I had being a teen in the 21st century... I wish I could've been a teen in the 1970's?

You could do all the things you want to. Smoking weed? Go to Colorado. Concerts? Some are easy to sneak into, and some are cheap depending on what you want to see. Ditch school? ... Eh.. I suggest just being home schooled if you don't care for education.

Okay I need you to understand something. You're complaining about how everything is about race and politics now, but it has always been about race and politics. President Kennedy was a big deal. New desegregated schools were a big thing. The 1970s was a time of rebellion because the government would suppress basic American rights like the freedom of speech, and other things like abortion rights and stuff. Do you really want to be deprived of those rights, then risk your life fighting for those rights? Ever heard of the anti-war protest in Kent State? A few lost their lives because of their protesting.

And just like rick29148 said, do you want to get drafted into the war?

The 1970s were just perfect, even though you think it was. It was a time full of flaws and imperfections like the 2010s. If you want to smoke weed, watch drive-in movies, go to rock/indie concerts, then go do it! There's so many opportunities to do all that stuff. You just have to look around. California and Texas is known to have all that sort of stuff.

I was a teen in the 1970's. We were nostalgic for earlier times too. And, it wasn't all good. Racism still existed much more than now, and sexism was still rampant too. Kids actually listened to their parents! I called my dad "sir," and meant it. Teachers to. They would spank us as well, even in high school. Your rebellion idea was MUCH smaller than you think it was. Smaller even than today. Much of what you mentioned was actually from the late 60's, and no longer popular in the 70's. I never smoked weed - people were jailed then, big time for it. I did make out at drive in theatres though! There were still a few around, but, most were already closed. The sound quality totally sucked in them. Computers were almost non-existent. I bought my first one in 1979, for $2000 - with 16kb of RAM memory, and a tape recorder to record programs. As I only made around $700 a month at the time, this was a huge cost. I didn't have a colour TV until 1980. No portable music players then either. So, life wasn't as rosy as you might think.

I think the nilism of punk towards the end of the 70s shows that teens grew tired of self indulgent prog rock. Don't forget disco and funk were also big in the 70s, as was country music and the Osmonds/ Bay City Rollers. My cousin was a teen in the 70s and he struggled with unemployment initially.

Yeah, Vietnam, 3 channels on TV, no Playstation or XBOX and no internet. It was pretty awesome!! You have 70's music you can listen to right now. So why moan and complain about how bad today's music is when all you have to do is listen to 70's music instead if that's what you enjoy.

I was there and it was a great time. Don't let others set your destination. Pick your road and be your own person. What decade it is doesn't matter. Make a difference.

well, if you were teen in the 70s you'd wish to be another year. it's not that it fits your personality - your personality fits it.

Ugh. Another 14 year old calling him/herself a "teen".

For the last frigging time, 14-15 year olds are PRE-teens. 16 is when your teenage years begin.