I was talking with a friend about life when we were growing up.
Thought it would make a good topic for discussion.
Questions include, but are not limited to:
1. Was your childhood better than that of your children? ("Better" can be defined any way you like.)
2. Given that the Internet is here to stay, how does that impact on changes in society? Are there things we are better off not knowing?
3. If you think humankind is on a downward spiral, can we reverse that trend? How?
flan
For the first question I can't say my children's childhood was better but different. We had more money then my parents but my children were and are loved as much as I was loved by my parents.
2nd question in some ways life was better before the internet. Kids would be outside playing and would use our imagination more. Also I believe the chance for accurate information was better doing research at the library then on the Web.
3rd question I feel sad for a lot of kids nowadays. At least in my community a lot of kids are dealing with broken homes, drugs and parents who can't or won't deal with parenting or responsibility. I never knew of any of my friends/ classmates that didn't have a caring family .
I would say my childhood was better in that I didn't have to be so vigilant for people bent on hurting kids. It happened but it wasn't a near daily occurrence like it is now. School used to be a safe place but even that isn't so much a thing anymore. I fear for my son's safety in this immoral world.
My childhood was fun. Kids were expected to be outside playing and not in the house under foot. And, parents didnt' feel responsibility towards our 'fun". They simply let us to our own devices for the most part. I had a very active childhood. We were always outside at the creek, fishing, playing cops and robbers, playing sports, sled riding, swimming, etc. We had a wiffle ball league, that we kids set up ourselves and directed. It was nothing official but a group of kids that we decided to set up teams, keep stats and give awards and we played in the school playground. We played board games like Monopoloy for hours. Kids today don't seem to have the ability to entertain themselves. And, adults always want to stick their noses into what kids do and they turn a stick ball game into a "league" and ruin it with adult like ideas that it now needs to be 'organized".
Kids seem very passive and passively plugged in. Yes, that isn't true for ALL kids. But, in general they seem to spend a great deal of time doing nothing but looking at their phones.
THe internet is good and bad. It has great things about it like being able to search for information, shop online, find recipes, how to videos and many other great things. My niece is in Japan and she just had her first child so her grandma can keep in touch through Skype and Facebook. There are a lot of great things about the internet including message boards and of course Amazon! lol. On the other hand, it consumes people as well. And, it can be used for nefarious purposes too.
And yet you still didn't answer your own question. It's really not shocking at all. We all know how you feel about answering questions. I guess that means even your own...
__________________
“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.” ― Julia Child ―
And yet you still didn't answer your own question. It's really not shocking at all. We all know how you feel about answering questions. I guess that means even your own...
Are you blind? I answer plenty of questions here.
I started typing a response this morning, but had to leave for work. Next time, I'll just get in trouble & be late for work.
flan
-- Edited by flan327 on Monday 11th of July 2016 09:55:56 AM
Just pointing out it's usual for you. I had a great childhood. My daughter had a similar because she was born before all the neighbors would call on you for letting your kid play outside alone. I am not the one who has an issue with answering question flannie...
-- Edited by Tinydancer on Monday 11th of July 2016 09:59:57 AM
-- Edited by Tinydancer on Monday 11th of July 2016 10:00:13 AM
__________________
“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.” ― Julia Child ―
Just pointing out it's usual for you. I had a great childhood. My daughter had a similar because she was born before all the neighbors would call on you for letting your kid play outside alone. I am not the one who has an issue with answering question flannie...
-- Edited by Tinydancer on Monday 11th of July 2016 09:59:57 AM
-- Edited by Tinydancer on Monday 11th of July 2016 10:00:13 AM
THe internet is good and bad. It has great things about it like being able to search for information, shop online, find recipes, how to videos and many other great things. My niece is in Japan and she just had her first child so her grandma can keep in touch through Skype and Facebook. There are a lot of great things about the internet including message boards and of course Amazon! lol. On the other hand, it consumes people as well. And, it can be used for nefarious purposes too.
I agree. And obviously it's never going to go away.
I think another positive aspect is bringing certain things to light that, in the past, could all too easily remain hidden. Abusive relationships & bullying come to mind. It's important to know that you are NOT alone. I've also seen instances where people were helped by others' expertise.
There is however, a tendency to think: "Well, it's on the Internet. It must be true." That's why knowing the reliability of the source is even more important today than it was when I began working in public libraries.
I had a good childhood. Summers were spent at the pool or just riding our bikes. We lived in a rural area & had lots of pets. We had a party line telephone & my best friend & I thought it was so cool that we didn't have to dial a number just both pick up the phone at the same time & we could talk.
I remember our first Atari game that was nothing but blips compared to now. And how exciting it was when we first got cable & MTV.
I remember watching movies on regular TV as a family on Saturday nights. Things like Pink Panther, The Sting, Butch & Sundance, Bonnie & Clyde. We had an air popper & would make popcorn.
I had a good childhood. Summers were spent at the pool or just riding our bikes. We lived in a rural area & had lots of pets. We had a party line telephone & my best friend & I thought it was so cool that we didn't have to dial a number just both pick up the phone at the same time & we could talk.
