Snap Is the New Dude

Last night, my 11-year-old son had one of his friends over for a sleepover. While they were hanging out playing video games in what has become our rec room (formerly the living room), one word kept emanating from the room.

"Snap!"

If something good happens in the game, then a boy would yell "Snap!" If something bad happened, then it was a more hushed-toned "Snap..." Either way, "Snap" is the 11-year-old boys' primary form of communication right now.

This "dialogue" reminded me of college in the late 80s when the all-purpose word was "Dude." This is perhaps the most versatile word on the planet for men. Let me give you some examples:

Pronoun: "Dude, you can't wear a Cyndi Lauper shirt on your date!"

Expletive: "Dude! Not cool! That totally hurt when you threw that lawn dart at me. Dude!"


Compliment: Attractive woman walks by two men. One man turns to the other and says quietly, "Dude." The other replies, "Dude." Communication has just taken place.

Threat: Man hits another man in the face accidentally while playing Frisbee Golf. "Dude!" (Implied message: "Once is funny, but if it happens again, there's going to be trouble.")

Adjective/Adverb: "He hit that ball right out of the park. I mean it was going so fast that...Dude!"

Emphatic: "This isn't just a story. I mean, Dude, this may have been one of the best beers I've ever tasted." "Dude?" "...Duuuuude." "Wow." "Oh ya."

I guess we have the now-serious Sean Penn to thank for the "Dude" in the American dialect. Remember when he used to appear to be a fun person? What did Clint say to him to make him so darn somber all the time? I imagine he probably winces every time some one calls him Spicoli these days. I hope I never take myself that seriously. Because, if I do, well...Dude!