The hooker episode

[cfr1970]

It's on Antenna TV now (another favorite of mine) and it's a little weird that Mrs. G. lets them all go down to the city by themselves. Blair & Jo were probably 16 at this point. You'd think she would have gone to see the play with them and chaperone rather than just put them on the train and allow them to run amok in Manhattan by themselves.

She was being more protective of Tootie, since her parents wouldn't allow it, but was all like "Bye girls!" with the rest of them.

She probably ran to the Lost Girls when she got back and said, maybe they'll never return and you'll have your chance to come back to me!!

And Miko's line "What do I know? I use an abacus." would probably have viewers calling it racially insensitive today. I did cringe a little myself at the line. (an abacus is an ancient adding calculator used by Chinese--that no one in modern days would be using.)

[80s Dude]

Being their ages, at that time it was not uncommon for kids Blair's and Jo's age to run around a big city unsupervised. I did in Montreal and Boston with friends and classmates and no adult supervision. It was different then and it's real.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

It's on Antenna TV now (another favorite of mine) and it's a little weird that Mrs. G. lets them all go down to the city by themselves. Blair & Jo were probably 16 at this point. You'd think she would have gone to see the play with them and chaperone rather than just put them on the train and allow them to run amok in Manhattan by themselves.

If they had their parents' permission, I don't suppose there was much she could do. When you were 16, were you allowed to wander around big cities by yourself?

She probably ran to the Lost Girls when she got back and said, maybe they'll never return and you'll have your chance to come back to me!!

And Miko's line "What do I know? I use an abacus." would probably have viewers calling it racially insensitive today. I did cringe a little myself at the line. (an abacus is an ancient adding calculator used by Chinese--that no one in modern days would be using.)

That line sounds extremely dated, now, but I remember in school in the 1980s they did teach us how to use an abacus. So maybe it was still being used in classrooms in Japan? This says the abacus was still being used in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, and says the soroban is still used in Japanese classrooms. This says the abacus/soroban is still widely used in Japan. So maybe not as dated as I first thought.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Being their ages, at that time it was not uncommon for kids Blair's and Jo's age to run around a big city unsupervised. I did in Montreal and Boston with friends and classmates and no adult supervision. It was different then and it's real.

Agreed, but if anything did happen to the girls, wouldn't Mrs. G be legally liable for letting them go unsupervised? I guess since she got parent's permission to let them go by themselves it would take her off the hook for that.

But Mrs. G seems protective of her girls. I just think she would've went to the play with them anyway just to be safe.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

If they had their parents' permission, I don't suppose there was much she could do. When you were 16, were you allowed to wander around big cities by yourself?







That line sounds extremely dated, now, but I remember in school in the 1980s they did teach us how to use an abacus. So maybe it was still being used in classrooms in Japan? This says the abacus was still being used in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, and says the soroban is still used in Japanese classrooms. This says the abacus/soroban is still widely used in Japan. So maybe not as dated as I first thought.

Sure. I rode subways down to Manhattan at 12 and wandered around by myself. I had very liberal parents that gave me total freedom, as long as I was back by the time street lights came on. I just think Mrs. G would be more protective of them.

Maybe Miko used the abacus in her homeland, but I doubt Eastland would be using it in classrooms. Maybe she brought it with her from home. But I think everyone was using calculators by that time.
I remember one shaped like an owl and played with it all the time....I found a pic of it lol....I loved this little thing:

[RetroGuy2000]

I didn't get a calculator until 1984, and it was a Big Deal to be bestowed a calculator back then. Not every student had them.

I also remember my class field trip to Chicago. Although we had chaperones to the city (because we were staying in the city), we were just told to break into groups: the buddy system. The teachers didn't chaperone us everywhere. We just had to meet up at a certain time. It was a different time.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I didn't get a calculator until 1984, and it was a Big Deal to be bestowed a calculator back then. Not every student had them.

I also remember my class field trip to Chicago. Although we had chaperones to the city (because we were staying in the city), we were just told to break into groups: the buddy system. The teachers didn't chaperone us everywhere. We just had to meet up at a certain time. It was a different time.

