why do people think things are the same?

It's the dumbing down of society - everyone is afraid of everything often for no reason at all.

Read The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things by Barry Glassner

You know, my mom and dad grew up in the 50s, and their stories don't make it sound like this great golden age to me. Sure, we got problems, but from what they tell me most of this "Father Knows Best" and "Leave it to Beaver" stuff only happened on TV. Your scenarios don't sound accurate to me.

This kinda goes along with something I noticed a while back. I'm gonna be 30 this year. I am starting to hear people my own age complain about kids, their attitudes, the horrible stuff, the crime, and how none of this was true when they were a kid. The thing is, I remember kids being just as bratty, crime be as bad or worse, and the music being even more risque in some cases. And when I was in the Army, my fellow Sergeants would moan about how standards were slipping in basic training, when you could hold up training schedules from the two periods and see that it actually got longer and more relevant.

My point? I think as people get older, they have a tendancy to idolize the past, and assume that "now" is the worst time ever. They remember the good, and forget most of the bad. I'll bet there is a psychological term for this.

#1: Columbine didn't happen in th 50's.

#2: Johnny & Mark need to learn the laws of the land.

#3: Medicine has advanced a lot since 1956.

#4: Really reaching, aren't you?

#5: What's the "medicine" called. You don't get arrested for Advil.

#6: Again, reaching. P.P. keeps files confidential.

#7: So much for your first line about not getting into politics.

#8: Again, reaching. Johnny shouldn't play w/ bombs.

#9: Maybe Mary is a predator. Are you advocating that adult-child relationships were OK in the 50's?

That's priceless! You win the prize for best question of the day, my friend!

BTW, when did bullying become the worst thing in the history of mankind? Don't misunderstand, I'm not condoning it...simply saying we were all bullied in school and turned out just fine. Are today's kids somehow less able to bounce back than we were? Just get up, pop the bully in the head, and he'll stop. We learned that lesson, why can't today's kids?

EDIT: Cassandra, what planet are you from?

this is way past politics ,,this deals with ethics,character,pride,responsibility

Truth Justice and the American way

I am not a good writer but I know exactly what you are saying,,,where did it go,,,what happened,,,is there even the slightest chance to get it back,,,do you have the answer

lie to me and tell me yes

A huge part of the problem is that as more and more Americans farm out the raising of their precious children at younger and younger ages, they are hysterical about all the dangers they are exposing them to emotionally. Rather than face this, they try to hyper control the environment. And yes, sorry, it's the law and order knee jerk republicans who've brought us both the drug war hysteria and the homeland security hysteria.

Some of your scenarios are not only exxagerated, but lies. No child has ever been put into foster care because daddy spanked him for doing wrong. It is very difficult to get kids helped through CPS, despite the propaganda from unimaginative brutes who want to spank their kids rather than learn to parent. Kids have to be horribly bruised, bloodied, hospitalized or more for CPS to intervene and put the child in foster care.

The bit about school and graduation is a pathetic and bitterly sad lie, as majorities of minority students continue to drop out before graduation. I know, I know, things were better in the days when my grandma dropped out of school in 3rd grade because she was still trying to learn english after speaking polish at home.

You could also have posited how in the 50s the govt encouraged kids to learn math and science and today we have a president who encourages charlatans who teach kids the earth is 6000 years old.

Bullying was not okay, tho tolerated. The psychological scarring from bullying is real and is significant. I know, boo hoo hoo. Bullies would say that.

Or you have posit how in the 50s black man looks at white woman, gets lynched and how in this century, things are safer and saner.

My Dad age 69, and myself age 47 will often shake our heads at the way things are today and say "This is not the country I was born in to and thank God we will both be dead before it gets totally intolerable!"

I have never heard people say things are the same. The world is different now and there are more people and more problems.

You don't want to get into politics, but it's the politicians who change the laws to meet the needs of society.

Sigh!...I miss the good old days! Life was simpler and saner.

Of course things have changed. The world has changed.