OT: Question for the Old Timers - History/Future

I suppose this question could be for the younger guys like me too. I'm from Pennsylvania USA. What periods of history were you glad to be part of and what periods do you wish you were part of? I know it's an odd and broad question but I think about it once in awhile. My grandfather (passed a few years ago) was born 1940 and what I have seen from his life experiences I think that is probably about the time period I would have liked to have been born. I don't know a ton about history so I could be off base with some of the thought processes. Growing up in the 2nd half of the 20th century (compared to centuries ago) would give you the modern conveniences such as medicine, vehicles, electricity, plumbing, telephone, etc but as far as what we have today we'd somewhat lose out (for the most part, not all of us live to 70+) on things like cell phones, internet, etc. Much of the older generation doesn't get too involved in these modern technologies.

Cell phones (for calling) and internet (never would be able to work on cars/tractors and other things like I can from watching youtube videos and posting on forums) are great but the future of technology scares me. I have a long ways to go (hopefully) and I have a 7 years old daughter so 30 years from now I feel is going to be a scary time. Also, society as a whole seems to be going down the drain.

I think you guys get what I'm saying. My preference would have been to live in more simple times than what are ahead. We were watching a movie from the 70's last night and the couple sat in front of the Christmas tree that was next to the window and just sat there relaxing and sipping on their drinks. It's kind of like watching a nice sunset on the deck. I hate to say it but when we sit down to relax we screw around on our phones and while I'm guilty of it too it's frustrating.

End of rant.

I?m guessing I?m abou the same age or older than you (44).
Every time period has its own triumphs and struggles. I
definitely see what your saying though. I think the biggest
hurdle today and going forward is the disconnect from society
many people are seeing. If you are in a hospital waiting room
full of people you can hear a pin drop usually. People used to
actually talk face to face out of entertainment and interest and
not out of mere necessity. We can?t change that except how
we choose to interact with others. I find that trying to talk to
people in their 60?s up is a lot easier than talking to people say
in their 40?s down ,younger people almost panic and think
your strange if you try and drum up conversation while older
people actually engage and think it?s great a younger person
actually gets it.

I think any time frame has it's perks and downfalls. But if I could go back in time and live through a 20 year
time frame, it would probly be from 1945 to 1965. I didn't get to live through that. That was before my time, but
would of been an era I would of liked to of seen and lived through. When the majority of stores and restraunts
were mom and pop places, the big cities weren't so suburbanized, there wasn't as many laws and restrictions in
place, and life wasn't quit so fast pace.

I think technology is a good thing but it has it's bad side also. I don't like the way society has gotten to be,
and the direction it's headed. Just the change that has occurred since I got out of high school has been huge and
in some ways, not for the better.

The 60's and 70's were a good time to live. If you go back too far in time you will be in a period where diseases wiped out whole families. Would have been a good time period to
have lived, if it wasn't for that.

Other than the current political unrest (which could be cured with a dose of compassion and intelligent planning for
the future generations) I would choose now. Everything looks better when we idealize the past. It isn't that
fantastic. There was (and is still) failure prone digital control of technology, but it will sort out and be as
robust as a 4020JD. I say now for my choice. (I could wish to be 25 again if I could keep what I have learned!)
Jim

I thought the 70s early 80s were good. but I would have liked to have been older in the 60s to know what that was like. I worry about the future for the
kids though. To many employers treat people like cattle or commodities don't care if they live or die as long as you show up and work 7 days a week.
Still waiting for Reganonmicks to work.

(quoted from post at 06:37:14 12/22/18) I suppose this question could be for the younger guys like me too. I'm from Pennsylvania USA. What periods of history were you glad to be part of and what periods do you wish you were part of? I know it's an odd and broad question but I think about it once in awhile. My grandfather (passed a few years ago) was born 1940 and what I have seen from his life experiences I think that is probably about the time period I would have liked to have been born. I don't know a ton about history so I could be off base with some of the thought processes. Growing up in the 2nd half of the 20th century (compared to centuries ago) would give you the modern conveniences such as medicine, vehicles, electricity, plumbing, telephone, etc but as far as what we have today we'd somewhat lose out (for the most part, not all of us live to 70+) on things like cell phones, internet, etc. Much of the older generation doesn't get too involved in these modern technologies.

Cell phones (for calling) and internet (never would be able to work on cars/tractors and other things like I can from watching youtube videos and posting on forums) are great but the future of technology scares me. I have a long ways to go (hopefully) and I have a 7 years old daughter so 30 years from now I feel is going to be a scary time. Also, society as a whole seems to be going down the drain.

