You've never had it so good.
Discussion
Times do seem particularly gloomy right now with the weather and costs of living but I wonder when was the best time for the British public as a whole.
In recent times, maybe 2012 was a particularly good year for many with the Olympics going on.
Before that, 1996 seemed particularly good with Chris Evans on the radio before he got really annoying, Tony Blair promising some new politics before he became a war criminal, Euro 96 before we got knocked out and, for me, mid-twenties hedonism before I got older and slightly more sensible.
Any better years? Has there ever been a point where we realised that this is as good as it gets?
In recent times, maybe 2012 was a particularly good year for many with the Olympics going on.
Before that, 1996 seemed particularly good with Chris Evans on the radio before he got really annoying, Tony Blair promising some new politics before he became a war criminal, Euro 96 before we got knocked out and, for me, mid-twenties hedonism before I got older and slightly more sensible.
Any better years? Has there ever been a point where we realised that this is as good as it gets?
toasty said:
Times do seem particularly gloomy right now with the weather and costs of living but I wonder when was the best time for the British public as a whole.
In recent times, maybe 2012 was a particularly good year for many with the Olympics going on.
Before that, 1996 seemed particularly good with Chris Evans on the radio before he got really annoying, Tony Blair promising some new politics before he became a war criminal, Euro 96 before we got knocked out and, for me, mid-twenties hedonism before I got older and slightly more sensible.
Any better years? Has there ever been a point where we realised that this is as good as it gets?
I think the answer to that partially depends on where you are on the income distribution scale.In recent times, maybe 2012 was a particularly good year for many with the Olympics going on.
Before that, 1996 seemed particularly good with Chris Evans on the radio before he got really annoying, Tony Blair promising some new politics before he became a war criminal, Euro 96 before we got knocked out and, for me, mid-twenties hedonism before I got older and slightly more sensible.
Any better years? Has there ever been a point where we realised that this is as good as it gets?
Even before the recent energy price hikes median real income has fallen slightly since 2008. So those in the middle haven't had a pay rise in close to a decade and a half.
On the other side of course the internet has provided a significant improvement in available entertainment and information since that same date. So I would probably vote for a few years ago, before Covid came along and the consequences of net zero became apparent.
JagLover said:
toasty said:
Times do seem particularly gloomy right now with the weather and costs of living but I wonder when was the best time for the British public as a whole.
In recent times, maybe 2012 was a particularly good year for many with the Olympics going on.
Before that, 1996 seemed particularly good with Chris Evans on the radio before he got really annoying, Tony Blair promising some new politics before he became a war criminal, Euro 96 before we got knocked out and, for me, mid-twenties hedonism before I got older and slightly more sensible.
Any better years? Has there ever been a point where we realised that this is as good as it gets?
I think the answer to that partially depends on where you are on the income distribution scale.In recent times, maybe 2012 was a particularly good year for many with the Olympics going on.
Before that, 1996 seemed particularly good with Chris Evans on the radio before he got really annoying, Tony Blair promising some new politics before he became a war criminal, Euro 96 before we got knocked out and, for me, mid-twenties hedonism before I got older and slightly more sensible.
Any better years? Has there ever been a point where we realised that this is as good as it gets?
Even before the recent energy price hikes median real income has fallen slightly since 2008. So those in the middle haven't had a pay rise in close to a decade and a half.
On the other side of course the internet has provided a significant improvement in available entertainment and information since that same date. So I would probably vote for a few years ago, before Covid came along and the consequences of net zero became apparent.
TCX said:
Any better years,I'd go for '84-'90,music was great, effects of the Thatcher purge on industry were wanting,speeding would get a 'word' off a traffic cop if you passed the attitude test,just go for a drive when you fancied,cars were fixable on the drive/curb
I'll pick 1988. Full student grant, no responsibilities and an Alfasud Ti. And (referencing one of the other threads) stuff just seemed to work better. I got an inguinal hernia in 1990, NHS fixed it quickly with no faffing about even though it wasn't even remotely life-threatening. On a train journey you stood a fair chance of getting a seat without having to reserve it. And in the absence of smartphones and social media, I think we all spent more time with our actual mates than we do now, (Says the bloke sitting alone in an office chatting to random strangers on the Internet.)CraigyMc said:
Now is the best time in my life.
A lot of people are on a downer because of being deluged with negative information, a huge proportion of which is inaccurate.
Democratising the internet for the masses has turned out to be a horrific large scale experiment.
