotypical Conservative boomer really sees this as a flex when in fact it simply makes then look desperate and obsolete.

So if you're not "the stereotypical Conservative boomer," then I'm not talking about you.

Also, almost no one actually writes cursive. At least, I've never seen more than a phrase or two written consecutively in actual, formal cursive in my adult life. Instead, people invariably cobble together a mishmash of cursive, long-hand, and assorted highly personalized squiggles, all lumped generically together as "cursive."

Signatures aren't cursive. Signatures especially aren't cursive.

My own handwriting is a Cthulhoid nightmare of arcane symbols and soul-draining glyphs that no sane person can interpret.

[bobnicewander]

27. Old school punishment

Write 100 times "I will not swallow my food without chewing".

Unless you want to do this again! Heh,heh.

[doc03]

30. I know cursive but I will write myself a note or make a shopping list and

can't read it myself.

[AllaN01Bear]

36. im 66 born in 1957, had a battle with cursive since i was a child. now i cant read it much unless it is very clear.

took me a looooooong time to get my sig line in a good clear state . however , i saw a beautiful example of block print on a note and i kept the note to this day. made me cry.

[RazorbackExpat]

37. I haven't used cursive since like, 1980

13 years earlier, my 3rd grade teacher focused so much on cursive that I was one time kept inside for recess because I was unable to address a hypothetical envelope within the cursive guidelines that were given to me. I ended up with pretty decent penmanship, though, which made it easy for all my teachers after that to read my work

[miyazaki]

42. Millenials can read?

I kid.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

43. Thank you for reminding me of old Willy Brown

As a teenager, I did odd jobs for gas money. I did some yard work for old Willy Brown and during a break, he showed me some gorgeous calligraphy. He said it was his work on those documents, but I was skeptical. His hands shook all the time. He took the time to demonstrate. As soon as his hand touched the paper, all shaking ceased. I had the privilege of watching art being made. ( I tried to find some examples online to rival his work, but it was all too garish. His was classy ).

[raccoon]

44. That is so cute!

[raccoon]

45. Those who replied that they've always had trouble with cursive, are you left-handed?

I am, and one of my teachers in particular bitched about my handwriting.
I was trying to write in an effing right-handed desk, of course.

Now it's better, but I don't have to write in a right-handed desk.

And I just pick up composition books and turn them over and use them.

[Siwsan]

46. My mother was left handed until the nuns got ahold of her

They tied her left hand down and forced her to use her right hand. Somethings she still did left handed.

I've always wondered if she subconsciously did the same thing to me. I write right handed but drive, eat and use a computer mouse/touch pad left handed. Also I can't use a potato peeler with my right hand.

[RobinA]

47. My Grandmother

born circa 1900ish was left handed and forced to be right handed. She was quite ambidextrous. She was also a piano player and I always wondered if the meanies who made her use her right hand did her a favor.

[Coventina]

48. One of my favorite cartoons: