Both introduce the world to youngsters, but with different modes.

  • Mechanismatic@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    I’m not sure I understand the “yesterday’s” part. Thomas the Tank Engine predates Cars by decades.

    • lntl@lemmy.mlOP
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      1 year ago

      Did you really read yesterday as August 21, 2023?? That’s hilarious.

      “Yesterday’s” was used to mean “in a time passed”

      In this way both the train and the automobile were used as characters in children’s programs to associate the mode with a positive experience. (The actual programming or content)

      • ZeroCooler@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Lightning McQueen is more recent than Thomas The tank, so the correct phrase would be “Lightning McQueen is today’s Thomas The Tank…” or “Thomas The Tank is yesterday’s Lightning McQueen…”

      • Mechanismatic@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        No, I read yesterday (Lightning McQueen) as juxtaposed with today (Thomas the Tank Engine), as if you were implying that Lightning McQueen predated Thomas the Tank Engine and TTTE was a newish show.

      • Carighan Maconar@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That’s not what “yesterday’s” means in this context, or more specifically, you flipped the two characters if you wanted to use it like that.

        Corrected it’d be:

        “Thomas the Tank Engine was yesterday’s Lightning McQueen”

      • I think I’m understanding what you mean but it’s very clunky. Maybe try again?

        You’re saying that Thomas the Tank Engine and Lighting McQueen introduced kids of different generations to trains and cars.

        To jump on the semantics bandwagon, “yesteryear” would have been more appropriate.

        I’m not sure those two IPs were as generational as you’re giving them credit for. There’s also nothing very interesting about your observation, if I understood correctly.

      • Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It made sense to me, but I just realized that you said that McQueen is yesterday’s Thomas.

        That’s backwards. Thomas is yesterday’s McQueen.

        Although, I’m not convinced that they are that similar at all.