Now that you have lived in the computer age....

[aaatoysandmore]

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

I wonder how much whining kids did in those times for want of something?

I remember stories my mom told me of about getting a quarter .25 cents for the fair each year and being happy as a lark to get a candy apple, some cotton candy and a ride on the merry go round.

Stuff like a new pair of old looking shoes for chirstmas and a candy cane.

Walking to school everyday barefooted in the snow uphill both ways

Man are we spoilt or what?

I can only imagine a childs life from the 15th to the 20th century though.

Did we get lucky or what?

[Max 86]

It definitely would take some time getting used to. No child labor laws so put those buggers to work, no sitting on your @#$%.

[warspite1]

Could we go back? We're humans - we would adapt.

Without the computer to fire up and games to play, we would simply find something else to do.

One thing for certain - we were pretty damn poor, but I was never bored because I had few toys or no computer games (which didn't exist) to play with. My brother was excellent with his hands and he used to make our toy guns from pieces of wood and a few nails (splinters were a pain though). Most times I would play football on the estate with the other boys or, in winter, make Airfix models or play board games.

Are kids luckier nowadays? Not necessarily.

[terje439]

Yeah, I like to think so. When I was a kid, we would nail two pieces of wood together to make a sword, declare the neighbours weeds (not the kind you smoke), to be soldiers loyal to the Sheriff of Nottingham, and let them have it.
In my teens, my friends and I were scouts, and would spend pretty much every weekend camping out in the woods.

Thinking about it, I think I prefer those days to nowadays (but THAT is probably due to having to work to paythose bills :p)


Terje

[Capt. Harlock]

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

Not having a computer can be dealt with. But if you don't have indoor plumbing, the median (as opposed to mean) age of death drops to about six.

[Jeffrey H.]

Well, we had vaccuum tube televisions, B&W so it wasn't so so bad. In fact it was very much the same for me as it is now, except I have more of everything and I have the joy of ownership and providing for myself.

As a family we were very poor by comparison to most families today. I didn't get new clothes and we didn't have new cars, dad did all the maintenance and trades type work, mom kept house and tried to keep us inline. Money was very tight, credit cards were so expensive we didn't have them. No paper towels in the kitchen, no soft drinks.

We did have imaginations and Avalon Hill boardgames, YAY !

[Twotribes]

I grew up as a kid in the 60's and 70's. No computers for me. And very little money. Discovered war games around 14. Had a huge collection I just recently gave away so someone else could play them.

We did fine. Played outside mostly or read. Had a b&w TV so could watch TV in the evenings. We made our own fun.

When I was younger we had horses so one could go riding. Lots of dogs too. For awhile we took care of a neighbors cow. And we had a pig that grew up with dogs, it thought it was a dog. Funny as hell when it would break into the house and try to snort its way under the couch. It ran with the dog pack.

Gave all that up when we moved to Germany, Dad was in the Army.

[pmelheck1]

what's funny about this discussion is that you wouldn't miss anything. You can't miss anything you know nothing about. I can't drink spirits as I'm allergic, but it's amazing how many people think I'm terribly missing something when I have never drank anything and will never drink anything. They always assume that you will keep all of your current memories and preferences and that everyone you know will have those same preferences along with everyone in the time you go to. What I would miss would be modern medicine antibiotics ect. Most of us would not be alive at those times at our current age as the first infection would be a death sentence. Life span was MUCH shorter than as opposed to now. But on the plus side it may have been much shorter but it was also much simpler. Just hope the local noble didn't need sword or cannon fodder for his summer vacation.

[Gilmer]

Everything before the 20th century would suck, because medicine was really bad and dentistry was nonexistent as well.

I am familiar with being poor as a young person and getting a man's coat from Goodwill when I was 13 or so. It was about 3 sizes too big and the pockets were all ripped out and it was corduroy-ish on the outside. A lot of my other stuff was handme downs and tshirts.

It was a simpler time. I remember thinking how much I wanted a computer. I read about a review in a magazine of a game about Midway, in about 1984 or so and thought it sounded like the best thing ever.

