Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I just love our society today. I would love to be able to go back to the '50s and before (of course without the sexism, racism and discrimination) just so I could live among sane people.
Quote:
HIGH SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2008
Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2008 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school..
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2008 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled, even though Johnny started it.
Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2008 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for A.D.D. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability. Teachers are given extra paperwork and must modify lesson plans to accomodate Jeffrey's disability.
Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2008 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.
2008 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2008 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario 7:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2008 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called.. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents -- and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2008 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
1957 ( Hell 1987 !!! )....high school students would dress up for gym class and take a shower afterward.
2010....now for a lot students its study hall/computer time. Dressing up? No because some parents have a fear that once kids are in their boxers/bras/panties/jockstraps in the locker room then an orgy will happen sooner or later. The Shower? It's "Debbie Does Dallas" all over again.
#4 - In addition to the whipping, Billy would have to apologize to the neighbor and work all summer doing whatever was necessary in order to pay for the damage.
When I was in High school, back in 95 and 96, we all drove to school with shotguns in our cars, for hunting. This was during dove season, and deer season. One teacher tried to raise the "zero tolerance" thing, but our principal shot that down.
Everyone knew we were going hunting, and according to him, our cars, were our property.
It does happen, and it was 12 years ago, but most of the time sanity reigns supreme.
I really dougbt with the reaction today from paople i thsese tougher economic times that they could take the life style of the 50's;especailly in work and hours.Certainly not in the 50's self responsibilty for survival back then.
I just love our society today. I would love to be able to go back to the '50s and before (of course without the sexism, racism and discrimination) just so I could live among sane people.
The 8 scenarios from the OP are a sad testimony of where we got today. And they are all just from one life area - raising/handling the kids. Other life fields got downhill, as well, or even worse.
Anyway, this is scenario # 9 (my own experience):
In 50's or even 60's, a person walking through a school district (elementary/middle school) while kids were outside for a recess or other activity, used to be a normal event.
These days, you try to walk anywhere near the school where kids are having recess, and a person (teacher?) with walky-talky approaches you and ask you to go away! I guess, every bypasser is a potential terrorist/child molester or otherwise dangerous...
The same thing goes when kids are about to enter (or entering) the schoolbus.
I live in the school district area where there are 5 schools, so the options for walking outdoor are pretty limited. One has to keep in mind what time of the day it is (so the kids are likely not outside!), to be able to go for a walk.
F***ing sad !!!
I vote to have ONE catch-all thread where all the geriatrics can go to complain "how the world is going to shiite and things sure aren't how they used to be". We get it, you are like every generation of geriatrics before you. They always complain about things getting worse, while conveniently ignoring all of the areas where quality of life has improved.
Of course, when you are that old, it is harder to look forward. There is an aversion to the future, because the future entails a world without you in it. It is much more comfortable to be nostalgic about the past, especially with a revisionist history developed to make you feel good.
Change happens. The world is going to move on. We as a species are constantly becoming more self-aware of our lives here and what it means to be human.
I think most of the OP is rediculous and preys on the odd ball situations that have occured once..somewhere..while romanticizing the past. ie: Johnny and Mark shake hands and become friends? How do you come to THAT conclusion? Probably Johnny went home and huffed paint and died or something.
As someone who was born in the 50's I promise you it wasn't as sweet as people want to believe.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
our society today. I would love to be able to go back to the '50s and before (of course without the sexism, racism and discrimination) just so I could live among sane people. 
