Things That Didn't Happen a Generation Ago

@Kim,

I am in my mid twenties and when I was in 6th and 7th grades, we too had the "current events" portion of class.

I'm 28 (will be 29 in a month and a half) and what we didn't have in my day:

1. Gentle discipline. If you did something bad, you got your ass whipped, yep, even in public.
2. ADD/ADHD. You were expected to sit still and BEHAVE like a young lady/man, not a monkey on meth.
3. Kids being in control. Your mom had a "look" and you were terrified when she started counting.
4. Endless hours of video games, tv, etc. We were shooed outside to play and run around.
5. Kids screaming while playing outside. We were expected to be a REASONABLE volume, not the volume of a cat being skinned alive.
6. People dressing like skanks while in public. People actually had some decorum.
7. Fat kids. We had one "fat kid" in the entire class. We had PE every day.
8. Mainstreaming. "Special" kids were kept in a "special" classroom.
9. Out of control kids at school. The teacher was the authority in the classroom. It was your fault if you got into trouble in class and you got your ass kicked on the way home.
10. Bullying. The worst the bully could do was kick your ass on the way home or at PE if someone wasn't looking.

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What is a home without children? Quiet. ~Henny Youngman

I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance. ~George Balanchine

"I took the batteries out of my biological clock and put them in my vibrator"

I'm 45 and I know exactly what you are talking about, Cfinboston.

I didn't even know any autistic kids at school, I played outside from the time I came home from school until suppertime (except on the days I had after-school Girl Scout meetings), played on our monkey bars in the backyard, took a tumble or two and didn't really care if I fell!


I had real toys - toys that stimulated creativity: Lincoln Logs, Legos, blocks of all kinds, educational toys, cars, and more.

I had a ton of books. Even when I periodically got tired of one, I'd simply look at the pictures in the books and make up my own stories to go along with them.

I wrote my first story at the age of 7 about a giraffe named Jenny and her friends.

Nowadays children are not allowed to be kids, not allowed to be creative, and that's why they're fat, sedentary, always parked with some electronic toy, and eating non-stop.

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peace-n-quiet
I am in my mid twenties and when I was in 6th and 7th grades, we too had the "current events" portion of class.

+1

In my social studies class we did current events presentations and in my gifted courses we covered news and events as well. I'm a little older than you are, peace-n-quiet, but still a part of Generation Y.

I can't really speak on how things were a generation ago but I personally believe that there's a huge rift between Gen Y-ers who were born between 1980-1989 versus those born in 1990 and after. YMMV but I think the oldest among Gen Y tend to be less spoiled and entitled than the younger ones. We were also physically more fit as kids (we actually had PE and played outside sometimes) and a little tougher mentally too - some of us know what it's like to lose a competition and actually earn our grades instead of having medals and high GPAs thrown at us to protect our fragile egos. More of us had trendy diagnoses before they became trendy and those of us who were retarded were in LD/SpEd classes instead of being mainstreamed. Some of us know what it's like to eat homecooked meals instead of all boxed crap and drive-thru "meals".


Semi off-topic: Has anyone else noticed how weird today's fat kids look? I was a fat kid, but I was fat all over, so I didn't look weird (just big ). But it seems like a lot of today's kids have big, squishy guts with normal arms and legs. WTF is wrong with these kids? It's like they're malnutritioned and obese at the same time.

YES!

The kids are obese and malnourished because they're eating all sorts of disgusting overprocessed garbage and they're not exercising at all. When I was a sprog we had PE and we also had recess where we were just kicked out the door and played. We had after school sports and activities and we walked eeverywhere. We played hopscotch and tetherball and foursquare and hide and seek. Soda was a treat, we ate real food, and my mom never allowed sugared cereals in the kitchen. Fat kids were maybe 20 pounds overweight, they weren't all being watched by child protective services because they were 400 pounds by age 7.

My mom used to make us go outside and play. I would spend hours with my nose in a book, but my mom always made us go outside if the weather was nice.

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pepper labeija

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peace-n-quiet
I am in my mid twenties and when I was in 6th and 7th grades, we too had the "current events" portion of class.

+1

In my social studies class we did current events presentations and in my gifted courses we covered news and events as well. I'm a little older than you are, peace-n-quiet, but still a part of Generation Y.

I can't really speak on how things were a generation ago but I personally believe that there's a huge rift between Gen Y-ers who were born between 1980-1989 versus those born in 1990 and after. YMMV but I think the oldest among Gen Y tend to be less spoiled and entitled than the younger ones. We were also physically more fit as kids (we actually had PE and played outside sometimes) and a little tougher mentally too - some of us know what it's like to lose a competition and actually earn our grades instead of having medals and high GPAs thrown at us to protect our fragile egos. More of us had trendy diagnoses before they became trendy and those of us who were retarded were in LD/SpEd classes instead of being mainstreamed. Some of us know what it's like to eat homecooked meals instead of all boxed crap and drive-thru "meals".