[Terminus]

Of course not. Not because of computers directly, but because the vaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast majority of people in the western world don't do manual labour like farming anymore. Nobody actually knows how to do anything useful to survival.

[Chickenboy]

The vast majority of us should say "no" to that. Why? Average life expectancy would have 'timed us out' after about age 35. All things being the same, you'd be dead. Lots of 40+ people on this site that just plain wouldn't have existed any longer.

Medicine, nutrition, sanitation, education, etc., etc. have influenced our lives so much. Go back to the dark ages? No thanks! [:-]

[Qwixt]

I did live in the 20th century, and I could go back then without difficulties. I at least need indoor plumbing and electricity. So that rules out 15th-19th centuries. Also, I am kind of partial to modern dentistry, and drinking water clean water.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

The vast majority of us should say "no" to that. Why? Average life expectancy would have 'timed us out' after about age 35. All things being the same, you'd be dead. Lots of 40+ people on this site that just plain wouldn't have existed any longer.

Medicine, nutrition, sanitation, education, etc., etc. have influenced our lives so much. Go back to the dark ages? No thanks! [:-]

Not really. This is a common mistake. When they say life expectancy was 30, this does not mean the majority of people dropped dead at er... 30 [8D] The horrendous child mortality is distorting everything.

To use a simple example: two persons; one dies the day s/he was born and the other at 60. Average life expectancy of this pair? 60 / 2 = 30

Plenty of old people in the old times. Remember the Roman citizens were supposed to serve in the Legion like 20 years, starting at 16 or 17, I can't remember exactly.

And after the many campaigns, the retirement.

[aaatoysandmore]

Interesting some of the stories you all have. Some of us did live in some poor times that's for sure. I just think back to when comic books were a dime and a small coke a nickel or a small mug of root beer from K&N or A&W. I remember the .15 hamburger from McDonalds when I was in highschool and got a full lunch for less than a $1. How times have changed. For me seeing phones in everybody's ear everywhere I go just drives me nuts. I mean in my day we had walkie talkies. [:D], CB radios, convoy's. Penny candy was still around then although a lot of it was 2 penny to a nickel. Remember that bubblegum in the baseball card packages? I was fortunate though really as I got a lot of stuff growing up. Electric football sets, huge slot car racing sets, train sets and of course AH board wargames. I just wish my brother hadn't sold it all in a garage sale when I went into the service, I'd be a rich man right now or well off at least. My early edition issues of spiderman and superman and fantastic IV..gone for a nickel or worse a penny in a garage sale. The idiot.

[warspite1]

When I saw the original OP (which is an interesting topic btw - thanks) I completely ignored the reference to early times and simply responded on going back to my childhood (which was pre-computers).

The main reason is that - as others have said - the idea of living without some of the things we take for granted like medicines, is really not hugely attractive - the reference to computers (and would we miss computer games?) just becomes redundant the further back you go.

Would I miss my computer if I went back to being a child in the 70's? As I say, probably not - certainly after a short while - as I was quite happy doing cheaper, simpler (and actually more healthy) things.

But go further back and it becomes a case of who gives a damn about computers? I've got other things to worry about: like just staying alive. Yes life is stressful and complicated nowadays, but it was a damn sight more stressful when the focus was on actually putting food on the table without a nanny state to support you, rather than which of the 300 T.V channels I've got to choose from shall I pick?

As an example, as a wimpy bloke I find the whole childbirth thing just plain scary even nowadays (the birth of little warspite No.1 was fraught) - such that, if I come back in the next life as a woman, I'm defo going to be a lesbian - but can you imagine facing childbirth in say the 18th century? [X(][X(]

Nah, if I was transported back much beyond when I was really born, I suspect I would forget about my computer within a few minutes - or immediately I found myself, as a small boy, stuck up some rich blokes chimney! (if you'll pardon the expression)...

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

The vast majority of us should say "no" to that. Why? Average life expectancy would have 'timed us out' after about age 35. All things being the same, you'd be dead. Lots of 40+ people on this site that just plain wouldn't have existed any longer.