I think you guys get what I'm saying. My preference would have been to live in more simple times than what are ahead. We were watching a movie from the 70's last night and the couple sat in front of the Christmas tree that was next to the window and just sat there relaxing and sipping on their drinks. It's kind of like watching a nice sunset on the deck. I hate to say it but when we sit down to relax we screw around on our phones and while I'm guilty of it too it's frustrating.

End of rant.

Click to expand...

Gee you got it all wrong. The old times were not simpler. WE like to feed on that idea but it isn't true. Back in the 1800's the vast bulk of Americans farmed. Over 50%. Those people worked sun up to sun down 7 days a week just to survive. Hunting and fishing was relaxing. It was an important part of putting food on the table. Heck they been doing studies into this stuff. Even during the industrial revolution people worked 12 hour or more days to feed the family. Never in the history of man has a certain segment of the worlds population had so much leisure time. That being most of Europe, Canada and the US. Ask a pre 1930 factory worker where conditions were horrid and dangerous, work hours as much as 18 hours a day with no overtime pay. Or the guy who got up, milked the cow, fed livestock, grabbed a rifle, went and shot a deer. Dressed it and took it home where he skinned it out, butchered and started smoking meat to preserve it (having cut and stacked firewood earlier) stretched the hide so the wife could scrape it and start tanning. Then did evening chores. When they were not farming they were cutting wood with a buck saw and an ax. Splitting by hand. All part of survival.

What is going on today is instant communications. 100 years ago when a kid got dads gun and accidental shot his baby brother it was a local tragedy. Now because of the internet and cell phones it's nation wide news in the matter of minutes. Local car accident were a drunk killed a family 50 years ago was local news. The same stuff that happens now happened then.

Heck few years ago a farm kid had both his arms ripped off by a grain auger. It was nationwide news. They actually had politicians in DC talking about how to stop kids from getting hurt in farm accidents. Had that happened in 1970 it would have been local news, really a community tragedy. Thing is we just hear about it more.

RIck

I will soon be 65, I grew up in the 50's and 60's, I can never imagine a better time than I had as
a kid in that period, came of age in the early 70's when we still enjoyed the majority of our
freedoms in the USA, the eighties and ninties were real good times as my Wife and I raised our
family.

Amen to the employer thing. Workers are now just a number and expected to work as much overtime as possible. It's not going to change either. It's been learned, practiced, and found to be true that it is cheaper for employers to pay overtime wages to smaller work force than to hire additional employees and pay out more in benefits to a larger work force.

(quoted from post at 08:19:29 12/22/18) I will soon be 65, I grew up in the 50's and 60's, I can never imagine a better time than I had as
a kid in that period, came of age in the early 70's when we still enjoyed the majority of our
freedoms in the USA, the eighties and ninties were real good times as my Wife and I raised our
family.

Click to expand...

Heck I'm 63. I grew up in the burbs in NJ. Always locked the doors. Crime was everywhere. And we lived in a good neighborhood. In 8th grade one of my friends dad answered the door on Thanksgiving and was gunned down. The race riots within 4 blocks of our house too. But look at history. It's always been like that.

Rick

I'm only one generation removed from people who had to work sun up to sun down 7 days per week
just for the basics in life, but they never gave up, My Paternal Grandfather managed farms for
others and raised hogs and cattle on the side until he was finally able to buy his own farm at 56
years of age, never a complaint, they bowed their heads and thanked the Good Lord for every bite
of food until the day they died. Your 100% correct about the news, my Mama had a brother 20 years
older than herself, onetime when she was 5 or 6 years old she was sent from the field to the
house to start supper, my Uncle, who lived in Alabama, showed up unexpectedly and my Mama shot
him with the old 22 rifle, she had never met him as they lived in Georgia and he lived in
Alabama, there wasn't much traveling in those days,this was around 1926 or 1927, Grandma cleaned
his wound and they all ate supper. When I was a kid he used to show me the scar and tell me how
my Mama shot him and he would laugh his head off.

Life is generally best and happiest during the years that a person is young, regardless of the year that person was born. Every era has its pluses and minuses, might as well try to live in the present.

Would the life expectancy of each era be an indicator of general well being, not happiness just well being? During colonial times, life expectancy was in the mid 30's. By 1900 life expectancy rose to around 50 and today it is around 80.

