What one thing do you wish hadn't changed about society since you were a child?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
United States
August 14, 2012 8:55am CST
Didn't things seem easier and simpler when we were kids? We did things that didn't know would harm us, yet we ended up okay. We didn't have electronics and we actually played outside all day everyday. We had great TV shows that actually inspired us, as opposed to all of today's reality shows where desperate people go on TV to find love or shows that idolize children for getting pregnant, or idolize drunken idiots like Jersey Shore. We used the telephone to contact our friends instead of texting. We learned news straight from the source instead of on Facebook. We hung out at the mall or wherever, and were okay just doing nothing. Kids these days don't seem to know how to do nothing. They don't hang out with their friends. My teenage son hangs out with his friends online playing video games!
When I was a kid I don't think there were quite as many people "mooching" off the government. Working was admired and people were willing to work hard to get what they had. Marriage was expected and vows were upheld, and people took their time getting into relationships ensuring they chose the right partner instead of having kids then deciding they don't like the relationship and choose to be single.
I think today children aren't being raised with the same values as we had when we were younger, and our older generations had. Personally I'd like to bring a lot of those old values back. I want to bring back the value of hard work, because nothing comes easy. I want to bring back the value of family, because so many people are neglecting their spouses and children. I want to bring back the value of helpfullness and kindness and good deeds because it seems nobody wants to do anything for anyone but themselves these days.
What would you bring back?
3 people like this
9 responses
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
14 Aug 12
What a wonderful discussion....I also wish we could bring back the things that were mentioned....and one thing also I would add is bringing back people to religion...seems so many don't believe anymore....and it's not just believing in a certain entity....it that faith gives you hope...and there are so many hopeless people out there....just wandering through life looking for something the eludes them.
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
14 Aug 12
Agreed! When our forefathers said we could have the freedom to choose our own religion, I don't believe they meant that we were to completely rid religion from our lives and push to remove religion from schools etc. They would be horrified of the world that we've created.
1 person likes this
@CelticSoulSister (1640)
• Southend-On-Sea, England
14 Aug 12
There are hundreds of things I wish hadn't changed, but perhaps the overall no.1 issue for me would be that of poor/inadequate parenting skills which are producing kids who are little monsters (not their fault), then they grow into anti-social adults who don't give two hoots about anyone else or respect anything or anybody.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
14 Aug 12
I agree on this one also. I think it's more or less society allowing young women to bear children without a man around to help raise the child. Back in the day that young woman would be an outcast and be told to give the child up for adoption to a "family" that could love and raise the child. These days the young women, who haven't grown up themselves, are raising the child with no help. They may love the child but they aren't mentally, emotionally, or financially able to bear the burden that comes with raising children. Therefor the child is neglected emotionally, mentally, and often physically while the young, immature mother focuses on her own needs as she's not quite mature enough to put the child before herself.
Children also have no respect for adults like they used to, which is something else I'd like to bring back. I don't understand how children can talk back to adults or authority figures (probably learned at home by the neglectful parents). When I was a child I was terrified of getting in trouble and rarely spoke back to adults.. and I wasn't even hit or spanked, usually just scolded but that was enough to make me cautious of my actions.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
24 Aug 12
I believe your so right. And kids were healthier. Kids now days are hitting the obese Stage way to young.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
25 Aug 12
I admit 75% of that is true. But some parents rather have their kids at home safe from the outside world of bullies and predators. But they need to give their kids a more active lifestyle. I bought a Wii for that reason alone just to be more active but have fun doing it.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
24 Aug 12
That's because parents aren't using discipline or saying no to their children. The kid whines for snacks and the parents don't want to hear it whine so they give the kid snacks. Video games and TV have become babysitters so parents don't have to deal with the kids.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
15 Aug 12
Life seems to be a trade off. On one hand, we were able to play outside at night, but on the other hand, women, and people with physical challenges, as well as homosexuals and other "minorities" did not have the rights they do today.
