> "When I was your age.." is the number 1 thing people hate hearing in Korea.
> People will never make conversations with you ever again.
> Simple
>
> @kenjikundesu
It is similar here in the #Philippines. You don't say, “When I was your age…”, if you want to share information about your time, you say, “Back in my day…”
In English, it doesn't make any sense. However, the local language equivalent of those two phrases comes with it:
Language nuances; and
Cultural factors.
Why?
“When I was your age…” in our local languages:
Language nuances = the delivery is different; the tone; the speech; and
Cultural factors = often used to demean, look down upon, another person (the younger in this case). It implies that, “I am/We are better than you”.
However, “Back in my day…” in our local languages:
Language nuances = the delivery, tone, speech, is different, it is friendlier and open for discussion/sharing; and
2 Cultural factors = not used to look down on anyone.
In the English language, these two phrases are the same, neutral, and thus won't make sense. But not in many Asian languages and cultures.
In addition, while both Filipino and Korean cultures have a deeply embedded respect levels in languages and actions, there is no room for older people to abuse it. We won't show it to you, because again, deeply embedded respect culture. But you can guarantee we're talking behind your back, and in today's world, chatrooms.
Back in my day, in the 80s and 90s, we say, “talk to the hand” and the equivalent action is stretching our arms, showing our palms forward to your face.
Obviously, we don't do that to people older than us. We do it while we're talking about you with our friends.
Today, in the present, at least here in the Philippines, we say, “Whateva'”, with a hand gesture and facial expression. Of course, we do it behind your back, or in chatrooms.
If you're a foreigner learning an Asian language, well, like in any other country, you'll be given a free pass. But, you better learn fast, you never know when you'll be misunderstood (unless you really want to be rude).
(There are actually more nuances in Filipino languages than Korean, for this particular case. And there is a worse way, too!)
