What has changed our world? Yesterday Cracker & LC both commented that when they were kids they could ride their bikes, go swimming, etc. and do it without being supervised by an adult, mentally I agreed with them. The world wasn't a scary place when we were kids but it sure as hell is now.
The information age.
Anything and everything is accessible today. Camera phones- YouTube- instant news.
It's not so much the world is a scarier place- although that does play a role- it's that we are now ultra aware of it.
(07-15-2012, 12:36 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: [ -> ]The information age.
Anything and everything is accessible today. Camera phones- YouTube- instant news.
It's not so much the world is a scarier place- although that does play a role- it's that we are now ultra aware of it.
QFT, although I think there is definitely a sense of jaded entitlement in the up and coming generations. I think we've gone too far in our efforts to give everything to our kids, and we've created an entire generation that doesn't want to put out effort for anything. There is no sense of delayed gratification now, no sense that something worth having is worth working for.
When I was little, I was outside all day and had to be in the yard when the streetlights came on. My mother never made me check in or anything and never knew where I was all day and it was never a big deal. Now that I have kids, they were never allowed outside unsupervised and aren't allowed to leave the house without their phone so I can check in. I don't let them run all over town all day unsupervised, a luxury I had as a child. Its unfortunate but when I was little, everyone knew everyone else. There was a feeling of safety there. Its different now. I err on the side of caution. Friends of mine with no kids say I'm over protective. Id rather be overprotective and have them safe than putting their picture on a milk carton.
In some ways, I think the world is much better. Easier access to information means better understanding of people, cultures and issues outside of our own small worlds. I love that and would have loved it as a child too. Always had my head in a book and loved the library (still go sometimes, just because I like to, not because it's necessary anymore).
But, I agree with the others that there does seem a pronounced sense of entitlement by a lot more people than in the past, maybe partly because of the ridiculous version of "reality" that's portrayed incessantly on tv and in the entertainment press. Also, having more acccess/knowledge to the bad things going on everywhere is sometimes a real downer.
Another thing that I think is a lot different is parenting. My nieces and newphews have had way more expensive "stuff" since they were infants than my sisters and I (and our friends) ever had or would dream of having. Some of them expect it now and feel deprived without it, rather than grateful for it. I don't think that's only because of different lifestyle/area for them as compared to my childhood. We kinda took care of ourselves when we were kids and if we got in trouble, we got in trouble. There weren't time outs and "no video games" or long talks about why we did what we did. We got major penalties, we were told very clearly why what we did was fucked up, and we rarely did the same stupid shit again. I don't think that's necessarily better than what I see with a lot of parents today, just really different, to me...
This thread has the makings of an increasing novelty ala' Terrence Mckenna shindig if someone were so inclined.
Remember when not being able to watch the Charlie Brown Holiday special was a real and credible threat?
Sad thing about overprotective parenting and not allowing kids outside is that it backfires when one parent bucks the trend, like with those two girls on bikes. Chances are really good that the roads and park they were in were deserted, which made prime territory for whatever creep was waiting. One thing we forget about being out when we were kids was that the entire neighborhood was also out, including more than a few parents. There were block parties and barbecues and frequent neighbor supervision. A kid didn't dare pull any stunts because the neighbor lady would be on the phone to your mom in about three seconds.
People look back on the 50's; 60's and 70's as "the good old days", that is unless or course you were black or female or gay.
Or a soldier returning home from Vietnam (though certainly preferable to staying there).
I know a couple of guys that volunteered to go back. Three tours each. They don't take kindly to vets complaining about Vietnam.
If you want to feel like less of a man all you have to do is sit with one of these guys and listen to his stories. Then you can pull up your pants, dry your eyes and quit being such a goddamn pussy.
(07-15-2012, 04:59 PM)Riotgear Wrote: [ -> ]I know a couple of guys that volunteered to go back. Three tours each. They don't take kindly to vets complaining about Vietnam.
If you want to feel like less of a man all you have to do is sit with one of these guys and listen to his stories. Then you can pull up your pants, dry your eyes and quit being such a goddamn pussy.
Did you read, "Coming Home"? I read it so long ago, but it was a good book.
I think a lot of why Vietnam vets were reportedly treated so badly (and no doubt many weren't shown the respect that they should have been, imo) is because the war itself was so disrespected by Americans for some time while many were still serving. A lot of the vets interviewed indicated that it wasn't so much (or just) society overtly treating them poorly, but in many cases their families and friends that didn't want to talk about it or acted like the war wasn't real. Different impacts for every individual, of course, but that was certainly a common theme in some of the materials I've read...
I don't think I could possibly feel like less of a man (lol), but I hear what you're saying - fortitude and commitment. Sometimes our own little personal battles and struggles can be better kept in perspective when we take into account the experiences of those who literally fought for their lives and others.
One of the guys I'm talking about was a LRRP ("Lurp") LRRP stand for Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol. The way he tell it many of the people who came back from Vietnam to complain are hand ringing, moaning, cowardly, complaining bitches that didn't get anything from the experience and could've/should've.
I'm pretty sure I don't want to fight him even today.
(07-15-2012, 12:26 PM)Duchess Wrote: [ -> ]
What has changed our world? Yesterday Cracker & LC both commented that when they were kids they could ride their bikes, go swimming, etc. and do it without being supervised by an adult, mentally I agreed with them. The world wasn't a scary place when we were kids but it sure as hell is now.
Part of the reason I've stayed in Stowe is because nothing has really changed here in the 35 years I've lived here. Some of the businesses are different, but the entire town and area is essentially the same as it was when I first came here. It's still safe and clean with no crime and it's still just as beautiful as it's ever been. My kids could do whatever they wanted pretty much without supervision and it's mostly still that way around these parts.
Every time I hear the music from the ice cream truck I think "pedo" instead of "ICE CREAM!"
Maybe we have seen too much.
I blame it on rap crap. And ghetto musak. Say the lyrics enough times and *poof* you become the song.
(07-15-2012, 06:21 PM)Cracker Wrote: [ -> ]Every time I hear the music from the ice cream truck I think "pedo" instead of "ICE CREAM!"
Maybe we have seen too much.
Me too. I never let my kids run to the ice cream truck without me, whereas, my brother and sister and I would actively search him out as kids.
I thought I recall reading that crimes against children haven't necessarily gone up; they're just more easily and widely reported.
Too lazy to google it on my phone while I wait for my pizza order.