How The World Has Changed Since The 1950's (Good and Bad) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jasonbigley · 08-18-2012, 01:09 AM

* In the fifties, you could leave your doors unlocked and feel safe. Now you have to deadbolt them and paint your windows shut.

* In the fifties, minorities were heavily discriminated against. Now they are receiving more and more rights.

* In the fifties, a woman had very limited choices for a career or had to be a stay at home mom. Now we have women in charge of companies, have a secretary of state, some are judges.

* In the fifties, we had only 3 or 4 channels that had wholesome, family shows. Now we have thousands of channels with mindless crap.

* In the fifties, a child could walk down the street safely. Now if a child does this, he or she may end up on a milk carton with the caption MISSING placed above.

* In the fifties, you could feel free to get dirty or play in the mud. Now you would have to wash your hands down with all these sanitizers.

* In the fifties, Polio was a big scare. Now it is not.

* In the fifties, teenagers/young adults had a good time by watching a movie or playing games. Now they have a good time by getting drunk and smoking the latest marijuana.

* In the fifties, you had a mom and dad at home. Now it is just 1 mom or 1 dad.

* In the fifties, we had stuff that was more durable and made in the USA. Now it is cheaply made garbage made in Zimbabwe, Vietnam and China.

Penny Lane · 08-18-2012, 12:54 PM

So true! I remember the 50's well! Time marches on.

Fleet · 08-18-2012, 06:31 PM

Overall, I would much prefer the '50s.

So do those I have asked who lived through it (my parents, Aunts/Uncles, friends).

Penny Lane · 08-19-2012, 11:25 AM

I spent my childhood in the 50's. Of course it was good! But I'll always remember my grandma saying "I don't know how people can bring children into this world. " And this was the 50's!

I raised my kids in the 70's and they wandered all over the neighborhood and I thought nothing about it! Of course I wouldn't let them do that these days!

So I guess it's all relative.

Mr. Television · 08-19-2012, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

I spent my childhood in the 50's. Of course it was good! But I'll always remember my grandma saying "I don't know how people can bring children into this world. " And this was the 50's!

I raised my kids in the 70's and they wandered all over the neighborhood and I thought nothing about it! Of course I wouldn't let them do that these days!

So I guess it's all relative.

As a kid of the 70's I remember going everywhere in the neighborhood by myself. I rode my bike up to the 7-11 all the time to get snacks or my weekly comic book. By the time my 2 sisters were kids in the 1980's they weren't allowed to leave the street in front of the house.

retrofan05 · 08-19-2012, 01:51 PM

I have to say that while I'm intrigued by other decades (mainly the 1960's), I'm quite content with the fact that I grew up in the 1990's. I loved it. In terms of safety, I think a lot of it has to do with geography. I grew up and currently still live in a small town of just 40,000. So I have always felt very safe. Who knew the early 90's had some of the highest crime rates of any era! As a kid, my friends and I were outside all the time by ourselves. In the summers we stayed out until it got dark, playing hide and go seek, tag, and had water balloon/water gun fights (just to name a few). Granted, this was just in our subdivision, but we were by ourselves nonetheless. Now, were we outside as much as kids in the 50's? Definitely not. We had awesome stuff to do inside like play Super Nintendo or watch Nickelodeon. I can remember getting our first computer when I was in 4th grade and thinking that was the coolest thing ever, and when we got the internet? Even better. I think there's something special about every decade. Each of course had positive aspects as well as negatives. But looking back, it's all about the memories and I have are great memories.

Penny Lane · 08-19-2012, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retrofan05

Each of course had positive aspects as well as negatives. But looking back, it's all about the memories and I have are great memories.

You are absolutely right! It's all about memories which shape our opinions.Every decade had it's problems. My dad grew up in the 30's on a farm with no central heating or running water. It was also during the Depression.He had to break the ice in the water bucket just to wash up in the morning. He always said and I quote: "The good old days. I'm glad they're gone!"

JamesG · 08-19-2012, 05:27 PM

Back in my day (the 90s - yeah I'm old...) if I wanted to see my friends I would go outside and hang with them out in the street. Now socializing seems to be mostly done via Facebook and text messaging.

If I couldn't see them in-person I would call them up so at least there was some contact, but now that has been replaced with communicating on a screen.

Also, you now have to worry about every little detail about yourself being mentioned all over the web. Even if you don't use Facebook or Twitter yourself people can still mention what you talk about between friends and things about you online.

