Why would anyone want to go back to the 1950s?

[Nikki1989]

[Lliam]

In the post-WWII '50s, the U. S. economy was starting to boom. New tract homes were being built for all the GIs who returned from the war and were starting families. The neighborhoods were safe for kids to play and had well maintained and staffed public amenities.

People knew their neighbors and looked out for each other.

There were still lots of open spaces.

Laws were lax and cops weren't ass holes. There were no permanent, digital records.

There were lots of jobs that didn't require a college education. Businesses offered amazing benefits to attract employees. Labor union membership was high.

College and medical care was inexpensive because they weren't run by for-profit megacorporations or controlled by globalist organizations.

Utilities were inexpensive and provided great service.

Public services were well funded.

Museums, beaches, national parks and most places had free admission.

Brand new amusement parts like Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Marine Land, Universal Studios, Santa's Village, and others were popping up in the southern California area. They were inexpensive and family oriented back then. Parents, grand parents and kids could all enjoy them together.

There were lots of farms and dairies. ALL food was organic because there were no GMOs yet.

Mass transit was available and inexpensive before the oil, rubber and auto industries conspired to do away with them to build freeways and get people to drive everywhere.

Most of the world still looked up to America.

People were buttoned down and straight laced to an extent, many having been in the military. They took life seriously and worked hard but there was lots of free time to play and have fun when one income could support an entire household.

Everyone was patriotic, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because it unified people and made them proud to be American. But things were beginning to loosen up. Look at The Rat Pack lifestyle, and some of the bawdy night club humor that was emerging. There was social criticism, as well with beatnik culture, civil rights leaders, and people like Lenny Bruce.

There was still free press with thousands of independent outlets across the country.

The really bad thing was, racial segregation of blacks was still a thing and there was some bigotry toward other races and ethnicities, as well.

I was born in 1954, so I didn't experience the '50s. All I know of that decade, from my experience, was that there was great freedom. And the prosperity and freedom of the 50's paved the way for the civil rights movement, women's lib, and other awakenings of the 1960s and '70s.

I think I was born at the most perfect time in American history to be alive. Younger people have no idea.

[Anonymous]

Do you really think that all those mocking stereotypes in meme represented the entire population back then?

Anyway yes there was a lot discrimination, sexism and other crap going on back then. It wouldn’t want to be black person in the 50s especially in Jim Crow south (although being black today in the USA would actually have some benefits).

But we seem to recall eras in history by how entertainment displayed them back then. Not everything was simple as “leave it to beaver”.

Has anybody ever read Stephen King’s famous novel IT (not just the movie). Besides the horror of the evil presence in that movie King does a good job of showing how day to day life and secret lives were for people in the late 50s when the protagonists were children. Both the good and the bad.

Anyway sure the 2020s aremuch more diverse, woke and progressive. But are people really happier in general today? Are women who intentionally stay childless their entire lives happier? Are people who get irreversible trans surgeries in their teens happier? Are people who indulge their inner urges as “their truth” always happier?

Horrible (real) institutional discrimination like Jim Crow obviously is a black eye on our culture. But is doing away with all principles making everybody “happy” and fulfilled?

[exitseven]

People are definitely not happier. The proliferation of single parent households and the daycare generation is causing kids to grow up without good role models and a feeling of security. Why do you think every one is diagnosed with depression today?

[Opinion Owner]

@exitseven exactly. I hate to being up polítics again but the more the liberals get their way the more miserable they seem to become.

[Opinion Owner]

Also I really like how this meme had the older guy saying “he beats the shit out of his son and molests his daughter” like so many fathers were sexually abusing their daughters back then with no recourse (vomit). I do without a doubt believe many more parents beat their kids. But most of it was GOOD discipline. Some of it was way over the top but overall you should discipline your kids.

But the molestation comment was just f*cking disgusting. Sure it happened but assuming it was widespread makes me sick.

[exitseven]

I bet it Is more widespread today.

[Opinion Owner]

@exitseven no kidding

[WonderBell99]

My maternal grandma was born in 1949. She went on to pursue medicine and practiced as a doctor for over 30 years. My great grandmother was a homemaker and raised 3 boys and 2 girls all on her own. Every single one of her children (including girls) went to school and college. She was the boss lady of the family, apparently. My great grandfather owned a magazine company and my grandmother describes him as a "wonderful and hard working man who was also an amazing father". I'm not from America though, so I wouldn't know. However, I wouldn't base everything off of stereotypes. Not every man was abusive in the 50s and not every woman consumed drugs to get through the day. This meme is not of a typical 50s family.

Many of the problems still exist today. Some people who are more on the conservative side might not like some parts of our modernized society.

I like the era that we are living in now better.

[Anonymous]

At least the kids then didn’t have to worry about their mothers taking them to "family friendly" drag shows and making them tip male strippers dressed as barely-clothed women. Little kids didn’t have to worry about their teachers pressuring them into turning gay or changing their gender. Elementary school libraries definitely did not have graphic novels featuring gay preteen sex like today's school. Kids were actually encouraged to pledge allegiance to the American flag, instead of the rainbow gay pride flag. Teachers were there to actually teach math, science, reading, English, and unbiased history! Instead of teaching them about the joys of socialism. A totally different world!

