Summary: My coworkers use a lot of slang (mostly internet-based) that I do not understand. It makes me feel excluded. How can I learn that "language" or is it a lost cause?
Last year, I got a new job with the help of my friend in the software industry. I am currently an older man on a H1B in the US, which if you can already have guessed, has been difficult recently so I took what I can get as the last company I was employed with was extremely hostile to people like me.
This new company, while much more relaxed, is far more young. Everyone uses all sorts of images with subtitles on them and smiley faces. In addition, some of my colleagues keep using the same catchphrases, but they seem to understand each other somehow (my English is fairly good). I do not relate to any of this at all. I've been given suggestions in the past to just ignore it and do my job, but I've not only grown extremely lonely, people have been forgetting I exist! Just last week, I joined a video call and someone asked me where to find something and a bunch of people just all replied "BASED!" non-stop and then someone replied with "SLASH F F" and then everyone left. How do you even reply to that?
Should I even try to fit in and learn these jokes or am I too old for this and I should just continue to be lonely with my "existence". I did download TikTok and Instagram, so I can immerse myself in the meantime. Thank you.