I really would not think I could have been any better
off at any other point in history, then the time I have
lived. Born in 1960, youngest of 5 kids, from parents
that fought WW 2. Had the opportunity to be taught
things about life from folks that lived through some
dark times, and came out the other side with their
heads on straight. Good enough for me right there

This is a very interesting conversation. Each, most all of us does a small part in making the world a nicer place to live. I am old now, still continue to be involved with community projects and enjoy the respect from both the younger and older generation's.
Previous generation's, weather farming or factory worker's did have to work longer hour's than what present people do for making a nice way of life. Many years ago I joined a local fire department as a volunteer firefighter, eventually became a paid career firefighter, retired as fire chief. Fast forward to 2018 my 22 year old grandson is a volunteer firefighter with ambitions to be hired as a career professional firefighter, totally dedicated to volunteering his time to the community and the fire service. You can be involved in an interesting conversation with Derek and the alarm sounds and Derek's instantly left for the fire station. Life is good we can't go back, although we can easily go forward. Enjoy the new generation's they are leading us older people , with new ideas and energy. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Cheers, Murray

Doesn't matter when, you have to play the hand you are dealt,main thing is to make the most of what you were given.

I am 56 years old born in 1962. My grandfather always said I was born 50 years too late and one of my
neighbors said they thought I was born 100 years too late . In many ways I would have liked to be born
50 years earlier but no guarantee it would have worked out better than reality. I feel like I've done OK
and am grateful for my life as it is.

I'm 65 yrs. and wouldn't change a thing. Worked when I had to and played the rest of the time. Many times the line between the two was really blurred.

We all grew up listening to our parents talk about the good old days. 30's when unemployment was 25%? 40's when 600,000 young Americans died in a war? leaving the babies without dads that I went to school within the 50's? or the 50's when we worried every day that the Russians would atomic bomb us? or the 60's when we had race riots burning the cities and Anti-war protests on the campuses? Or the '70's when the first oil embargo put us out of gasoline to get to work? How about the 80's when the grain embargo put many many farmers under.


The point is...there are always problems and always good wonderful and happy times. Enjoy your life and live in today. Too many of us old geezers live looking in the rear view mirror. The world is not going backwards, so enjoy life, it is real and "these are your good old days".

I was born in 42, don't remember much of the 40's. The 50's were good. Grand mothers live in separate houses on Dad's farm. Mom and Dad were alive. Things were good, Didn't care much for school. Graduated in 60, Things improved a lot. I got a car that wasn't a piece of junk. Had a girl friend. Got a job in town. Dad had a house built that had an inside toilet. I guess the 60's would have been the best for me growing up. Stan

Topic close to my heart.........Born in 1935 and remember Pearl Harbor and ww2 very well.
Kept a scrapbook of weekly battles etc. Always explaining to my grandkids how different it was! I could talk for hours about specific details but to keep it simple.
Break quality of life into two elements: Tangibles/intangibles. Today via tech and materials goods tangibles much better. Culture,ethics,self-respect, spiritual values etc intangibles much much worst.
Keep in mind from 1945 until the '80's this United States was it in the world; no competition, creditor nation, rebuilding the rest of the world and so on. Never was there a period in history like it with a greater percentage of the population "middle class" before or after.
Jim B

(quoted from post at 10:19:29 12/22/18) I will soon be 65, I grew up in the 50's and 60's, I can never imagine a better time than I had as
a kid in that period, came of age in the early 70's when we still enjoyed the majority of our
freedoms in the USA, the eighties and ninties were real good times as my Wife and I raised our
family.

Click to expand...

I turned 65 a few months ago. The 50's and early 60's were a good era in my life. But, as has been said, childhood days are generally looked back on as idyllic. Certainly a time of innocence. In retrospect, I wish the social revolution of the later 60's hadn't been as successful as it was. I'm fascinated by stories of the late 18th century and early 19th. Life would have been much more difficult, and likely shorter, but I'm still fascinated by it.

I don't see a down side to have been born in June of 1955. I was a child when we were allowed to be innocent and protected from the seedier side of society. Small towns were booming with factory jobs and small farms. It was the height of the baby boom so kids my age were plentiful. In high school,they were the days of mini skirts,tank tops,free love and the pill. No cell phones or internet,so you had to communicate in person or over a phone anchored to a cord without an answering machine.

I worried about being drafted and sent to Viet Nam all through high school,but the draft ended just before I turned 18. Times were hard enough to make us tough and cautious,but no so much that we went hungry. The legal drinking age was 18 and we took full advantage of it in our social lives. I've marveled at the technological progress since then without having to get addicted to most of it,but it's there if I want it.

Not a bad time to have been alive when you think about it.

