If someone from the 1950s suddenly appeared today, what would be the most difficult thing to explain to them today? (United States, how)

[Chango]

Originally Posted by travric

Interesting one! I'd have the feeling it would take 50's individuals a bit to 'adjust' to our society now. I'd say the notion of 'convention' and 'conformity' and the kind of historical opinion that goes around these days would seriously challenge their mindset. They'd probably be baffled at the sarcasm aimed at them for believing in mom, apple pie, the suburbs and red and white tablecloths and why they disliked communists, beatniks and movies showing hints of sex .Don't worry people would let'em know it!.....;-)....

I don't know if I'd call our culture one of "malevolence"... after all, real-world 1950's America was no stranger to violence. You've gotta remember most of those men were only a few years out of service in the most horrible war the world had ever seen; even the old men still had memories of the trenches. Any person in the 50's knew their day had a fair chance of ending in a nuclear inferno too. 50's "machismo" was strongly embedded in culture too; any man worth his salt was able to put up a good fight and not whine about experiencing a little hardship.

I'd bet if someone dug up the actual stats we'd find today's world is actually less violent per capita than the 50's were. A culture's fantasies are a window into what they wanted to be like, not what they actually were like.

I don't know if anybody here has read any of the many 20th century centenial books and book series that are out there... the one's that go decade by decade.

What strikes me as interesting is how a decade is defined by earth-shaking real-life events which happened in that decade (wars, protests, economic distress or success, violence, great inventions, ect) all the way until about the 1980's, when suddenly TV shows, movies, celebrities, sports and entertainment subjects dominate.

I think the average 1950's person would be confused and disturbed to find out everyone today spends most of their time living in a fantasy world instead of the real one.

[I'm Retired Now]

They would ask: "What happened to Johnson's Woods at the edge of town? It was so beautiful." Now it is a ugly run down piece of concrete and a dying shopping center with most of the stores closed.

[mr bolo]

they would be overwhelmed by all the convenient food and places to eat and shop, the super malls are like little cities

shocked by the large number of homeless people and all the free money and benefits they get from the government just for being a bum

wonder why so many people are on disability for something that would not qualify as a disability back in the 50's

they would notice they have a lot of leeches in our society and people have become more lazy & useless

[kutra11]

Honey Boo Boo!

[rogead]

Just how little human beings have evolved ethically and socially.

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by 2nd trick op

What I suspect they might find disturbing is the weakening of the "American consensus" which emerged, albeit in many local variations, after the Depression and World War II.

I do so love 50's mythology... I call it the too much Leave it to Beaver Syndrome.

The fifties... The House Un-American Activities Committee, black list, witch hunts for Communist....The Rosenburg Trial... The Cutler Murders... the resurgence of the Civil Rights movement... Armed Troops sent to Little Rock to integrate Central High School... it was an idyllic time in American history.

[pch1013]

Originally Posted by Chango

I'd bet if someone dug up the actual stats we'd find today's world is actually less violent per capita than the 50's were.

The murder rate today is lower than it was in 1960. Other violent crimes are higher, though.

[cpg35223]

Well, change is gradual. So if an adult was magically transported from 1950 to 2013, what amazing things would they marvel at that we have been inured to over a period of decades?

1) Space probes that had left the solar system and footage from the moon missions.
2) Long distance telephone calls that are free.
3) Vivid, incredibly sharp color television bringing literally hundreds of channels to one's living rooms.
4) The computer, duh.
5) The internet, allowing you to instantly look up just about anything on any subject imaginable.
6) The mobile phone, which lets do just about anything from any place in the developed world.
7) The unbelievable progress of modern medicine, from antibiotics to genetics to treatments for cancer.
8) The microcircuit and its ubiquity.
9) The sheer ease of transportation.
10) The elevation of women and minorities in terms of equality and economic choices.
11) The wildly metastasizing amount of information.
12) The incredible diversity in the arts.
13) The liberated attitudes towards any number of things.
14) The physical size of the average person.
15) The youthful appearance of those would have been previously been considered middle aged.
16) The agonizing death of newspapers.

And that's just the beginning.

[Rubi3]

Originally Posted by pch1013

The President is a Negro.

There are three women on the Supreme Court.

WHAT?????????????? How is that possible?

[OIF VET]

The fact that you cant beat your wife anymore and women are allowed to vote and work in careers other than nurse and teacher