Same here, we wandered around in groups. On my senior trip we went to bars and got hammered. Of course, the drinking age was 18 in Virginia at the time (19 in NY). Went to see Porkys. Those were the days.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Being their ages, at that time it was not uncommon for kids Blair's and Jo's age to run around a big city unsupervised. I did in Montreal and Boston with friends and classmates and no adult supervision. It was different then and it's real.

You're right about that: back in the 80 s the world was a lot safer, and i remember at 12, riding my bike in the middle of the night with friends (just like in 'Stranger things'), nowadays you have to chaperon young kids a lot more though...

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

You're right about that: back in the 80 s the world was a lot safer, and i remember at 12, riding my bike in the middle of the night with friends (just like in 'Stranger things'), nowadays you have to chaperon young kids a lot more though...

YES! Stranger Things got that aspect exactly right: back then, nobody seemed to care if kids were riding around in the dark on bikes. Like, it was no big deal. Everyone did it.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

YES! Stranger Things got that aspect exactly right: back then, nobody seemed to care if kids were riding around in the dark on bikes. Like, it was no big deal. Everyone did it.

If anyone would tell me they had build a time machine and asked me where i wanted to go, i'll reply without hesitation: THE 80 S! (just like Michael J. Fox BACK TO THE FUTURE)

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

It's on Antenna TV now (another favorite of mine) and it's a little weird that Mrs. G. lets them all go down to the city by themselves. Blair & Jo were probably 16 at this point. You'd think she would have gone to see the play with them and chaperone rather than just put them on the train and allow them to run amok in Manhattan by themselves.

First of all, we need to correct you on their ages. Blair and Jo were 17 if this was season 3, or could have been 18 if it was season 4.

Second of all, dude! Do you know who you are?? YOU ran off to Hollywood from NY at 15!! With NO permission!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

And Miko's line "What do I know? I use an abacus." would probably have viewers calling it racially insensitive today. I did cringe a little myself at the line. (an abacus is an ancient adding calculator used by Chinese--that no one in modern days would be using.)

I just always think of it as her being more of a "behind-the-times geek", lol.

Originally Posted by cfr1970

But I think everyone was using calculators by that time. I remember one shaped like an owl and played with it all the time....I found a pic of it lol....I loved this little thing:

Haha, that's awesome. What's funny is it's not an owl at all, nor an owl shape, but, I can see why you found/remembered it like that.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

First of all, we need to correct you on their ages. Blair and Jo were 17 if this was season 3, or could have been 18 if it was season 4.

Second of all, dude! Do you know who you are?? YOU ran off to Hollywood from NY at 15!! With NO permission!




I just always think of it as her being more of a "behind-the-times geek", lol.




Haha, that's awesome. What's funny is it's not an owl at all, nor an owl shape, but, I can see why you found/remembered it like that.

At the risk of sounding sexist, it's much different for guys than girls to be on their own. If Blair & Jo were 17 by that point, then it does make a difference though, so i'll alter my thinking on that and say it was fine for them.

A 17 year old girl in the city on her own seems more ok over a 16 year old in my head. Go figure.

I don't know why I remember that calculator as an owl lol. I just do. Probably the eyes.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

At the risk of sounding sexist, it's much different for guys than girls to be on their own.

OOOoooooo!! Just you wait until Molly Parker sees this!!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

If Blair & Jo were 17 by that point, then it does make a difference though, so i'll alter my thinking on that and say it was fine for them.

A 17 year old girl in the city on her own seems more ok over a 16 year old in my head. Go figure.

Lol, and don't forget, they were together---two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old. There's strength in numbers! lol

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I don't know why I remember that calculator as an owl lol. I just do. Probably the eyes.

At first glance it can look that way---like an owl with a graduation cap, lol.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

OOOoooooo!! Just you wait until Molly Parker sees this!!

Lol, and don't forget, they were together---two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old. There's strength in numbers! lol

Yeah, basically, they were a 49-year-old!

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

At the risk of sounding sexist, it's much different for guys than girls to be on their own. If Blair & Jo were 17 by that point, then it does make a difference though, so i'll alter my thinking on that and say it was fine for them.

A 17 year old girl in the city on her own seems more ok over a 16 year old in my head. Go figure.

I don't know why I remember that calculator as an owl lol. I just do. Probably the eyes.

They were definitely 17, but it would have been okay to me if they were 16: not 15 though, cos when i think of the girls on season 1 they still seemed 'little' to me lol!