[rubicon]

Originally Posted by redwitch

Rubicon, I agree with some of what you said in Post 19, but not quite all. No question our kids and grandkids lose their innocence much too early. I do blame the media for that -- books, television, movies have all gotten much more graphic, both for violence and sex. I have met more than one girl under 16 who has told me she is a virgin, but the only thing she hasn't experienced is intercourse. That's just sad.

My daughter was raised to say please and thank you, yes ma'am/sir not so much (I hate being called ma'am -- it makes me feel ancient and I work for a living tyvm). My grandson is yes sir/ma'am on a regular basis. He is not a bully nor subjected to bullying as much as I or my daughter was. The kids today are more willing to include the children that are different. Skin color really doesn't matter to them. Ability counts more than socio/economic background to these kids.

As to women working in your town -- what were their positions? Teachers? Nurses? Babysitters? Shop clerks? Secretaries? Any that owned a business not female related? A surgeon? Police officer (not meter maid)? Mayor? Working for pin money doesn't count.

How did you miss out having to see Reefer Madness in school? Funniest dang movie I was ever forced to watch. Marijuana was around in the fifties. So was heroin, cocaine, anti-depressants, speed. Most of us kids were too young and innocent to see it, but it was there. The punks existed in our schools. They were just as violent towards teachers as today's punks. Only difference is they didn't carry guns. And, back then, they were kicked out of school -- while education was free, it was more of a privilege than a right back then.

Personally, I'm grateful whistling has gone to the wayside. To me, it is noise pollution.

The main difference back then is that everyone was truly more innocent. Kids were still molested, killed, kidnapped. Women were raped and beaten. Beat cops were known for swinging their batons both on the street and in the station. It all happened, we just didn't know about it. There was no way to know. Newspapers carried little international, national news -- just the most important events. The paper was much like the Daily Sun -- feel good rags. Television was just beginning to make a dent. So, radio was the big news carrier and it rarely cared about social issues -- that took Vietnam, civil rights and women's lib to bring those items into the forefront. Today, thanks to Amber Alerts, we know a child is missing minutes after it occurs. Thanks to the internet, we know when a victim is beaten or murdered by a cop. We know who has slept with whom, when, how many and sometimes even what positions they used. Everything is out there. But the events happened in the fifties just as they do today. Father Knows Best, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver were lovely fantasies but had little to do with reality unless you were a child.

Redwitch: When I started this thread I acknowledged that the 1950's had its share of problems . It is also apparent that a person's recollection of the 1950's is unique to each.

"Girls like boys." Boys like sex" is a theme that runs back to the beginning of time. what I recall about those days is a predominate "kiss and don't tell code. what I recall is how when a guy pulled a dirty trick on a girl or soiled her name he was admonished by all. What I recall was that indeed the chase was long and arduous and many a girl responded with but you won't respect me in the morning. I began dating my wife as a freshman in high school. We made a commitment to celibacy not because we were catholic but because we did not want it to interfere and confuse our feelings for one another. we sat on her porch many a night and planned out our marital lives . We honored our commitment

We were to my knowledge absent of drugs in our high school. As a 17 year old in the navy was aware of the availability of drugs: to wit one guy from NYC lay in his bunk nightly injecting himself with heroin. Not to my liking. Was married in the service returned home worked went to college nights and so we missed the late 1960's-70's dropping out .........

But all of this discussion misses the intent of the thread. its not only fond memories of years passed its ignoring the ugliness of today's world.

why is it today, an entire movie is shot around one pornographic scene? I miss seeing a man and woman become engaged on a beach and then a break away to waves washing ashore on the beach. Voyeurism was never my strong suite. I deplore the drug cultural because I witnessed what devastating
affect it has on people.................

Personal Best Regards:

[John_W]

Actually I preferred the 1970's. It seemed everything just fell to me without really trying. Today you pretty much need a college degree to get interviewed for any decent job, much less get hired. In the 1970's I was on my own after 1968 and everything I touched seemed to work out and go in my favor.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by rubicon

Redwitch: When I started this thread I acknowledged that the 1950's had its share of problems . It is also apparent that a person's recollection of the 1950's is unique to each.

