Social Media Bans, Driving at 70 & The Secret to a Long Relationship

Should social media be banned for under 16s?

This week Lew and Steve tackle one of the biggest debates currently making headlines across the UK as the Government considers following Australia and restricting social media access for younger teenagers. Is it about protecting childhood, or will kids simply find a way around it?

Then it’s over to Adam & Eve It, where Steve shares his thoughts on proposals that could require drivers over 70 to pass compulsory eye tests every three years. Is it sensible road safety or an unfair attack on older drivers?

Finally, in Say It Like Steve, the pair explore why younger generations are fascinated by couples who have stayed together for decades. Is there really a secret formula for a long and happy relationship, or have modern expectations changed the game completely?

Plus, there’s the usual moaning, questionable wisdom and a couple of Bleedin’ Dad Jokes to finish things off. One of them may even be funny.  

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Cockney and son. Now don't be dafty. We've got proper opinions and plenty of graft. Old school chat with the podcast twist. So stick the kettle on you.

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Don't wanna miss Cockney and Son two generations in one London. Go blame me, Governor.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Cockney and Son Series 2, Episode 17, the podcast where I try to make sense of the modern world and my old Cockney dad tries to make sense of me. Yes. This week we're discussing whether social media should be banned for under 16s, whether drivers over 70 should have an eye test to make sure that they're still safe on the roads, and why so many younger people think older generations have the secret to a long-lasting relationship. Plus, Dad will be given his usual completely unqualified opinions, and we've got a couple of absolutely terrible bleeding dad jokes to finish things off. So let's get into it. So on today's bit of a natter are you awake? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:08

You know where you are. Yeah, you took so long doing an introduction. Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 1:11

Oh, nodding off, huh? Well, you can do the next one. No, no, no. That'll be fun. That'll be that'll be absolutely actually I think we should do that. Okay. Right. So this week on a bit of a natter, I'm sure you've seen it in the news. This week, Keir Starman took to the stand and he announced that by the spring of 2027, social media will be banned for children 16 and under Australia have done it. Yeah. Um so we're following suit, I guess. What is your opinion on that? Why they wait until next year? Why don't they do it straight away? Because I don't think it's a simple thing that they can go and switch, press a button, and everyone obviously the plan needs to be. Well, I did speak about it on social media, and we basically asked, like, are you for it or against it? And some of the people that said that they were against it, I kind of understand why. Well, is it what platforms is it? Just uh Well, I think it's all platforms. It's like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, oh really, all the mind ones. Yeah, even YouTube and all things like that.

SPEAKER_02 2:22

So obviously, is that to get the kids talking to each other instead of being on their phones?

SPEAKER_01 2:28

Is that one of the reasons? I'm guessing it's there's lots of things that can cause issues for children under 16. But obviously, one of the possible benefits to this will be less online bullying. Okay, less pressure from influencers. So I'm guessing what they're saying is the pressures where older boys or girls, say contestants of like Love Island or reality shows, and then this younger generation seeing what they look like, because that could be damaging and stuff.

SPEAKER_02 3:01

But that used to be like the fully, fully ordered internet and all that. They used to be like the magazines. Yeah. The kids used to harder to download then. Oh yeah, no, but the kids used to like they see these like pop styles and stuff in magazines and want to be like them.

SPEAKER_01 3:16

Like health benefits are obviously reducing the screen um addictions. Yeah, of course. Because obviously the doom scrolling, that's the term, doom scrolling. Scrolling with no interactions.

SPEAKER_02 3:28

Well, I I saw interviews on the news and all that, and they asked some girl, How many hours have you been on the and she went, Nine hours. Yeah. And you think, nine hours out of a twenty-four hours.

SPEAKER_01 3:38

Did you see the one? Did you is it are you talking about the same girl and then they asked her, What are you gonna do when their social media No, no, this isn't Oh, because she said, because they was asking kids to look at their screen times, and I think she said something like eight hours, and then the report, it was really a serious, like I think it was like BBC or whatever, because what are you gonna do when the screen rang screen ban comes into effect? She went, stare at a wall. Like, it was so funny.