Very much so. Don’t watch or read the news it’s full of doom and gloom. You will find your mood instantly gets better. Someone will tell you if anything significant is happening you don’t need a daily round of gloom to start your day. A lot of people are on a downer because of being deluged with negative information, a huge proportion of which is inaccurate.
Democratising the internet for the masses has turned out to be a horrific large scale experiment.
The answer will usually be the time you were young and care free.
I am often told that the 70's were simply dreadful but I loved them - the music, the parties, the first sexual experiences, the dope, the booze what was not to like? They may have been tough economic times but it never registered - no social media to enable people to hate each other anonymously, it was all good.
I loved the 80's (cars women, cars, booze, women, cars, rinse and repeat) too and bits of the 90's
I am often told that the 70's were simply dreadful but I loved them - the music, the parties, the first sexual experiences, the dope, the booze what was not to like? They may have been tough economic times but it never registered - no social media to enable people to hate each other anonymously, it was all good.
I loved the 80's (cars women, cars, booze, women, cars, rinse and repeat) too and bits of the 90's
Edited by Lotobear on Tuesday 13th December 10:17
I agree that the 70s were much better than those who weren't there like to make out, provided you were young at the time. The critical thing being that there was optimism- however tough you had it, you expected it to be better as you got older.
Not so many 18 year olds see it that way now.
Not so many 18 year olds see it that way now.
Much, or all, depends on your age and when you grew up.
To me the 90s seemed like a bright time. Pre internet. No all encompassing gloom. Outward looking.
It feels like it's been a slow slide downhill ever since.
80s felt a bit gross to me. I have some memories of the 70s. That seemed rather s
te indeed.
To me the 90s seemed like a bright time. Pre internet. No all encompassing gloom. Outward looking.
It feels like it's been a slow slide downhill ever since.
80s felt a bit gross to me. I have some memories of the 70s. That seemed rather s
te indeed. Right now, changed career at 50, two years later bought my first house, another year on am loving my job and seem to be quite good at it, can see me staying where I am until I retire, will definitely be in the same job till I retire. Don't have much spare cash, but I've never had much spare cash. Am aware of the terrible times people are having around the world, as I have always been aware of the terrible troubles others are having around the world. Not a news junkie, not a politics junkie, not a materialistic person. Neither is my partner, or my daughter. I get my 'rewards' every day in some way from my pupils. I think all of the above helps.
It's really tricky to separate eras (particularly whole decades) from "I was young, and had effectively no responsibilities at the time so my life was simple".
I think if you ask, the majority of people tend to talk about their teenage years and twenties as being great times in their lives. It definitely applies to things like musical tastes (people tend to form their tastes in early life then not deviate. Some people just don't listen to anything new at all, others do but they reach for stuff that is like their early favourites).
To the poster talking about the 1970s: they had general strikes, powercuts, massive unemployment and the like. The package holiday had not really come to be by that point and most didn't drive. Is that better than today?
I think if you ask, the majority of people tend to talk about their teenage years and twenties as being great times in their lives. It definitely applies to things like musical tastes (people tend to form their tastes in early life then not deviate. Some people just don't listen to anything new at all, others do but they reach for stuff that is like their early favourites).
To the poster talking about the 1970s: they had general strikes, powercuts, massive unemployment and the like. The package holiday had not really come to be by that point and most didn't drive. Is that better than today?
CraigyMc said:
It's really tricky to separate eras (particularly whole decades) from "I was young, and had effectively no responsibilities at the time so my life was simple".
I think if you ask, the majority of people tend to talk about their teenage years and twenties as being great times in their lives. It definitely applies to things like musical tastes (people tend to form their tastes in early life then not deviate. Some people just don't listen to anything new at all, others do but they reach for stuff that is like their early favourites).
To the poster talking about the 1970s: they had general strikes, powercuts, massive unemployment and the like. The package holiday had not really come to be by that point and most didn't drive. Is that better than today?
Objectively not better of course but in an odd way much better (at least to me). Those 'hardships' were simply ridden or ignored, there was a much greater sense of community, no hate filled social media, far, far less materialism and a greater focus on family life.I think if you ask, the majority of people tend to talk about their teenage years and twenties as being great times in their lives. It definitely applies to things like musical tastes (people tend to form their tastes in early life then not deviate. Some people just don't listen to anything new at all, others do but they reach for stuff that is like their early favourites).
To the poster talking about the 1970s: they had general strikes, powercuts, massive unemployment and the like. The package holiday had not really come to be by that point and most didn't drive. Is that better than today?
Until you have sat in the light of a candle made out of an old bog roll tube with the family of an evening, and helped dad make the fire in the morning you haven't lived.
Unquestionably a high water mark for rock and prog rock too!
