Shalimar
SF VIP
- Location
- Vancouver Island Canada
What changes have occurred in your lifetime that you particularly like/dislike?
Changes that have occurred during your lifetime, like or dislike?
- Thread starter Shalimar
- Start date
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Well I expect there's loads once the fog in my brain clears after getting up so early since our clocks went forward but the immediate one that comes to mind for me is the massive benefit to the populace of the contraceptive pill.
I gotta keep in mind that the question is ''in your lifetime" so there are a lot of people on here who will have known life without lots of things that I have always taken for granted..
I gotta keep in mind that the question is ''in your lifetime" so there are a lot of people on here who will have known life without lots of things that I have always taken for granted..
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Sooo true kadee , how did we ever guess while sitting at our desks writing with pen and liquid ink that one day we'd be using a machine that would enable us to interact with the world at large on any subject at the tap of a few keys
Pappy
Living the Dream
Something that comes to mind is the big old clunky telephone that hung on the wall. The one with the crank and usually used a party line.
Now, that telephone can be carried in your pocket or hooked on ones ear.
Now, that telephone can be carried in your pocket or hooked on ones ear.
Good Changes: Civil rights, Women's rights, the pill, gay rights, legal abortion (in some places), computers and telephone technology, medical breakthroughs, Berlin Wall gone.
Negative Changes: environmental damage, overpopulation, wars, new diseases, manufacturing disappearing from our countries, homelessness and unemployment.
Negative Changes: environmental damage, overpopulation, wars, new diseases, manufacturing disappearing from our countries, homelessness and unemployment.
Josiah
Senior Member
- Location
- 50 miles east of Cincinnati, OH
A very good compilation Cookie, and I'd suggest the good just about balances out the bad, so while things are very different than they were, have we really progressed?
Shalimar
SF VIP
- Location
- Vancouver Island Canada
I think so, Josiah. As a woman, I am very grateful not to have been deprived of my basic civil rights, and chained to my biology. As a mother, I am relieved that children can be vaccinated against the diseases that killed many of my mother's generation. As for the rest, I have no illusions as to how detrimental they are, but live in hope that we will not destroy ourselves and mother earth.
In addition to agreeing with all of the above, I very much like the social changes that have taken place. When I was a child in the 50's, I visited cousins down south, and remember seeing signs at rest rooms and drinking fountains saying, "White only" or "Colored only." I didn't ride any buses down there, but blacks were still relegated to the back of the bus. Schools were strictly segregated, of course.Seems incredible to me that that was still going on during my lifetime, probably right up to the civil rights movement in the 60's.
Josiah
Senior Member
- Location
- 50 miles east of Cincinnati, OH
Our mistreatment of this planet and the consequences there to are what I fear. That and religion's unique ability to promote hatred.
Grumpy Ol' Man
Senior Member
- Location
- Kansas, U.S.
The two advances in our lifetime that have had the most impact are communication and the miracles of modern medical technology.
Communication: When my dad was in WWII, it would take letters weeks or months to get back home. As the soldiers shipped off to war, it could be weeks before the family knew if they even made it across the battle front alive. We grew up on a party line. Could not make a call after 10 p.m. That was when the telephone office closed. Long distance calls... sometimes less than 10 miles... were expensive and you never knew if you would be able to hear the person on the other end. Today, our son has communicated from war zones in Iraq and who knows where else. He's currently deployed, with a Special Forces Group, so we don't know where or for how long. Yet, he communicates regularly with his wife and his Mother via satellite phone or e-mail. We can talk across the world, any time day or night, free, with this little black box in our pocket.
Miracles of Modern Medical Technology: New joints, new organs, cures for polio and so many other diseases we saw as children. So many cancers can be defeated. Again, in war zones we have found superglue has saved hundreds of lives that would have been lost in previous wars.
Those are changes. Those are advances... well.... The one issue with the advances in communication is that now we know every little thing going on around us within minutes. We know every misstep of a politician or a preacher... on the news. We know every time a Holywood star stubs their toe. We know you can sit in bathtubs, looking out over a beautiful view, holding hands with your wife... all thanks to some pills. :>)
Communication: When my dad was in WWII, it would take letters weeks or months to get back home. As the soldiers shipped off to war, it could be weeks before the family knew if they even made it across the battle front alive. We grew up on a party line. Could not make a call after 10 p.m. That was when the telephone office closed. Long distance calls... sometimes less than 10 miles... were expensive and you never knew if you would be able to hear the person on the other end. Today, our son has communicated from war zones in Iraq and who knows where else. He's currently deployed, with a Special Forces Group, so we don't know where or for how long. Yet, he communicates regularly with his wife and his Mother via satellite phone or e-mail. We can talk across the world, any time day or night, free, with this little black box in our pocket.
Miracles of Modern Medical Technology: New joints, new organs, cures for polio and so many other diseases we saw as children. So many cancers can be defeated. Again, in war zones we have found superglue has saved hundreds of lives that would have been lost in previous wars.
Those are changes. Those are advances... well.... The one issue with the advances in communication is that now we know every little thing going on around us within minutes. We know every misstep of a politician or a preacher... on the news. We know every time a Holywood star stubs their toe. We know you can sit in bathtubs, looking out over a beautiful view, holding hands with your wife... all thanks to some pills. :>)
Josiah
Senior Member
- Location
- 50 miles east of Cincinnati, OH
I never understood the ad's two bathtub symbolism. I've been in a bathtub with a woman face to face. Now that makes lots of sense.
