When You Were Younger Would A Computer Be A Godsend?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
July 27, 2010 9:19am CST
This is directed at the over 40s like myself. I thought about the above question as Mum is off now due to the Summer Holidays being upon us. Six weeks of dull weather. THAT will never change!
Now, when I was a kid we used to play outside (shock, horror) as traffic wasn't a major problem and there weren't as many parked cars getting in the way of a football, as an example.
Trouble is, what do you do when it rains? I know. GO TO THE LIBRARY! It's true, me and my mate Sharon used to go to the Library when we were bored and pick up the latest books. Ironically, it's full of computers as well now but I remember having to be REALLY QUIET - especially if people were in reading newspapers and the like. Each time a book was stamped I think we were given about a fortnight to read it. Depending on the weather, the book was read way before then and I could go and pick another one.
Something else we used to do is ride our bikes to Derby Baths. We were about 10 or 11 and thoughts of perverts in the baths just didn't exist then. Unfortunately, despite Derby Baths being a listed building it got demolished because it was cheaper doing that than to do it up. As far as I know nothing has replaced it which is a shame because it was an Olympic-sized pool. The times we got there and there were Olympic Trials going on you wouldn't believe!!
The only time I would've liked to go on a computer was if I wanted some "me time" away from my irritating brother. No doubt I would've embraced Facebook and mobile phones but it's interesting what each generation of kids gets up to when they are off school.
Thinking about it; nah, I wouldn't have changed my childhood..maybe have nicer friends, but that's about it. How about you?
Something else we used to do is ride our bikes to Derby Baths. We were about 10 or 11 and thoughts of perverts in the baths just didn't exist then. Unfortunately, despite Derby Baths being a listed building it got demolished because it was cheaper doing that than to do it up. As far as I know nothing has replaced it which is a shame because it was an Olympic-sized pool. The times we got there and there were Olympic Trials going on you wouldn't believe!!
The only time I would've liked to go on a computer was if I wanted some "me time" away from my irritating brother. No doubt I would've embraced Facebook and mobile phones but it's interesting what each generation of kids gets up to when they are off school.
Thinking about it; nah, I wouldn't have changed my childhood..maybe have nicer friends, but that's about it. How about you?1 person likes this
8 responses
@puddinggirl (93)
• Philippines
27 Jul 10
I am not 40 yet but im in my 30's . Yes if i was younger computer would be Godsend. During my college years its so difficult and hard to type projects , assignments, term papers, case studies and most of all my thesis using the old typewriter. That when i got a mistake , i have to repeat typing the particular page all over again. But childhood game wise , I would never regret being able to play outdoors as kids playing outdoors with neighbors is seldom happening now. We have develop good relationship with the neighborhood and had found bestfriends for life. The memories of haing to enjoy life with out the techno modernization is worth telling a story to my kids and would be granschildren.
@puddinggirl (93)
• Philippines
28 Jul 10
Hi!.. it certainly did made me smile as i was reading most of the comments on this post of yours. I went to college with an Allied Medical Field course. Bachelors of science in Medical Technology to be exact, and as I realize schooling would have been so fun and easy if I had a computer back then . the comfort and accessibility of doing research on line, the chance of saving all my research work and assignments and the updated way of learning. As of these days i tried my best to make my kids play outdoors and as much as possible watch them when they are on the computer. Its amazing that they can learn to manipulate the thing in a split of a second where it took me to take classes before to even understand how this thing works. Well time now is really different...
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Jul 10
Hello and welcome to MyLot! That last comment made me smile as kids can't understand how we managed without computers. In fact, that comment you make about typing your assignments was an advance on me. I'm afraid it was pen power for me although I did have a typing exam in 1982 lol.
Thanks for your response.
Thanks for your response.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
31 Jul 10
eh..i can say it would have helped with homework.
we had a set of rather lacking encyclopedias.our library wasn't that great either.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
31 Jul 10
Yes, computers would've helped with out homework, you're quite right. I used to like writing stuff out though..everything would be printed out now, I would think.
@GardenGerty (157545)
• United States
27 Jul 10
I do not remember much playing or fun time. Never even went to the library. I did take lots of long walks. I might have been more socially isolated if I had a computer. I would not have had so many pen pals, that is for sure. I baby sat full time every summer from the time I was fourteen or fifteen as well as helping mom at home.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Jul 10
I used to write letters A LOT to friends and relatives. One letter would take up hours of my time. I wouldn't have the patience to do that now..far easier to type, unfortunately.
