Are you glad you were born years ago?

[connda]

I love my smartphone, never really bored anymore.

I remember the days before. The days before even the first mobiles, when you wanted to get hold of someone, you had to wait till they get home and ring them on a landline. Go out for a night on the town or some sporting event, or concert, if you got seperated, then that was it..unless you had arranged to meet up somewhere previously if you got lost.

I dont miss that.

And having to queue up anywhere, read the paper if you had one, otherwise yawn.

Love the internet, love smartphones, prefer how things are now

I remember when we all use to talk to each other, not text each other from across the dinner table.

[SoiBiker]

I remember uncomfortable silences. Time that is now better spent.

[BritManToo]

Now the worry is overpopulation and the lack of water and food and invasion of the west by the have nots , believe me you can hide your head in the sand all you like ,but and its a big but , its coming .

Your worry about overpopulation is a false worry.

Probably encouraged by the western governments in an attempt to control you through fear.

Who are these people that are overpopulating the world?

Where is it happening?

Certainly not in the western world, where the populations are dropping as people have less children.

Certainly not in Japan or Thailand, another two countries facing population falls.

So why do you have worries about people in countries you have no connection with.

Assuming there is even a problem in those countries?

[canuckamuck]

I remember when we had to evacuate Earth and colonize New Gaia. It was a difficult time because everything had to be done in secret. We were afraid the people who were genetically disposed towards perversion, alcoholism, and other social dysfunctions would likely cause a riot and ruin humanity's last chance. The task became easier once we figured out to just tell them they were being moved to Thailand.

[sandyf]

I am from Scotland and was brought up in post war poverty. I started work when I was 11,delivering milk at 5am before going to school. I left school at 15 and had to leave home, no regulations on bedroom occupancy in those days. My childhood was a nightmare and I would not wish that any child today.

Change however is something else. I studied electronics and was taught thermionic valves and magnetic amplifiers, they can only be found in a museum these days. I was trained on avionic computers that were full of gearboxes and transistors were seen as a specialist subject. I have seen the introduction of television, microwave ovens and personal computers, who remembers the Hollerith clerk.

The biggest change however has been in human perception, that old saying from Star Trek, 'beam me up Scottie' can now be seen as a real possibility.

[csabo]

I just wish I could have been born in the future after religion is gone.

[GOLDBUGGY]

I have actually got to live through some pretty interesting inventions in my time and got to see some pretty interesting things. For example seeing the Beatles preform live for the first time in the USA. A man walking on the Moon. Also later 9-11 Live on TV. The invention of the first Transistor Radio by SONY where you could take a radio with you. The Instamatic Camera which pictures were developed in minutes and not days or weeks. The invention of the first Color Television and later Satellite TV where you had a choice of hundreds of channels and not just two. The invention of the Microwave Oven. The first Hand Held Calculator which was affordable. The first Photo Copy Machine. The Fax Machine which could send images over the telephone line. The Cell Phone. Money Counters in Banks (which I still don't trust completely). The first affordable Personal Computer and with E:mail you could now send a a letter Overseas in seconds instead of 2 weeks. The list goes on.

I grew up in a time and place where people did not lock there houses or cars as they didn't need to. Even when they went on vacation. Where the Local Police knew you, and if you had one too many they drove you home with a warning. Where your kids were safe to play outside unattended as everyone else would also watch over them. But as to my choice as to when I was born, and if I could relive that time now, I would choose 10 years earlier as to me it would have been more time to enjoy a good thing. I also think I would have appreciated it more as I would have been older.

[Kiwiken]

As I have said I am glad I was born in the 50's a more stable time and a rapidly changing World. The World is no worse or no better now than it ever was. Because We always expect more there is some pessimism. Religious Zealots have always come and go. look at history to the holy wars. To the crusades and jihads toing and froing. The Spread of Hinduism and Buddhism not always peaceful.The many wars of the 20th Century. Greek Philosophers of the ancient times noted the unruleness of youth and how they fear Civilisation would not survive. But We are still here. We always find a way. When the Day comes that We love Our children more than We hate Our enemies and We channel Our Hatred and set aside Prejudices to solve and advance Our World then that will be the best time to be. Faith and belief are not the problems. It is believing only your Religion is right. We were given the ability to question and learn it is a pity so many never ask why must we hate?

[csabo]

As I have said I am glad I was born in the 50's a more stable time and a rapidly changing World. The World is no worse or no better now than it ever was. Because We always expect more there is some pessimism. Religious Zealots have always come and go. look at history to the holy wars. To the crusades and jihads toing and froing. The Spread of Hinduism and Buddhism not always peaceful.The many wars of the 20th Century. Greek Philosophers of the ancient times noted the unruleness of youth and how they fear Civilisation would not survive. But We are still here. We always find a way. When the Day comes that We love Our children more than We hate Our enemies and We channel Our Hatred and set aside Prejudices to solve and advance Our World then that will be the best time to be. Faith and belief are not the problems. It is believing only your Religion is right. We were given the ability to question and learn it is a pity so many never ask why must we hate?