SPEAKER_02 4:02

But yeah, nine hours out of a 24-hour day.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

Yeah, so obviously they hope that it's going to improve mental health, yeah, better sleep, and more like will it, you know.

SPEAKER_02 4:11

Well, I mean, the only thing Because will they will they all get depressed for not being on their phones?

SPEAKER_01 4:16

You know, will it have a reverse effect? Well, I guess they just have to sort of find a new way of living. But then obviously, going back to what I said about us mentioning it on social media, that a lot of people are saying they'll have they'll have ways around it, they'll be able to get onto it and all this sort of stuff. So what happens if a kid so so because it's gonna be hard to basically people say how they're gonna monitor it if if someone goes on and they're under 16?

SPEAKER_02 4:40

Uh how will they know?

SPEAKER_01 4:41

Well, I don't think like the exact details have been mentioned on how they're gonna do it. Obviously, Australia, but then I did have a few like messages to say that there are kids on in Australia that have got around it. So it's one of those things that it's gonna be out the monitor, isn't it? I mean, you I do know that nowadays you can't there is a thing that you can't access content unless you do like have your driver's licence or your passport, you've got to scan it or and it actually has face recognition. But even that I mentioned that on social media and someone said, Well, I did it, some mum did it or whatever, and it told me I was between the ages of 11 and 20 or something like that.

SPEAKER_02 5:24

But what if they like what if some of the kids like if they can't go on their phone and they like go to their mum? Yeah, mum mum, can I use your phone? Can I use your phone? Can I use your phone? Well, you know what some mums and don't they gonna give it in for an easy life, aren't they?

SPEAKER_01 5:37

But before I answer that, I just wanted to say that I felt tempted to go on and see what the face scan would say about me, because if it said 20, I'd find it quite a compliment, you know. No, but that's why I was saying people are saying that social media could be monitored now. Yeah because you know what the boy's phone is like, I can stop things, but for the parents who are like, I would don't want to use the word responsible for entertainment value, yeah, and obviously you're saying that there's some parents out there that might not be as responsible. Yeah, yeah, of course, yeah, I should imagine. So it's kind of like I guess a kick in the face for the parents who do take the time to do that, so it's kind of like one rule for everyone. And even if you are being good or like you're not doing this stuff, you're still then gonna miss out.

SPEAKER_02 6:25

I can imagine like the kids when they're like mum and dad's in bed, they go and try and nick their phones and go on, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

Just a random one though. If social media had existed when you were 14 years old, what would you have posted?

SPEAKER_02 6:40

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 6:41

No, well you for as a 14-year-old kid, what would you just kicking the ball against the wall?

SPEAKER_02 6:46

No, you I don't know. Well, that's uh that's a difference because like well, I was was coming home I was yesterday the other day, no, last week I was talking to my mate Tony. We talked about how the summer, you know, the school that he's coming up. And like we used to love the school, you used to you know be able to go uh anywhere for six whole weeks, and it was like brilliant. Just go here, go there, and and she I said, and I said to him, kids today you ain't gonna be doing that, they're gonna be sat in a on a wall somewhere or sat in a park on their phones.

SPEAKER_01 7:16

But I think see, because this is interesting, because it's not it's not to do with the same thing, but I went to a event that was about the Toy Story 5 film, and that Toy Story 5 is about the girl gets an iPad and it's about technology and and like old you know, that thing. So the interesting thing you said is like obviously we remember what it's like without technology, but kids don't of course they don't so they don't re to them they're just gonna grow up and normal to them. Yeah, yeah. So us keep going, why are you doing this? Why do to them they're like, well, what else can I do? But it's like you go it does make sense, I think.

SPEAKER_02 7:54

You know, we sat the other week and like you just see like not just kids, you see adults, they'd be like loot to the phone. They'll be like out in the restaurant or say it, and the the cut will be on the both both people be on the phone instead of actually talking to it. They're sat at the table, obviously waiting for their food, and they're both on the phone, and you're thinking, well, what's that all about?

