# What questions would expose a youngster? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544 "2003-08-02T14:01:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/41 "2003-08-02T22:23:55Z")
We had postal codes before we had zip codes. What became Houston, TX 77019 was written Houston 19, Texas during the brief life of postal codes. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/42 "2003-08-02T22:33:12Z")
Wow…do folks my age and younger really have that poor a grasp on recent history? I’m 25, and I’ve gotten all these references…except the Rob Petrie thing. Who’s he? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/43 "2003-08-02T22:39:24Z")
He was Dyke Van Dick 😃 ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/44 "2003-08-02T23:22:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ringo \* > \*\*We had postal codes before we had zip codes. What became > > Houston, TX 77019 > > was written > > Houston 19, Texas > > during the brief life of postal codes. \*\* I’ve read in old magazines where a mail-in card or such would have, in lieu of a space for “zip code”, a space for “zone”. Is this the same thing? Also, our town tests the sirens at noon every Saturday (wakes me up, too…grrr). However, they’re not ‘Air Raid’ sirens, they’re ‘Tornado’ sirens. Ovaltine’s still around. Is Rob Petrie off Dick Van Dyke? ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/45 "2003-08-02T23:23:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > \*\*He was Dyke Van Dick 😃 \*\* That’s who I meant; I didn’t see your reply. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/46 "2003-08-03T00:37:11Z")
\ OOOoo Boyo, I know, I know. 🙂 I think Ringo’s post (slide rules) is pretty definitive. Very few folks under 50 know how to use one. Advising girls in highschool to learn Gregg shorthand so they can get a job until they get married. (This was standard advice when I went to school). Girls taking Home Ec; Boys taking Shop. Absolutely no crossover. Mimeographs, stencils, carbon paper. PBX board (switchboard) operators. (I ran one as my first job) Manual typewriters. Knowing the names of the Mouseketeers. Having watched Howdy Doody. Knowing who Klem Kaddidlehopper is. AuH20 ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/47 "2003-08-03T00:44:00Z")
I got them all too and I’m 31. Rotarie phones drove me crazy! I always had issues with them when ever I used one. I was just thinking the other day about TV dinners when they came in tinfoil pans with tinfoil coverings. When soda and beer cans had a seam and pull tabs. And my husband who acts like he was born in my grandparents gereration is forever after me about my use of the word tinfoil. Have had that around in years it’s now aluminum foil. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/48 "2003-08-03T00:49:50Z")
For **as\_u\_wish** : “In your heart you know he’s right.” ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/49 "2003-08-03T00:57:27Z")
It’s pretty scarey that, after almost 40 years, I know exactly what Ringo’s talking about. I think I’ll got take some Geriotol. “My wife, I think I’ll keep her.” “Mother, please! I’d rather do it myself!” Speedy Alka Seltzer. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/50 "2003-08-03T01:11:03Z")
Rob Petrie was the character played by Dick Van Dyke in the original _Dick Van Dyke Show_. His wife Laura was played by Mary Tyler Moore, the first female character on TV allowed to wear pants! His co-workers (co-writers of an imaginary TV comedy/variety show) were Buddy Sorrell and Sally Rogers, played by Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/51 "2003-08-03T01:20:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bricker \* > \*\*… > > What other questions/phrases might show someone’s age, or lack thereof? > > … \*\* “That info is straight from the government, so you know it must be true” ---
**Author:** ![kputt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/52 "2003-08-03T01:42:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SnoopyFan \* > \*\ ***Even-numbered license plates on an odd day - no gas.** > > When? And _why?_ \*\* gas crisis in the 70’s. They had to use gas rationing. I’m 22 years old and knew that ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/53 "2003-08-03T01:53:08Z")
“Sending away” for things. And having to wait 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. I am in my 20’s, but I too lived through the dark ages of having to wait patiently for your fake vomit, ventriloquist’s dummy, or baseball cards. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/54 "2003-08-03T02:02:03Z")
**Joe K** , yes, the postal code was for zone. ---
**Author:** ![Shaolinrabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shaolinrabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaolinrabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/55 "2003-08-03T02:06:28Z")
Ok, what’s a suicide door? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/56 "2003-08-03T02:13:40Z")
A suicide door is one that is hinged on the rear instead of the front. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/57 "2003-08-03T02:17:50Z")
And [they might be coming back](http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/030102.html). Well, we’ve got seatbelts and airbags nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Shaolinrabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shaolinrabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaolinrabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/58 "2003-08-03T02:22:57Z")
Ok, **Ringo** , what do you mean? I get the concept of the door hinged on the other side, but why the comment about seat belts and air bags? It seems from the naming of the door, and your comment, as though there is something ominous about it, but I can’t figure what. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/59 "2003-08-03T02:40:00Z")
I’m 20, and I recognize virtually everthing posted so far. Then again, I’m obsessed with the 80s, so I’ve always been known for living in the past. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544/60 "2003-08-03T02:58:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Ok, Ringo, what do you mean? I get the concept of the door hinged on the other side, but why the comment about seat belts and air bags? I’m not sure about the air bags, but the seat belts (if worn) reduce the “suicide” aspect considerably. At speed, a rear-hinged door, if opened, acts as a huge air brake and drags itself out from the car. Anyone holding the handle for the purpose of opening the door tends to get dragged out with it. A seat belt reduces that risk by letting the door get sucked open, but holding the occupant inside. (A front-hinged door, of course, has the wind pushing it back toward the car, shoving the occupant back into his or her seat.) (The first generation of the “new” suicide doors were built so that they would not open until the front-hinged door was opened, so a passenger in the back could not accidentally pull on a handle and get sucked out. I do not know how the current crop is designed.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-questions-would-expose-a-youngster/192544.md?page=4)