@derek_a (10874)
•
27 Jul 10
When we were kids even the TV was rubbish as there was nothing much to watch on rainy days. I usually went out anyway, because I was a keen horse rider and would take myself off to the local riding stables, and do jobs like mucking out etc. in exchange for free rides the next day. I loved riding so much, that I would often get a soaking in the rain and it wouldn't bother me.
We had never even heard of home computers as they were the stuff of science fiction films.
I later got to own a pony of my own and we kept him in a rented field nearby. I could keep him on the understanding that I would have to look after him and that meant rain, snow or shine I need to go up and check that he was OK and in the winter feed him.
No I wouldn't have changed my childhood for anything either. They were great days and I always had something that I was up to. 
_Derek
_Derek@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Jul 10
Wow, that must've been awesome having your own horse. I think the nearest I've got is a donkey..well riding one that is. Does that count?
I bet you like horse whisperers..we have one in Cumbria!
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
29 Jul 10
Rain? 
Seriously, I hardly remember rain growing up. It does rain in Los Angeles, just not a whole lot. It wasn't all that uncommon to have a day in the 70's in January.
Plus my mom had so many books, we pretty much had our own library anyway.
Seriously, I hardly remember rain growing up. It does rain in Los Angeles, just not a whole lot. It wasn't all that uncommon to have a day in the 70's in January.
Plus my mom had so many books, we pretty much had our own library anyway.@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Jul 10
Wow, no rain, how amazing! Don't talk to my Mum about books..she found a load in drawers underneath my Dad's bed and she's not stopped going on about them since (I used to be in a book club). She could've brought them with her and we could've taken them to charity shops in Carlisle tomorrow but she said "I can't be bothered!"
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
27 Jul 10
I am going to chip in as I am only a couple of years off of being a forty-something and can empaphise with feelings over youth. I remember those innocent times of playing in the streets, going on adventures in the woods all without fear of trouble. Actually the only fear was avoiding a gang of kids who went to a different school and that would result in nothing more than a quick fight, to me part of growing up.
Thing is at the age of 12 I bought my first computer and it didn't change a thing, other than emptying my piggy bank. I still went out and played with my mates, or watched "Why Don't You" if it is was too wet to go out. And I only really played about on the computer when my mates weren't around and let's be honest there was no internet back then and the most you could do was make a simple game using BASIC or play a game like space invaders or pong, none of this social networking bunkum.
I am glad that computers weren't as advanced or the internet was invented when I was a child as for me a big part of growing up is playing outside with your mates, getting up to harmless mischief and using your imagination to explore the outside whilst learning common sense from making mistakes.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Jul 10
Whoa, that was brilliant, love it! Thanks so much for your contribution..and it brought back memories of doing exactly that..well, not the girls fighting but the lads did outnumber us when playing football outside..or cricket...or badminton (without a net in the middle of the road) or tennis...you name it, we played it. I've noticed the kids now just shout to get their aggression out (probably from playing computer games for too long), ride their bikes far more aggressively than we ever did...and not a skateboard in sight.
How sad!
Thanks so much for your contribution..and it brought back memories of doing exactly that..well, not the girls fighting but the lads did outnumber us when playing football outside..or cricket...or badminton (without a net in the middle of the road) or tennis...you name it, we played it. I've noticed the kids now just shout to get their aggression out (probably from playing computer games for too long), ride their bikes far more aggressively than we ever did...and not a skateboard in sight.
How sad!
@hanagi (390)
• Philippines
27 Jul 10
Definitely, a computer will be a God send for me. Maybe if I have computer and internet in the past maybe, I was to do somethings very well. Maybe I would have excelled in my projects and assignments. Maybe I would now the hows and the not to do because of internet. Maybe I have earned a lot if I had a computer when I was young. I am a child who stayed at home when I was young. My parents would not allow me to go to other houses and play with friends or cousins. I guess a computer would do a lot for me.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Jul 10
I'm amazed at how computer-savvy kids are..even 5 year olds lol.
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
27 Jul 10
I don't think that I would like to have changed my childhood - one remarkably similar to yours by the way - for what today's kids have.
Although I think that perhaps my 14 year old son is lucky in where we live - since the school holidays started I have only seen him for very brief periods of time when he has come in to fill his stomach, apart from that he has been in the village playing football, helping some locals with their boats , cycling on the cycle path into Lancaster - he came in last night and informed me that he has got a part time job as pot boy in the local pub!!!
Going back to my youth a computer would have been wonderful for my homework !!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Jul 10
Yes, the dreaded homework or to give its abbreviated version HMWK lol. Wow, your 14 year old keeps himself busy..good for him!