SPEAKER_01 8:12

It's not just the kids, some some adults are like addicted, didn't they? What would you say then is more dangerous nowadays? Kids being on social media or hanging around street corners 2026. Because obviously if you remove social media and then they start venturing out and trying to live in the world like they say you should.

SPEAKER_02 8:32

Yeah, it's gonna be more dangerous, I think. Yeah. Because but then you know, you obviously yeah, but some kids you're you're mostly you'll see the danger and all that, you know. We're online, you don't know who you're talking to in somebody's chat rooms that I actually I mean, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

I mean never been on the room. I mean you you manage Instagram, all right.

SPEAKER_02 8:48

I'm just saying that like 16 isn't actually it's not I would I Is it 16 and under or a 16-year-old can't go on?

SPEAKER_01 8:56

I think 16 probably you can.

SPEAKER_02 8:57

So that might make you laugh because they they say that, but they were trying to bring in 16 year olds to vote. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:05

So hold on, so a 16-year-old is 16. I think on your 16th birthday you can access social media.

SPEAKER_02 9:10

But I also don't think that But then again, some like 15 year olds and 14 year olds are more mature than 16-year-olds. Yeah. Some you know.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

But if you look at the family now, yeah, there's kids in the family that can have access to social media now, right? So you know, like the kids that are like 13, 14, 15, whatever. Because Instagram now is you can have a teen account at 13, okay, but it's automatically like private or whatever. So I guess those are gonna be taken away. Okay. But in also a bit Instagram are a bit annoyed how much money they've put into that. Yeah, yeah. Those kids will be hit harder than as to say, like the boy who doesn't have social media, so he won't have had it. So I don't I only think it's gonna be a short process of like if they do put it in by you know, spring next year, yeah. If I or we decide that he's not gonna have any social media because he shouldn't, yeah, really he's not gonna miss something he's not spot.

SPEAKER_02 10:06

Yeah, that's right.

SPEAKER_01 10:07

Yeah, so it's only those kids. Only kids that are doing it now, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:10

That's right, yeah. I mean I It could cause, you know, it could cause arguments you know in in their house. Yeah. You know, we're gonna go, we can't go on it, you know.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

It it's because I was like, if they did it for adults, I thought no one would know how to fix things. Just go on YouTube, how do you do this? Tell us how to fix it. Yeah. Like I don't see some some ideas I had, if like the world of the internet wanted to under hear what I was saying, I'm saying for educational purposes, because obviously people just think social media don't do scrolling or whatever, yeah. But people over six 16 and over will still be posting content. Yeah, the difference is under 16 can't post it, yeah. So why don't they just create it that you can still have like an Instagram or you can still have like whatever, you just can't post on it. Yeah. So you can still watch it, you just can't post stuff yourself or message or whatever.

SPEAKER_02 11:06

When they get like say they got a an older say a 13-year-old's got an older brother, will he try and get him to do it on his well that's what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 11:13

I don't know if they're gonna I mean part of me thinks that because Keir Starmer is not very popular, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 11:21

You've seen him getting blank chestly by President Trump on the news. Oh, did he? They're at a meeting and he's he's shaking hands and talking to everyone. He's talking past it. He just turned his back.

SPEAKER_01 11:30

But I'm saying, like, because he's had such a bad time, I don't know if he's just gone, I'm going to enforce this.

SPEAKER_02 11:37

Yeah, no, you know why that is because tomorrow there's a by-election up in Manchester, and uh the bloke, yeah, if he gets in, Andy Burnham, he's gonna try he's gonna try and run the the Prime Minister.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

But also, when they say spring 2027, that's a long time away. You know, like when we were leaving Brexit and it took ten years, so who knows? Yes, right. So I'm sure there'll be ways around it. So I suppose it's they have to sit down and go, right, what actually are the problems? No, you know, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, I can understand. Yeah, it involves a lot of people, doesn't it? A lot of kids. So, last point of view on this, if you had to push a button that says social media ban under 16, what would you press? Yeah, I'll ban it. You ban it. Yeah. Done.

