Was My Life Better Back Then? Why We Escape to the Past

Growing up in the 50’s (somethings were better) (I was born in 1949 and lived in Fort Wayne):

• Neighborhoods were safe.
• I could ride my little 20” bike anywhere
• I could get on and ride a municipal bus alone
• Mom didn’t work … was always home
• We had everything we needed

[Joeb]

The racism was the downside of the 1950s.

You’re absolutely right on that.

I think this story was from the early 60’s in Cincinnati. There was a year end school activity (maybe when I was in the 5th or 6th grade). It was at a pool. No blacks allowed! We had one or two blacks in class and they were not permitted to attend. I was confused by it at the time.

The “n-word” was often heard. We referred to Brazil nuts via slang term.

Higher education was much less … it was hard to borrow for college.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/college-tuition-inflation/

There’s no question that compared to previous generations, colleges are charging today’s students more for higher education. Between 1980 and 2020, the average price of tuition, fees, and room and board for an undergraduate degree increased 169%,

At least in my own personal experience, it’s a certain amount of age that makes you think about former days. Up through my 20’s, I didn’t spend much time thinking about things being better in the past. The older I get, the more it seems I have such thoughts. Looking back, similar to Jim, my childhood and teens (60’s-70’s rather than 50’s-60’s) seem much more idyllic to me than living in today’s world. Of course, I also had a child’s perspective then, and didn’t see a lot of the ugliness one sees as an adult.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 tells us: ‘Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.’ This verse has been particularly helpful for me when my thoughts want to dwell on the past, especially when some things were better in many ways then. I have to remember that that’s not what God has for me now.

I had no bills

i got summer holidays (and in central Alberta could stay out late because it was light until about 10 pm)

[Jim]

The “n-word” was often heard. We referred to Brazil nuts via slang term.

Things that are better (over 50 years ago):

• Healthcare and medicine much improved. People are surviving cancer. One can survive HIV. Covid vaccines (too soon?)
• Wealth has increased dramatically
• Technology - massive advances
• IFB has improved b/c congregants are better informed.
  • KJVOnlism on the decline
  • While there are less schools, the survivors are stronger.
  • BJU is a much better school (I suppose debatable)

[Joeb]

Housing has become to expensive and out of reach for most young middle class families. There is a few areas that buck that trend but there are no jobs. Cheaper housing usually means less opportunities.

To a degree yes. But in the last 3 years (including this weekend), every single wedding we have gone to, the couples had already purchased a house for themselves to move into. When I got married in the early ‘90’s my wife and I could barely afford the $300 rent for our place in Greenville. I have seen the numbers in the housing market, but I am blown away that all of these kids can afford a house before they even got married (these are not young professionals, these are college graduates with sometimes only one having a job).

It seems pretty clear to me that young adults today are more wealthy than young adults in my day. By the standards of today, we were really poor when we got married, but we didn’t know it, because most of our friends were also poor. In other words, we were poor in comparison to today’s young adults, but not in comparison with our contemporary friends. No question in my mind that the general level of wealth has increased significantly over the past fifty years.