Kidorry Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 The most important thing to remember when comparing two different decades [ etc.. ] is that it 's really stupid to equate material gain with being ' better off '. Obviously, today 's teenagers have more clothes. foreign holidays......etc....than we did in the Fifties. So what ! I would imagine we had more material possessions than teenagers did in the Thirties.....and so it goes on. Time and time again, History has shown that people can suffer MORE as time ' progresses---it depends on the circumstanes. ' The real question is :- Are teenagers today more content, happier, more intelligent, more mature, more cultured, than their predecessors ? Today in our ' wonderful ' Jerusalem, family life has been eroded on a large scale, the Church seems to count for very little as a Moral Guide-----and has not been replaced by any other moral authority. Billions more has been spent on Health & Education -----but literacy is third-rate [ according to a lot of universities and employers ] and about 2,000,000 are officially too sick to work in the U.K. ! Back in the Fifties when robots and computers first appeared on the horizon, the Powers -That -Be predicted that most drudgery would disappear, everyone would be able to work a mere 20 or 30 hours a week-----and the increased leisure time would enable us to all become more cultured ! What a laugh ! I don 't think any comment is needed. The truth is, that too many U.K. citizens can 't handle their new ' freedom '. They are very much like greedy kids, let loose in a sweet shop-----they are making themselves sick. Well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bowler Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Being a teenager in the 60s was much better, we did'nt have the pressures there are today and you could have any job you wanted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normanmarina Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 I grew up in late 60s early 70s Sheffield,had an absolutely fantastic time.I agree with some of the comments on this thread,not all,being a teenager is a difficult time for some,its supposed to be a voyage of discovery,trouble now is,the teenagers of today are told and see a lot more adult things than we heard or saw,shame really,the best bit for me,was finding out for myself!!!!!nudge nudge,wink wink!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denlin Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 I too was a sixties teenager and there has never been a better time to be a teenager. We had the best of times. We had the greatest music, freedom and money went so much further:wow: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.Whiteley Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 I was a 60's kid and saw a lot of the 'old' Sheffield demolished and buildings like Kelvin flats being built and remember almost all our cars and products was British made, something looking back to be proud of. But also the news being dominated by Country crippleing strikes going well into the 70's something todays teens don't endure. Being a 70's teenager was fun with glam rock and the likes of Led Zeppelin. As for money I was o.k because of my sensible attitude to it but most of my friends was almost always poor what with expensive fashion clothes and foolish HP on things like motor bikes and Cortina's. We seem to forget about the violence what was around. It was often to hear on the television news about the football violence and I witnessed many a fight outside a night club or pub. Overall I think I would prefer to be a teenager today. Computers and mobile phones, k.f.c and Mcadees. Although I would not like the prospect of being a first time buyer what with today's neccesities like the above mentioned electronics and the need of a car (remember subsidised buses) would make it hard to save up a min of 10% deposit of a terraced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosy nellie Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 1955..No Disco's..No Night Clubs..Just unlicenced Dance halls.. Rock-n-Roll .. Radio Luxemburge..Pubs closing at 10.00..Teddy Boys..No tights, Just stockings and sussis.. and a Sixteen year old lad could buy a 650 Triumph and go on the road without a crash hat.. Beer at a Shilling a pint (5p).. If it wasn't for "The Call up" It would have been perfect..and I think we were all better behaved and respected our Elders more. I agree growing up in the fifties was fantastic,everybody was in the same boat not a lot of money,no keeping up with the other kids with expensive trainers and designer clothes.I may be looking back through rose tinted spectacles but I can't remember any scroungers everybody worked and were glad to work.I suppose their were drugs but I can't remember anything to do with them.Lovely communities and good neighbours and the Doctors in those days came out to visit you without begging and pleading. Looking back we were all a lot thinner and healthier because of rationing which was not a bad thing.And the music was better.lol:hihi: Plus we were free to roam and do our own thing our playgrounds were the bomb buildings the street and council playgrounds no health and safety issues for us... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echo beach Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 My teenage years spanned the late 50's to the mid 60's and I genuinely believe that there has never been a better time to be that age. The 60's ,in particular, was such a revolutionary decade in so many respects. It was a period when adolescents in general came of age. We were relatively affluent and via music, dance and protests we discovered that we had a voice which could be heard. This, of course is looking back. I'm sure at the time I didn't appreciate the significance of what was going on around me. Prior to that we'd enjoyed a proper childhood without the pressure to grow up before our time. Respect for authority, discipline and individual responsibility were the order of the day. Community spirit, probably a throw over from the war, was more prevalent and extended families lived close by to lend support should it be needed. Commercialism was nothing like as prominent as it is today. For all the materialistic benefits we have now, people seemed more content and happier wayback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grinder Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Fareast. If my memory serves me right, pretty much the same things were said about us teenagers in 1955... I enjoyed being a teenager , on the brink of Adulthood full of hope and with your whole life ahead of you... I can still remember that time when this young lad asked me "What time is it Mr" .... MR!!! me ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greengeek Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 I remember the kids.... listening to their gramophones whilst sat on the charabanc... Blooming nuisance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonjo2 Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 Obviously its very difficult to compare, but what is it about being a teenager in 1955 that you would consider better than being one now? u could get a job anywhere anytime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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