[OlderAndWiser]

Perhaps that is how life was in Australia in the 1950's but that is not representative of what life was like in the US back then.

[pepper1993]

Hahaha

[BeMuse]

That must of just been your family, because my Grandfather who grew up on a southern farm during the Great Depression came from the dirt and went on to fight in WWII. Then he came back from war to a booming economy and started work as a bank teller and worked his way up to bank president. He was happily married and had 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls) all of whom went to college when they grew up. Both girls earned masters degrees. My Grandmother who grew up in a Pennsylvania coal mining family that had to rent out spare rooms in their home to keep from starving to death, went on to be an Army nurse during the war and then worked as a nurse after the war. Even with 4 children they became multimillionaires. They had tons of friends and were very involved in the community. They had a pretty good run without all the social perversion of your communist family.

[Jersey2]

Women did go to college. Women that I knew enjoyed their lives. My mother was never unhappy, nor my aunts or anyone that I knew of back then. They certainly weren’t called bitches and hoes, nor were they treated like it. Just listen to the words of the songs back then and women were respected. Gays were “confirmed bachelors” and we knew some but no one bothered with them and didn’t bash them from what I saw. There were gay bars and people knew which ones they were. Anyway, people were much happier than the mess we have today.

[ManOnFire]

Well, it certainly wasn't a good time for me and my folk lol, but I think the mindset and attitude that people had overall about life could be needed in today's world. Plus people back then put meaning into what they did, and they made things with a serious care for the quality and what the thing is supposed to be.

[blueonblack22]

Yep we can’t judge an entire past generation in singularity. Jim Crow was horrible and rightfully done away with. However overall people had a stronger sense of community and commitment to marriage and their families back then as well. It gave people a sense of purpose.

Church attendance was also mainstream back then. That doesn’t mean everybody who went to church believed, cared, etc. Sure there were plenty of hypocrites. However people were being presented with morals and principles. That didn’t make everybody moral back then but people weren’t being told to indulge their inner urges as “their truth” either.

There are trade offs of every generation. But radical new ideas aren’t always good ideas.

[ManOnFire]

@blueonblack22 Definitely a really strong point about church and morals back then. I think that's true, yeah.

[Bricealan]

From my POV, you won the prize for the best post of the year!!! For some reason, it is THOUGHT that a prior period in time was better, but it's like the Blue Pill versus the RED PILL, when you take the RED pill you see reality for what it is or in this case really WAS, maybe with the father beating his son and trying to screw his own daughter. Reality is sometimes painful

[Anonymous]

Well that meme is a little extreme. There were problems back then but many of the same problems still exist today, plus a bunch of new ones.

Honestly I think I would be happier in a more 1950s world. Things are pretty messed up today.

[katiesmuff]

Well I was never there but I've listened to stories from my brothers and parents who were and seems like some of those simpler times would be refreshing today.

[Anonymous]

Why would folks want to go back to a time when on a single wage a couple could own their own home and still afford two cars in the drive. A wife could stay at home to look after her kids. They could easily afford to send their kids to college. Kids played outside and could walk to school.

Even if you take in discrimination and racism black communities were doing better in the 1950s than 2023.

[Friendlybro79]

I'm not sure why everyone says it. Economically better times for most white people and minorities knew their place. That's why some people say it without explaining why.
For others it just was a good time and it was a simple time. Not all people in the 50s we're racist or sexist.

[slatyb]

It was perhaps simpler for straight white men. You could graduate high school, her a union job, work 40 years, then die of cancer from cigarettes or your toxic workplace.

[Anonymous]

This meme doesn’t describe the reality of the 50s.

The funny/sad part is that where the woman says that she needs a shit-ton of drugs to get through the day, this is more true today than it was back then. Over 50% of women are reliant on SSRIs because they have mental health issues.

[zagor]

Things are different, but not all of the changes are for the better. People felt safe hitchhiking back then. When was the last time you saw a hitchhiker?

[Mansearching]

Parts of the 50s yes. Especially some of the music. Some of the best rock'n roll. The cars, real metal. Just 2 examples.
With the pic, does sound like much of today. Except the polio. But in 50s, its spot on.

[slatyb]

Compared to modern cars, the cars of the 50's and 60's were crap. Deathtraps in a collision, unreliable, uncomfortable, lucky to last 100,000 miles. For it's 50th anniversary, the US National Traffic Safety Board did their standard offset 35mph crash test with a 1962 Chevy Impala and a 2012 Chevy Malibu. The driver of the '62 Impala would have been killed instantly,. The driver of the 2012 Malibu might have suffered a sprained ankle.

[Mansearching]

@slatyb Don't really trust the NTSB. My my uncle had a 56 Chevy. Was t-boned on driver side by 2020 Equinox. My uncle survived w/o a scratch except being sore and maybe bruses. Equinox driver was killed.
We can compare stories all day. Not going to prove either of us right or wrong. All know is cars today the bodies are not real metal.