Personally, I would not want to be an adult 30 years ago, because the lack of technology would make my life difficult. Being legally blind, and challenged when it comes to mobility, I would not have the opportunities I have today, were it not for computers, and the internet.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
15 Aug 12
I don't know if so much has changed with all the talk of making gay marriage illegal. When that first came up all I could think of was the gays' fight for equality back in the 80's. While growing up I knew a few gay couples, and one of those couples was very into the gay movement and paraded down the streets with paper bags over their heads because they wanted equality but were afraid to show their identity for fear of losing their jobs.
Other than that the 80's didn't seem so bad. Most minorities had equality except the gays.. but life just seemed simpler.
@toyota4k (1208)
• Philippines
14 Aug 12
I wish the days would come back when an applicant is hired for what he knows and not whom he knows in a bureaucracy. The world is modern and so is life style but what is outrageous is the fact that even justice has it's double standards as well as public service. You know what I mean and you might want to elaborate as we go on with the discussion...
1 person likes this
@nyssa102 (748)
• United States
14 Aug 12
I'm an adult student studying video games and can tell you first of all, that as a gamer, and a child that played outside all day, I see the value in both. I think if parents encourage imaginative play and gaming, no problem. The only thing I can think of that I would change is the way schools are run. We are losing our summer vacations for kids. That was an amazing time when we got to relax, play and dream about our futures. This new way of a week here and a week there, almost has kids turning into worker bees or worker robots. Everything is on a schedule. What is way more damaging to kids than gaming is when parents fill up the kids schedules with activities, so many that the child cannot even ever get to know themselves well. Gaming is cool, but filling their schedules up with stuff they might not even want to do, thus preventing them from exploring themselves is not good. Also, when kids grow up as gamers they are very brave people. I am an adult and go to college with younger kids and they grew up in the gaming culture. AWESOME! much better than I was at that age in handling relationships. Believe me, when you game, you had better be able to handle lots of people and their attitudes, especially online gaming. So, no to the Soccer Mom Mentality and Yes to Gaming. I know because I've seen both kids. Gamer kids are way more better adjusted than Soccer mom kids. I'm an adult in college, I see it. It never fails. Gamer kids are much more intelligent than kids forced into activities, and also better adjusted to society.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
14 Aug 12
I do not necessarily agree with parents who overwhelm their kids with activities either.. however there is an inbetween. My kids play one sport per season, which is usually one or two days a week. It's also by choice. When I get the sign up forms I ask if they want to do it. If they say yes then they've made a commitment and they must see it through even if they end up not liking it once they've started. But they do not have to sign up next season. They also have their video games etc.
However, I do not agree that video gaming can socialize children the way you think they can. I think it teaches them that fantasy and reality are the same thing and violence in real life is similar to violence in the game which is not true.
I'd much rather my children spend time with the kid who's involved in every activity than the kid who sits on his sofa and plays video games all day. At least the one in the activities has learned the value of team work, sportsmanship, and trying your best as opposed to the gamer who has learned to be competitive, win at all costs, and has not learned to share or communicate properly.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
15 Aug 12
Basically i agree w/everything u said. I would love fpr people to let children enjoy their childhood. It really is a short time u get to be a kid & enjoy kid things. U have a long time to be an adult if u are lucky. People need to think about something besides thenselves. Way too many self-centered people in this ol' world. Good discussion.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Aug 12
The thing that I would bring back from my childhood would be not having parents constantly worrying about the kids when they are outside playing. When I grew up, we were allowed to go around the block to play with our friends as long as we were home by dark. Today, the furthest that I will let my children go to play is to the end of our street because there are just too many threats of kidnapping and violence.
When I was little, it was rare to hear about a shooting where we live, now you will typically hear about it at least once a week.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
15 Aug 12
Just sharing the things I enjoyed most during my childhood which I think will not be experience by my kids now. I would say that I hope that my kids had experience the simple life that we had when we were kids. no gadgets, computers and internet. In my childhood, we used to play and swim along a river. Life is so simple that simply climbing tree and running errands in the field is worth enjoyment.
Now, that river is already polluted and swimming means sickness. The trees we used to climbed are now gone and replaced with houses. The field we used to run errands are now big factories which pollute our rivers.
These simple enjoyment is I think will never be experience by my kids.