Faith and belief actually are the problem closely seconded by patriotism.

[geronimo]

Yes, we were lucky. No wars when I was of conscription age, and life was more practical than today. They say every civilisation has its day, and this one I fear is coming to an end. The world will still turn and as Buddha once said, "impermanence is permanence"

If I could choose in what era I was born, I wouldn't change a thing. The mid fifties was a perfect time to enter this world!

[i claudius]

When i started the topic , i was not knocking smartphones tv or the like ,because i love them , i love the fact that i can phone my daughter free whenever i want or text my son in an instant , i was talking about how "free" we were , the fact we did not have these things did not matter , we did not know we would ever get them , we "wanted" very little ,because there was little to have so it made us more contented.

As for the world ,yes there were terrible wars , but they were before my time ,and to be honest i was not frightened by the fact Russia was the enemy ,we were not confronted with it every 5 minutes .

Now the worry is overpopulation and the lack of water and food and invasion of the west by the have nots , believe me you can hide your head in the sand all you like ,but and its a big but , its coming .

I grew up in the 60s and 70s, there was certainly concern about overpopulation back then. Images of war in Asia were on the nightly news, as were images of famine in Africa.

Poverty had not been extinguished at home either, almost all inner city schools, and a good many rural schools had pupils without warm clothes in the winter, children with holes in their shoes, kids sent to school with no breakfast and going home to meagre meals in the evenings. No there was not the 'over consumption' of later years, but it was certainly not the idyllic period of your memory.

There is a smell that comes with poverty, its a smell I recall from the homes of people I grew up with, no they didn't have I-Phones, they were lucky to have coal for the fire and enough blankets for their beds.

The police didn't give naughty children a clip upside the ear, they beat seven shades out of people, for 'answering back', 'bad attitude', being the wrong colour or for being 'a puff', or simply beat people up because they could.

As for the invasion of the west by the 'have nots', you've forgotten haven't you, by the mid seventies things where getting better, people where becoming more affluent, the question being asked, and asked often enough down the years was 'How are we going to share our wealth with the rest of the world' - It was clear from the start that the west could not continue to amass wealth while the rest of the world floundered, that there would come a breaking point.

Well here it is.

We have the internet, a kid in Pakisatan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Ghana or anywhere, can log on and see were the good life is, look at his own resources and decide how much of the good life he can get for himself. He'll find websites and online guides, online friends to help and advise him.

Just like you did you hypocrite.

OOOH !.seems this hypocrite rattled your cage .

[kannot]

Id say the Mother of all wars is approaching.............when I dont know but overpopulation, religion and territory will see to it.

Kill all your fellow people for nothing more than a "fantasy" of religion.............cant think of any more stupid a reason.

[kannot]

Now the worry is overpopulation and the lack of water and food and invasion of the west by the have nots , believe me you can hide your head in the sand all you like ,but and its a big but , its coming .

Your worry about overpopulation is a false worry.

Probably encouraged by the western governments in an attempt to control you through fear.

Who are these people that are overpopulating the world?

Where is it happening?

Certainly not in the western world, where the populations are dropping as people have less children.

Certainly not in Japan or Thailand, another two countries facing population falls.

So why do you have worries about people in countries you have no connection with.

Assuming there is even a problem in those countries?

http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

[lovelomsak]

Id say the Mother of all wars is approaching.............when I dont know but overpopulation, religion and territory will see to it.

Kill all your fellow people for nothing more than a "fantasy" of religion.............cant think of any more stupid a reason.

I think the same.This war will not be about borders. It will be on the streets in many countries. It will be a religious war.

[GuestHouse]

OOOH !.seems this hypocrite rattled your cage .

You didn't rattle my cage IC.

I've read and agreed with many of your posts over the years, I'll probably read and agree with many more going forward.

But this last offering of yours is an utter disappointment, I thought you where above the 'invading hoards' view of the world. Seems not.

[keithathome]

OP: and you didn't have to worry about whether you had 3/32 of an inch of tread (not 7cm )

[rijit]

As I have said I am glad I was born in the 50's a more stable time and a rapidly changing World. The World is no worse or no better now than it ever was. Because We always expect more there is some pessimism. Religious Zealots have always come and go. look at history to the holy wars. To the crusades and jihads toing and froing. The Spread of Hinduism and Buddhism not always peaceful.The many wars of the 20th Century. Greek Philosophers of the ancient times noted the unruleness of youth and how they fear Civilisation would not survive. But We are still here. We always find a way. When the Day comes that We love Our children more than We hate Our enemies and We channel Our Hatred and set aside Prejudices to solve and advance Our World then that will be the best time to be. Faith and belief are not the problems. It is believing only your Religion is right. We were given the ability to question and learn it is a pity so many never ask why must we hate?

Faith and belief actually are the problem closely seconded by patriotism.

No totally wrong plenty of people have all three and don't have any problems BIGOTRY IGNORANCE culminating into EXTREMISM is the problem.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[i claudius]

OOOH !.seems this hypocrite rattled your cage .

