Man Code 2.0: modern man vs. 1950s man

[Will]

I went to coffee with my dad last week. I had a chai tea latte with soy, he had it black, no cream, no sugar. He didn't say anything, but he gave me a look that said "wow... where did I go wrong with you?"

Other things my dad does:

• He always pumps gas for my mom, even when he's not driving.

• Until very recently, he always wore a tie to work, even though almost no one else at the office does.

• He only got his haircut at barber shops. Anything above a $12 cut is unacceptable.

• He thinks personal debt is shameful, and never carries a balance on his credit card if he can help it.

• He hates going on vacations, and doesn't get this "find your inner child" thing my generation keeps talking about.

Do you see the same kind of generation gap between yourself and your parents?

[plor]

I am the second youngest child, so there is a large gap between my parents and my age, but I don't see that much of a gap really. It might be because I actually veer towards the 50's man than modern man. I drink my coffee black, haven't taken out student loans because I don't want to be in debt to anyone, and try to live chivalrously though that seems to have died in most men.

[kav122]

Although I LOVE a lot of things that men (and women for that matter) used to do, that they don't anymore, I did notice something funny this Christmas:

My husband and I went down to TN to see my family. My husband works evenings/nights and I work days so we do not have to pay for child care for our almost year old son.

My brother works weekdays and my SIL works weekends so they do not have to pay child care for their 4 and 1 1/2 year old daughters.

Although both my brother and my husband are "manly men", they took care of their respective children when me and my SIL were at work, therefore they have some VERY mommy-like poopy stories, etc. I watched as my Dad and Uncle looked at my husband and brother as if they were aliens as they recounted kid-stories to one another.

I don't think my Dad or Uncle even got near a poopy diaper their whole life. I love that about my husband, though.

VERY DIFFERENT Daddies now from the 1950s Daddies!

[rolltimer]

There is a huge generation gap between my mom and me that speaks of more than a 21 year difference in ages. Part of it has to do with the internet age. My mom retired from her data entry position in 2001. While she used a computer, company e-mail and had to access the internet for package tracking, she never explored beyond what was required for her job and she never got a computer for home use.

On the other hand, I entered the personal-computer-at-home age with the purchase of a Macintosh Performa in 1996, moved onto the internet in 1997 using AOL, lured further into the 'net by the lightning speeds of a T1 line at work in 1999 and signed up for high speed cable as soon as it was available for my home in 2000. I moved to a rural area in 2004 and suffered through dial-up for two months until I broke down and purchased satellite internet service that gives me speeds comparable to the cable modem I was used to.

My mom is stuck in the 1950's/1960's where her preferred means of communication is a landline telephone. She does have a cell provided through my sister's family plan that she uses on the weekends for free long distance and the occasional call when she's away from home. I hate phones (cell and landline) but use them as necessary for work and emergencies.

I prefer email since it is the least disruptive form of communication. No bells or ringtones of the phone; no pop-ups of instant messengers or text messages. I can read and answer on my schedule. I have multiple accounts that I manage with filters and Bloglines, an e-mail subscription service that lets you read your emails like RSS feeds.

[rstlne]

I think the biggest difference between my parents and I is in computer literacy. They've hardly even touched a computer all their lives, whereas I use computers for almost everything. In many other areas, we're not so different. We share lots of frugal habits.

[1littlething]

Originally Posted by kav122

I don't think my Dad or Uncle even got near a poopy diaper their whole life. I love that about my husband, though.

Aww, that's sweet! Though my husband is very much a "modern man" he still won't go near a poopy diaper. I think he'd almost rather take a bullet than change a diaper.

[Will]

Originally Posted by kav122

Although both my brother and my husband are "manly men", they took care of their respective children when me and my SIL were at work, therefore they have some VERY mommy-like poopy stories, etc.

That's wonderful Kav. Your husband is a lucky man. One of my biggest career goals is to have a job where I have enough flexibility to allow me to watch my children grow up.

Originally Posted by rolltimer

My mom is stuck in the 1950's/1960's where her preferred means of communication is a landline telephone.

That is very interesting. Usually people who use email are quickly sucked into the web via the "check out this link" email from friends. It is the first step towards the dark side.