SPEAKER_02 12:26

No, well, I think that like kids are just missing out on being kids.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

You know, where like you only get one shoulder, don't you?

SPEAKER_01 12:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:34

And you should be out enjoying your mates and all that, you know, having fun and all that, instead of sitting on your phone all day. I think they're just missing out.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

I personally think that if the decision was to like ban under 18, then I would go, that's a bit drastic. Yeah. But 16 is not really that old. Like what I'm saying is it's not like 16, they're still young. 16 is probably as an as a quote underquote influencer myself. Yes. 16 is still young to be uh involved in what can come back at you from posting content and stuff.

SPEAKER_00 13:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:12

I don't think 16-year-olds, not every 16-year-old is going to be mature enough and have great mental health to be able to deal with social media at 16. So, you know, see what happens. Alright, well, that was a good bit of an Uh. Yeah. Very trending topic at the minute.

SPEAKER_02 13:28

Well, of course, yeah, it's a major thing, isn't it? Because, you know, as I said earlier, kids are I think they're just missing out. Anyway, from that generation to your generation.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

My generation.

SPEAKER_00 13:39

I don't believe it. Would you? I can't believe it. I don't believe it.

SPEAKER_01 13:44

So this is the part of the podcast where you would have a moan, right? Yes. So this isn't a particular thing you're going to moan about. I'm gonna read it out. Okay. I'm gonna read it out. Don't do that to the microphone ever again. I'm gonna read it out and I just want to give your opinion because you are 70 next year. I'm not 70, I'm 69. Yeah, so you're 70 next year. So this is going to apply to you. Yeah. Okay. Right, okay. So road safety campaigners are calling for a compulsory eye test every three years for drivers over 70 when renewing their license. Yeah. Do you agree with that?

SPEAKER_02 14:19

Yeah. But then again, like when you see some of the some of the young younger ones, yeah. I mean, their eyes must be bad because the way they're driving. Yeah. I think when you're when you get 70, I think you only renew your license. I think it's only every three years anyway.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

Well, that's what it's saying.

SPEAKER_02 14:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

So when you go to renew it, you have to have an eye test. Yeah, so uh well that's fine. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:42

My eyes are fine. Well, I'm as you well, as you know, I have eye tests every You've got robot. You don't even have one one of your original eyes. No. I mean I have eye tests every time I go for a checkup I've all the scans and back of the eye, front of the eye, and all this, you know, eye tests and all that.

SPEAKER_01 14:57

What would you think would be a valid reason for a 70-year-old to say that that was unfair?

SPEAKER_02 15:02

Some 70-year-olds, their eyesight's pretty good, so why should they have an eye? I mean, they mostly have eye tests anyway. Yeah. But I mean, they're mostly gonna say, well, well, that's a bit unfair, because like, you know. Or are their eyes not. Yeah, I can imagine. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, obviously, if you've got nothing, you know, if you if you think your eyes are okay, but then as you say, people are gonna go, Oh yeah, well, why that's a bit unfair, but their eyes might not be as as good. You know?

SPEAKER_01 15:25

I just think that those who don't have it will if they get into like an accident, obviously that can go against them, but then obviously they won't even be able to renew it.

SPEAKER_02 15:36

Well there was a there was a thing that the I don't know what what air air it was, that they would please was we're gonna stop old older drivers and give them an eye test on the road. Yeah. And if they didn't didn't pass it, they was gonna take their motor off them. But I mean, so you know, but then again, like you get some like elderly people, that's their only way of getting about.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

Do you think though, because obviously that's what they're camp campaigning for, right? But then there are some people that say that as well as the eye test, they should have like a not a driving test, but like a refresh course and see how they drive then.

