re: Stranger Things Inspired Thought: Were The 80's Out Greatest Decade?

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But for the average person then, crime did not seem as bad. And in fact to many who, like me, lived through that time, crime seems (key word there) worse now due the fact that many areas which were prosperous and thriving neighborhoods them are now crime infested shitholes. So while the stats show crime has gone down since the 80s, the perception is that it's gotten worse.

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so because people were more sheltered and ignorant, all those bad things don't count?

that isn't how this works

the very thing in which you are stating made the 80s so great is more than likely what lead to all those crime stats being so high

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but things are unequivocally safer now than they were then.

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I wonder if BR had more murders in the 80's than in the 2000s

ETA: it appears the 80's and 90's are without a doubt the worst for crime

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so because people were more sheltered and ignorant, all those bad things don't count?

that isn't how this works

the very thing in which you are stating made the 80s so great is more than likely what lead to all those crime stats being so high

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I'm not trying to argue against his stats or make some sort off cross-generational pissing match over crime rates. All that post was about was to try and explain to him how despite the stats saying one thing, for many who lived through the 80s the perception is quite different.

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I'm not sure kids today are as creative as kids in the 80's were

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One great example is Legos. Back in the mid and late 70s when I was playing with Legos they were just pieces of different shapes, sizes, and types. You could build anything you wanted. The same Legos you use today to build a battleship, will in a few days be the ones you use to build a fort. The only limit to what you could build was your own imagination.

Legos today though are for the most part model kits. You buy a Lego kit and it builds one thing and even comes with instructions. When I was a kid Legos helped to teach us to think. Now Legos only teach kids how to follow instructions.

can you show me where the 80s touched you?

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Back in the mid and late 70s when I was playing with Legos they were just pieces of different shapes, sizes, and types.

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I remember spending hours building houses with Lincoln Logs just to see how big a house I could make.

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I know the stats say crime was worse then than now. But for the average person then, crime did not seem as bad.

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And there's only one reason for that: mass media. Back then, most people only got world news from the paper (comprised of actual journalists instead of "reporters"), the Nightly News, and 60 Minutes. Most people didn't have CNN and didn't have mass exposure to Internet sites. Now all they do is write for ratings, not necessarily what the public needs to hear. Journalism has gone to hell, and is now just a bunch of reporters and commentators feeding Americans fear mongering bullshite. Now they are reaping what they've sewn with Donald Trump embodying all that the media has stood for since really the Simpson trial.

I advise you to watch the Lego Movie, because it very directly addresses your concerns. Legos are still the best toys ever.

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And there's only one reason for that: mass media. Back then, most people only got world news from the paper (comprised of actual journalists instead of "reporters"), the Nightly News, and 60 Minutes. Most people didn't have CNN and didn't have mass exposure to Internet sites. Now all they do is write for ratings, not necessarily what the public needs to hear. Journalism has gone to hell, and is now just a bunch of reporters and commentators feeding Americans fear mongering bullshite. Now the reaping what they've sewn with Donald Trump embodying all that the media has stood for since really the Simpson trial.

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Very true. And add in the fact that for many who grew up in the 80s they've seen their once nice suburban neighborhoods that they grew up in turn into crime, drug, and prostitution shitholes as well.

My wife is a perfect example of this. She grew up in the 80s and early 90s living in Center Point, a suburb of Birmingham. When she lived there it was a nice, upper middle class place that was thriving. But if I were to take you through there today, you'd see a rotten crime riddled shell of what use to be.

There is no doubt. It was an awesome decade to grow up in.

Music was at its pinnacle across multiple genres. There's a reason you still hear 80's music piped in everywhere.

Movies were epic and stand the test of time. Just take Ferris Bueller and other comedies. You could stick them in theaters today and they'd be huge.

No big wars going on, although being vaporized at any moment was in the back of our minds.

In hindsight, cars and fashion sucked compared to the 50's/60's and today, but we didn't know or care at the time.

You still had real cartoons on saturday morning.

Cheers, Family Ties, Hill St. Blues, Miami Vice, etc.

Way less "reality TV" trash.

And most importantly, no internet or cell phones. Simpler times and generally less anger/meanness.