To the older posters; Would you prefer to have been born later?

[Beach Hut]

Born in 1963 and very happy with that.

Pressure on life for younger people seems much higher, people seem straddled with huge mortgages and extensive debt which I would not want. Also we live in a want, want, want culture which causes this huge debt issue.

I remember in the 80s asking for a mortgage extension to buy some major household things and was told no !

However the credit crunch is now changing the rules but then it may be much harder for first time buyers but something needs to give if there are no first time buyers the property market will crash (I assume).

 

[Barrow Boy]

Great thread NMH, and one which I thought I would be able to answer quite quickly, but it's made me look back and question a lot of my memories and opinions. The short answer to your question is no, I was born in 1953 and wouldn't have missed the sixties and seventies for anything. But having been brought up with two older brothers, and seeing them live their formative teenage years through the fifties and early sixties, then I would prefer to have been born maybe ten years earlier.
They seemed to have a lot more fun and excitement in their teenage years than I did, and post war Britain was a lot more optomistic place to grow up in. I suppose the fact that people had been denied a lot of basic pleasures during the war gave rise to this optomism once restrictions were lifted. I missed all the real fun that was supposed to be going on in the sixties because I was too young and then again I felt I was too old to have really enjoyed the seventies and ended up married in 1974.
That fact didn't stop me enjoying my life it was just from a different viewpoint (being marreid in the 70's as opposed to being young and single). Yes, I had fun in my youth, but as I said, teenagers in the fifties and sixties seemed to be having a lot more, but then is that just through the eyes of an younger person wanting to share in their fun but not being allowed to ?

 

[Lady Bracknell]

When I look in the mirror, I wish I'd been born considerably later! But in reality, I reckon us "Born in the '50s" crowd probably did have the best of everything. We lived through memorable and liberating times and I wouldn't want to change that.

 

[Shegull]

Having been one of the 1950 babies I can honestly say that I would hate to have been born any later than I was for most of the reasons as already stated. Far too many pressures on people nowadays. Not saying that there were no pressures in the 60's and 70s but at least you didnt have to sit in traffic for hours to get to work and you got home at a reasonable time. Seems to me that family life disappeared long ago - it is impossible to try and talk to children who constantly have their faces either glued to a computer or a t.v. screen. I also received this yesterday and certainly agree with most of it.

"Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He’s survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.'

 

[unnameable]

1965 was a good year to be born, mainly for the reasons stated by NMH, but also because it's good to be able to say that you were around in the Sixties but, because you were too young, were not obliged to participate in the narcissistic posturing of the hippy generation.

 

[Barrow Boy]

Having been one of the 1950 babies I can honestly say that I would hate to have been born any later than I was for most of the reasons as already stated. Far too many pressures on people nowadays. Not saying that there were no pressures in the 60's and 70s but at least you didnt have to sit in traffic for hours to get to work and you got home at a reasonable time. Seems to me that family life disappeared long ago - it is impossible to try and talk to children who constantly have their faces either glued to a computer or a t.v. screen. I also received this yesterday and certainly agree with most of it.

"Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He’s survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.'

Yes, yes yes ! That piece gave me one of those, "I wish I'd said that", moments.
Beautifully stated.

 

[glasfryn]

Born in 1942 and no regrets. Think my age group have been very priveleged as so much has happened in our lifetime. Our way of living now is is so different to that of my parents. I think they would be quite bewildered by what we have and do.

Like all older folk I do worry about the future. I think this nation of ours has gone mad with political correctness and prying into all aspects of an individual's life. However, I am sure that today's generation will sort it out. They nearly always do.
Hope I'm around for a few more years to join in the excitement.

I am in full agreement with you Oldman..........apart from this generation sorting anything out ,with this I have my doubts .....but then when I think they are all knuckle draggers one comes along to smash that theory and things are Ok for a while until I start watching the news or looking in the paper.
And you are right about being around while the world changed and being part of it was great.

 

[glasfryn]

Having been one of the 1950 babies I can honestly say that I would hate to have been born any later than I was for most of the reasons as already stated. Far too many pressures on people nowadays. Not saying that there were no pressures in the 60's and 70s but at least you didnt have to sit in traffic for hours to get to work and you got home at a reasonable time. Seems to me that family life disappeared long ago - it is impossible to try and talk to children who constantly have their faces either glued to a computer or a t.v. screen. I also received this yesterday and certainly agree with most of it.

"Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He’s survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.'

I have just clipped that Shegull best read I have had for a long time.