SPEAKER_02 16:15

I mean I don't know about the actual driving bit, but I should imagine the the theory one.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:21

Some some people might struggle on that one. Yeah. You know, all those questions, you've got to get so many questions right in it. Yeah. Don't forget when we had driving tests, it was only the IBA code. And they would only ask you a few questions out of this Iowa code book.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

I mean, all I but I also think obviously, even people don't drive like they drive in their driving lessons, do they? I mean, you learn how to drive, and then as you get more confident, you don't leave the wheel through and all that sort of stuff. Oh, well, you see someone some of the bad driving. I also think that if you reach 70 and then you start having to have eye tests, you do will you you will make that person feel old. Yeah, of course. If that's their freedom, right? So they drive to Sainsbury's or or other supermarkets in the area. But not yeah, but not yeah, some 70-year-olds are still working, right? But what I'm just saying, imagine this, right? Yeah, seven-year-old John, let's call him, yeah. Monday to Friday, he goes out every day, he goes bowls, he goes shopping, he goes wherever, and everywhere he goes is by a car.

SPEAKER_00 17:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

Take his car away, yeah, and then he's got to crack on with his week. Yeah. And then he's now got to get a bus or whatever.

SPEAKER_02 17:34

And then carry and carry all the stuff.

SPEAKER_01 17:35

And then some old people who retire out to the sticks or whatever, yeah, and there might be one bus a month. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:42

Well you tell me, like, you you say that, and also like you go out to a country pub, car park's full. Yeah. Right.

SPEAKER_01 17:48

So you're telling me that all them people that are in that pub are not the designated driver. Are not. Yeah, alright. See, that's what I'm saying. So the downside is, yes, you could say that that so Dave or whatever I called him, he shouldn't be driving. But at the same side, if you go, oh but he's yes, he's independence, and then he rammed someone over.

SPEAKER_02 18:06

Yeah, yeah, I know, but but some of these youngsters, I mean, that I'm not I don't know what their eyesight are like, but some of the way they drive. Well, maybe then everyone should have an eyesight test to renew. Maybe not every three years. I mean you can read the number plate, yeah. Yeah. But don't that don't mean that your eyesight is you could be long sighted, you could be short-sighted, can't you?

SPEAKER_01 18:26

Well, I'm just saying, maybe under 70 you don't have to have it every three years, but maybe you could have an eye test. Yeah. How long?

SPEAKER_02 18:32

I mean don't forget some 70-year-olds are still working, they might be doing a delivery job at like driving.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

It's the same thing as the social media thing. Yeah, so what happens? One rule. Yeah. You can't just go, oh Dave, he's nice, he still works. Margaret, she's got to have a test. Yeah. Nora.

SPEAKER_02 18:46

No, no, no, I quite agree, but I mean, you know, when you think that uh when you see someone state of some of these young younger ones driving, yeah, it makes you wonder.

SPEAKER_01 18:53

So you're turning 70 next year, yeah, and you're happy to have you'd be happy to have an eye test.

SPEAKER_02 18:58

Yeah, I'll have an eye test. And if they say your eyes are not good, then that's it.

SPEAKER_01 19:02

Nothing I could do. But but what how would you actually feel if they said you're not allowed to drive anymore? Well, I'd be fine. You'd be fine? Yeah. So you're not actually allowed to drive anymore.

SPEAKER_02 19:12

Well then people have to come pick me up and take me everywhere, won't they? That's where the family comes in.

SPEAKER_01 19:16

Yeah.

unknown 19:16

Eh?

SPEAKER_01 19:17

Or you pay the congestion charge though? I'll get no. Yeah. You can just get one of those zooped up mobility scooters we've spoken about. Very split decision.

SPEAKER_02 19:25

What about the eight-year-olds that are driving?

SPEAKER_01 19:28

You see some people, right? I mean, how much is their insurance? Well, it's blown. A million pounds a year.

SPEAKER_02 19:32

It's blown. I know he's going to be eighty next year still driving.

SPEAKER_01 19:35

But should he though? Or why when you go down the motorway and you sometimes you clock like the eight-year-old still driving the car from like 50 years ago?

SPEAKER_00 19:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:44

The wheels like this big.