Memory is a very selective thing. I've spoken with my father about this very subject and he said he would never want to go back to being a kid in the 1940s.

I totally agreed with him. I grew up in the 1970s and it sucked. Oil embargos, hyperinflation, stagnation, retreat in Vietnam, the farm crisis of the early 1980s, booms/busts from 1980 to 2010, AIDS, etc, etc.

Dad said what "good old days" people forget about is the great uncertainty that they lived with back then.

His best friend in elementary school was crippled during the last great polio epidemic when my father was in 5th grade. Imagine living with polio randomly mowing down your friends with no way to stop or mitigate it! You couldn't prevent it so you just prayed for those that had it and so that you didn't get it. That's all.

My father was in that generation that was too young for Korea and too old for Vietnam, so he did not get drafted or serve, but there again there was a harsh uncertainty for years about your number coming up in those 2 wars.

When his brothers went off to Vietnam, there were years of uncertainty then too. Terrible waiting for letters to know they were alive and every time an unknown car came down the road, the horrible thought crossed everyone's mind, is this going to be 2 men in uniform...

One of his brothers was in the Air Force and was a fighter pilot, although he was "reassigned" to "other aircraft" and he could not disclose where he was or what he was doing. Letters or phone calls were few and far between and between letters there was constant worry about if he had been shot down. Dad's other brother Douglas was the unlucky one in the family and everything bad that happened would happen to him. Of course he was sent straight to the infantry and dad was convinced that he would never make it back, but he did.

All kinds of stuff went on back then that nobody wants to remember. People want to talk about the good times and not think about the bad. They want to remember how everyone was a great neighbor and helped each other, not the one neighbor that beat his wife every Saturday and shot a shotgun at 2 kids who were taking apples from a tree in his back 40.

Be thankful for what you have. The good old days weren't always good. My experience has been that rather than life aways getting worse, IMO I like NOW better than any time in my past. I've got 2 great kids, a great wife, and basically, I'm making up now for an un-fun time growing up in crappy places and crappy times. I don't sugar coat it when my kids ask me about the "good old days".

Grouse

I don't know my Dad told me growing up when he did was probably a better time than when I grew up. He was ten when WW2 started . There was a recession in the fifties but we lived in Canada. Fun for my Dad was collecting pop bottles and shooting prairie dogs for a nickel a tail. Lived on the farm then in the city when my grandfather went to work for the Dept. of Agriculture. It always sounded like he sure did have fun times. I grew up with drugs and the threat of draft , drinking age 18 . Not brilliant times.

I was born in 1947. I grew up on a dairy and cotton farm. Everybody worked hard and got along back then. Never heard of any crime around here back
then. I never thought about whether we were poor or not, but we always had plenty to eat and everything we needed. Not always what we may have
wanted but we were content with it. Mama cooked meat from the farm and vegetables from the garden and also canned a lot back then.I think those
days were the best of my life so far.

My life and my wife's life have been saved by antibiotics more than once. As Styx said, "These are the best of times".

I have said I was born about 100 years to late and 1500 miles to far east. From about 1865-1870 up till about the end of the 1920's would have been the time. Not much for taxes,government regulations,and I still have to work about 12-18 hours a day during the spring summer and fall. Less in the winter though. After the civil war till the depression was the best of times for this country. Yes they had their draw backs too.

Alas, born too late to be a Mountain Man & too early for space.

I see no reason to wax nostalgic about a past that never was. We're stuck in the era in which we live, and we need to make the best of it. And we also need to ensure that the future world our grandchildren will live in is, at the least, no worse than today.

My parents were born in the twenties, and saw some tough times. They both were fortunate enough to live on the outer edges of the dust bowl, but I'm sure they experienced some things they just didn't talk about.

The progress in medicine is the single biggest reason I wouldn't want to live in my parents' era. I have an elderly aunt who has suffered her entire adult life with the affects of childhood polio. My maternal grandfather committed suicide in '29 rather than go under the knife for gallstone surgery. These days it is quite common for folks to survive for decades with diseases that would have meant early death just a few years ago.

I'm one of those, born in '41. Said many, many times that I came and will "went" at the right time in history. Uncle had Polio in the womb and was born with a stub for one lower leg, partially paralyzed body otherwise....was able to make the best of it and work a slightly quasi-normal life. I got the Dr. Salt's Polio nnalert on the sugar cube when a youngster.......and on and on.

I am glad I was able to retire from the work force before the current digital age got into "overdrive". Dabbled in it to keep up with the times, at the time, but was really boring vs what I was doing.