I remember our first Atari game that was nothing but blips compared to now. And how exciting it was when we first got cable & MTV.
I remember watching movies on regular TV as a family on Saturday nights. Things like Pink Panther, The Sting, Butch & Sundance, Bonnie & Clyde. We had an air popper & would make popcorn.
Life seemed simpler.
I agree, but I'm wondering how much of that is filtered through the lens of memory?
I will say that, because my dad worked second or third shifts, we rarely had "family nights." We did drive to Pompano, Florida every summer though...in a station wagon with no A/C. Neither mom nor I used sunscreen!
Just pointing out it's usual for you. I had a great childhood. My daughter had a similar because she was born before all the neighbors would call on you for letting your kid play outside alone. I am not the one who has an issue with answering question flannie...
-- Edited by Tinydancer on Monday 11th of July 2016 09:59:57 AM
-- Edited by Tinydancer on Monday 11th of July 2016 10:00:13 AM
And you had to edit that twice?
flan
Yes. Once for spelling so you couldn't make it all about that and another to make sure it said flannie.
__________________
“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.” ― Julia Child ―
I had a good childhood. Summers were spent at the pool or just riding our bikes. We lived in a rural area & had lots of pets. We had a party line telephone & my best friend & I thought it was so cool that we didn't have to dial a number just both pick up the phone at the same time & we could talk.
I remember our first Atari game that was nothing but blips compared to now. And how exciting it was when we first got cable & MTV.
I remember watching movies on regular TV as a family on Saturday nights. Things like Pink Panther, The Sting, Butch & Sundance, Bonnie & Clyde. We had an air popper & would make popcorn.
Life seemed simpler.
I agree, but I'm wondering how much of that is filtered through the lens of memory?
I will say that, because my dad worked second or third shifts, we rarely had "family nights." We did drive to Pompano, Florida every summer though...in a station wagon with no A/C. Neither mom nor I used sunscreen!
flan
I'm sure the memories are filtered somewhat. I also remember sitting at the table doing dreaded math homework, getting yelled at for not cleaning my room, the time my mom snacked my face because I was back mouthing. Yes there was only one time she ever smacked my face. But overall childhood was good. But I am also sure if you asked the majority of this generation 15-20 years from now they will also have fond memories of their childhoods. All the funny stuff on FB, etc. will be nostalgic.
What fun would that be? You know when you post "consider the source" when I post something you don't agree with that's mocking me? I guess you are allowed to mock but others are not. Oh and threads get off topic all the time. Many times by you.
__________________
“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.” ― Julia Child ―
I think there is more bullying now. Much easier with social media.
There was still bullies but at least you could find safety and respite at your own home.
Yes, that's a very good point.
And it seems that some kids will never learn that, if you post something online, you can't take it back.
flan
I agree. At least when I was in school the name calling and rumors (false) can be contained to a few but now because of social media and the internet the bullish can go alot further and much harder for the bullied to escape.
1. I have tried to give my kids everything I had growing up.
Stable home, a strong sense of self worth, a strong moral compass and the understanding that no one owes them anything.
I have tried to teach my kids that doing the right thing is often the hardest thing and that hard work pays off every time.
I wanted to give my kids experiences more than things but that having things was ok, too.
I don't know if better is the word.
2. Of course the internet affects things, and I think, when used correctly, in a positive way. It's a tool. How it is used is up to the user.
And there are things we don't need to know. Some things are better kept private.
3.Humankind is on a downward spiral.
The lack of personal responsibility and self control is becoming a growing problem.
There are too many thinking they are entitled, too many thinking they don't need to earn their keep.
And it's showing in the news every day.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Lots of loving family around, friends, boundaries that were not too tight.
I was allowed to grow up.
I was given responsibility.
I was held accountable.
I may not have had the latest gadget or the name brand clothes.
But I had things others my age didnt.
Freedoms others didn't.
I tried to do the same for my kids.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
1. Was your childhood better than that of your children? ("Better" can be defined any way you like.)
2. Given that the Internet is here to stay, how does that impact on changes in society? Are there things we are better off not knowing?
3. If you think humankind is on a downward spiral, can we reverse that trend? How?
- flan327
1: I think childhood of my time was much better than modern-day childhood. Yes, they have more technology, but do they really have more fun? I don't think that they do. There's something that you can get out of climbing a tree that you can't get from playing the latest incarnation of "Need for Speed" or "Grand Theft Auto" or "Call of Duty".
2: Information overload that's available on-line can only push progress to progress faster, and that will cause the information to increase faster which in turn will speed up progress even more, all in an endless loop. I do think that we are better of not knowing some of the false information posted to the internet as fact - such as the rewriting of history.
3: I believe that we are on a downward spiral. The way to slow or reverse it is less religion and more adherence to the love thy neighbor parts of Christianity. We need to judge less and love more. We need to oppress less and help more. We need to show goodness and hope, not preach evil and damnation. And those things that we need to do, we need to all do them, even those of us that aren't Christian. Until we all become better, we cannot arrest the downward trend. As is the least of us, so are all of us as a whole, at least in part.
about life when we were growing up.
