As discussed, the youth have a very distinct urban vernacular. In its defense it is one of the few truly egalitarian aspects of their culture. Regardless of race, class or ethnicity all my youth employ the same, idiotic, phrases and expressions. They do this in part to blend in, to be part of the gang, but most importantly to be cool. (See previous posts)

The uninitiated, upon hearing them, would mistake this as some exotic or exciting tongue. Those familiar with their language would mock the uninitiated for being stupid and failing to recognize it for anything but madness and stupidity.
I hope I am not coming across as bigoted or ignorant, but I feel an important part of language is that it allows us to communicate. These kids uses all these cool words to talk to each other, but very often they really have no idea what the other is saying. (See That John for another clear example)

Take an incident on my last tip for an example. The kids are eating trail mix, when one turns to the other and said “This trail mix is banging”
“No its popping.” Another youth says.
Both popping and banging are words that I have heard before, along with hitting, cracking, snapping and thumping, they mean good. But up until now I had always assumed that they were interchangeable, I had never imagined it was hierarchical or that there was a graduation from good to ‘goodest’.
So I enquired.
Foolishly perhaps, but hey if you’re not living on the edge your taking up to much room.
“So, is there a hierarchy of onomatopoeic adjectives?” This is of course met with blank stares, raised eye brows and a couple of kids declaring that the ‘old head’ is trippin’.
“What the fuck did you say?’ one of the more articulate youth asks.
‘You said it was banging, he said ‘no it’s popping’ is there an order? Is one better than another? Are the louder sounds better than the quieter ones?”
“No it makes no difference. There all the same” I’m told.
“So what made that popping rather than banging?” I receive more dumb looks.
“You’re being ignorant.” I am told.
“Yeah, your being retarded.” They proclaim.
Of course I am the issue. My mistake.