upworthy

stanley cup

Joy

Gen Alpha's water bottle obsession has Xennials reminiscing about school water fountains

"We survived on a single sip from a germ-infested water fountain between classes and called it a day."

Images via Canva

Xennials reminisce about drinking from school water fountains.

Xennials, the microgeneration between Gen X and Millennials that were born between 1977-1983, continue to get a kick out of how different school was for them compared to younger generations, like today's Gen Alpha (those born between 2010 and 2024).

In an online forum of Xennials, member Plastic-Implement797 got his fellow Xennials buzzing specifically about their days drinking from school water fountains. "Back in my day no one cared about being hydrated," they wrote.

They followed it up with an epic water fountain meme that read: "Kids today lug around 40 oz Stanley cups like they're on a desert trek. "We survived on a single sip from a germ-infested water fountain between classes and called it a day."

water fountain, drinking from water fountain, school water fountain, drink water, xennial Jon Heder Drinking GIF by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Giphy

The post sent fellow Xennials down memory lane, with many commenting about how different hydration standards were back in the day. For starters, there were rules about how long you could drink from the water fountain. "1,2,3, THAT’S ENOUGH! 'Save some for the whales'!", one wrote, with others commenting about how absurd it was. "I remember coming in from gym class in elementary school and we did the 1-2-3. It was never enough and I always got in trouble for it. I was just running around outside for an hour, I needed more than 2oz. Everyone did. What was with that!" another added.

Another Xennial quipped, "Always pissed me off! Especially if the water fountain was so weak you had to perform CPR on the spigot."

And another Xennial didn't hold back. "We grew up in a time where kids were treated like cattle, and if something mildly inconvenienced or annoyed an adult, it got shut down…end of discussion. I’m as nostalgic for the past as the next guy, but this reminds that in at least a few ways, the world actually is a better place," they added.

@mitchromancia

The CLASSIC Water Fountain 1.2.3 Rule..🤣 #relatable #story #storytime #storieswithmitch #trending #comedy #youngeryou #satisfying #foryou #foryoupage

Other Xennials reminisced about knowing which water fountains were the best (and therefore highly sought after). "Everyone knew where the one that dispensed cold water was rather than room temp water," one wrote, with another adding, "The good fountain always 1- was noisy, 2- was cold, 3- fired that water 3”+ into the air…accept no substitutes!"

Some Xennials shared their water fountain horror stories. "And that one kid who would stick his entire mouth on it," one commented, before another quickly added, "Ugh, HATED getting stuck behind that kid in line after recess."

water fountain, water fountain gif, gross water fountain, germs water fountain, school water fountain Parks And Recreation Water Fountain GIF by PeacockTV Giphy

While many Xennials shared their epicly gross water fountain stories, others discussed how scary their lack of hydration truly was compared to Gen Alpha kids. "Idk how I survived my childhood because I drink so so so much water now," one Xennials commented. Another shared, "We were all just chronically dehydrated until about 3pm every day."

However, many Xennials noted that the fact Gen Alpha is obsessed with their water bottles is a good thing. "My oldest fills hers up 3 or 4 times a day at school," one wrote, and another added, "They’ll have better skin than us." Another Xennial also noted, "I am thrilled we are hydrating the kids. However, I do wonder how many of my physical issues are from being chronically dehydrated growing up. 🤷"


From Your Site Articles
water fountain
JoyCulture
Pop Culture

Reporter’s impressive stiff arm of a fan on live TV came with an important message for sports fans

She didn't even lose composure.

via SauceHockey/TikTok

Samantha Rivera stiff-arms a hostile fan on live TV.

Samantha Rivera of CBS Miami stiff-armed an obnoxious fan on live TV during the Stanley Cup Finals in Las Vegas on Monday, June 5. The clip caught the attention of millions on social media because she perfectly blocks the Golden Knights fan from interrupting her live shot while maintaining her composure.

Unfortunately, she had to be prepared to fend off the fan because unruly behavior amongst sports fans has become far too common these days. Rivera used the moment to remind fans back at home about how to behave at a hockey game. “That’s the kind of fan you don’t want to be, right?” she said while fending off the intruder.

The clip of Rivera received over 3 million views when it was shared by Awful Announcing, with many fans praising her stiff arm.

Riviera later told Sports Illustrated that she had an eye on the fan and his buddy because she could see them watching her before they went live. That’s why she was prepared to react if the man interfered with the live shot. “Thankfully, it was him just trying to be annoying and get in the shot and make his way on, but it could’ve been worse. You don’t really know in those situations,” Rivera told Sports Illustrated.

When asked if she has any other advice for sports reporters who need to deal with a drunk fan, she said, “Eat your veggies. Go to the gym. Do what you can.”

The big takeaway from Rivera’s viral moment is that Rivera reminded everyone out there that they don’t want to be the drunk and unruly fan at the game. But these days, it feels like there is an epidemic of people who forget that it’s just a game. And that problem extends all the way to youth sports, where parents' inappropriate behavior has become a real problem.

It’s such an issue that in some schools they don’t even allow spectators to attend games.

Why is it that spectator sports routinely make people lose control? Psychologists say that it relates to social identity theory. “The theory goes that people have a need to belong to groups and that membership in these groups provides a basis for their social identification and self-esteem,” Sports Management Hub reports. This is why people so passionately identify with a particular team.