Privacy doesn't seem to exist anymore.

Torgo · 08-20-2012, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonbigley

* In the fifties, you could leave your doors unlocked and feel safe. Now you have to deadbolt them and paint your windows shut.

* In the fifties, minorities were heavily discriminated against. Now they are receiving more and more rights.

* In the fifties, a woman had very limited choices for a career or had to be a stay at home mom. Now we have women in charge of companies, have a secretary of state, some are judges.

* In the fifties, we had only 3 or 4 channels that had wholesome, family shows. Now we have thousands of channels with mindless crap.

* In the fifties, a child could walk down the street safely. Now if a child does this, he or she may end up on a milk carton with the caption MISSING placed above.

* In the fifties, you could feel free to get dirty or play in the mud. Now you would have to wash your hands down with all these sanitizers.

* In the fifties, Polio was a big scare. Now it is not.

* In the fifties, teenagers/young adults had a good time by watching a movie or playing games. Now they have a good time by getting drunk and smoking the latest marijuana.

* In the fifties, you had a mom and dad at home. Now it is just 1 mom or 1 dad.

* In the fifties, we had stuff that was more durable and made in the USA. Now it is cheaply made garbage made in Zimbabwe, Vietnam and China.

Some of these aren't specific to the 50's, as a kid of the 70's and early 80's these were true.

And not all teens get drunk or smoke pot today, just like not all teens didn't get drunk in the 50's.

sunshinefizzy · 08-21-2012, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retrofan05

I have to say that while I'm intrigued by other decades (mainly the 1960's), I'm quite content with the fact that I grew up in the 1990's. I loved it. In terms of safety, I think a lot of it has to do with geography. I grew up and currently still live in a small town of just 40,000. So I have always felt very safe. Who knew the early 90's had some of the highest crime rates of any era! As a kid, my friends and I were outside all the time by ourselves. In the summers we stayed out until it got dark, playing hide and go seek, tag, and had water balloon/water gun fights (just to name a few). Granted, this was just in our subdivision, but we were by ourselves nonetheless. Now, were we outside as much as kids in the 50's? Definitely not. We had awesome stuff to do inside like play Super Nintendo or watch Nickelodeon. I can remember getting our first computer when I was in 4th grade and thinking that was the coolest thing ever, and when we got the internet? Even better. I think there's something special about every decade. Each of course had positive aspects as well as negatives. But looking back, it's all about the memories and I have are great memories.

I was born in 1989 so I was a 90's kid, too. I thought it was great! Then again, we're gonna have kids born in 1999 thinking the '00's were great. I think the decade of your childhood is always gonna hold a special place in your heart no matter how turbulent everything going on in the world was.

MickeyMac · 08-21-2012, 06:07 PM

In the 50's the country was racially segregated.

Just saying.

MrCleveland · 08-23-2012, 01:58 PM

I was an 80's/90's Child and I used to hang-out with my neighbors down the street, watch some good broadcast TV, my mom was stay-at-home most of the time, I have a mom and dad which are STILL together, and we'd go out and do things every summer.

I still wish I can do a few more things before this summer ends....

Fleet · 09-02-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

In the 50's the country was racially segregated.

Just saying.

As early as 1954, there was work being done to end that.

Regulus · 09-02-2012, 06:32 PM

In the 1950s, kids would see a Movie for free by hiding in the trunk of a car on its way to the drive-in. Today kids see a movie for free by downloading it illegally on the Internet.

In the 1950s the biggest fear was getting nuked by the Russians, today the biggest fear is getting nuked by Terrorists.

In the 1950s if you missed a show on TV there was a possibility you'd never see it again. Today if you miss a show on TV you'll possibly have dozens of chances to see it, including the possibility of buying it on something called a DVD.

MickeyMac · 09-05-2012, 06:08 PM

In the 1950's there was no internet, no text messaging, no I phones (or cell phones of any kind), no computers, no emails, no instant messaging.

People had to communicate with each other the old fashioned way. Talking to each other person to person, face to face.

Frankly thats my favorite way to talk to another person.

