Generations

[Steve]

How do you feel you and your generation is doing compared to your father's generation or your grandfathers? Better, same or worse?

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[picframer]

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Originally Posted by Steve How do you feel you and your generation is doing compared to your father's generation or your grandfathers? Better, same or worse? In what way, finances, new technology, quality of life etc.

[swstout]

Originally Posted by Steve

How do you feel you and your generation is doing compared to your father's generation or your grandfathers?

Better, same or worse?

I'm 60 so my father's generation was 60 years ago and I was just born.
Home entertainment was a radio the size of an oven
A brand new Model T cost $500.00
There was no minimum age
There was no TV
Houses sold for under $1,000.00
They had very small and few closets. No need - Work cloths and schools cloths only
Political Correctness was the measure of a politicians integrity

My generation was 40 years ago and I was 20 then
The legal drinking age was 18 and the vote age was 21!
Gas was $0.20 a gallon
The minimum wage was $2.00
There was a mandatory draft
A high School passing grade was 75
Schools ran the students
Music stations on the radio were on AM
Talk Shows on the radio were on FM
A calculator was a slide rule
Cable TV was just starting
Most homes didn't even have locks on the doors
Doctors made house calls
There was 1 lawyer for every 1,000 people
Nuclear power was new and touted as too cheap to meter
A microwave oven cost $800.00
Political correctness was good citizenship

My kids generation
High School passing grade was 55 in NY
Teachers have no control over the students
1 lawyer for every 20 people
Common sense has been replaced with warning labels
Political correctness became "watch what you say or you'll be sued"
This generation
1 lawyer for every 35 people
Gas - you have to check your prices daily
No more citizen rights - just politician rights.
This generation baffles me

How do I feel the generations compare? Bring back the good old days!

Steve

[majoe7]

Steve, (Stout)

That was great.

I believe my Pops generation way the hardest. He would be 80 this year. He was born during the depression (1929) orphaned, many different boarding schools, went into the Army, served in the Korean War, POW for 2 1/2 years, then can home to be “the Man”. He married my Mom and had 6 children, one passed on as an infant. He never gave up and always gave it his best. Not to brag, but I will. My parents were very well like in our community and always gave back. They always prevailed and had a strong belief in their Catholic faith.

We all turned out alright. The lesson he always told us was, to always do our best, strive for more, don't lie and be respectful to others. I instill those thoughts to my children all the time. My parents were a big part of my kid’s life and very well loved by them.

I'm 43 and my generation has everything. All you have to do is to have the drive to succeed and belief in yourself. Everything that myself or my family has is due to hard work and dedication. Our faith is always first. It is easy for my generation to survive because we have so many opportunities available to us. Like I said before in an other post, If you want more work more, can’t afford it don’t buy it, live with in your means.

The next generation will have to have a better work ethic and learn to pick themselves up after they had failed or not succeeded at something. We need to bring back some old style of doing things or discipline so this generation my young kids are in understand the value of respect. They need to make a difference for us, them and the next generation coming up.

Sincerely,

John

[turfmaster]

I am 48 and I echo the last 2 posts. My son's are 22 and 20. My opinion is they will not have it as good as I have had it. I say that for many reasons. Work ethic, the direction our country has gone into, global economy, big government,
loss of good jobs just to name a few. I hope I am wrong.

TURF

[Steve]

In what way, finances, new technology, quality of life etc.

Well, ultimately all of that.

[swstout]

Originally Posted by turfmaster

I say that for many reasons. Work ethic, the direction our country has gone into, global economy, big government,
loss of good jobs just to name a few. I hope I am wrong.

TURF

I also hope you're not wrong. I'm not conderned about the global economy; I'm concerned about the US economy! I am concerned about big government. The bigger it gets the less rights we have. The greater the threat of inflation, the certainty of higher taxes, the run away entitlements that just keep growing and expanding. Manufacturing jobs are either being sent outside the US because of regulations and cost of doing business (regulations, legal costs, liability costs (unreasable limits), and taxes or behind in technology and quality. Our education system is so far behind the rest of the industrial nations, it's a joke. My youngest daughter when she was in the 10th grade went on an exchange program to Japan and was placed in the 3rd grade there. That's how far she was in math and science! Passing grade in Japan high schools is 85 and that is concidered a disgrace. High school is to the 10th grade there and their graduates have more science and math than our BS degrees here.

I'm ranting again.

Steve

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Steve

Well, ultimately all of that.

I am 47, I think my generation is a lot better off financially, quality of life can be what you make it, I am very thankful to have just over 4 acres 15 min outside the city, I could not stand having my neighbours house within arms reach of mine.

When I grew up we bought our first TV when I was about 9, I watched it once in the while but not often, it is still rare that I watch TV, being outside to me was and still is a lot more fun and in some respects I feel like I am reliving my youth, difference is I have the resources to buy the tools and equipment I need and want and wisdom, started my first business when I was 12.

Technology today is simply amazing, I am glad to be the age I am to have seen a major shift in technology, I worked at the bank in 1982 when we installed our first computer, I worked in what they called systems for three years, basically IT and training people, that was a blast.

I like simple things, I am somewhat a collector of woodworking tools and tools for the yard care company, love tractors and now have 5, I take a trip to the Mayan Rivera every Feb with my daughter who is now 16, other than that I live a pretty simple life and want to keep it that way, when things get too complicated I make changes to shift it back.

Andy

[musician/lawnman]

I am 32, I believe Most of the people in my generation (& the generation right behind us ) Lack focus, drive, responsibility, & common sense. I totally agree the school system has failed, Kids are out of control, Political correctness makes people weak. Life is tough, people say & do mean things, it's not always "nice". Kids are sheltered & overprotected. Then enter the real world with a warped sense of reality and a sense of entitlement. I believe parents should be able to hit (not beat the hell out of) but hit their kids when they get out of line. As a child If I acted up, talked back, or stepped out of line I got the belt as a younger child, & as a teen I got smacked, or worse. I learned there are consequences for what you do. I learned to respect my elders.
Today 5th graders tell the teachers off swearing & all, I know of a case that this kid did so, was called to the principals office & did the same to the principal, parents were called in & the kid said to his parent, teacher, & principal.... " None of you can do "sh*t about it, I'll do what I want, & dad if you hit me I'll just call the cops!" That kid needs his *** kicked in.

Many friends of mine lack any common sense whatsoever. Book smart, yeah but dumb as a brick. Many have no ambition to do anything. It's like the empathy generation. Also they lack any competitiveness at all?

What's this crap that every kid who tries out for the team makes it?
Every kid on the team gets a minimum number of plays on the field per game?
I kid you not, these are rules in the pop warner youth football league.
Life isn't fair, kids should still be taught that from a young age. If you suck more than other kids your age, then go home, practice & come back next year. Try again. That's how life is right? Not everybody who applies for a job gets it? Not everyone gets equal pay? or # of hours? The best guy is hired & put in the position. So should it be in youth sports, right up through highschool. Currently this doesn't come into effect until college sports.
I'm done ranting for now.

[musician/lawnman]

Wow, I figured my last post on this topic would have incited a riot or something....
Nobody has anything else to say after that? Two days & nada word huh?