Rep yo decade!

I love the '80s! Remember black T-shirts with neon colors, off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, leg warmers, mohawks, rubber band bracelets, Ray-Bans, L.A. Gears and acid-wash jeans? What about Flock of Seagulls songs, Journey, the New Kids on the Block, or "M-M-M-My Sharona?" I love it all. Well, maybe not the acid-wash jeans.\nThe '80s are definitely back in style, especially with our generation because we were born in that decade. We're children of the '80s; aren't we? \nWell, aren't we? Bueller? \nWell, technically yes, but mentally no. We were born in the 1980s, but most of us don't remember anything about the decade. Some people act like they do, but I don't. How could we remember? We were just little kids. Maybe if you were born in the early '80s, and it's a big maybe, you can remember some pop music groups like New Kids or movies like "Labyrinth" and "Legend" (although I may be on my own when it comes to "Legend"). \nBut here's the tricky part: many of us who biologically shouldn't know do know '80s pop culture. It's all thanks to our greatest learning tool -- television. TV shows jumped on the '80s revival bandwagon fast. Actors and musicians from the Jerry-Curl and members-only jacket years are now on reality shows. The biggest channel responsible for '80s posers is undoubtedly VH1. It has more shows with '80s star power than any other station. Its greatest throwback show is obviously "I love the '80s." The series co mically examines the happenings, music, movies and style of each year of the decade. So of course anyone can pretend to be an '80s child after seeing the show. \nDon't get me wrong, I'm not saying anyone born in the '80s who likes or knows the culture is a poser. I'm listening to Billy Idol as I'm writing this. But if you're one of those people who, let's say, was born in 1984 and you claim to remember when "Shot through the heart" was popular, then you're a poser. Don't act like you remember the '80s because, in reality, we're children of the '90s. It was in the '90s when most of us even started liking music and caring about style. \nWe don't remember when "867-5309" was on the radio; instead we rocked out to Ace of Base and Nirvana. We don't know what Where's the beef?" means but we can recite the Empire Carpet phone number on command. Only people in their late 20s and 30s have the right to claim the '80s as their own. There's nothing wrong with being raised in the '90s, but since right now it's totally tubular to be '80s, some people try their hardest to act authentic (and feel free to barf at my sly '80s slang reference). Be as '80s as you want to be, just don't fall into being a poser and act like you're from the '80s if you're really not.