SPEAKER_00 19:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:46

Like a car. And then the middle lane. Yeah. Going about 30 miles an hour. Yeah. And then indicate no one can see it. Yeah. Well, what's going on?

SPEAKER_02 19:51

Yeah, I mean. Well, that's the thing, if they bring it in, there's nothing you can do, is it? You have to have a one of the rules. And if they take your licence away, take it away. But then again, will people that have their licence taken away drive without a licence? Because how many people are driving nowadays without a licence? No comment. In without insurance, without tax and all that. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 20:10

Good luck with your eye test anyway. Keep an eye out. Time for a little statement.

SPEAKER_00 20:14

Don't sugarcoat it. Sometimes in life you just gotta say it like Steve.

SPEAKER_01 20:21

In the week I did put out a little fancy thing there, didn't I? That said, Do you want any advice from my Did you see it? I did it on social media. I saw it. Yeah. No one came back. Okay. So I don't know how you want to take that. Bad advice or nobody wants to ask your advice or That's fine. Fair enough. So people did see it. Quite a lot of people did see that story.

SPEAKER_02 20:43

Well if that well, that's fair enough. Obviously, they haven't got any problems.

SPEAKER_01 20:46

So in preparation, that's fine.

SPEAKER_02 20:52

That's quite actually it's quite good because that means they ain't got no problems in their life. That's true.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

So we'll just wrap this section, right? Yeah. So Well, it's scared. So what I did instead in preparation, because it was people can't tell you the truth.

unknown 21:03

Oh god.

SPEAKER_01 21:04

Are you slightly offended that nobody wants to know? No, no, not at all. No, that's how it's that's all good. You know. You seem a bit like you're happy but annoyed at it.

SPEAKER_02 21:13

We're just getting another section. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:16

I can't keep adding these sections. Right. So what I did in preparation is I went on the tinternet. Tinternet? Yeah. Tinternet, that's how they say it up north. Up north. Up north. Tit north. And I asked the internet what is the most what is the most popular question? Gen Z writes. Do you know what Gen Z is? They're like the younger ones. Yeah. Right. So I'm a millennial. What what what the what are you talking about? You know, like in ages. So they so so nowadays to suggest someone's age, yeah, I I I would be called millennial, right? Okay. Because I sort of was born in that era and I think like Gen Z is like below twenty or something like that. Okay. Anything below that is Gen Z, then I think you are referred to as a boomer or something like that.

SPEAKER_02 22:05

B baby boomers, yes.

SPEAKER_01 22:07

Boomer. Well, I don't think you're a baby boomer.

SPEAKER_02 22:09

But I think that's what it's called, baby boomers. 'Cause like and then all them fifteen to sixties when all the uh babies were being born, wouldn't it?

SPEAKER_01 22:16

Well that makes sense. So you do know s more things than me. So obviously Gen Z think they they know it all. They're the ones who really call in sick a lot. They can't get to work. That's why they can't get to work. Yeah, yeah, that's not all of them.

SPEAKER_02 22:28

The 16 to 24 years can't get to work.

SPEAKER_01 22:32

If you can't say this, you can't say that, and all that sort of stuff.

SPEAKER_02 22:35

You know, the ones that you know how you would describe it. That age group, that age that age group is quite high for not going to work.

SPEAKER_01 22:41

But is there anything that they ask your generation advice for? So, what is the one thing? And actually, the most dominated question by Gen Z to say bloomers, whatever you cared, is what is the secret to a long-lasting relationship? Because obviously, you see people that go, I've been we've been married 50 years, we've been married 108 years. Do you know what I mean? 108 years. No, but what I'm saying is probably not a lot of people gonna be able to say that soon.

SPEAKER_02 23:10

That's a long time.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

Soon it'll be like the old penchant is going from that generation will be like, I've been married two years. Yeah, wow, should you scrap the diamond anniversary? That won't be a thing. Oh no, yeah, that's it's that's quite a good question because Yeah, so so in the era dominated by dating apps, ghosting, and crumbling modern dating culture, younger people are highly disillusioned. They often look to an older man or lady who has been with their partner for 40 to 50 years and want to know the secret formula for making love endure. I was a little bit annoyed.

