So whatup with the "One-ups"? I tell you what.
We are six months into the new decade and there's still no good name for it. It's not that there haven't been many attempts to come up with the right moniker. There were even contests at the end of last year-- the end of the last decade-- to try to come up with one, but nothing has really stuck. In fact, it's not clear we've even got a consensus on the last one. The "Aughts" just don't sound right and the "Double O's" sound a little to James Bond-ish or Dolly Pardon-ish. The "Uh-ohs" probably described it as well as any, given all the global and economic turmoil it brought.
But back to this decade. One of the more clever proposals that got some recognition from a contest on an Australian website is "The One-ders". They thought it provided a vibe in addition to denoting a number. It does meet the two most important criteria, a numerical element because the digit 1 that each year will have is included. In addition, there's the whole wonder aspect. What incredible electronic gadgets or medical breakthroughs, for instance, will come out over the next few years. It also lends itself to the whole "wonder what's going to happen, next". That's especially poignant given the "Uh-ohs". Or maybe it's just "one-dering" what we are becoming in this hectic world.
I also like the "Tweens", as well as the "Teens", but neither fits the entire decade. A friend suggested the "Tweens and Teens". Not bad. I see some irony in that suggestion, too. It's that age group that suffers most from finding it's identity in the world and we can't even help them define their decade. Like it not, that was pretty easy for most of us. The 60's, the 70's, like most decades,quickly conjure up images in our minds. As a parent of two teens, I know they feel a bit left out by not being able to express the times they live in. They don't want to be remembered for terrorism or others disturbing events. So, "The Terrible Teens" is not going to work.
The "Decas" was an interesting moniker put forward in The Economist. Deca is the Latin prefix for 10, so it has some gravitas. And it really opens itself up. It's been suggested it could represent a decadent decade. But then, we've already been there (see 60's reference above). For the same reason, "The Naughts" or "Naughties" are both out of the question.
Therefore, as someone who thinks my children need to have a more optimistic outlook and considering "The Onesies" is just a little too cute, I offer up the "One-Ups" (which, as far as I can tell, nobody else has come up with).
The "One-Ups". It works numerically, because each year starts with a one and each succeeding year is one number up from the previous year. More importantly, it moves us forward from the "Uh-ohs". We are moving on from the turbulent last decade. And it's got just a tad of attitude to it, which can certainly describe many tweens and teens these days.
So there you have it, if you think you can one-up that suggestion, go for it. Provide a comment with your own moniker for the current times in which we live.