Food: The quality has deteriorated badly, not much nutrition today.
Governmet: The quality of their advice has detreiorated badly.
Transport: The quality of vehicles has increased markedly, sometimes
too much to where a computer does most of the thinking/working.
Accommodation: The quality of our accommodation has increased.
Money: The value of money has dropped, you need a lot more to buy
things that were available for modest sums maybe twenty years ago.
Household Appliances: The quality of these has increased to make
life easier.
Mike.
Governmet: The quality of their advice has detreiorated badly.
Transport: The quality of vehicles has increased markedly, sometimes
too much to where a computer does most of the thinking/working.
Accommodation: The quality of our accommodation has increased.
Money: The value of money has dropped, you need a lot more to buy
things that were available for modest sums maybe twenty years ago.
Household Appliances: The quality of these has increased to make
life easier.
Mike.
Positive changes : I like debit cards because you never have to waste time writing checks in stores and going through the whole verification process. I LOVE self checkout lanes in grocery stores; saves me a barrel of time. Computers because I can shop from home, communicate with friends and family and educate myself too. I feel I can learn anything which is empowering. Smart phones. Never miss a sporting event you love, no matter where you are. GPS, never get lost again. Whole Foods grocery stores. Great shopping experience and helps anyone to achieve better health with the quality of the foods they offer, recipes, coupons and helpful staff. The eradication of many serious diseases like small pox, and measles, and polio through the great vaccines available now.
Negatives: the American dream is dead for most. It takes at least 10 years of eduction after high school to become anything but a checkout clerk in a store. The high cost of health care in the U.S. is disgraceful. The high cost of PET health care in the U.S. is even more disgraceful. Young parents are allowing diseases one thought eradicated to become epidemic again by refusing to vaccinate their children. Autism - when I was a kid no one even heard of this one. Violence. Lack of safety for our kids. I used to be able to walk to school. Now school buses have to pick kids up at the doors of their houses ( in my neighborhood) and drop them off there too unless mom or dad or some relative picks them up. It's too dangerous for kids to walk anymore. Lack of exercise in general. People are couch potatoes then wonder why they're fat and sick. Jack Lalane was right. Lack of respect for police and military and low pay for people in those professions. The U.S. Has not won a war since World War II and this is having an extremely negative impact on the American lifestyle in every way. America receives little respect anymore globally, and opponents to the American way of life see us as helpless easy targets more concerned with being politically correct then defending our families, our homes, and our children our country.
Negatives: the American dream is dead for most. It takes at least 10 years of eduction after high school to become anything but a checkout clerk in a store. The high cost of health care in the U.S. is disgraceful. The high cost of PET health care in the U.S. is even more disgraceful. Young parents are allowing diseases one thought eradicated to become epidemic again by refusing to vaccinate their children. Autism - when I was a kid no one even heard of this one. Violence. Lack of safety for our kids. I used to be able to walk to school. Now school buses have to pick kids up at the doors of their houses ( in my neighborhood) and drop them off there too unless mom or dad or some relative picks them up. It's too dangerous for kids to walk anymore. Lack of exercise in general. People are couch potatoes then wonder why they're fat and sick. Jack Lalane was right. Lack of respect for police and military and low pay for people in those professions. The U.S. Has not won a war since World War II and this is having an extremely negative impact on the American lifestyle in every way. America receives little respect anymore globally, and opponents to the American way of life see us as helpless easy targets more concerned with being politically correct then defending our families, our homes, and our children our country.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Oh I have to disagree with that last one Mike..the quality for the most part has deteriorated greatly..nowadays you're lucky if you get 3 or 4 years out of a washing machine or a Fridge/freezer before it needs repair or a couple of years for a kettle..certainly there's much more vaiety and they are more affordable but todays' Household appliances generally are not built to last as they were in my parents day.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Very interesting for me as a Brit to read of the eradication of the American Dream , Chic...something that was the envy of many many countries at one time.
)
ndynt
Senior Member
- Location
- NE Florida
In my 81 years I have encountered many changes. I agree the technological advances are wonderful...especially the internet.
Yet, I so miss the earlier way of life. Miss the feeling of being safe. Of being able to leave doors open or unlocked. Children being able to sleep outside, in tents or on porch, in the summer. To ride their bikes anywhere at anytime. To wander in the woods...walk to the corner store, alone. I miss being able to go to the store after dark, without fear. Hate having to encounter panhandlers at gas stations and stores. Being unable to go into a store without people outside asking for money for whatever charity or trying to sell you something. Previously, only the Salvation Army, at Christmas, and the Amvets, selling their Poppies, did this. I could go on and on.... We have had to trade a lot to acquire all that we have today.
Yet, I so miss the earlier way of life. Miss the feeling of being safe. Of being able to leave doors open or unlocked. Children being able to sleep outside, in tents or on porch, in the summer. To ride their bikes anywhere at anytime. To wander in the woods...walk to the corner store, alone. I miss being able to go to the store after dark, without fear. Hate having to encounter panhandlers at gas stations and stores. Being unable to go into a store without people outside asking for money for whatever charity or trying to sell you something. Previously, only the Salvation Army, at Christmas, and the Amvets, selling their Poppies, did this. I could go on and on.... We have had to trade a lot to acquire all that we have today.
AZ Jim
R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
- Location
- SURPRISE, ARIZONA
In my lifetime? Well, the wheel was invented!! Fire was discovered the year before my birth.