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Why the numbers 6-7 are driving math teachers up the wall

14 points| ikeashark | 4 months ago |npr.org

23 comments

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graypegg|4 months ago

> Some language experts say it is not brain rot

What do these language experts call "brain rot"? We're sorting things into brain-rot/not brain-rot now? I do know the definition in a you-know-it-when-you-see-it sort of sense... but I don't think "language experts" should be that dismissive of anything they haven't heard.

If you keep telling kids their brains are rotted out and some arbitrary subset of things they think are fun are signs of literal cognitive decline, they're either going to embrace it to mess with you or be depressed. Here's hoping it's the former! Gen alpha punk is going to be an insane scene once they grow up and realize how narrow the path their parents laid for them is, and I'm (selfishly) hoping we get some kick-ass music from it. ;)

duxup|4 months ago

It feels like "brain rot" has entered the phase as an equivalent to "I don't like it". There's really no meaning beyond that in the current usage.

duxup|4 months ago

As a kid I remember some moral outrage over ... garbage pail kids.

I can handle a silly kid meme, they happen all the time.

fred_is_fred|4 months ago

I lived through that one as a kid and see this one as parent. This is different. A few kids at school brought garbage pail kids in and would show them at recess. This is more every kid anytime someone says these specific numbers. It's ubiquitous and constant. Nobody was throwing garbage pail kids around every math lesson.

saulpw|4 months ago

A bit of trivia: Garbage Pail Kids were created by Art Spiegelman, who later won the Special Pulitzer for his fantastic graphic novel "Maus" about his family's experience during the Holocaust.

lunias|4 months ago

IMO most slang is interesting because of the etymology, but 6-7's etymology seems tenuous, made up, almost as if it were invented post-meme. If the origin story is accurate, then I think widespread adoption of 6-7 is "brain rot" only because if you ask someone why they're saying that they probably respond, "Dunno. Funny. 6-7 lol."

dpark|4 months ago

> UNIDENTIFIED TEACHER: We are actually using six-seven as a call and response. Now, there's many ways that you can do it, but the way my class specifically wanted to do it was they want me to go six, and then they all go, seven.

This is hilarious. Adults embracing it and ruining it for the kids.

The pearl clutching about “brain rot” is ridiculous. This stuff is very “get off my lawn”. Is it annoying and dumb? Of course. So what?

ziml77|4 months ago

One person I was talking to said they assumed that 67 is derived from the longstanding funny number: 69. I think that actually makes perfect sense because 7 ate 9.

jasonthorsness|4 months ago

Ha I have two kids (middle and high school) and this is 100% really happening, but to be honest it is pretty hilarious

ikeashark|4 months ago

As of right now there is 6 points and 7 comments. Take that as you will.

thijson|4 months ago

My son is into this. At the pool yesterday I heard some kids counting up for a game. When they reached 6 and 7, they said 6-7. My son found that pretty funny.

jeffrallen|4 months ago

The kids are alright.

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mondainx|4 months ago

Its just another brainrot meme, it'll die down fo sho