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I think we can all pretty much agree back in the 15th or 16th century, if you got a serious sickness, you were just dead. There was no going to a specialist that could put you through radiation for cancer or any other treatment. And if you weren't of the upper class in the 15th or 16th century, you had a really tough life. A scratch/cut that got infected could very easily kill you. Dog bites could easily give you rabies. No tetanus shots, no rabies shots, no vaccines for polio, measles, smallpox, etc. All those sicknesses could pretty much kill you at any time. Flu even. I don't know if they still believe it, but I read once that they said the flu killed more soldiers in WW1 than the war actually did.

I think that is all anyone is really talking about when they're talking about life expectancy comparisons.

My mother and father had over a dozen brothers and sisters (each) but only about 4 or 5 made it past age 12. Some were still born, some died of the flu before they were 6 (or other ailments)and this tiny few made it to adulthood. You would think that the Brown and Koehler clans would be huge, but I have virtually no relatives except for distant cousins in Germany. I'm rebuilding the family tree with my two sons and daughter... and now my first two grandchildren.

And this was early 20th century with this kind of mortality.

I watched Sean Connery in "The Name of the Rose" the other night. Talk about a fascinating, but dismal view of the Dark Ages and how people lived back then. No one would want that....

Were you Brauns? Or is the Brown family name just a boring old English name? (grin, only kidding on the boring).

My last name is a Polish name but a very common one. But, I have relatives all over the place, too. Big extended family, in that a lot of them I don't really even know. I talked with a cousin of my father's and I didn't really know him, but we connected on a genealogy website.

ORIGINAL: H Gilmer

Were you Brauns? Or is the Brown family name just a boring old English name? (grin, only kidding on the boring).

My last name is a Polish name but a very common one. But, I have relatives all over the place, too. Big extended family, in that a lot of them I don't really even know. I talked with a cousin of my father's and I didn't really know him, but we connected on a genealogy website.

Brown is Welsh, I understand, German side is Koehler from the Hamburg area of Germany (and where all the tallness comes from)[:D] Never had any contact with British relatives, but our German relatives contacted us after WWII for help. Mom and Dad sent food and clothing packages for several years till they got back on their feet. Year later we started getting HUGE boxes of Christmas candies and other goodies every year in gratitude. The custom continued for over 20 years until the WWII era relatives died off. Had one visit with two cousins who came to see my dad and meet him, but we lost touch afterwards.

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

But if you write one or two more messages, yes, I will definitely not know what you are talking about, as you apparently want to cloud the discussion.

The purpose, I don't know. And in fact I don't want to know.

Good. I'll write one or two more messages. Cloud the discussion? Not. My comments were absolutely on par with the OP's question. I'd not cloud the discussion by taking a semantic side trip into Roman cadavers. "Aforementioned documented stuff"? [:D] You make me laugh. What a comeback!

Don't want to know? I don't give a rip. Have a nice day.

I didn't have my own computer (and IBM clone 8086 PC and an inherited trash 80) until my late 20s but the seed was already planted that I would make a huge career change and thrive on the IT industry, which I still do. Yes, I was also prone to pushing cardboard markers around maps and once in a while having to restart after too much alcohol etc., wimin, or misbehaving pets. I often find myself shaking my head when encountering those who have had computers around from birth, and having them around for almost every aspect of their lives. I need to interact with people and keeping fit is also very important. I should be thinking about retirement, but at his point it won't be on a voluntary basis. I'm also an avid reader, so I could probably go back to my pre-computer days - but what the hell!

The Social inequality, the church, the smells, the filth.

Bugger that [8D]

Cheers

Jev

Believe i still have 8086 cpu laying around here and remember those silly ol' 8" floppy drives? That remind me of 8-track version as well.

I have more creature comforts, food, better health,free time and entertainment than Kings had in older times. I wouldn't trade living now for any other time in all of history. I would,however, like to see us in another 200 years.[8D]

A thought: if you've seen "Midnight in Paris", this question arises. However, the two "golden ages" of Paris depicted were both to be followed by world wars. And in the first, Paris was bombarded by artillery, in the second, it was occupied by the Nazis. Be careful what you wish for...

Spoiler Alert! If you do not want to know anything about me. Stop reading.


Thinking about life in a different time based on my life experience makes me feel tiny and sad.

I thank my God for giving me the winning lottery ticket of life. Living today in the USA has given me access to health care unbelievable in earlier eras.

When you pee blood, your thoughts initially have nothing to do with cancerous tumors in the bladder growing in a way to block urine from the kidney and giving you back-pain. Or Heart burn that lasts for 24hrs resulting in visit to the cutting table after walking into the VA hospital. Or a spinal cord injury that takes away use of your dominate arm and forces an acceptance of life never contemplated before. 7 trips to the cutting table each an adventure.

