When did kids start using the word 'random' to mean 'strange'?

Question

My 12-year old son will say something is 'random' meaning it's strange, unusual or weird. However to me as a mathematician that usage of the word 'random' seems incorrect, as a random number is a number selected 'at random', for example for a lottery or bingo.
I wouldn't normally describe someone as having a 'random' haircut, or saying 'that's really random' if something weird happens.
So when did kids start using the word this way?

To LOL, Roxana C, and Antron, yes I know what my son means when he uses it, the question is *when* it became a common use for the word?
To the poster who said they used in that way in 1995, I'm surprised, I've only heard it the last year or two since my son went to Senior school.
Note: we live in London England, so posters from other areas may not have heard it used that way - but if you live in another country and use it that way, please let me know!
Cheers,
Yarx

Answer 1

Welcome to the attempt to understand your children.
If they had had the web in their days of raising _us_, OUR parents would have been asking the same ?s about the 'new' language and our misuse of common words.

Don't worry about it. The new meanings may even make it into the dictionary. Look what happened to the word 'gay', which ACTUALLY means lighthearted and happy. No longer. Now it has sexual meaning and the true definition has gone by the wayside.
It's progress of a sort and may seem random to you or queer (HAH! there's another one which actually means strange or odd but now has different connotations).

Answer 2

Im fourteen, and my friends and I always use the word random. Its the new way of saying weird, without hurting someones feelings.. and It doesnt seem so offensive if you say random. I know this is weird, but Im in calss, and my teacher just now used the word random about ten times meaning it was strange.

Answer 3

Phat's not a real word, so it's different.
At least random is an actual word, however it's being misused. Maybe all you parents should get your kids dictionaries for Christmas, and show them how many words exist. There's no need to misuse words or even make up new ones.

Answer 4

I used to use random to mean strange when I was about 13, so 7 years ago at least!

I guess I'd say it because its a random thing to happen, because it doesn't happen often. I'm not sure really!

Answer 5

I have noticed that too. I think where I have heard this, it is not completely interchangeable with "strange" or "weird" but could be.

I hear that when someone says something out of the blue, that happens to be a little strange as well.

Answer 6

We were using random in that way whilst I was at university, I graduated in 1995 so probably a bit before that.

Answer 7

About 3 years ago

Answer 8

This is a 'perfect' example of the 'worlds within worlds, next to worlds' phenomenon of life.

This terminology has been around for over 40 years in my experience, but I am sure it has been used long before I was born.

We think we know 'life' but what we 'know' is what we choose to see!

Personally, I think this is a random question! ;-)

Answer 9

It is a sort of American thing,The Yank Military use it a lot.I think I heard G.W.Bush saying it ,Random Collateral Damage, Bush Speak.

Answer 10

I don't know. I use it all the time and I'm 18. so... yeah. Language is not math. It never will be and I am so happy that we can say whatever we want and it's still right because everyone understands.