The Earliest Events in Your Life

[Valka D'Ur]

I remember that Cartoon Network had a scrolling bar at the bottom of the screen, saying something about how an important event has just happened and that you should change the channel to find out more.

Little kids were advised to change the channel so they could learn about how the "People's Princess" had been killed in a horrific car crash?

I remember when that happened. I didn't have the TV on at the time, but my dad did over at his place, and he came into the house and told me that Diana had died.

 

[Arakhor]

I was camping with my parents at the time, so I heard about it on the radio.

 

[Kyriakos]

While it (the death of Diana) was on tv here, obviously it wasn't that important locally to merit coverage of the type that 9/11 or Chernobyl or other events of that magnitude would.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

The extensive coverage did make sense in Canada, given that we're a Commonwealth country.

 

[warpus]

I vaguely remember hearing about it. I didn't really get what the big deal was at the time, but eventually I figured out that people seem to care a lot about royalty for some reason

 

[Kyriakos]

^The english do. For them the royal - particularly some young or young-ish queen or similar - seems to be some fairytale figure ingrained to popular mentality. Probably due to the extreme prominence of the royals in the victorian era.
In reality, though, those are a few who own massive palaces and other estates, for no good reason at all. Not sure if they even pay taxes on anything.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I vaguely remember hearing about it. I didn't really get what the big deal was at the time, but eventually I figured out that people seem to care a lot about royalty for some reason

History, tradition... there are some people who insist they hate the Royal Family and they're just a bunch of freeloading parasites (it was appalling to see all the vitriol posted on CBC.ca when little Charlotte was born), but I'd bet that some of them are still interested enough to follow coverage of particular events or other happenings.

I never realized that my dad was a monarchist until the Queen Mum died. He seemed genuinely sad and even suggested that we sign the book of condolences.

 

[warpus]

I blame Disney personally

I don't hate the royals personally or anything, I just really dislike nepotism

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I blame Disney personally

I don't hate the royals personally or anything, I just really dislike nepotism

What nepotism? It's not like they have any real power anymore. If you want to see egregious nepotism, just look at the average high-ranking politician.

 

[warpus]

What nepotism? It's not like they have any real power anymore. If you want to see egregious nepotism, just look at the average high-ranking politician.

Whether they have power or not, I am just against that sort of a thing in principle. There should never be an official government position that you are born into.

Having said that I mean no ill towards people who are unfortunate enough to be burdened with such special status, and I do realize that due to the slow-moving forces of history and social acceptance we will have to put up with "Royals" being a thing on this planet for at least a couple more decades

 

[Traitorfish]

History, tradition...

"Tradition" is one word for it.

 

[Broken_Erika]

The Royal family has a very important purpose in modern times. Tourism and Memorabilia.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

"Tradition" is one word for it.

Having a favorable opinion of one or two members of the current family should not for any reason imply a favorable opinion of the others, or those who are dead.

I'm not looking forward to seeing King Charles on my coins and $20 bills.

 

[Kyriakos]

The Royal family has a very important purpose in modern times. Tourism and Memorabilia.

Surely there are more notable landmarks in London. Even not counting the one built by french ^^

 

[Arakhor]

Our first "English" king since the Conquest would have been Henry III, so that's not saying a lot.

 

[Kyriakos]

Our first "English" king since the Conquest would have been Henry III, so that's not saying a lot.

There is always the millenium dome

 

[warpus]

I'm not looking forward to seeing King Charles on my coins and $20 bills.

That's exactly how I feel seeing anybody with a crown on their head on our money. If it was Gretzky or something, that would have been cool, as he was the king, but..

 

[Valka D'Ur]

That's exactly how I feel seeing anybody with a crown on their head on our money. If it was Gretzky or something, that would have been cool, as he was the king, but..

Gretzky is thoroughly Americanized now, to the point that it was utterly pathetic when Harper tried to get his endorsement during the 2015 election.

Kurt Browning was known as the "King of the Quad" when he became the first man to land a quadruple jump in competition (men's singles figure skating).

 

[trader/warrior]

In terms of international events, I think the first thing I remember is the World Cup of 98 (edit: but if we are talking about sports-events, I'm pretty sure I have vague memories of euros 96, if not even world cup of 94 as well, but not in a very clear certain way). For some reason I have a vivid memory of going to McDonalds and it being all world cup themed before it was apparent that Norway would do well, and then later being at my grandparents boat when Norway beat Brazil to go to the quarter finals and seeing people on shore launching fireworks. Other than that I obviously have much earlier memories being born in 89, but I can't think of any international events. The first year I remember being aware of it being was 96 at 7 years old probably from learning at school and commiting it to memory. I also have some very vivid memories of the progress of the day of 9/11 and the day after, as well as the millennium new years eve and everything that came with that, but I feel like all this is pretty late for being "early memories", 9/11 was just half a year before I joined CFC after all.

To me it seems the mid-late-90's were a bit lacking in "life-memory" events. I guess there is the death of Princess Diana, but I don't really remember that as an event, rather than just vaguely the long aftermath.

 

[Traitorfish]

Having a favorable opinion of one or two members of the current family should not for any reason imply a favorable opinion of the others, or those who are dead.

You don't get to live in a gilded palace and say "but of course I have some reservations about how we acquired the gilding". The same surely applies to sympathisers.