You can say that older people are always trying to show "them kids" they know something.

My grandmother used to pull old kitchen utensils out of her junk drawer and ask us how to use them, then laugh as she explained how to use a hand-cranked eggbeater.

Then, television shows that my grandparents would watch, like the local evening news, started to find out how to boost the viewing habits of people who were getting bored of the same old news, because face it, the news is that the world is going to end in a violent rush of rape/murder/burglaries. They tried to soften their hard, gritty edge with a report about how the weather is going to be nice and pretty, but that fell apart once the weatherman revealed there would be a storm Saturday, and grandpa would not be able to use "mowing the grass" as an excuse to get away from grandma's annoying habit of playing "stump the dumb grandkids."

Then, an epiphany: the news show displayed a photo of some dumb household antique. The local news anchors were stumped about what it was and needed somebody to call in and tell them. Grandma was delighted that someone else figured out her game. Grandpa was thrilled that he really was smarter than that sleazy looking male reporter. And so it took off.

As the average age of Facebook began to climb, this phenomenon could be found more and more often: A person over the age of 50 posts a picture of some antique they found and asks "the audience" what it is. They say "share" if you know, but don't give away the secret or you'll ruin it for everybody. Who is everybody? There probably is a Secret Society of Old Geezers out there planting these images everywhere.

Alas, we'll never know. Because grandpa and grandma take their secrets to the grave.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151121994053734&set=a.140527663733.111174.32211253733&type=1&relevant_count=1

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.140527663733.111174.32211253733&type=1

http://boingboing.net/2007/10/19/what-is-this-heirloo.html

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/insidethecollection/category/mystery-object/