"Girls like boys." Boys like sex" is a theme that runs back to the beginning of time. what I recall about those days is a predominate "kiss and don't tell code. what I recall is how when a guy pulled a dirty trick on a girl or soiled her name he was admonished by all. What I recall was that indeed the chase was long and arduous and many a girl responded with but you won't respect me in the morning. I began dating my wife as a freshman in high school. We made a commitment to celibacy not because we were catholic but because we did not want it to interfere and confuse our feelings for one another. we sat on her porch many a night and planned out our marital lives . We honored our commitment

We were to my knowledge absent of drugs in our high school. As a 17 year old in the navy was aware of the availability of drugs: to wit one guy from NYC lay in his bunk nightly injecting himself with heroin. Not to my liking. Was married in the service returned home worked went to college nights and so we missed the late 1960's-70's dropping out .........

But all of this discussion misses the intent of the thread. its not only fond memories of years passed its ignoring the ugliness of today's world.

why is it today, an entire movie is shot around one pornographic scene? I miss seeing a man and woman become engaged on a beach and then a break away to waves washing ashore on the beach. Voyeurism was never my strong suite. I deplore the drug cultural because I witnessed what devastating
affect it has on people.................

Personal Best Regards:

I had similar experiences.

On another subject, there was no overt homosexuality at school, although two of my closest friends were in fact homosexuals. One of them continues to be a good friend with whom I am in frequent contact to the present.

Our political differences are so severe that we do not debate them. Our friendship survives.

[Fredster]

Originally Posted by Fredman

In the 50’s we were taught respect and the value of hard work. We weren’t entitled and we didn’t get participation trophy’s.

All kids, that got this guidance tended to do well in life!

[villagerjack]

[QUOTE=redwitch;1451587]I remember the fifties a lot differently -- it was a time of great fear because of the A-bomb. Women rarely worked outside of the home and, if they did, it was usually in a subservient role. Even professional women were pushed into the lesser roles (attorneys for estate planning, trusts, family law; physicians were ob-gyns) most of the time. It was okay for a male to have pre-marital sex and extra-curricular marital affairs were to be bragged about. A female was shamed. Minorities were kept in their place, separate but equal was the way of life, lynchings were common. It was acceptable to beat your wife so long as the stick was no bigger than the width of your thumb. Not only could parents spank their children, so could your neighbor or the principal and some of those spankings were flat out beatings. Sexual abuse was common and the girl was nearly always at fault, even if only ten. Miscegenation was a crime. So was homosexuality. And so on and so forth. The fifties were a time of violence, fear, cruelty and bigotry.

A lot of the values such as hard work, honesty, respect, trust are still prevalent today. Yes, the language is rougher today, chivalry towards females is gone, some of the niceties have disappeared. Even so, I'll take today's world. It's a lot more honest and, in many ways, kinder.[/QUOTE

Where the heck did you live?

[xNYer]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

On another subject, there was no overt homosexuality at school, although two of my closest friends were in fact homosexuals.

.

Does no overt homosexuality mean they had to hide who they were for fear of being ridiculed or ostracized? Is that a positive characteristic of the 1950's?

[Taltarzac725]

There was not much in the way of crime victim rights in the 1950s and from my readings religious organizations seemed to be the only ones really offering some kind of support system for them and sometimes these would be within organizations that had people creating more victims. The Catholic Church for instance.

The History of Crime Victims' Rights In America - Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center

Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by xNYer

Does no overt homosexuality mean they had to hide who they were for fear of being ridiculed or ostracized? Is that a positive characteristic of the 1950's?

Well, try not to stumble over being ridiculous. No one said it was a positive feature of the 1950s.

The positive feature is that we were, and are, friends to this day.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

Well, try not to stumble over being ridiculous. No one said it was a positive feature of the 1950s.

The positive feature is that we were, and are, friends to this day.

I have met some really nice lesbian couples in the Villages and worked with gays in the San Francisco Bay area and also in the Twin Cities region in Minnesota. They just seem like ordinary people who are attracted sexually to members of the same sex. No big deal really unless you become the target of these advances. Then you find out what women deal with every day from some men.

[HimandMe]

Originally Posted by rubicon

Redwitch: When I started this thread I acknowledged that the 1950's had its share of problems . It is also apparent that a person's recollection of the 1950's is unique to each.

