do you agree that life was better in the 60s 70s and 80s

@AbbeyRhode and respected the police, no woke bullshit

@SunshineGirl I think a couple of your comments are off the mark in terms of time period or factuality.

Lesbian sex has never been illegal in Britain.
English polio cases were close to zero by the early 60s (but following several peak outbreaks in the 40s and 50s).

I do recall parts of the late 60s and early 70s with fond nostalgia. The movement for 'peace & love' was in full flower. Uptight prudishness was being rooted out; I loved it. Didn't last long though.

As for the modern world - our nowadays - I deplore the fact that I can barely get along without a number of expensive technological devices controlled by huge monopolies, and that even if I had those they could quickly become obsolete & unusable. Yes, I think life was easier and less stressful 30-40 years ago. A lot easier. I really am glad that I won't have to live through much of what's coming next.

@Really I agree with you on parts of your last paragraph. Corporations have created technological dependency that many of us would probably be happier without. But I think on balance technology has made life easier and reduced drudgery.

I muddled the points about polio and homosexuality with my mother's memories of living in communist Poland (I was not around at the time in either country, so have to rely upon second hand testimony).

@SunshineGirl [quote]have to rely upon second hand testimony).[/quote]You wouldn't be alone in that, especially here on SW, where so little of the content merits the word 'testimony' :). You've been an adult for maybe 20 years? No fault of yours that some variety of hearsay is all you can go on before that.

When we talk of life having previously been easier/harder my own perspective is based on a much longer experience than yours and may therefor be quite different. (Difference X=X validity.) My 'back then' is not your 'back then'. It covers more changes in society and lifestyle.

If we generalize about whether 'things' were better then, we may not be talking about the same 'things' or the same 'then'. - Makes me think & wonder when would be the time I'd choose to go back to if I could. I know it would not be in this century. Which aspects of modern life would I reject, and which keep?

Oh, I'm rambling - sorry! But it's an interesting topic when it stays civil - thanks.

@Fertilization I grew up in the 1990s. The first third of the decade consisted of spinsters on bicycles going to church and we were all urged to "get back to basics". In the second third Tory MPs out-competed each other to shag anything that moved or kill themselves in bizarre w***ing accidents. Finally Tony Blair was sent to redeem us from our sins nd permit men to take their ties off at work on Fridays. It was all very perplexing for a girl starting out in life 🤷‍♀️

@Really In the 1960's in Australia if a female in Government employ and even some Private companies got married, she had to resign.

@Zeusdelight Yes there have been (still are?) employment prohibitions for married people in a number of fields and countries, maybe with varying degrees of rationality. History of the RCMP comes to mind. I don't know of a time & place though, where no married woman could choose to work.

@Really In that era, whist there may not have been a legislative prohibition for married women, there was a practical prohibition.

@Really oh wait, I was there in the ,80s hahaha

@Nebula Whose eighties are we talking about? :)

@Really the 1900s