Computers! Computers mean gaming no matter my or your physical state. Living with computers means a game of chess with anyone in the world. Without, I'd look in the public park.

But, if i really consider a time in the past. Growing up as a child. With all the chances of never seeing 25. I'd pick 1515 as the year of birth. Living in an Apache tribe.

OMG ask a silly question get a real life answer. The lights went off last night about 6:59 pm and I had to endure 24 hours of the 15th-20th century. Sorta. No lights, no HEAT, my gosh it was cold. I had to get in my car for heat so it wasn't exactly 15th century stuff but darn close. I couldn't cook any food. Electric stove. I couldn't see to pee, found a lantern though for that. It was the worst 24 hours of my life. lol I certainly feel sorry for youse guys in the northern stats and england right now. Hope you got generators. I started to go out and buy one myself.

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

Could you go back and live in the oh say 15th to 20th century?

Two deadly words... Time Paradoxes.

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

Could you go back and live in the oh say 15th to 20th century?....

I could but I would rather not live without electricity and running water. Washing my dirty clothes by taking them down to the creek and beating them with a rock isn't my idea of fun. Spending time in a little shack each day winter or summer, rain or shine, to get rid of bodily wastes doesn't interest me at all no matter how many books or magazines I have the time to read while "doing my duty." Cutting, splitting, hauling, and stacking firewood to heat my home and cook my food would take entirely too much of my time.

And how on earth would I play my computer games when there is no place to plug my computer in?!?!

Mind yoo, if yoo went back with a modern education and a couple of dozen how-To books and tools, yoo may survive for a year or so before being dragged off and burnt.

Cheers

Jev

ORIGINAL: Greybriar

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

Could you go back and live in the oh say 15th to 20th century?....

I could but I would rather not live without electricity and running water. Washing my dirty clothes by taking them down to the creek and beating them with a rock isn't my idea of fun. Spending time in a little shack each day winter or summer, rain or shine, to get rid of bodily wastes doesn't interest me at all no matter how many books or magazines I have the time to read while "doing my duty." Cutting, splitting, hauling, and stacking firewood to heat my home and cook my food would take entirely too much of my time.

And how on earth would I play my computer games when there is no place to plug my computer in?!?!

Hear, hear.

ORIGINAL: Greybriar

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

Could you go back and live in the oh say 15th to 20th century?....

I could but I would rather not live without electricity and running water. Washing my dirty clothes by taking them down to the creek and beating them with a rock isn't my idea of fun. Spending time in a little shack each day winter or summer, rain or shine, to get rid of bodily wastes doesn't interest me at all no matter how many books or magazines I have the time to read while "doing my duty." Cutting, splitting, hauling, and stacking firewood to heat my home and cook my food would take entirely too much of my time.

And how on earth would I play my computer games when there is no place to plug my computer in?!?!

warspite1

Well that's easily resolved duh?

Just remember, as well as your computer, to pack one of these with you before you head back in time. Then just nail it to the wall of your slum, plug in, and away you go.

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

OMG ask a silly question get a real life answer. The lights went off last night about 6:59 pm and I had to endure 24 hours of the 15th-20th century. Sorta. No lights, no HEAT, my gosh it was cold. I had to get in my car for heat so it wasn't exactly 15th century stuff but darn close. I couldn't cook any food. Electric stove. I couldn't see to pee, found a lantern though for that. It was the worst 24 hours of my life. lol I certainly feel sorry for youse guys in the northern stats and england right now. Hope you got generators. I started to go out and buy one myself.

I use to think losing electricity was bad, until a storm knocked out the water supply too. So no water to even flush the toilets, no electricity, and no hot water for bathing for days, effectively turning us into French. [:D]

I still think modern dentistry is a huge loss too.

ORIGINAL: Qwixt

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

OMG ask a silly question get a real life answer. The lights went off last night about 6:59 pm and I had to endure 24 hours of the 15th-20th century. Sorta. No lights, no HEAT, my gosh it was cold. I had to get in my car for heat so it wasn't exactly 15th century stuff but darn close. I couldn't cook any food. Electric stove. I couldn't see to pee, found a lantern though for that. It was the worst 24 hours of my life. lol I certainly feel sorry for youse guys in the northern stats and england right now. Hope you got generators. I started to go out and buy one myself.

I use to think losing electricity was bad, until a storm knocked out the water supply too. So no water to even flush the toilets, no electricity, and no hot water for bathing for days, effectively turning us into French. [:D]

I still think modern dentistry is a huge loss too.

warspite1

Good job we English wouldn't notice [;)]

A fine tradition stretching back to before the First World War...

Cheers, Neilster