"Girls like boys." Boys like sex" is a theme that runs back to the beginning of time. what I recall about those days is a predominate "kiss and don't tell code. what I recall is how when a guy pulled a dirty trick on a girl or soiled her name he was admonished by all. What I recall was that indeed the chase was long and arduous and many a girl responded with but you won't respect me in the morning. I began dating my wife as a freshman in high school. We made a commitment to celibacy not because we were catholic but because we did not want it to interfere and confuse our feelings for one another. we sat on her porch many a night and planned out our marital lives . We honored our commitment

We were to my knowledge absent of drugs in our high school. As a 17 year old in the navy was aware of the availability of drugs: to wit one guy from NYC lay in his bunk nightly injecting himself with heroin. Not to my liking. Was married in the service returned home worked went to college nights and so we missed the late 1960's-70's dropping out .........

But all of this discussion misses the intent of the thread. its not only fond memories of years passed its ignoring the ugliness of today's world.

why is it today, an entire movie is shot around one pornographic scene? I miss seeing a man and woman become engaged on a beach and then a break away to waves washing ashore on the beach. Voyeurism was never my strong suite. I deplore the drug cultural because I witnessed what devastating
affect it has on people.................

Personal Best Regards:

Re your last paragraph,

I think it is romance we are missing in many movies, replaced by instant attraction and lust. Romance is about love, longing, holding onto every beloveds word, slowing getting to know one another. Yes, it may be love s trance, but Wonderful. In the 50s, we would spend hours on the phone, walk miles, linger with the memory of a touch on the cheek. It's still alive of course but lessened, especially in the media. I'd hate it if my kids missed knowing the beauty of romance.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by HimandMe

Re your last paragraph,

I think it is romance we are missing in many movies, replaced by instant attraction and lust. Romance is about love, longing, holding onto every beloveds word, slowing getting to know one another. Yes, it may be love s trance, but Wonderful. In the 50s, we would spend hours on the phone, walk miles, linger with the memory of a touch on the cheek. It's still alive of course but lessened, especially in the media. I'd hate it if my kids missed knowing the beauty of romance.

Himand Me

I have often had this conversation with my wife. We comment on how sad it is that the movie industry long ago lost its ability to convey a true romance story

Look at today's versions and courtships are nonexistent because well its a hook up one nighter and they portray it as so kool. Kids have sex today as if it were like shaking hands. What effect to you believe this practice has on a person's long term emotional state? On relationships?

My mother admonished her boys to never swear in front of ladies. Listen to today's females and they put most men to shame. to this day I refrain from swearing (period) If someone or something disturbs me the word might enter my brain but it will never leave my lips

Personal Best Regards:

[drstevens]

I agree with the premise: "I Miss 1950's Traditional Values" We had the best music, the best movies, the best comedians, the best entertainers, the best schools, and the best culture! I grew up in the slums of Chicago, as an orphan, and I wouldn't trade those years for any other. I lived in the best of times. Amen!

[manaboutown]

I certainly felt safe (and was) as a child during the '50's, riding my bike all over town. Few communities offer that degree of safety anymore.

[Fredster]

I attended grammar school and high school in the 50's,
and when I look back I only knew one kid who's parents were divorced.
His name was Butch and on one hand I envied him, because he seemed to be able
to do whatever he wanted (his mom worked)
but I also felt sorry for him because it seemed
that most of the time the neighborhood streets were his home!
I guess my point is that divorce and disolution of the family unit were not as common as today!
Good parenting by both parents is really important...IMHO!
Just sharing my personal experience!

[Aloha1]

I recall waking up the morning after the 1956 Presidential Election and feeling all was right with the world because Ike had won. I grew up in Detroit and my best friend until age 6 was black. I slept over at his house and he at mine. Never thought twice about it. Getting a cowboy outfit and a cap shooting "six gun" was the BEST gift ever. Staying out late in the summer playing Cowboys and Indians, switching sides frequently without a politically correct thought in our heads. Drive in movies; my Mom taking us to see Imitation of Life in 1959 - a story about prejudice she thought was important for us to see. My Dad, a Teamster Cartage owner( truck driver) hiring the first colored man at his shop and being shunned by his "Union". I was taught nobody owed me anything and that my success in life was solely dependent on me. Were the 50's perfect? Of course not but they were a time when we were brought up with values and respect for others. Some things sadly lacking today and the lack of which is a root cause of the discord we see now. And heck, who could not like the 50's "music of love" where there were actually words you could understand and a theme unlike today. Do I miss the 50's? Sure, but I love the 2010's tech that has raised the standard of living for all Americans. If we can only realize that our social programs have done more harm than good, the 2020's could be the next 50's.