 

[NMH]

The only difference between then and now is then those "freaks" were able to gain employment in childrens homes, the church etc but today they find it much harder so have to resort in taking kids off the street

Crikey - that never occurred to me at all, and it's absolutely right.
We had some freaks teaching in schools up and down the country, and dodgy bastards working in churches, scout groups and coaching children - now they are vetted, so they can't be near children.
In some ways it ends up worse for any kids they do mess with, as they then are less inclined to 'release their catch' because they know they relinquish control and put themselves at risk of getting nicked.

I used to just get passively saddened when I heard about children going missing. That's changed to terrible anger now, as I got older.
I couldn't be a cop, and be restrained with a kiddie fiddler. Like with this Bellefield bloke, I'm sure I would get 'medieval on his ass' if he was in my custody.

 

[WATFORD zero]

1960 was the best year to be born - FACT

 

[alan partridge]

I tell you one thing that's got worse with these times...

nostalgia

 

[Trufflehound]

Mind you, the first half of the 70s was shit though...

 

[csider]

1971 for my birth. I wish was about for the Disco era, studio 54 looked liked it rocked !!

That aside I look at the papers there days and its all chavs, drugs, drink, doom, gloom along with rising crime.

I had the 70's as a nipper, the 80's, football and a bit of fun running around with lads at BHA and not getting 2 years for a little scrap. Was 18ish at the time of the summer of love (20yrs ago this year)

In years to come with remember th 00's and all that happened?? I think not.

 

[Lush]

I'd like to have been born later, because then I'd probably have more life left.

Life is great.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

1965 was indeed a top year to be born. Not sorry I missed the 60's. Loved the 70's and being a lad in the 80's. Married in the 90's and had two amazing kids. Now just loving being with my family - wouldn't change a thing - even the really bad things.

I'm sure my two teenagers think that now is the best time to be a teenager - and of course it is - for them and with their perspective. And I love the fact that they are loving it!

When I was a lad I cycled all over the UK - there were fewer cars and life definitely was simpler. I which my two could still do that - but roads really are congested now.

There were pervs back then - and no more now than then. There's just more reporting. And (as we may find in the Jersey case) it may in fact have been worse in the past, but just hushed up.

Life is good - I'm very lucky - wouldn't change it.

 

[Skidmarks]

I left school in 1972 with just about nothing for qualifications, I had no problem getting a halfway decent job despite that. My piers who went to Uni paid nothing (although that meant that many goofed around for a year or two and then dropped out). Sure we had the IRA but now we have other scum who try to blow us up. We did have politicians who weren't giving blow jobs to American presidents though. We had far more disciplin in schools and as far as I can remember, on the streets. We dod not let any Tom, Dick or Harry come and live in this country either and nobody tried to tell us not to use pharses or words like 'Christian Name' or Christmas.

No, I'm glad I was born in the 50s.

So your a supporter of the BNP?
I myself am delighted i didnt grow up back in the old day(50s/60s) where racism and homephobics were found on every door. Women had alot less rights with children being abused through education. It scares me when i still hear old miseriable gits moaning about everything in todays world, wishing it was how it used to be. The way the world works is that time dosen't change its Humans who do, the ones who don't change get caught behind wishing and dreaming of the past so much that they turn into useless souls of the so called modern world.
The world changes,except it

 

[cjd]

So your a supporter of the BNP?
I myself am delighted i didnt grow up back in the old day(50s/60s) where racism and homephobics were found on every door. Women had alot less rights with children being abused through education. It scares me when i still hear old miseriable gits moaning about everything in todays world, wishing it was how it used to be. The way the world works is that time dosen't change its Humans who do, the ones who don't change get caught behind wishing and dreaming of the past so much that they turn into useless souls of the so called modern world.
The world changes,except it

Anybody else notice what an enjoyable and pleasant trip down memory lane this thread was with the "oldies".........until the above post by someone who appears younger..?...LOL.
Maybe that,s the difference between being older and being born (IMHO) in a better era.

 

[Fungus]

Mind you, the first half of the 70s was shit though...

Slade, T. Rex, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Mud, Sweet, Suzi Quatro, The Glittermen... Not shit if you were a teenager then!

As a kid, I remember being jealous of all the scientific advances that people even younger than me would see, but now I think we've screwed the planet up. Sorry kids.

 

[dougdeep]

No, The sixties were unmissable.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

What's wrong with diptheria, tuberculosis, rickets, cholera, plague, pleurisy, septicaemia and all the other diseases of the gold old days. Bring back the 19th century when men were men, women were oppressed, and horse shit covered the roads. Or even the 20th century which saw more people killed in more wars than ever before.