Another Column I wrote

Laying a Foundation to Bridge the Generation Gap.

There is a concept in modern culture known as the �generation gap.�

It�s the phenomenon that causes people over the age of 35 to say things like, �What is up with young people�s music today?� or �The way these kids are dressing is shameful.�

Any parent from almost any era would tell you how hard it is to communicate with their children.

With the advance of technology advancing at a break neck pace, kids today not only have new slang, sometimes it might seem like a totally new language.

Computer terminology ranges from technical jargon like byte (a unit of data) and ftp (file transfer protocol, the method of packet switching on which the internet is based) to cell phone texting and instant messenger abbreviations like brb and rotflmao (be right back and rolling on the floor laughing my ass off).

But words aren�t everything. The digital age has changed the way we go about solving problems.

Let�s assume for a moment that a computer is shutting down every few minutes after the first thing a tech (computer wizard) will do is turn it on and wait until it shuts down to see exactly what the behavior is.

In a way, this would be like a mechanic examining an engine that he suspects is overheating by turning it on and waiting for it to overheat. But what if the problem is that the coolant has leaked into the engine oil? Now the whole engine is frozen and the problem is worse than ever.

Trial and error is not the way to fix mechanical problems, but it is the bread and butter of the digital revolution.

But maybe I can help close the gap by shoving both sides toward each other.

For the parents and grandparents out there, allow me to demistify a few more common internet terms and computer functions.
TTYL- Talk to you later. This is a common sign off, almost as popular as �goodbye� among today�s youth.

POS- Parent over shoulder. If you see this one on the computer screen then you might want to look at the nature of the conversation your child was just having, since they obviously don�t want you to see it.

Emoticons- These are variations on the standard smiley face expressed with a colon and and end parentheses, like so :). They express various emotional states. Common variations include the sticking out tongue :P, the wink ;) and the closed mouth :X.

n00b- refers to someone who is unfamiliar or unskilled in a game or other subject matter. It can also refer to someone who does not know the workings of a particular website function or the internet in general.

For a more complete list of phrases go to http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/List_of_Internet_slang_phrases. If you�re having trouble ask your kids/ grandkids for help.

Perhaps the most important computer function for you to be aware of is �history� which is common to most web browsers.

Browsers store the address of every page the computer has been used to visit. These can be viewed in the �history� tab at the top of the browser window. In this way you can keep track of the websites your child has been visiting.

If the history is blank then you might suspect your child has deleted the records of what they were looking at. Programs are available on the internet to password protect your internet history.

These things aren�t just to assist you in communication, they can help keep your children safe. Remember that in today�s world it is as important to know who your kids are talking to on the internet as it is to know where they�re going at night. Ask, and if they won�t tell you then don�t let them near the the computer.

Now that I�m done shoving the elder side of the gap, I also promised to push the younger generation closer to the older one. If you�re over the age of 20 then stop reading right here and hand the paper over to someone younger.

Alright, now that the old fogies are gone we can get down to business.

I know all of you think you�re smarter than your parents and grandparents, but it�s just not true.
The difference you see is that you have a completely different set of experiences than they do.

Their heads are filled up with ways to stop their records (large black disks that stored music in grooves by means of a series of raised bumps) from skipping and how hard to crank their Model T Ford (predecessor of the Mustang).

You, on the other hand, know how to turn on a computer to �accidentally� stumble across pornography on the internet and how to operate the click wheel on an Ipod.

Take a minute to think how it will be when you�re old and your grandkids are saying things like �What�s an mp3 player?� Maybe you�d want someone to help you?

So when an older person reveals their lack of knowledge, try helping them rather than suppressing giggles and keeping quiet.

Let them know that capitalization doesn�t matter when typing email and website addresses.

Add a �hooray� after you wOOt (an abbreviation meaning �we owned the other team) in celebration.

Show them how to use the DVD player, three or four times if that�s what it takes.

Remember, the people you�re helping are the one�s who fed, bathed you and changed your diapers for your first few years on the planet. Maybe you owe them a little appreciation, courtesy and help?