[HSK 5] “老登”这个词能随便用吗 - Can You Use the Term “老登” Casually?

The internet slang term “老登” may be harmless as a joke among people who know each other well, but using someone’s age to belittle a specific person can easily cross the line.

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《English Translation》

赵强: I was just complaining about a business partner in the group chat. He really loves pulling rank based on seniority, and I almost typed, “This 老登 is really hard to communicate with.”
黄刚: Good thing you didn’t send it. Even though “老登” is often used as an internet meme now, saying it directly about a specific person, especially with an emphasis on age, can easily turn into an insult.
赵强: But people say it everywhere online, don’t they? Some people even call their own dads “我家老登,” and it doesn’t sound that serious.
黄刚: Joking among people who know each other depends on whether both sides are comfortable with it. The real problem is that you’re annoyed because he’s preachy and won’t listen to other opinions, not because he’s older.
赵强: So if I insult him for being “old,” I’m actually turning a behavior problem into an age problem. Not everyone in their forties likes to pull rank.
黄刚: Exactly. Young people can be arrogant too. If you really want to criticize him, saying “Don’t use your seniority to pressure people” or “This way of communicating makes people uncomfortable” is more accurate.
赵强: That makes sense. Especially at work, if I post something impulsively in a group chat and someone shares a screenshot, the joke may not stay a joke anymore.
黄刚: So memes are fine to use, but you have to consider the person and the situation. If what bothers you is someone’s behavior, criticize the behavior instead of labeling them by age.