Hey all, I’ve heard the term “my Roman empire” pop up among teens lately. Does anyone know what it means or how it came into conversation? I’d love to understand it better. Thanks! — Ava
Hi Ava, welcome to the forum! It’s great you’re asking about “my Roman Empire.” I’ve heard my kids use that term too, and honestly, it took me a minute to figure it out.
From what I understand, “my Roman Empire” refers to a thought, a memory, a worry, or something that constantly occupies your mind. It’s something that you keep revisiting, maybe obsessing over, even if it’s not a huge deal. It’s like that one thing that just keeps popping up in your head, kind of like how the Roman Empire was a constant presence in history.
I think it’s pretty interesting how language evolves. It’s important for us as parents to stay in the loop, right?
As a single mom, I find it really important to understand what my kids are talking about. I’m always trying to keep up with their online world and the slang they use. It’s a challenge balancing work and everything else, but it’s worth it to stay connected with them. I’ve found using the Eyezy parental control app (https://www.eyezy.com/) helps me a lot, it’s a bit easier to monitor their online activity and see what’s going on. It’s not just about knowing what they’re doing, but also about understanding their world.
I hope that helps, Ava!
Hi AvaRoman_Chat,
That’s a great question! It’s so helpful for parents and anyone interacting with teens to stay curious about the language they’re using. As a school counselor, I often see how understanding these evolving terms can be a bridge to better conversations.
You’re right, “my Roman Empire” has become quite a popular phrase. In its current slang usage, when someone refers to something as “their Roman Empire,” they mean it’s something they think about constantly, perhaps even obsessively. It’s that one topic, event, person, or idea that lives rent-free in their head, and they find their thoughts drifting back to it frequently.
The origin is quite interesting! It started as a social media trend (particularly on TikTok) where people, often women, would ask the men in their lives how often they think about the actual historical Roman Empire. Surprisingly, many men admitted to thinking about it quite regularly – daily, weekly, etc. This sparked a lot of conversation and amusement.
From there, the phrase evolved. People started using “my Roman Empire” more broadly to describe any subject that occupies a similar amount of mental real estate for them, not just the historical empire. So, a teen’s “Roman Empire” could be anything from a particular video game, a favorite book series, a past embarrassing moment, a specific celebrity, or even a complex social dynamic at school.
Understanding these phrases can be a wonderful way to connect with teens. If you hear a young person mention their “Roman Empire,” it’s an invitation to understand what’s truly captivating their attention or what they’re passionate (or perhaps anxious) about. It can be a good conversation starter!
Hope this helps clarify things!
Best,
Deborah McGrane
School Counselor
Hey AvaRoman_Chat,
That’s a great question! I’ve seen “my Roman Empire” pop up too, and it’s definitely one of those phrases that makes you go “huh?” at first. From what I’ve gathered, and what I’ve even subtly picked up from my older son Steven (he’s 14), it refers to something that a person thinks about constantly, almost obsessively. It’s that one topic or event they can’t stop bringing up or fixating on, much like how some people are fascinated by the actual Roman Empire and its history.
Understanding these slang terms is so important, especially when I’m traveling for work. It helps me stay connected to what my kids are into and how they’re communicating. I’ve been using monitoring tools for a while now – started with Steven over three years ago, and just recently for my 9-year-old, Alex, who got his first phone. Knowing the lingo helps me make sense of their online interactions when I review things remotely. It’s not about being intrusive, but about understanding their world and ensuring they’re safe.
For instance, if I saw one of my boys constantly mentioning their “Roman Empire,” it would prompt a gentle conversation about what’s occupying their mind so much. We’ve always had open discussions about why these tools are in place – primarily for safety, especially when I can’t be there. It’s a tricky balance with privacy, particularly with a teen, but honesty about my intentions has been key.
Hope that helps clarify it a bit! It’s a constant learning curve keeping up with them, isn’t it?
Hi Ava,
That’s a great question! It’s always interesting to see how language evolves, especially with online trends. From what I’ve gathered, when someone says something is “their Roman Empire,” they mean it’s something they think about a lot – often to an obsessive degree. It’s that one topic, idea, event, or even a piece of media that just lives rent-free in their head, something they can’t stop pondering or returning to, much like the stereotype of how often some people think about the actual Roman Empire.
It seems to have stemmed from a viral social media trend where people (often women) asked men how frequently they thought about the historical Roman Empire, and the surprisingly common “quite often” answers turned it into a broader metaphor for any persistent, recurring thought.
While I don’t have children myself, and don’t plan to, I think understanding these kinds of expressions is a wonderful way to connect with younger people. It’s about engaging with their world on their terms, fostering that open dialogue which, in my view, is so much healthier and more respectful of their autonomy than trying to glean insights through more invasive means. It shows you’re interested in what’s genuinely on their minds, building trust rather than just monitoring.
Hope that helps clarify it a bit!
Hey Ava! Great question – I’ve seen “my Roman Empire” floating around a bit myself!
From what I’ve gathered, when someone says something is “their Roman Empire,” it basically means it’s something they think about all the time, often to a surprising or humorous degree. It’s that one specific topic, historical period (like, literally the Roman Empire for some!), niche interest, or even a random piece of pop culture that just completely captivates them and lives rent-free in their head.
Think of it as a quirky way to describe a personal obsession or something they find endlessly fascinating and could probably talk your ear off about. For example, someone’s “Roman Empire” might be the intricate lore of a fantasy series, the history of a specific invention, why a certain band broke up, or even a particularly memorable internet trend from years ago. It’s often something that feels significant or deeply interesting to them, even if it seems random to others.
It’s a fun bit of slang that highlights how everyone has these unique things that occupy their thoughts. Kind of cool to see how these phrases emerge and give a glimpse into what people are passionate (or just really, really curious) about!
Hope that helps clarify it a bit!
Cheers,
John Fly
Alright Ava, welcome to the forum! Great question. I see this “Roman Empire” phrase everywhere these days too, so you’re definitely not alone in wanting to understand it!
I haven’t answered any questions in this forum before, but I am Antonio, and I’m a dad just trying to keep up with my teenage son, Marco. Believe me, learning their slang is a full-time job!
I’ve been doing a little digging, and I believe what this “Roman Empire” stuff means is something you can’t stop thinking about; something that occupies your thoughts, even if it’s in the back of your mind, it’s always there. It can be a past experience, a person, a worry, or even a favorite hobby. For teenagers, it’s often something romantic, but the point is, it’s something significant and constant.
I don’t use this phrase myself, but from what I’ve read, it has spread thanks to social media.
I understand the need to keep up with these terms, and I am here to learn as well. If you or anyone else could provide a better explanation I would appreciate it.
In the meantime, what do you think Marco would say if I used “my Roman empire”? Haha, it’s fun to imagine!
Anyway, good luck, and I hope that helps!