08-18-2012, 01:09 AM	#1
jasonbigley Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 14, 2008 Location: California Posts: 501	How The World Has Changed Since The 1950's (Good and Bad) * In the fifties, you could leave your doors unlocked and feel safe. Now you have to deadbolt them and paint your windows shut. * In the fifties, minorities were heavily discriminated against. Now they are receiving more and more rights. * In the fifties, a woman had very limited choices for a career or had to be a stay at home mom. Now we have women in charge of companies, have a secretary of state, some are judges. * In the fifties, we had only 3 or 4 channels that had wholesome, family shows. Now we have thousands of channels with mindless crap. * In the fifties, a child could walk down the street safely. Now if a child does this, he or she may end up on a milk carton with the caption MISSING placed above. * In the fifties, you could feel free to get dirty or play in the mud. Now you would have to wash your hands down with all these sanitizers. * In the fifties, Polio was a big scare. Now it is not. * In the fifties, teenagers/young adults had a good time by watching a movie or playing games. Now they have a good time by getting drunk and smoking the latest marijuana. * In the fifties, you had a mom and dad at home. Now it is just 1 mom or 1 dad. * In the fifties, we had stuff that was more durable and made in the USA. Now it is cheaply made garbage made in Zimbabwe, Vietnam and China.

08-18-2012, 12:54 PM	#2
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,263	So true! I remember the 50's well! Time marches on.
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

08-18-2012, 06:31 PM	#3
Fleet Mansions, limousines & H-ween Forum Star Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, California Posts: 15,625	Overall, I would much prefer the '50s. So do those I have asked who lived through it (my parents, Aunts/Uncles, friends).
	__________________ 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine.

08-23-2012, 01:58 PM	#12
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,233	I was an 80's/90's Child and I used to hang-out with my neighbors down the street, watch some good broadcast TV, my mom was stay-at-home most of the time, I have a mom and dad which are STILL together, and we'd go out and do things every summer. I still wish I can do a few more things before this summer ends....
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

09-02-2012, 06:32 PM	#14
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	In the 1950s, kids would see a Movie for free by hiding in the trunk of a car on its way to the drive-in. Today kids see a movie for free by downloading it illegally on the Internet. In the 1950s the biggest fear was getting nuked by the Russians, today the biggest fear is getting nuked by Terrorists. In the 1950s if you missed a show on TV there was a possibility you'd never see it again. Today if you miss a show on TV you'll possibly have dozens of chances to see it, including the possibility of buying it on something called a DVD.
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

08-19-2012, 11:25 AM	#4
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,263	I spent my childhood in the 50's. Of course it was good! But I'll always remember my grandma saying "I don't know how people can bring children into this world. " And this was the 50's! I raised my kids in the 70's and they wandered all over the neighborhood and I thought nothing about it! Of course I wouldn't let them do that these days! So I guess it's all relative.

08-19-2012, 01:51 PM	#6
retrofan05 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,111	I have to say that while I'm intrigued by other decades (mainly the 1960's), I'm quite content with the fact that I grew up in the 1990's. I loved it. In terms of safety, I think a lot of it has to do with geography. I grew up and currently still live in a small town of just 40,000. So I have always felt very safe. Who knew the early 90's had some of the highest crime rates of any era! As a kid, my friends and I were outside all the time by ourselves. In the summers we stayed out until it got dark, playing hide and go seek, tag, and had water balloon/water gun fights (just to name a few). Granted, this was just in our subdivision, but we were by ourselves nonetheless. Now, were we outside as much as kids in the 50's? Definitely not. We had awesome stuff to do inside like play Super Nintendo or watch Nickelodeon. I can remember getting our first computer when I was in 4th grade and thinking that was the coolest thing ever, and when we got the internet? Even better. I think there's something special about every decade. Each of course had positive aspects as well as negatives. But looking back, it's all about the memories and I have are great memories.

08-19-2012, 05:27 PM	#8
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,168	Back in my day (the 90s - yeah I'm old...) if I wanted to see my friends I would go outside and hang with them out in the street. Now socializing seems to be mostly done via Facebook and text messaging. If I couldn't see them in-person I would call them up so at least there was some contact, but now that has been replaced with communicating on a screen. Also, you now have to worry about every little detail about yourself being mentioned all over the web. Even if you don't use Facebook or Twitter yourself people can still mention what you talk about between friends and things about you online. Privacy doesn't seem to exist anymore.

08-21-2012, 06:07 PM	#11
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	In the 50's the country was racially segregated. Just saying.

09-05-2012, 06:08 PM	#15
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	In the 1950's there was no internet, no text messaging, no I phones (or cell phones of any kind), no computers, no emails, no instant messaging. People had to communicate with each other the old fashioned way. Talking to each other person to person, face to face. Frankly thats my favorite way to talk to another person.