View Full Version : If someone from the 50s suddenly appeared today....
I saw this question posted on Reddit and thought it was an interesting question:
If someone from the 50s suddenly appeared today, what would be the most difficult thing to explain to him or her about life today?
One interesting answer was "I possess a device, in my pocket, that is capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats and get into arguments with strangers."
There have been so many changes though it is hard to pick just one when you ponder the question.
I agree with the technologies being an interesting choice.
How about who we are fighting in this world today and how it's now a global and on our shores types of fight?
Also, how women age now. When 40 used to be old, now 40 is just getting started. :)
catherine
10-7-14, 12:00pm
Really! Reminds me of that hilarious movie Blast from the Past with Brendan Fraser, although that movie was made in 1999, so there's a whole slew of life-changing things that have happened in the past 15 years.
If I could sit down with my mother in 1962 or so, I'd say,
"The Jetson's didn't really get it exactly right. We don't have human-like robots. We don't have airborne cars to get to work. Many of us don't have to "go to work" because we can "telecommute" which means, we use a computer to communicate with our colleagues… No, no we don't need a huge house for the computer, because these computers are small. No, smaller than a car. Smaller than a breadbox! Almost like carrying a magazine. Oh, and speaking of magazines, hardly anyone gets subscriptions to newspapers, because you get your news on this computer. How? Well, it kind of comes through the air. They call it the Internet. No, you don't have to wait until the next day. The minute something happens you can read about it. I know, it is hard to understand. Kind of like a TV might have been for Grandma.
Oh, and you know how the Jetsons have video telephones? Well, we do have video telephones--which also come through the computer, but mostly people have phones that are portable….. Yes, kind of like a transistor radio--that's right! But these telephones do a lot more than let you call people from anywhere. You can watch movies on them…. No, really, I'm not kidding! And you can buy these things called "apps" and your phone can do almost anything. Cameras are not even needed, because this phone is a camera AND a photo album…… No, not really. Well, kind of like a Polaroid, but you don't need that chemical thing, and the pictures don't come out. They stay in the phone. And you know all your record albums you play on your hi-fi? Well ALL those songs can be stored in this phone and you can play them any time you want, wherever you are. You can even play them through the speakers of your car! No, they're not little teeny records, and there's no needle. They're just, well, they're called MP3s, but don't ask me to explain that.
On this phone you can also balance your budget, play games, take notes, do recordings, pray, send messages to people, set your alarm. You can talk to the phone and ask it what the weather will be like tomorrow and it will tell you. If you're lost, you can look at a map and the map tells you how to get from where you are to where you want to go. How does it know where you are? You drop a pin. No, not a straight pin, that's just what they call it. Something in the air knows where you are and puts your location in the phone.
I know… it is mind-boggling. That's OK. Why don't you go grab a Tab. It's time to watch Guiding Light."
What women in North America are able to do now. Huge difference!!!!!
Sorry to disappoint you, but cars still can’t fly.
Except for a few cultural backwaters like North Korea and Berkeley, nobody takes communism seriously anymore.
That movie actor Ronald Reagan was elected President. Did a pretty good job, too.
Don’t smoke in here! You’ll get us arrested.
Men can marry men now.
India is now capable of sending probes to Mars.
The Cubs still haven’t won a World Series.
Boffo post, Catherine!
I'd love to explain how women are no longer limited to being housewives, teachers, or secretaries--that we have the freedom to succeed or fail on our own merits. We can support ourselves, wear slacks to work, and buy property without our father's signature (really!) That we are making strides in human rights--people are no longer segregated or closeted--but we have a way to go. That we still face some challenges, but are confident that we can overcome them with community effort, know-how, and technology.
$5 for a cup of coffee - and no refills
gay marriage and ability to adopt
racial equality and no more "separate but equal" crap
stay at home dads
no hats, glove or dressing up to go...anywhere
Smart Cars (OK I don't get those either :-)!)
microwaves
$5 for a cup of coffee - and no refills
To your point, what do you think our grandparents would say about paying for drinking water?