SPEAKER_02 23:42

But are they are they these ones that have been in these long relationships, are they like are they still happy or are they just Well, I don't know. Or they're just going along with the like the emotions, you know. I mean they get you know, they get to a certain stage, didn't they? The the the the kids leave home and they are they are they just there together?

SPEAKER_01 24:03

I mean you've kind of stepped on my toes because although I didn't ex I didn't know what the number one question was going to be, but I obviously have to talk about the number one question because my question was gonna be what do you think is the secret to a long-lasting relationship? I wouldn't know. So any Gen C's listening to not sending advice for that question. No, no. So yeah, so in general, I suppose looking at somebody who's been married for like 50 years, yeah, and then you're in a in a world where people go on like eight dates.

SPEAKER_02 24:36

Yeah, but I mean it was it was a lot different back then, wasn't it? When people got together, you know and marriage, I don't mean I've done if marriage is as a big thing as it as it is as it was back then.

SPEAKER_01 24:47

So some of the things, and these aren't questions, so these are some of the pointers why people's expectations have become too high. Dating apps are are they helping or hurting relationships? Do people work harder at like relationships years ago? Like obviously when one went off to the war, do you know what I mean? Yeah, and they waited. They waited or did they never know. You never know. Is there such a thing as a perfect partner? What's the biggest mistake people make when dating? And what advice would you give somebody looking for love today? So these are all questions that I like.

SPEAKER_02 25:23

Well, sometimes, you know, sometimes the the the the laughter and and sort of like the excitement goes after a few years, you know, people get in their own ways, they go off to work, you know, especially some couples that if one's working nights, yeah, so they they miss each other during the day. Like the the night person comes home and the uh and the day one's going off to work, yeah. And they and then if they get a spare day at the weekend, or they some people they say, Oh, we're too tired, we can't do this, you know, and and it gets some people just get into a rut, don't they? Into a routine. See, that's where they have to, you know, you've got to keep the spark going, yeah. Yeah. Gotta have a laugh. Sets me on fire. You've got to keep laughing and all that. You gotta make it both of you have to be laughing. Oh yeah, of course, yeah, of course.

SPEAKER_01 26:10

You've got to make you've got to make the efforts and all that, you know. But this is this is the interesting thing, what you've kind of you kind of did say it, like so Gen Z, some of Gen Z, yeah, are saying that are these long-lasting relationships only because they're just putting up with each other. Yeah, yeah. So although you might look at that, oh they've been together for 50 years, and a lot of people will go, yeah, we they'll boast about it. A lot of older people go we've been married. Yeah, yeah. You know, yeah. We've been we've been happy for one. But I'm saying they just they just sometimes they just go for emotions. That's what I'm saying. So, and then this is where it gets dark, because it's like, well, actually, is there such a thing as a long-lasting, fully happy relationship?

SPEAKER_02 26:52

Well, I shouldn't imagine there is, but it's all depends how you work at it, you know. Yeah. You know, you've got to I'll answer that question. You've got to be, you know, you've got to keep it going, you know.

SPEAKER_01 27:04

Yeah, I just think yeah, dating nowadays is like everything, it's just completely different, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 27:09

Oh, complete massive, completely different. Because you've got to be careful what you say. Okay because you know you know, some girls, you know, you you well, it's uh vice versa. Some girls go up and chat to guys. It's just gotta be, you know, they get some girls get upset about I mean some some of the chat up lines years ago you wouldn't be able to use these days because people get upset, don't they?

SPEAKER_01 27:29

And because obviously you're now on a podcast that has X amount of episodes, uh you're now eligible for celebrities go dating. So I've put you forward. Oh yeah, yeah. If the dating app dating is a lot of pressure nowadays, a lot of questions, a lot of things to find out.

SPEAKER_02 27:47

And I don't know if these dating apps are helping, because like you know because sometimes you see a photograph when you go and meet the person, not the same person. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, and plus you don't know what sort of if it's a nut case or nut job or do you.