I agree fully and have said something along those lines. My sister was born in 1981 and I 1985 and there's such a difference between what our childhood was like compared to those born in 1990 and later for the exact reasons you've defined. The only time I got a better grade than I deserved was my senior year of high school in AP Statistics. My county had a rule where seniors could be exempt from final exams as long as they had at least a 77% in each class (which is the lowest C grade you can get; 76% is a D+). I had a 75% in Stats, but because that year was the final year of teaching for the instructor before retirement, she REALLY did not want to be there longer than necessary, so she fudged the grades of anybody that was lower than 77% so she didn't have to proctor a final exam.

Other differences: I used encyclopedias and other book sources for research projects and papers because the Internet was still relatively infantile. It wasn't until high school where we were allowed to use Internet sources and even then, it could only be one. Everything else had to be a book source.

I learned to use the card catalog in the library before there were computer catalogs.

Cell phones didn't become prevalent until I was a senior in high school and even then, cameras were a luxury feature, not standard as it is today. The stupid Nokia walkie-talkie feature was the high point.

My original movie collection was VHS. Movies shown in school were either VHS or Laser-Disc. My sister's home movies are on Beta-Max.

My original music collection was on cassette. My stereo had both cassette and CD players.

I could say I was spanked without everybody running to CPS. Hell, I could say my dad spanked me with his belt and everybody was just like, "What did you do?"

I wore unstylish big glasses before the hipsters decided it was cool.

McDonald's (actually eating out in general) was a rare treat. We had homecooked meals 5 nights a week. Friday was pizza night and Saturday was movie night (where Dad would get buffalo wings and other finger foods).

I could roam around outside all day and the only stipulation was that I was home before the streetlights came on. One notable exception was the blizzard of '96 where there were giant snowdrifts, so my parents were a little more stringent about me roaming around.

My elementary school classes divvied up the kids in terms of reading comprehension levels: remedial, average, and advanced. There weren't complaints from parents about their little snowflakes' (read: the parents') feelings. In high school, the core classes were divided into basic, regular, and honor. To get in honor classes in high school, you had to take them in middle school. The kids on the honor track could take AP classes. I'm still a little pissed that I got screwed out of taking AP French because back in 8th grade, the administration wouldn't let me take French 1 even though I had a high B average in Introductory French.

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"Why children take so long to grow? They eat and drink like pig and give nothing back. Must find way to accelerate process..."

- Dr. Yi Suchong, Bioshock


"Society does not need more children; but it does need more loved children. Quite literally, we cannot afford unloved children - but we pay heavily for them every day. There should not be the slightest communal concern when a woman elects to destroy the life of her thousandth-of-an-ounce embryo. But all society should rise up in alarm when it hears that a baby that is not wanted is about to be born."

- Garrett Hardin

"I feel like there's a message involved here somehow, but then I couldn't stop laughing at all the plotholes, like the part when North Korea has food."

- Youtube commentor referring to a North Korean cartoon.

"Reality is a bitch when it slowly crawls out of your vagina and shits in your lap."

- Reddit comment

What about bullying? Were kids killing themselves? Were the bullies as relentless as they are today?

Were kids tougher?

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toomanybrats
What about bullying? Were kids killing themselves? Were the bullies as relentless as they are today?

Were kids tougher?

Kids weren't killing themselves and I think the reason is that we were taught to fight back. I was never expected to take being punched in the face and I don't think anyone here was either. These days the hippies in charge will tell you to talk it out. Since when did that work???

THIS EXTREME HEAT!!!

And, I think it's being downplayed.

Why is it hotter here than it is in Guatemala?

WTF?

Oh, Pepper, regarding obese kids - I had to wait by the store for a van to let off a passenger, right by the door. I'm patient and thought - it might be an elderly or injured person - no big deal.

It was a big fat kid! And not just chubby, FAT. You could tell he was a teen and he could move just fine. Such a kid NEEDS to be walking, anywhere he can.

On the other side of the coin - it is just so stupid HOT here - it's fucking UNREAL! And speaking of CA - I've gone hiking in the jungles of Honduras, Nicaragua, etc, I've been lots of places in CA. I am saying - the jungles at high summer - were no where NEAR this bad! It is just shocking. High humidity also, on top of the heat.

Ye GODS!

I hope the Younger Generations wake up about this. Sure, it could be a Natural Occurrence - but why make it worse? And Natural or Man Made or whatever combo thereof - clearly - if it keeps going - it's going to FURTHER CONSTRICT the already over stretched food and water supplies.