And also to your point, what about the average homes being in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and gas topping $3.00/gallon.
What about day care centers? Did daycare centers exist in the 50s? I don't think so--not in my town.
What about explaining that not only do you have to pay to watch TV shows, you STILL get all the commercials.
I was born in 1961 and I am already saying "back in the day".... So many things have changed since then.
To your point, what do you think our grandparents would say about paying for drinking water?
And also to your point, what about the average homes being in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and gas topping $3.00/gallon.
What about day care centers? Did daycare centers exist in the 50s? I don't think so--not in my town.
What about explaining that not only do you have to pay to watch TV shows, you STILL get all the commercials.Ha Ha! Yeah I think our grandparents would probably be rolling up their eyes at most of the "normal" things many do now. Probably our parents too. Of course I'm a throw-back because I don't have cable and use rabbit ears (no aluminum foil on them though). They would probably be amazed (and not in a good way) at what people pay now for the "better" or "trendy" version of things they used everyday - like cook ware, appliances, etc... My Grandma would have a heart attack on the spot if she heard some people pay hundreds of dollars for a blender (Vitamix) or a pot, pan or knives (Sonoma-Williams) that seem basicly the same to what they used daily from Sears.
I possess a device, in my pocket, that is capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats and get into arguments with strangers."
.or on a wrist watch (new I-Watch thingie). They might actually identify with that since it is so "Dick Tracy-ish".
It seems women can go out in public dressed like slobs or sluts and it's acceptable. No more dresses, hats and gloves.
ToomuchStuff
10-8-14, 12:58am
I think the question would be more interesting if they gave a year that the person was from, rather then a decade. Think about it, early 1950 you had a building boom and they were still on the ending of retooling all from a war economy to full blown middle class, keeping up with the Jones. Then Sputnik happened and the whole rocket age phenomenon happened (and the fears that entailed). Different things would affect different people from that era, from modern conviences, to two income households and how tech is used and has shrunk.
Some would be just shocked we didn't have a nuclear war with the Russians and probably freak out at the monthly test of tornado sirens (Duck and cover).
I think it would be very different based on the gender, race, socio-economic group, part of country. I think that if a woman who was not totally fulfilled by her house and kids and cute hats and gloves came to our time she could feel wonderful at the opportunities available. No more girdles for one thing. We see that there is still an income gap however it is better than 1950. And divorce, and actual arrests for domestic violence, and some awareness of abuse with some tools to deal with it. Someone mentioned daycare, well I work in the childcare/education field and I think people could be impressed. First of all for all the criticisms of current education we do not beat children. We also get a huge number of children in the schools with support and adaptive technology so that they have opportunities to learn at their level and be around other children. In our district there is plenty of truly healthy food available as well.
I still think the original part about the phones and looking at cats is the best, but I had to get serious for a minute.
Hey 50's person:
--I spent $5,000 on my dog's cancer treatments with her oncologist. Yes, she had an oncologist
--a lot of poor people are really fat; most rich people are thin
--people consider it a shockingly bad idea to "get married for the sake of an oopsie pregnancy" and in fact many women purposely get pregnant without having a stable relationship with the baby daddy
--teachers are maligned and verbally abused by parents of children they teach--it's not much of a team effort to educate children any more, it's more of an adversarial relationship of kid/parents vs school personnel
--a high percentage of the population are on mood altering drugs, prescribed by their physician
--starter homes for young couples normally exceed 2000 sq feet
--anyone over age 18 can rack up chitloads of credit card debt; gone are the days of placing a clothing item "on layaway" until you have paid for it
Hey 50's person:
--I spent $5,000 on my dog's cancer treatments with her oncologist. Yes, she had an oncologist
--a lot of poor people are really fat; most rich people are thin
--people consider it a shockingly bad idea to "get married for the sake of an oopsie pregnancy" and in fact many women purposely get pregnant without having a stable relationship with the baby daddy
--teachers are maligned and verbally abused by parents of children they teach--it's not much of a team effort to educate children any more, it's more of an adversarial relationship of kid/parents vs school personnel
--a high percentage of the population are on mood altering drugs, prescribed by their physician
--starter homes for young couples normally exceed 2000 sq feet
--anyone over age 18 can rack up chitloads of credit card debt; gone on the days of placing a clothing item "on layaway" until you have paid for it
That's great, IL! Yes, I think my mother would be shocked to hear a lot of those things. However, she might be relieved that marriage isn't taken as seriously as it was in the 50s. She was the only divorcee in our neighborhood and I know we were looked at as different. I'd also tell her that just because she was divorced, in our day and age, she could make a decent living as opposed to the minimum wage job she was subjected to to keep us afloat.
