How different an era was the 1980s compared to the 2010s? (drugs, years)

[gymbuff]

Essentially life is the same today as in the 80's. We had an "everything has already been invented" attitude. Today, I believe that the internet accessibility in the average home, advanced technology, the and proliferation of tv channels make this decade more comfortable. In fact, new technology keeps us wanting more. In the 80's we thought the feature ''call waiting" was alien technology! Nowadays, a "smartphone" doesn't inspire much awe.
Like a previous poster said, there were NO cell phones, and if you were lost or needed to make a call while you were driving, you had to use a pay phone, which were all over the place. Other than a landline, some people had beepers (pagers), but that was about it.
Cars are much better nowaday. Back then, you could floor your car's V8 engine and not really go fast. Today, any 4 cylinder car gets out of its own way.

[Six Foot Three]

Originally Posted by kevinm

Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale still allowed drinking in public until 1985!!!

I'm still heart broken over that ban

[Six Foot Three]

Simply put ..... the 80's was the western world's second ''Roaring Twenties'' decade

[Charles]

Originally Posted by 6 Foot 3

Simply put ..... the 80's was the western world's second ''Roaring Twenties'' decade

The 2000s were the third, even more so, considering the parallels of credit/stocks purchased on margin, HELOCs, housing bubble, housing crash, and the hangover of today and the hangover of the 1930s.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by 6 Foot 3

Simply put ..... the 80's was the western world's second ''Roaring Twenties'' decade

Forgetting about the '60s?

[cleoT]

I think we were more proud of our country in the '80s. I don't remember all the apologizing for who we were back then. Other countries might have thought we were unrefined or unsophisticated, but we really didn't care. I grew up with parents who hated Reagan, but even they were impressed with how he dealt with the Russians.

I remember calling all my friends' parents by Mr. and Mrs. and their last name. Staying out around the neighborhood with friends until dinnertime. I also remember fearing my teachers. Not a bad fear but like a healthy fear, and yet I always knew they had my best interest at heart.

The music was cheezier but less depressing than some genres today. We loved stars but didn't revere them like kids today. Well, maybe the boys revered football players, but I grew up with a sister and don't know much about that.

For me, being a parent, the biggest advantage of today is that my kids have access to unknown amounts of knowledge throught the Internet. I grew up in a low-income household and we didn't even own an encyclopedia. I look back now and see that disadvantage and thank God my children have knowledge at their fngertips.

I loved growing up in the '80s as much as I love thinking back on the decade now. But I would think whatever decade you were born in you'd feel that way about it.

[Six Foot Three]

Originally Posted by majoun

Forgetting about the '60s?

Nope. I see no correlation between the 60's and the 20's/80's.

[Six Foot Three]

Originally Posted by Charles

The 2000s were the third, even more so, considering the parallels of credit/stocks purchased on margin, HELOCs, housing bubble, housing crash, and the hangover of today and the hangover of the 1930s.

In my opinion the 2000's seem nothing like the party time ''happy'' decades a.k.a. The Roaring 20's and Hairspray 80's as the 2000's was what i'd call a ''downer'' decade to where as the 20's and 80's were very upbeat and positive back during their era's. The 2000's seem more on parallel to the stagnant 70's (downer decade) or even close to the 30's with the 2008 crash towards the end.

[grmi66]

Another thing about the 80's, if you wanted to listen to punk/new wave you had to be very committed to the lifestyle. Walking around the midwest with short hair, spiky hair or a new wave influenced haircut was an invitation to a butt kicking. You may as well just put a sign on your back that said "please beat me up". Buying new music entailed saving up your money for months and going on music buying road trips to larger cities that had cool record stores.

Back then even big name groups in the punk scene like Social Distortion, Black Flag and the like played in clubs that were typically warehouses in the worst part of town. Always exciting to go to shows because the neighbors usually did not really like white kids coming into the 'hood.

Music was more of a social thing, you would go over to a friends house, throw some albums on the turntable and sit around together and listen to music.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by grmi66

Music was more of a social thing, you would go over to a friends house, throw some albums on the turntable and sit around together and listen to music.

....and smoke pot.