I would like to know if you consider the period we exist now as potentially the best period to have existed? Perhaps the best period to exist for this country looking into the future? For me that’s the period 1970 to 2050.
Looking backwards life was a lot harder. Heavy manual work and low pay. World wars that have shaped this country but which I did not have to fight. Up to the Falklands the UK’s golden years. Looking back even further we see a life of grime, poverty. Even further and we are into dark ages and medieval.
Looking forward we see recession, low wages forced by mass immigration. Again not affecting us who are 45-55 as much. Affects the young a lot more.
Obviously we cannot see into the future but potentially a world where the UK is no longer a big player. Rising prices. Fuel running out. No world wars but terrorism and fanaticism. Population overcrowding. Global changes.
However my period, this period has been good. Always in work. Wealth. White collar technical. A period of rebuilding and expansion. Technological innovation. The birth of computing, telecommunications, longevity, aviation, space travel.
So is now the best time to have lived?
By: trumper - 22nd March 2013 at 17:54
We’ve stolen their childhood by turning them into consumers and revenue streams, giving them expectations of instant material gratification that are seldom – if ever – fulfilled.
On a happier note, it looks like your childhood was rather similar to mine. 🙂
Good post agreed,young people do have high expectations of what they should be by companies marketing.
Baby – 3 = toddler to kiddie stuff ,3 – 8 = childs stuff, 8+ = young teenager /adult stuff.
By: Grey Area - 22nd March 2013 at 17:23
What have we done to them?
We’ve stolen their childhood by turning them into consumers and revenue streams, giving them expectations of instant material gratification that are seldom – if ever – fulfilled.
On a happier note, it looks like your childhood was rather similar to mine. 🙂
By: Grey Area - 22nd March 2013 at 17:22
Duplicate post
By: Dave Wilson - 22nd March 2013 at 16:54
I have to titter a bit when I read ‘Kid’s spend all day on the internet these days’; written by some old bloke on the internet….:)
I’m 57 and have nothing but great memories from my childhood even though I was born in a two up two down in a small mining town. We never went without, the countryside was literally at the end of our street and we felt secure.
Trumper mentions that kids sem to have a lot of anger in them; my sister and I were only talking about this last week. Look around any town centre and you rarely see a smiling kid these days. What have we done to them?
By: charliehunt - 21st March 2013 at 06:58
Without risking turning this into a nostalgia thread I concur with all that’s gone before. A bit older but sharing similar experiences of growing up. But I also suspect that thew age during which they grow up might be the best for most people. And of course it’s not easy to comment on history we have not experienced but only read about, or shared with older relatives.
By: Stuart H - 21st March 2013 at 00:20
‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’
By: paul178 - 20th March 2013 at 23:42
Bumblebee again I have to agree. I feel desperately sorry for todays young and their prospects for jobs and getting on the property ladder. If my wife and I have not spent it all when we are fitted for our wooden overcoats they can have whats left over. Hard maybe but we are not going to live what time is left to us in penury though.
By: BumbleBee - 20th March 2013 at 23:28
I reckon Mr. Bee and I hit the jackpot – born just after the war,new NHS,free university education for me,easy employment and affordable housing.
Now retired and happily spending our kid’s inheritance :diablo:
It wasn’t all roses,we were hard up when we managed to get on the property ladder and didn’t live together until we were married,or else our mothers would have killed us ….
…. but I’m embarrassed when I think how it all virtually fell into our laps,given a reasonable amount of hard work,compared to what young people face today.
By: paul178 - 20th March 2013 at 23:26
trumper, I trend to agree with you there. I was 68 last Saturday and remember my childhood 60 years ago as a happy pleasent time,out all day long playing and getting the train from Tottenham to Enfield Town and back again on my own just for the fun of it.,again two bus rides(change at Wood Green to get the single decker) to get to Alexandra Palace(ally pally) again on my own with no worries or fear for my safety. Playing out in the street and exploring with my mates. Does any of this happen today. I don’t see happy children in the streets anymore. I don’t know if its parents being paranoid over their safety or whether you can’t drag them off their computer or xbox now.
To me trees were a challenge you just had to climb them!:)
By: trumper - 20th March 2013 at 22:09
I think it depends on what part of your life you were the happiest in as well.
I was born 50 years ago and my childhood was old fashioned compared to today BUT i wouldn’t swap it for my childrens childhood.
I had groups of real friends ,some when you wanted to play football [all day] others for exploring and the clever ones who were inventing ,building.
We went out and about on bikes,skateboarded down the hill on the estate where i lived [ you could’nt do now because of all the parked cars].
We went out in all weathers on pushbikes,no mobile phones just fun.
Children today MAY have alot of electronic stuff but i feel the world is nastier,more vindictive some of the youths seem to have nothing but anger and trouble in them.
I’ve been lucky enough to have a job from the age of 16 to the present day,the youngsters today i doubt will get the same chances.
The plus side for today is the world is a smaller place,travel and learning are really only limited to the amount you can do.
Sign In
March 20, 2013 at 9:21 pm