On other note, the term "Baby Mama"? Does anyone really not like that term, other than DH (and me to some extent?) Drives DH crazy--every time he hears it I have to get the diatribe from him.
I also like the teacher one you posted--if you went to Catholic school in the 50s/60s, you better behave because no one was going to make excuses for you, least of all your parents--and I'm sure the same was true in public schools, but those nuns were pretty intimidating in their black habits and their proprietary methods of humiliation.
iris lilies
10-8-14, 8:58pm
It seems women can go out in public dressed like slobs or sluts and it's acceptable. No more dresses, hats and gloves.
Hats and gloves! While shopping "downtown" at the big department store, and then stopping by "the tearoom" on the top floor!
Those big old department stores don't even exist "downtown" any more. I don't know where scores of uber talented gay men are going to get their fashion experience in small cities and towns all over flyover country. In my hometown Halston designed the windows at the flagship department store downtown when he was a lad. Later, our high school classmate had the same job and he was able to turn this into a bond with Halston in NYC and subsequently become very famous for being famous.
Perhaps these fashion opportunities exist in malls, but I truly wonder. Not everyone can be on Project Runway.
...On other note, the term "Baby Mama"? Does anyone really not like that term, other than DH (and me to some extent?) Drives DH crazy--every time he hears it I have to get the diatribe from him...
Why doesn't he like it? Is it the actual phrase? The lack of respect for fathers that it implies? The lack of respect for a minority culture that spawned it?
Depending on what he says, I may agree with him. I don't use "baby daddy" in a way that has respect for the "baby daddies" of the world. I don't respect them. But then, I don't respect the baby mamas who chose the no-strings-attached daddy relationship for their offspring and I feel sorry for those children.
I also like the teacher one you posted--if you went to Catholic school in the 50s/60s, you better behave because no one was going to make excuses for you, least of all your parents--and I'm sure the same was true in public schools, but those nuns were pretty intimidating in their black habits and their proprietary methods of humiliation.[/QUOTE]
See I wonder about both sides. I know that things have swung in the other direction but I also recall students who probably had learning issues getting punished, even hit, without any attempt to figure out what was going on. There is a fine line between making excuses and getting to the bottom of a problem. And I say that from the work of education that has included expelling kids and calling the police on unsafe behavior. The majority of kids with difficulties can truly be helped, and parent advocates are key.
Sorry this was more lighthearted.
It seems women can go out in public dressed like slobs or sluts and it's acceptable. No more dresses, hats and gloves. Not only that, but if you are Male, it's all but illegal to do anything but act like you don't see it.
People eat Pizza all the time. It used to be a treat, like at a party. Now, it's standard daily fare. Then, Pizza-eating guys and gals become grossly overweight. In order to look fashionable, they dress like slobs, get tattoos and piercings, let their hair grow long, and spend $10,000 m/l on a loud, flashy motorcycle, to drive 2,000 miles a year. Or less. Looking like a 1950's vagrant, just to look "cool". Except that they harbor the illusion that flab can pass for being robust and muscular. I was looking at the obits today, and that little town out in the middle o' nowhere waaay up north that has at least 6 pizza joints, just lost another good citizen that fit the stereotype, . He died suddenly, at home, age 52.
