Brandermill Teens Publish List of Words Off-Limits to Parents

Brandermill teen correspondent Gretchen Pompidou reported on Thursday that she and her peers have published a list of words that are considered off-limits to parents.

The collection has been dubbed "The NOPE List" and includes Gen Z slang and other pop culture words that are not intended to be used by adults. "It all started when I got home and my mom was listening to old-people music, like Coldplay or something, and she looked right at me and said, 'I've been vibing to this song all day.' It literally triggered my gag reflex." Gretchen compares the discomfort of the experience to the time she saw her parents dancing at a family wedding.

Gretchen made it clear that The NOPE List is not intended to be overly critical of parents; rather, it is intended to serve as a resource. For instance, the document provides alternate terms and phrases that parents can consider using instead of the prohibited words. Below are several examples.

• Rather than, "I'm vibing to this song," parents should say, "I am thoroughly enjoying listening to this song.”

• Rather than, “It’s hot AF in here today,” parents should say, “It’s rather hot in here today.”

• Rather than, "Your story sounds sus," parents should say, "I have concerns about the veracity of your story."

• Rather than, "Look at this selfie your Dad and I took at the restaurant," parents should say, "Look at this photo your Father and I took of ourselves at the restaurant."

• Rather than, "Your mother and I are woke," parents should say, "Your mother and I are open-minded and politically aware."

"I think parents feel like there's a shred of hope that we'll one day consider them to be relevant, and that somehow using Gen Z slang words will help them get there," says Gretchen. "The fact is, we love our parents, but we'll never think of them as relevant."

The spokesperson for Brandermill Parents declined our request for an interview.