Were the 60's and 70's a better time to be alive?

Question

Were people generally happier in the sixties/seventies?

And if they were why do you think that was?

Answer 1

The sixties really were a good time to be a young person (late teens, early twenties), because we were, for the first time since the austere aftermath of WW2, experiencing a remarkable upsurge in personal freedom. We could go away with our gf/bf without clashing with parents; afford to buy a reasonable car or motorcycle (and to run it with fuel at around 25/35p per UK gallon!); go abroad for vacations; take advantage of new education opportunities (we had grants for degree courses and not loans); a young couple could buy a house for between 1000 and 2500 UKP; we did not have to worry about speed cameras (no upper speed limit until the 70 MPH came in in the late sixties, and I can still recall the first time hitting 100 MPH on my new Triumph Tiger 110!); no radar speed traps; almost no unemployment; a lot fewer serious crimes (some one getting shot was almost unheard of ); hospitals were places where you were made well and not given MRSA - mainly because a proper matron was in charge; really good hi-fi (Quad, Leake, etc), was available, and groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were entering the scene. You could get an excellent 'businessman's/student's' lunch at your local Chinese restaurant for around 25p (+5p for coffee!), and buying a round of beer for your friends did not require a mortgage, unlike today. Those who were without their own transport had a choice of trains or buses - even to small, widely spaced villages. Fares were cheap, too, and buses really were a service, rather than a profiteering, limited hours offering like they are today. And we blokes were delighted at the girls' fashions in the 60's - mini skirts, hot pants, etc...! And we were fit, too, not only because some of us had been in the armed forces, but because sport was a popular recreational _participating_ activity. Groups of us used to go swimmng regularly, too. Clubbing was unheard of, but local dances were excellent. Sometimes we actually held girls close when we danced, unlike the 'every body jumping around on their own' of today! Drugs (unless in the bigger cities, where even then the problem was insignificant), were something you got from the doctor or a pharmacy. Life really was fun - and safer. Even the so called Teddy Boys, and Mods and Rockers were almost innocents compared with the gun and knife weilding thugs of today. The only shadow hanging over our lives was the spectre of nuclear war - but, hell, you couldn't do much about that, so why worry!
Every body tends to look back on their youth with nostalgia, and through the proverbial rose tinted spectacles, but I think you will find that those who were young in the sixties, and seeing how things are now, are probably very glad they lived in that period. I am!

[Sorry about waffling on, but your question really made me think for the first time about that era.]

Answer 2

The 70's were great - fun music, proper night clubs, a feeling of community spirit even in the power cuts, no mobile phones etc to stress you out, offices were good places to work and more laid back, people cared about others, murders made front page news, fashion was funky, and people generally seemed a lot happier with less.

Answer 3

No it isn't a myth! You're just rapped up in this materialistic society and even though we didn't have all of these materials, we still knew how to relax and be happy rather than staying mad. Today's society has all of these things and still angry with the world. At least back then, we fought for our rights instead of living our lives as bitter, angry people.

Answer 4

I remember the 70s and yes I had a happy childhood, but I also remember my mum saying how much better it was when she was a child in the 40's (yes even though there was a war on!).

Just wait until the year 2050 and I'm sure you'll be saying how much better things were in the 'noughties!'

Those rose tinted glasses are great.

Answer 5

They were times of tension with the cold war, industrial disputes, rascism etc but there was an overwhelming feeling of optimism and positivity in the youth led movements (flower power, women's lib, civil rights etc) that meant that people really thought that they could change the world for the better. I think that feeling has gone.

Answer 6

Now a days you have more money lots more freedom
in those days mum and dad said in at ten and you had to be
If a girl said no that was it,
Pubs would not let you in ill you were eighteen
No cafes like you have now
Hardly any stations on TV that's if you could afford one
Coal fires no central heating,draughty housing.
Low wages,unions made you go out on strike.
No you have it made nowadays

Answer 7

I think so. It was a more exciting time. Anti-war movement, civil rights movement, the moon race, less government intrusion in our lives, much better pay for the average worker, less greed by the rich & powerful, better & more creative music, And more freedom. Wish I was there!

Answer 8

I think they were happier. There was not as much crime...children were definately freer....we roamed all over without any problems. There was not as much emphasis on education so less pressure there and people expected less in life...these days young people want everything now.

Answer 9

I liked the 80's, Big Hair, we all had money, Rock and Roll, heavy metal, Alternative,cocaine everywhere, cool cars (hot rods came back) party city man !

Answer 10

unfortunately although i was there i don't remember a hell of a lot of it! I know that the underlying sense of violence was,not around then,we cant turn back time but we can all work towards a better world than the one we have now