Why doesn't he like it? Is it the actual phrase? The lack of respect for fathers that it implies? The lack of respect for a minority culture that spawned it?
He hates that it represents a whole culture (not just minority) that accepts the fact that the mother of your child may not have any other relationship to you other than being your "baby mama" and this type of relationship has become so widespread the culture had to come up with a name for it. In short, it represents the breakdown of the nuclear family.
Great question pinky toe and lots of great answers. The technology and the daycare both struck me.
Another big change is in opening hours for businesses/shops etc. People used to complain that they came to NZ but it was closed for the weekend. That wouldn't happen now, public holidays are for shopping, as are almost all the other days.
ApatheticNoMore
10-9-14, 5:50am
One thing that always strikes me reading mid century, last century that is of course, social commentary (and yes I seem to end up reading boatloads of such books) is how naive and optimistic the writers were. How much they thought things would get better (at least if we didn't all nuke ourselves first) and all the wrong predictions they made on that assumption.
He hates that it represents a whole culture (not just minority) that accepts the fact that the mother of your child may not have any other relationship to you other than being your "baby mama" and this type of relationship has become so widespread the culture had to come up with a name for it. In short, it represents the breakdown of the nuclear family.
I agree with that, then.
I sometimes reminisce about the things I remember from decades ago that no longer exist. Cities are a lot more crowded now with cars, traffic and people everywhere - there is little respite. A general civility that existed then (at least for some groups of people) is mostly gone. So much of the natural landscape we took for granted has been developed to accommodate this modern influx and changing expectations of wants vs needs. If I had to pick three though, it would be the changing physical environment, the changing status of women and all the many personal computing options.
I saw this question posted on Reddit and thought it was an interesting question:
If someone from the 50s suddenly appeared today, what would be the most difficult thing to explain to him or her about life today?
One interesting answer was "I possess a device, in my pocket, that is capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats and get into arguments with strangers."
There have been so many changes though it is hard to pick just one when you ponder the question.
Don't forget to add that your device is a personal tracker, that is capable of feeding information about your whereabouts, your spending habits, your personal habits, what you read, where, eat, buy, travel, etc, etc, and share it with others without your consent, and yet it is something you consent to use. Corey Doctorow once said that if you asked someone from 40 years ago if they were told they would have such a device that tracked them, people would be shocked and say "Hell NO!" horrified at this breach of personal privacy. And yet, now, not only do we have them, we PAY for the privilege of having such.
It would be fun to explain how 32 students in a class is now considered a shocking teacher to student ratio, and how many teachers require aides to keep up with a class of 20. And that despite the decrease in class size, we lag in math, reading comprehension, and other core subjects compared to previous generations and other countries.
It seems women can go out in public dressed like slobs or sluts and it's acceptable. No more dresses, hats and gloves. And men can wear there pants waist band lower than their butts, earrings (and not in the "I'm a cool sailor arrrr" kind of way), have long hair and pony tails, make up and nail polish.
Personally I would keel over and die of extreme angst living in the 1950's - way too regressive for thoroughly modern me - but there are some things that irk me about the here and now even though I do love the freedom it allows us all.
Don't forget to add that your device is a personal tracker, that is capable of feeding information about your whereabouts, your spending habits, your personal habits, what you read, where, eat, buy, travel, etc, etc, and share it with others without your consent, and yet it is something you consent to use. Corey Doctorow once said that if you asked someone from 40 years ago if they were told they would have such a device that tracked them, people would be shocked and say "Hell NO!" horrified at this breach of personal privacy. And yet, now, not only do we have them, we PAY for the privilege of having such.
Maybe that wouldn't shock them so much because they were part of the Hoover and McCarthy era and the whole Cold War thing.
The teenagers that are committing horific crimes. Or lack of respect for elders in general(not all of course). This is on my mind since a read the "big city" paper of the town we have to semi live in for a while. I knew these crimes went on, but daiy in the big city it seems, not so often in the smaller rural areas.
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