Back in the day

[Douglas Bigham]

I'm going to have to disagree slightly.

Aside from "back in the day" = something to do with civil rights or social
change, which I have heard, used, and understood, I cannot strictly equate
this with "more than 2 years ago".

I have heard (used, and understood) "back in the day" as little as 3 hours
ago.

"Ah, remember when you weren't puking?  Back in the day, before we were
drunk, around 4?"

Granted, this was for humor's sake.  However, I think it points to the fact
that "back in the day" is/can be used simply to invoke nostalgia (real or
affected).  This would also be why

"Back in the day, when Noah built the ark"

doesn't work.  No one (I hope) can claim any nostalgia towards Noah and an
antediluvian world (sorry, just saw "Atlantis").  That's my view, for what
it's worth.

-dsb
Douglas S. Bigham
Southern Illinois University - Carbondale