CB radio has its own language

Clayton Hayes is a lifelong resident of Dyer County.

In today’s society, teenagers and young adults have their own language as they send text messages back and forth by the hundreds on their cell phones.

Several months ago, I wrote my column about their language, the acronyms, and the short words they use to convey a message. One is that most people need to learn what they’re saying.

That column made me think of my younger days in the 1970s when CB radios were the rage, the hot item to have in your car, place of business, or home.

The Citizens’ Band radio service originated in the United States as one of several personal radio services regulated by the FCC. These services began in 1945 to permit citizens a short-distance radio band for personal communication.

It was reported that long-haul truckers invented the CB to avoid getting caught by the highway patrol as they cruised down the highway over the speed limit.

CB radio offered a way of communicating and hiding your identity simultaneously. No one used their real name. Every CB operator had a “handle,” which was their CB name, their alias, their moniker. Generally, you would select a two-word name associated with your line of work, your hobby, or your lifestyle.

Mine, of course, emanated from my occupation as a professional photographer .... “Photo Guy”. I thought about changing it several times as many CBers on the other side of the conversation thought I was a highway patrolman shooting radar.

CBers had a language of their own, just like text messagers today.

“Hey Tooth Decay, how ‘bout that eastbound Cub Scout? How’s it look over your shoulder? Come back.”

“Hey, Photo Guy, you be in da rockin’ chair. I got yor front door and Fungus Foot got yor back door. You be good to mm 124.”

Okay, all you text messages, decipher that if you can.

This CB exchange started with me asking someone calling himself “Tooth Decay” about a county sheriff’s car traveling in the eastbound lane. I was also asking him how it looked behind him. Were there any highway patrol cars sneaking up on me? “Come back” meant I was through with my questions and needed an answer.

Tooth Decay told me about my rocking chair position. He was a mile ahead of me, and his buddy, Fungus Foot, was maybe two miles behind me. That position offered me safety from a speeding ticket as Tooth Decay could spot radar ahead of me, and Fungus Foot would alert me if a patrolman tried to sneak up behind me.

This was the best position to be in while traveling. No worries about getting caught speeding; just sit back and relax. In this case, I was safe, at least to mile marker 124. And that would change as we traveled further down the highway.

CB radios came standard with a low power wattage output regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. You know, they’re the same government agency that allows all the cussing and nudity on prime-time television shows today.

To extend the transmission range, some guys would add a linear amplifier to boost the output power

of their CB radio tremendously. There was a federal law against such tactics, but no one was concerned. Now and then, you would hear over your radio that someone actually getting caught.

Once you learned the CB language, truckers were always fun to communicate with on the interstates. Everyone was a “good buddy.”

I must introduce the CB language to today’s text messagers since they think their generation invented a “unique talk” phenomenon.

Okay, class, sit up straight in your chair, pay attention, and answer the following questions.

I have already told you about Cub Scouts and Rocking Chair, but do you know what a bubblegummer was? A teenage CB operator.

How about, motion lotion? That was gasoline for your car.

Roller skate? A small car. Shanty Shaker? A tractor truck was used to pull mobile homes down the highway. Smoky Bear? That was the police. Bear Bait? Someone driving way over the speed limit with no CB radio.

When another CBer told you to brush your teeth and comb your hair, know what that meant? This phrase was used to describe someone approaching a radar-equipped police car. You’re about to get your picture taken.

Ever heard, “Band-Aid Wrapper?” That was an ambulance. When someone talking on his CB was called an “Alligator Station”, that meant he was all mouth and no ears, a yapper.

“Movable parking lot” refers to automobile carriers. “Chew ‘n Choke” refers to a restaurant, while “Coffee Bean” refers to a waitress. “Dixie Cup” refers to a female CB operator with a southern accent.

So, class, you can see that the CB language was colorful and exciting, unlike today’s short text message acronyms. It is sad, but the language has become a lost art with the appearance of cell phones. Sometimes, change could be better. In trying to make our lives easier, technology destroys things that harbor so many great memories.

Guess I’ll be down, out, and on the side!

That means I’m done with today’s column, but I’m thinking about what I’ll write next week!