You didn't rattle my cage IC.

I've read and agreed with many of your posts over the years, I'll probably read and agree with many more going forward.

But this last offering of yours is an utter disappointment, I thought you where above the 'invading hoards' view of the world. Seems not.

But don't you see ,they are invading hordes , while any country has a small amount of immegration ,there is no problem , a small amount of people from other country's living among the locals is fine, its like my old home town 30 odd years ago , we all got along everyone mixed in (all except the muslims) but at least they opened shops and we all shopped there , but then it started to change as more and more of them came ,the area where they congregated became a ghetto ,a mosque opened ,a real one , they demanded that they should have their own old peoples centre and that the local old people should not use it , they wanted everything their way , now where we all rubbed along ,they do not mix they dress like they did "at home" the black immegrants from the 60s were driven out and there was lots of trouble , now the Muslim area looks like another country ,we do not go there ,the police will not go alone , and there is always trouble .

they are invading ,and its not nice .

[SoiBiker]

Imagine turning up in someone else's country, living in a ghetto, refusing to speak the language or adopt the local customs, expecting businesses and services to cater to your way of life, and not respecting the locals.

Who would do a thing like that, eh?

[canuckamuck]

Imagine turning up in someone else's country, living in a ghetto, refusing to speak the language or adopt the local customs, expecting businesses and services to cater to your way of life, and not respecting the locals.

Who would do a thing like that, eh?

Immigrants to Europe.

[IMA_FARANG]

People don't believe me when I say this.....but in many ways yes I am glad I grew up in a small town in the U.S in the late 1950's and the 1960's.

Just one example....we had a small garden in our backyard and a Pear tree growing on our property.

We had a rear porch with a screen door we never locked.

Our neighbors would bring over such things as ears of corn from their gardens and leave them on our porch for us.

When our Pear tree had more fruit than we could use we would leave Fruit for them.

We shared what extra we had with the neighbors, and they shared with us.

That is the way it was then.

It was a simpler and easier life in some ways then.

[kannot]

just be glad you were born

[jmd8800]

When I am talking with young people I try to remember that I am old. I can see the world as it is now and remember what was. They see the world as it is and think what can be.

[BritManToo]

People don't believe me when I say this.....but in many ways yes I am glad I grew up in a small town in the U.S in the late 1950's and the 1960's.

Just one example....we had a small garden in our backyard and a Pear tree growing on our property.

We had a rear porch with a screen door we never locked.

Our neighbors would bring over such things as ears of corn from their gardens and leave them on our porch for us.

When our Pear tree had more fruit than we could use we would leave Fruit for them.

We shared what extra we had with the neighbors, and they shared with us.

That is the way it was then.

It was a simpler and easier life in some ways then.

Sounds like where I live in Thailand.

The neighbors all share, and include me when I'm here.

The rice, bananas and seasonal fruits are very welcome.

But I never know what to do with the green stuff.

I don't often lock my door either.

[kannot]

Imagine turning up in someone else's country, living in a ghetto, refusing to speak the language or adopt the local customs, expecting businesses and services to cater to your way of life, and not respecting the locals.

Who would do a thing like that, eh?

you forgot screwing the welfare system

[Kiwiken]

Imagine turning up in someone else's country, living in a ghetto, refusing to speak the language or adopt the local customs, expecting businesses and services to cater to your way of life, and not respecting the locals.

Who would do a thing like that, eh?

Immigrants to Europe.

But is it not what many of us do to Thailand. When in Rome Do as the Romans do!

[canuckamuck]

Imagine turning up in someone else's country, living in a ghetto, refusing to speak the language or adopt the local customs, expecting businesses and services to cater to your way of life, and not respecting the locals.

Who would do a thing like that, eh?

Immigrants to Europe.

But is it not what many of us do to Thailand. When in Rome Do as the Romans do!

It's not like Thailand is inviting immigration or making any effort to promote our integration. Quite the opposite I would say.

[i claudius]

Imagine turning up in someone else's country, living in a ghetto, refusing to speak the language or adopt the local customs, expecting businesses and services to cater to your way of life, and not respecting the locals.

Who would do a thing like that, eh?

Immigrants to Europe.

But is it not what many of us do to Thailand. When in Rome Do as the Romans do!

It's not like Thailand is inviting immigration or making any effort to promote our integration. Quite the opposite I would say.

If thats the way you feel ,why don't you go back home?

[canuckamuck]

But is it not what many of us do to Thailand. When in Rome Do as the Romans do!

It's not like Thailand is inviting immigration or making any effort to promote our integration. Quite the opposite I would say.

If thats the way you feel ,why don't you go back home?

Oh no, they love me, it's the rest of you guys I worry about.

[i claudius]

But is it not what many of us do to Thailand. When in Rome Do as the Romans do!

It's not like Thailand is inviting immigration or making any effort to promote our integration. Quite the opposite I would say.

If thats the way you feel ,why don't you go back home?

Oh no, they love me, it's the rest of you guys I worry about.

I have never had a problem in 24 years ,so they must like me as well