Wyoming Wildlife May 2024 - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES
WYOMING
WILDLIFE
VOLUME 88, NUMBER 5 * MAY 2024
State of Wyoming
Learning the lingo
By Tracie Binkerd, editor
Few things make me feel so old as
trying to keep up with the most recent
slang. I'll admit it, I've never been up-todate
on the hip lingo - and I realize
even saying something like " hip lingo "
probably falls into the outdated category.
Even when I was a teen, the newest
phrases didn't always make much sense
to me.
Over the Easter weekend, my brotherin-law
and I started talking about what
the latest turns of phrase may be. I was
somewhat relieved that he, too, didn't
know what the cool kids say nowadays.
So, we brought out the smartphone
and searched the web. The hope was
we would recognize at least some of
the latest phrases. Although I did catch
a few, or at least have a good guess of
their meaning, I didn't know most of
the words, acronyms and phrases. What's
more, most of them made no sense. It's
safe to say, I won't be using a lot of the
latest slang in day-to-day life.
But one phrase stuck out to me.
Unlike many of the phrases we found,
this particular one had a direct reference
to the natural world rather than
to emerging technologies. Apparently,
those more with the times than I could
tell someone online to " touch grass. " I
guess the phrase has been used as far
back as 2015 but started getting more
popular after 2019. It's been around for
the better part of a decade, and I still
hadn't heard it.
Based on the definition, it seems to
be directed toward someone who spends
too much time online or may need a
bit of a reality check. At first glance, I
thought the phrase was a kind reminder
that there are other things in life than the
digital world. I looked into it more and
found my interpretation was wrong. The
4 | May 2024
phrase is often used to tell someone who
is being particularly annoying online to
calm down or go away - not a gentle
reminder of the natural world or a suggestion
to get more in tune with nature.
I suppose it's a good thing I didn't try
to impress my niece with my new slang.
But this is a new term I can at least
understand a possible origin. I've certainly
encountered folks who could benefit
from more time in nature. Granted, I
think we all can benefit from more time
in nature - but some need it more so
than others. Technology has its place,
and it can be incredibly useful and entertaining.
I only found the phrase because
of a portable device capable of searching
the internet, and I am using a computer
to type this column. Most of my working
hours are spent behind a screen, so I have
no place to put anyone down for their
digital time. Yet, this little slang term has
its place in the digital world. An oddly
placed insult that somehow rings as a
reminder of something far better than
the screen.
It was this particular issue of the magazine
that sent me down this rabbit hole
to begin with. This issue of Wyoming
Wildlife is dedicated to inspiring kids.
With that in mind, I went down the
" what kids say today " rabbit hole. The
magazine is filled with useful information
to get you and the kids in your life
outside. The issue includes information
on community fishing ponds, educational
programs, careers at the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department and fun
facts about some of Wyoming's most
iconic species. This magazine also has an
inserted booklet about aquatic invasive
species that has all kinds of activities for
kids. I hope this Inspire a Kid issue does
inspire kids to get outside and touch
grass - and I use the phrase in the best
possible light.
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
Governor
President
Vice President
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Richard Ladwig, Manville
Mark Jolovich, Torrington
John Masterson, Casper
Rusty Bell, Gillette
Kenneth Roberts, Kemmerer
Ashlee Lundvall, Powell
Ralph Brokaw, Arlington
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Director
Deputy Director
Deputy Director
Chief of Fiscal
Chief of Wildlife
Chief of Fisheries
Chief of Services
Chief of Communications
and Education
Brian Nesvik
Eric Wiltanger
Angela Bruce
Dirk Miller
Richard King
Alan Osterland
Greg Phipps
Nish Goicolea
Magazine Staff
Editor
Associate Editor
Creative Director
Contributing Designer
Mark Gordon
Tracie Binkerd
Robert Gagliardi
Patrick Owen
Emalee Smith
Wyoming Wildlife (ISSN 0043-9819) is published monthly (including the November
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Wyoming Wildlife May 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wyoming Wildlife May 2024