[slatyb]

There's a video of that test. Highway fatalities have steady as the total number of vehicle miles has increased. I had an aunt who was killed in a 30 mph collision with a tree. In a modern car with air bags, she would have totaled the car but walked away.

[slatyb]

Sorry, my information was inaccurate. It was the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, and the vehicles were a 1959 Chevrolet Bel-Air and a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The result was as I reported. The passenger compartment of the Bel-Air collapsed. the passenger compartment of the Malibu was essentially intact. The Bel-Air driver would have been killed instantly, the Malibu driver would have walked away. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_r5UJrxcck

[Mansearching]

@slatyb And? Doesn't prove you're right. Even if I had pics. Wouldn't prove I was right. Except the Equinox driver is dead.
I guess it all depends on the situation at time of wreck.

[slatyb]

One anecdote proves nothing. The Equinox was in a head-on collision, your uncle's car was impacted on the side. The data is clear -- modern cars are far safer, far more efficient, and far more reliable.

[Mansearching]

@slatyb So why did my uncle walk away and Equinox driver left in a body bag.

[Mansearching]

Your saying with that data my uncle should have died and Equinox driver live. I gave you data disputes yours.
As I said. Not all scenarios and situations are the same.
Another example 2 guys shot in back. 1 survives 1 dies. Both hit in exactly the same spot. Only difference 1 was shot by a guy the other shot by a woman. Why did one die and other survive, if hit in exactly the same spot? Doesn't matter who was shot by guy or girl.

[slatyb]

I said nothing of the sort. You might as well say "I knew a guy who never wore a seat belt and drove his car into a lake and was able to get out because he didn't have to unfasten the seat belt." Even if that happened, it doesn't mean that it's unsafe to wear a seat belt.

[Mansearching]

@slatyb Of course. I agree with that scenario. You've seen what you've seen. I've seen what I've seen.
Just leave it as that. Or agree to disagree. 👍

[abc3643]

LOL...
Believe it or not, at the end of the 1970s, many people were feeling that way which is why Ronald Reagan won in a landslide in 1980 and again in 1984. He gave people the illusion that we could go back to life before the 1960s and 1970s.

[A_Bell]

I love modern feminine products, air conditioning and being able to own property too much for that nonsense.

[NathanDavis]

because most people who say they want it... never really had it

[exitseven]

It would be a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want t olive there.

[Sasahara]

To be able to watch tv shows and movies Disney has made and for whatever reason refuses to rerelease.

[Sour-rose]

Good question. Me and my mom wasn't born by then but I know it would UNBELIEVABLY SUCK. Like... unBELIEVABLY.

[loveslongnails]

If I could invest in the companies I knew would become huge moneymakers, I'd be rich! LOL

[Kelly6]

only if could also take my money with me to invest in stocks lol

[Bklynbadboy12]

The problem now a days is people don't give a fuck anymore the put all of their business out there and try to force there life choices on you

[Friendlybro79]

This is really interesting @Bklynbadboy12. You're so right that people are like this today. Social media def helped this happen because everyone has a voice and stupidly even worse is that everyone thinks they're important and need to be heard. The 90s were not perfect but I miss the f out of the 90s lol.

[Bklynbadboy12]

@Friendlybro79 I agree you hit that nail right on the head

[Fireguy17]

it was a much simpler times, better cars, great music, people had more respect for each other, same with the 60s.

[nawtee_me]

As a child of the 60's it was a much simpler time...

[AviatorTom]

Why would anyone want to go back to any time? Because it's there.

[DizzyDesii]

As a black person, no lmao

[Anonymous]

Unless you’re white, Christian and male, there wouldn’t be a benefit for anyone to do that.

[Losalt]

To be fair, there's quite a few white christian females who would consider the gender roles at the time as a advantage for *them*.
Society was built around women being housewives so men had wages that the family could live of, in part because labour was in higher demand without women in the workforce (and in the case of the US unions where stronger then).
And since women where generally at home a house wife wouldn't be as alone there during the day as they are now, so better for their mental health too. In other words I'm for women that *want* that lifestyle that time *is* preferable.

Otherwise, yes I absolutely agree.

[the_sinner]

Jobs were abundant back then, comparatively less populated cities, less pollution, less harmful technologies.

[CuriousMufuxka]

To steal back the sports almanac and win millions! Really I wouldn't. No wifi? I'm out.

[FifiJones]

Sex for pregnancy anywhere one would like it.

[Agape93]

No idea. I'd rather blow my head off.

[GreekLorrd]

Probably see Elvis one more time :D

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I would not want to go back to the 50s.

[Anonymous]

honestly yes just to get away from this hellhole of a time

[Andres77]

It wasn't like that for everyone.

[supercutebutt]

For the poodle skirts.

[Dreamclouds]

Pretty much for the clothes and hairstyles

[Amur8711]

That sounds more like today than then.

[Guardian45]

Too good to be true 1950s!

[Lookitsmadmax1994]

Absolutely. To see how it was.

[gagfriend]

Maybe they like old times

[eagle1951]

was a better time