When two groups of people are pitted against one another with their collective identities on the line, there is likely to be friction.

In addition, psychologists believe that sporting events are a way for people to act out their frustrations in life in socially acceptable ways. “Many people don’t have many options to let out their stress and frustration at home or at work. An energetic atmosphere like that of a sports match gives them a reason to let loose,” Sports Management Hub reports.

Then, people are even more likely to act out when things get exciting in the game.

But for the people out there who don’t get the message and are going to act the fool at the next Stanley Cup playoff game, be sure you don’t do it around Samantha Rivera.

From Your Site Articles
sports
Pop CultureFamilyTelevision
More

Hockey’s youngest commentator covers games for one special fan: his blind dad.

What happens when vision loss changes the way we enjoy our favorite sport?

True
Horizon Organic

As any sports fan knows, love of the game can run pretty deep.

There are player names to memorize, stats to learn, jerseys to collect, and of course, games to watch. For many families, loving a sport or a team brings them together. Parents and kids pile onto the couch or into the arena to watch games as a group.

Gerry Nelson has always enjoyed watching hockey. But things got a little trickier when blindness made it so he couldn't watch the game he loves.

Gerry wasn't always blind. But after years of ignoring his childhood diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, he lost his sight at age 25. "I lost my parents when I was very young, and I didn’t look after myself in my late-teens and 20s," Gerry said. "I didn't get the education I needed around how important health is when you're diabetic. But now I’ve turned it all around."

Losing his sight hasn't kept Gerry from living a full life. He's become an accomplished golfer. He also is an active father to his son, Wyatt, who is now 12 years old. "In reality," Gerry said, "he's more 12 going on 30."

Two things are forever true about Gerry and Wyatt Nelson's relationship. They've always been close, and they've always loved hockey.

Gerry Nelson and Wyatt Nelson-Zook in 2009. Image courtesy of Gerry Nelson, used with permission.

When Wyatt was 5 years old, they started attending hockey games together, mostly the local WHL team the Saskatoon Blades. Wyatt would watch the action on the ice, and Gerry would follow along listening to the live play-by-play broadcast on a local radio station.  

Their system worked perfectly — until the night they attended a preseason game the radio station wasn't covering. Gerry was happy to sit in the arena alongside his son, but Wyatt wanted to give him a better experience. So, he started narrating the action on the ice, emulating the play-by-play announcers hockey fans know so well. Through Wyatt's words, Gerry was able to see the action as well as he could have with sight.

From that night onward, Gerry hasn't needed his radio when he and Wyatt go to games together. Wyatt's play-by-play is enough.

“Sometimes when he is doing something with me I feel like I am taking him away from his time with his friends,” Gerry told an interviewer late last year. “But he says, ‘No, Dad, I love doing it and I want to do it.’”

Gerry and Wyatt's story started making waves in Canadian media last December. As it turned out, some folks in the NHL were following along.

Over the last year, they've had some incredible experiences thanks to hockey fans who've been inspired by their story. They've attended a Stanley Cup final game, gone to the NHL Player Awards in Las Vegas and met some of their heroes on and off the ice.

Wyatt even did play-by-play announcing for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals on a local radio station in St Louis. "He did 17 minutes of the first 20-minute period," Gerry said proudly. "The more and more he does, the better he gets at it."

By far the most emotional moment for the two came last spring when a news crew visiting Saskatoon brought a special surprise to the local arena for the Nelson boys.

Hidden in a distant room at the rink was hockey's greatest trophy: the Stanley Cup. It's a huge piece of hardware, standing nearly three-feet-high and weighing 34.5 pounds. For fans, it's especially magnificent.

Wyatt Nelson-Zook with the Stanley Cup. Image by Gerry Nelson, used with permission.

Gerry and Wyatt got to experience the cup in a way few people do — just the two of them.

"Growing up on the streets of North Battleford, our Stanley Cup was an aluminum garbage can," said Gerry. "All of a sudden, I was realizing that it was my son and I, alone — no one else in the room with the Stanley Cup. It was one of the most amazing feelings. I was able to put my hands on it, without 200 other people in the room at the same time. That’s when it really started to hit home and got pretty emotional for me."

All of these incredible moments, shared with the sport they love, haven't changed Gerry or Wyatt one bit.

Wyatt and Gerry hold the Stanley Cup. Image by Gerry Nelson, used with permission.

When the big moments are over and the Stanley Cup has been put back in its case, Gerry and Wyatt Nelson still have their remarkable connection — and the game that brought it to light.

"The perfect thing is the quality and type of relationship that Wyatt and I have," said Nelson. "It wouldn’t matter if it was a peewee game on the local outdoor rinks or the Saskatoon Blades or an NHL game in the big city. Nothing could make it better because I’m already spending this wonderful time hanging out with Wyatt, sharing our love of hockey. For him and me, the blindness doesn’t figure into it. Wyatt does what he does because Dad’s Dad and Dad can’t see."

As for all the kudos Wyatt has received for his play-by-play announcing skills, Gerry says he'll leave it up to his son to decide if that's something he wants to do. "So far Wyatt's [wanted to be] a baseball player and a hockey player and a firefighter. I know for me it took a lot of trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, and he's got a lot of time to figure things out," said Nelson. "I’ll support Wyatt in anything and everything he wants to do. If he opted to go that route, I would support him. After all, I'd get to go to a lot more NHL games!"

More
Trending Stories