SPEAKER_01 28:01

Good luck, Gen Z. You end it willing a little of that.

SPEAKER_02 28:04

Yeah, but then again, they're all on their phones anyway, so they mostly won't want to have a relationship. Have a relationship with their phones.

SPEAKER_01 28:11

Oh yeah. But we know b we know someone in the family who's Gen Z and they are in a good relationship and they are pregnant and they are moving house. Yes, and it does work.

SPEAKER_02 28:23

It does work, yeah, of course, but of course it'll work if you put the effort in and all that and well then there's no secret, is it? No, it's no secret, you just gotta try and work it and keep you know, have a laughter.

SPEAKER_01 28:32

You know, just ask all the right questions, do a background check. Yeah? Yeah. And then when you go around their house, just check the bar from cabinet.

SPEAKER_02 28:40

Well, one someone said to me once, why does your granddad keep saying, My darling, to his to his to your name? Yeah. I surely forgot her name ten years ago and you didn't want to ask.

SPEAKER_01 28:50

Well, you've just set yourself up for the next section. Let's carry on the laughter of a little bit of this.

SPEAKER_00 28:56

Get ready to laugh. It's now time for the bleeding dad joke.

SPEAKER_01 29:01

It's my favourite part of the podcast. This is my favourite part of the podcast because I was doing really well last week. Yeah. I feel like I'm on the roll. So rather than play it safe though, like the conversations and the subjects, I've gone 50-50. So I've gone nice funny joke, a little bit, pushed it a little bit further. Yeah, sick joke. I went first last week. Okay. Okay. So if you just joined us and you don't know what's going on, this is the bleeding dad joke. We won't go head to head, two jokes eat, and generally we try and find out who's the funniest one, but no one lets us know. Joke number one.

SPEAKER_02 29:35

Right. So on my way here today, I saw this bloke, he's pushing wheelbarrow. And in the wheelbarrow, it's full of all shoes. Horse shoes. Horse shoes, yeah. Rabbit's foot, four-leaf clovers.

SPEAKER_01 29:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:48

I thought he's pushing his luck.

SPEAKER_01 29:50

I guess. Why did the scarecrow win an award? I don't know why did the scarecrow win an award. Because he was outstanding in his field. That's good, isn't it? It's very good.

SPEAKER_02 30:05

Right. Right, oh yeah, yeah. Drink two. Yeah, so it was only the other day, right? Right. I learned the difference between uh an alligator and a crocodile. Right. Yeah, one will see you see you later and the other in a ball.

SPEAKER_01 30:21

So that's about a formal apology. Someone in his wasted there. See you later, man. Okay. Well I got time on this planet listening to this. We're gonna end it on a high though. Good in. It's a script. Okay. I was drinking a martini when the waitress shouted, Does anyone here know CPR? I yelled, I know the entire alphabet. We all laughed and laughed. Well, except one person. Do you understand that? Yes. Yes. He died. He died. Yes. Okay. That was good though. It was good, yeah. I've had those before. Well, that's it. Episode 17 has come to an end. I want to say thank you for listening to Cockney and Son. If you've enjoyed today's episode, make sure you follow, subscribe, leave us a review, whatever you're listening on. And if you've got a question, dilemma, or topic you'd like you, Dad, to tackle in future episodes, get in touch. DM us on the Cockney and Sun Instagram, or you can email the in to Lewis at 2DadsInLondon.com. I'm not going to pay for a Cockney and Sun email address. And we'll see you next time. Yes. See you later. Cheers. More you go. See you later, alligator. Or is it a crock of the That's it for this week's Cockney and Sun. If you had a laugh, hit follow or subscribe, whatever button's in front of you. Leave us a review if you're feeling fancy, and don't forget to share with someone who loves a bit of a moan. We're on Instagram and TikTok at Cockney and Sun, so come say hello. Thanks again if you've made it this far, and until next time, cheers from the old man and the not so young one.