I also remember - bluer skies. And actual 'seasons'. Granted, I do come from a slightly different weather zone - yes 100 mi. NE makes a difference. 20 miles make a difference, here. But the skies were bluer. There was 'Winter' - with snow and everything!

The snow might be explainable - here - it snows much less. I know that! I'm not a tourist, you know! LOL My point being - I wrote it off to that. Oh, it's just warmer here, that's all.

But it's gotten *worse*. Now, there is no Winter *at all*, and the rest of the year is hotter than hell! Summer now begins in March. There is really no 'Fall' either - it's either HOT, or - a bit grey, rains some, then back to HOT again.

Oh and it is also going hotter in the aforementioned areas, too. So you can't say it's just 'here'. Lower MI no longer having Winter, either. Now having Tornados in Winter, instead.

They do leave the Palm trees out at the beaches now, too. Yes indeed - for those not familiar - many beaches here will install Palm trees, then dig them up in the Fall or early Winter and take them to green houses, where they spend the cold months, then back out they come for Spring, Summer.
Seriously. Well, they used to do this - now - Palm trees can stay at the beaches all year long. I noticed this last (Un) Winter - they had left them.

WTF???

Oh, and Greenland is melting. Lots of recent stories on that, Google if interested.

I often did say I would like to move to CA. Now I don't have to because the Tropical Rain Forest - came to me!

Not happy though, rather concerned. I don't think this stuff can be brushed aside for too much longer ~

ETA - just indulging my paranoia ~ that they did leave the Palm trees - this implies that they *knew* how the weather would be. They know more then they're letting on IMO. / removes tin foil hat.

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toomanybrats
What about bullying? Were kids killing themselves? Were the bullies as relentless as they are today?

Were kids tougher?

I was bullied. I never thought about killing myself though...it never crossed my mind as an option. The bullies were relentless. I feel that bullying has always existed and probably always will unfortunately.

I also played outside, played with stuffed animals and used my imagination consantly. I listened to music, drew, and read books. I spent most of my time entertaining myself. I am so glad I learned to enjoy being by myself.

Today's kids can't do anything without the fucking internet. They have no idea what it's like to actually go to the library and do research with BOOKS. Fucking lazy assholes.

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satansbitch
Kids weren't killing themselves and I think the reason is that we were taught to fight back. I was never expected to take being punched in the face and I don't think anyone here was either. These days the hippies in charge will tell you to talk it out. Since when did that work???

YUP! Stupid hippies!!!!

"Greenland is melting"

I just pictured the entire country going "I'm melting! MELLLLLLLLLLTINGGGGGGGGGGGG!" like in "The Wizard of Oz".

When I was growing up the majority of kids were thin, but slightly chubby was also common. Truly fat kids were rare. I remember visiting family in Massachusetts when I was 12 and going to a lake. The place was full of big fat parents with skinny little kids. Back then even if the parents were huge the kids usually were not. Now about half the kids I see are fat.

I used to LIKE using my imagination. Playing princess meant we had to answer questions like: if I was a princess what would my name be? What would I wear? Where would I be? What would I spend my time doing? This was what made it fun. Disney princesses leave no room for imagination.

Those of you who mentioned the huge Gen Y rift (pre-1990 vs. post-1990 births) are absolutely correct. I am of the latter subset, having been hatched in 1993, and we as a group are lousy, entitled, and weak. Makes me sick. No fighting back, no hurt feelings, completely bubble-wrapped, ill informed, and not self aware. I look at my cohorts and watch them try to wax philosophical as if they had come up with the most profound thought EVAR. That isn't new by any means, but given the "culture wars" I hear so much about, they state the obvious ("Like, oh my god, we should treat each other with equal respect, you know?" "ZOMG! True dat, cool beans, YOLO!") and think it's some great revelation.


I can't help but think I am beginning to sound like one of those people who bashes their own group to try to get respect from another that one might perceive as superior, cooler, more exclusive, whatever. I'm not seeking validation, I just notice the huge difference between people who have actually struggled and exerted effort versus many whose greatest hardship was being denied a new smartphone for school.

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michaela

"A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter." -Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal

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juklinwaro
kidlesskim,

I think having to carry pepper spray was mostly to appease my mother. She's always been a worrier. She used to panic after hearing some bad news and use them as a tale of caution. Especially since I was a girl. I didn't mind having to carry pepper spray. I used to think it was pretty cool, but I understood it was a weapon to protect myself with.

Not a lot of things happened in the slightly rural area I lived in. There weren't any abductions, rapes, murders or children dying in avoidable accidents. Some kids were brats, some neighbors liked the drink too much, some teenagers sped up and down the roads at night, etc. Crime and stupidity existed, but it was once in a while.

MY MOM was a PITA so I carried pepper spray too. until....i didn't....it would probably just get old and clogged in my purse. But she got it for me.