Lotobear said:
CraigyMc said:
It's really tricky to separate eras (particularly whole decades) from "I was young, and had effectively no responsibilities at the time so my life was simple".
I think if you ask, the majority of people tend to talk about their teenage years and twenties as being great times in their lives. It definitely applies to things like musical tastes (people tend to form their tastes in early life then not deviate. Some people just don't listen to anything new at all, others do but they reach for stuff that is like their early favourites).
To the poster talking about the 1970s: they had general strikes, powercuts, massive unemployment and the like. The package holiday had not really come to be by that point and most didn't drive. Is that better than today?
Objectively not better of course but in an odd way much better (at least to me). Those 'hardships' were simply ridden or ignored, there was a much greater sense of community, no hate filled social media, far, far less materialism and a greater focus on family life.I think if you ask, the majority of people tend to talk about their teenage years and twenties as being great times in their lives. It definitely applies to things like musical tastes (people tend to form their tastes in early life then not deviate. Some people just don't listen to anything new at all, others do but they reach for stuff that is like their early favourites).
To the poster talking about the 1970s: they had general strikes, powercuts, massive unemployment and the like. The package holiday had not really come to be by that point and most didn't drive. Is that better than today?
Until you have sat in the light of a candle made out of an old bog roll tube with the family of an evening, and helped dad make the fire in the morning you haven't lived.
Unquestionably a high water mark for rock and prog rock too!
Lotobear said:
The answer will usually be the time you were young and care free.
I am often told that the 70's were simply dreadful but I loved them - the music, the parties, the first sexual experiences, the dope, the booze what was not to like? They may have been tough economic times but it never registered - no social media to enable people to hate each other anonymously, it was all good.
I loved the 80's (cars women, cars, booze, women, cars, rinse and repeat) too and bits of the 90's
No, they could do it face to face - National FrontI am often told that the 70's were simply dreadful but I loved them - the music, the parties, the first sexual experiences, the dope, the booze what was not to like? They may have been tough economic times but it never registered - no social media to enable people to hate each other anonymously, it was all good.
I loved the 80's (cars women, cars, booze, women, cars, rinse and repeat) too and bits of the 90's
Edited by Lotobear on Tuesday 13th December 10:17
CraigyMc said:
Now is the best time in my life.
A lot of people are on a downer because of being deluged with negative information, a huge proportion of which is inaccurate.
Democratising the internet for the masses has turned out to be a horrific large scale experiment.
I couldn't disagree more with the bold bit, the internet puts the whole knowledge of humanity at your fingertips, allows mass groups of people to communicate in an instant, allows knowledge of what is happening in all corners of the world to everyone. What do you suggest would be better, keeping the technology for the chosen few? Restricting access to chosen "fact checked" channels? Free, open, access to the internet should be treasured as much as freedom of speech, restrictions of both are always restrictions on humanity. Lies and deceit have always existed, you can't blame the internet for that, and the onus is on the individual to use their judgement, as always; in comparison to the recent past fact checking is a breeze nowadays.A lot of people are on a downer because of being deluged with negative information, a huge proportion of which is inaccurate.
Democratising the internet for the masses has turned out to be a horrific large scale experiment.
For me personally, this decade is the best it's ever been, but for a generation who saw the Berlin Wall fall, this year has been pretty devastating. The decade after it fell, in hindsight, was pretty good, but it's all a very hazy memory for me...
hiccy18 said:
CraigyMc said:
Now is the best time in my life.
A lot of people are on a downer because of being deluged with negative information, a huge proportion of which is inaccurate.
Democratising the internet for the masses has turned out to be a horrific large scale experiment.
I couldn't disagree more with the bold bit, the internet puts the whole knowledge of humanity at your fingertips, allows mass groups of people to communicate in an instant, allows knowledge of what is happening in all corners of the world to everyone. What do you suggest would be better, keeping the technology for the chosen few? Restricting access to chosen "fact checked" channels? Free, open, access to the internet should be treasured as much as freedom of speech, restrictions of both are always restrictions on humanity. Lies and deceit have always existed, you can't blame the internet for that, and the onus is on the individual to use their judgement, as always; in comparison to the recent past fact checking is a breeze nowadays.A lot of people are on a downer because of being deluged with negative information, a huge proportion of which is inaccurate.
Democratising the internet for the masses has turned out to be a horrific large scale experiment.
For me personally, this decade is the best it's ever been, but for a generation who saw the Berlin Wall fall, this year has been pretty devastating. The decade after it fell, in hindsight, was pretty good, but it's all a very hazy memory for me...
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