Medicine, nutrition, sanitation, education, etc., etc. have influenced our lives so much. Go back to the dark ages? No thanks! [:-]

Not really. This is a common mistake. When they say life expectancy was 30, this does not mean the majority of people dropped dead at er... 30 [8D] The horrendous child mortality is distorting everything.

To use a simple example: two persons; one dies the day s/he was born and the other at 60. Average life expectancy of this pair? 60 / 2 = 30

Plenty of old people in the old times. Remember the Roman citizens were supposed to serve in the Legion like 20 years, starting at 16 or 17, I can't remember exactly.

And after the many campaigns, the retirement.

Dude...

I follow the math. Don't correct me over picayune misinterpretations.

My point being: Most of the people here wouldn't have been people here in the 1500s. Whether they were infant or child mortality, most 40+ YOs currently here wouldn't have been here. Full stop. That's my point.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

The vast majority of us should say "no" to that. Why? Average life expectancy would have 'timed us out' after about age 35. All things being the same, you'd be dead. Lots of 40+ people on this site that just plain wouldn't have existed any longer.

Medicine, nutrition, sanitation, education, etc., etc. have influenced our lives so much. Go back to the dark ages? No thanks! [:-]

Not really. This is a common mistake. When they say life expectancy was 30, this does not mean the majority of people dropped dead at er... 30 [8D] The horrendous child mortality is distorting everything.

To use a simple example: two persons; one dies the day s/he was born and the other at 60. Average life expectancy of this pair? 60 / 2 = 30

Plenty of old people in the old times. Remember the Roman citizens were supposed to serve in the Legion like 20 years, starting at 16 or 17, I can't remember exactly.

And after the many campaigns, the retirement.

Dude...

I follow the math. Don't correct me over picayune misinterpretations.

My point being: Most of the people here wouldn't have been people here in the 1500s. Whether they were infant or child mortality, most 40+ YOs currently here wouldn't have been here. Full stop. That's my point.

warspite1

Good use of the word Picayune there CB. Never heard of it before so had to look it up. My challenge for the week. Use the word Picayune in conversation with a customer....

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: aaatoysandmore

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

I wonder how much whining kids did in those times for want of something?

I remember stories my mom told me of about getting a quarter .25 cents for the fair each year and being happy as a lark to get a candy apple, some cotton candy and a ride on the merry go round.

Stuff like a new pair of old looking shoes for chirstmas and a candy cane.

Walking to school everyday barefooted in the snow uphill both ways

Man are we spoilt or what?

I can only imagine a childs life from the 15th to the 20th century though.

Did we get lucky or what?

For me, personally and honestly speaking, computers have been a mixed blessing. On the one hand I rarely EVER get bored anymore when I have nothing else to do than play on the computer. On the other hand computers are addictive and I can definitely see where my other responsibilities are suffering because I can't seem to tear myself away from the computer at times. I don't get a great deal of exercise either. Before computers I would go out and do things with friends, play tennis and other physical activities. Now it seems like friends are no longer needed to entertain myself. I've always been a bit on the reclusive side relative to most but now computers seem to have emphasized and exaggerated that reclusiveness beyond reasonable bounds. The saddest part of it is that I really don't want to change. I wish I could sit in front of a computer and dork around with games 24/7. I just know rationally that it isn't really good for me. Work is probably the only thing that affords me substantial physical contact with people these days.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy


My point being: Most of the people here wouldn't have been people here in the 1500s. Whether they were infant or child mortality, most 40+ YOs currently here wouldn't have been here. Full stop. That's my point.

Huh? [&:]

[budd]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy


My point being: Most of the people here wouldn't have been people here in the 1500s. Whether they were infant or child mortality, most 40+ YOs currently here wouldn't have been here. Full stop. That's my point.

Huh? [&:]

Mortality rate higher and life expectancy lower.

Another question... if you could pick a time to live in which would it be? I think i'd like to see my country a bit after discovery. Maybe Lewis & Clark & Budd[:D]