BogMonster Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Can't remember if this has been posted or not but still worth a read, found it while looking through some old email from a year or so back According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 60's, 70's and early 80's probably shouldn't have survived, because our baby cots were covered with brightly coloured lead-based paint which was promptly chewed and licked. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, or latches on doors or cabinets and it was fine to play with pans. When we rode our bikes, we wore no helmets, just flip-flops and fluorescent 'spokey dokey's' on our wheels. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or airbags - riding in the passenger seat was a treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle and it tasted the same. We ate chips, bread and butter pudding and drank fizzy juice with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one drink with four friends, from one bottle or can and no-one actually died from this. We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then went top speed down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into stinging nettles a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We would leave home in the morning and could play all day, as long as we were back before it got dark. No one was able to reach us and no one minded. We did not have Play stations or X-Boxes, no video games at all. No 99 channels on TV, no videotape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no DVDs, no Internet chat rooms. We had friends - we went outside and found them. We played elastics and rounders, and sometimes that ball really hurt! We fell out of trees, got cut, and broke bones but there were no law suits. We had full on fist fights but no prosecution followed from other parents. We played knock-and-bolt and were actually afraid of the owners catching us. We walked to friends' homes. We also, believe it or not, WALKED to school; we didn't rely on mum or dad to drive us to school, which was just round the corner. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls. We rode bikes in packs of 7 and wore our coats by only the hood. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of...They actually sided with the law. This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. And you're one of them. Congratulations! Pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow as real kids, before lawyers and government regulated our lives, for our own good. For those of you who aren't old enough, thought you might like to read about us. This my friends, is surprisingly frightening......and it might put a smile on your face: Uptown Girl they know is by Westlife not Billy Joel. They have never heard of Rick Astley, Bananarama, Nena Cherry or Belinda Carlisle. For them, there has always been only one Germany and one Vietnam. AIDS has existed since they were born. CD's have existed since they were born. Michael Jackson has always been white. To them John Travolta has always been round in shape and they can't imagine how this fat guy could be a god of dance. They believe that Charlie's Angels and Mission Impossible are films from last year. They can never imagine life before computers. They'll never have pretended to be the A Team, RedHand Gang or the Famous Five. They'll never have applied to be on Jim'll Fix It or Why Don't You. They can't believe a black and white television ever existed. And they will never understand how we could leave the house without a mobile phone. Now let's check if we're getting old... 1. You understand what was written above and you smile. 2. You need to sleep more, usually until the next afternoon, after a night out. 3. Your friends are getting married/already married. 4. You are always surprised to see small children playing comfortably with computers. 5. When you see teenagers with mobile phones, you shake your head. 6. You remember watching Dirty Den in EastEnders the first time around. 7. You meet your friends from time to time, talking about the good Old days, repeating again all the funny things you have experienced together. 8. Having read this mail, you are thinking of forwarding it to some one in particular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciderman Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Thats nice , I like that. Did anyone see the program on BBC2 tother night about Swap Shop, oh boy that took me back even though I was a Tizwas fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twizzle Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Thats nice , I like that. Did anyone see the program on BBC2 tother night about Swap Shop, oh boy that took me back even though I was a Tizwas fan. what about saturday banana an HOW?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOA 93 Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Yeah, that's spot on I was only walked to school on my first day I was given a front door key around my neck and walked/ran home with friends got changed and straight back out again. According to the Police children are at no more risk now than they were 30 or 40 years ago, its media hype and frenzy that's got us into this state. We were afraid of the Police and adults in general, if you got caught you new you were in big trouble. After Tea it was up the playing field for a game of football, 20 to 30 lads of all ages playing one football game, every week night, if light enough. Rolled up jumpers for goal posts............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 You're such a grumpy old fart you know Stephen Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Good find Stephen. lots of memories in it for us old boys, the Swap Shop prog was great fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted December 30, 2006 Author Share Posted December 30, 2006 You're such a grumpy old fart you know Stephen Les. Les, three words Pot Kettle Black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siearl Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Its good to hear that i was not the only one made to wear there back door key around there neck on a bit string, so i didnt lose it. think i might go for a nap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MJG Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Thats good, I,m old and and that is a really good post. Just watched ET on ITV2 first shown when I was about 23.... god how the years fly by...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 god i feel old reafing that & not 30 for 14days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siearl Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Have to admit i have watched that classic Ghostbusters 1-3 on sky recnelty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 I don't remember any of it, I'm too young (he said, tongue firmly in cheek) Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Ah Yes...Nostalgia... Its not what it was you know........ I'll get me coat Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Smith Posted December 31, 2006 Share Posted December 31, 2006 When I watch Grumpy old Men I agree with them. So what does that mean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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