Was life in Britain better twenty years ago?
Poll: Was life in Britain better twenty years ago?
Total Members Polled: 331
Discussion
I actually voted no, because generally thinking things were better in the 'good old days' is pure rose tinted nostalgia. It's easy to look as the distractions we have now, phones, tablets, 4k telly etc, but you don't have to have them and it's not like they inject you with drugs to addict you, we have them because we want to have them.
but I've changed my mind. 20 years of course puts us at 1999, okay I was 20. Young and carefree which always makes thing seem better, but the late 90s was a bit a sweet spot in recent western history and especially so in the UK.
1999 was:
Post Cold War, so you knew with some confidence that you weren't going to be vaporised without warning because some nameless Solder fired a shot at another across the Berlin Wall which escalated into the US and USSR lobbing ICBMs at each other and us.
Post Troubles, so you knew with some confidence that you weren't going to be blown to bits without warning because of terrible things that happened hundreds of years ago and the bloody feud that followed.
Pre 9/11, so you knew with some confidence that the people who hated you in the Middle East because of all the things that the West had done to them over oil and religion were a long way away and anyway, they were too busy trying to kill each other to turn up on your local high street with a Soviet era anti-aircraft gun mounted to the back of a Hilux, remember the first Desert Storm? It was so quick and easy you might wonder if war was all a bit outdated and boring now.
Economically we were on a upward trend that went on to be the longest in British history.
And we were a lot more carefree back then, we knew about Acid Rain, we knew the rain forests were being cut down and we knew about climate change, but they were just problems to be fixed, we switched to unleaded, banned CFCs and starting recycling the odd thing - jobbed. No one cared about flying too much, fuel was cheaper.
Motoring wise we'd passed peak joy riding and you could insure fast stuff again, cars were advanced enough with ECUs that you knew they'd always start go and stop, but they were analogue enough you felt part of the process. Mercedes aside, they no longer rusted the first time it rained.
but I've changed my mind. 20 years of course puts us at 1999, okay I was 20. Young and carefree which always makes thing seem better, but the late 90s was a bit a sweet spot in recent western history and especially so in the UK.
1999 was:
Post Cold War, so you knew with some confidence that you weren't going to be vaporised without warning because some nameless Solder fired a shot at another across the Berlin Wall which escalated into the US and USSR lobbing ICBMs at each other and us.
Post Troubles, so you knew with some confidence that you weren't going to be blown to bits without warning because of terrible things that happened hundreds of years ago and the bloody feud that followed.
Pre 9/11, so you knew with some confidence that the people who hated you in the Middle East because of all the things that the West had done to them over oil and religion were a long way away and anyway, they were too busy trying to kill each other to turn up on your local high street with a Soviet era anti-aircraft gun mounted to the back of a Hilux, remember the first Desert Storm? It was so quick and easy you might wonder if war was all a bit outdated and boring now.
Economically we were on a upward trend that went on to be the longest in British history.
And we were a lot more carefree back then, we knew about Acid Rain, we knew the rain forests were being cut down and we knew about climate change, but they were just problems to be fixed, we switched to unleaded, banned CFCs and starting recycling the odd thing - jobbed. No one cared about flying too much, fuel was cheaper.
Motoring wise we'd passed peak joy riding and you could insure fast stuff again, cars were advanced enough with ECUs that you knew they'd always start go and stop, but they were analogue enough you felt part of the process. Mercedes aside, they no longer rusted the first time it rained.
I think it depends on which aspect of life you're referring to. In general, I think life is better now than it was twenty years ago.
In specific areas such as dating and relationships, I think that has become much tougher for men and women. The deregulation of the sexual marketplace and the rise in online dating apps is supposed to have helped us but in reality it's made life much worse for both parties.
Motoring has become worse too. Speed cameras and roadworks absolutely everywhere and bad congestion - even in more remote areas such as Scotland and Wales!
In specific areas such as dating and relationships, I think that has become much tougher for men and women. The deregulation of the sexual marketplace and the rise in online dating apps is supposed to have helped us but in reality it's made life much worse for both parties.
Motoring has become worse too. Speed cameras and roadworks absolutely everywhere and bad congestion - even in more remote areas such as Scotland and Wales!
Mort7 said:
HairyMaclary said:
I was on 33kbs dial up 20 years ago. Now I have a 100mb line. 
Do you mean your porn downloads quicker now? Our (My Dads) first modern was 2.4Kbs. Though that was much more than 20years ago.
Napster and the torrents were completely unchecked 20yrs ago.
The way the poll is going comes as no surprise to me. IMO, the last two decades have seen the enforcing of opinions going far too far.
If I don't like or hate something, I'll say so. But often, I can't because I must bow to the opinions of others.
Note that I don't start an 'action group' and try to raise awareness. Nor do I seek the imposition of legislation to ban or control the particular aspect of life.
Why? Because many years ago, I grew out of telling teacher/mum/dad etc in order to get my own way.
For example, f
k off.
The defence rests.
If I don't like or hate something, I'll say so. But often, I can't because I must bow to the opinions of others.
Note that I don't start an 'action group' and try to raise awareness. Nor do I seek the imposition of legislation to ban or control the particular aspect of life.
Why? Because many years ago, I grew out of telling teacher/mum/dad etc in order to get my own way.
For example, f
k off.The defence rests.
davhill said:
The way the poll is going comes as no surprise to me. IMO, the last two decades have seen the enforcing of opinions going far too far.
If I don't like or hate something, I'll say so. But often, I can't because I must bow to the opinions of others.
Note that I don't start an 'action group' and try to raise awareness. Nor do I seek the imposition of legislation to ban or control the particular aspect of life.
Why? Because many years ago, I grew out of telling teacher/mum/dad etc in order to get my own way.
For example, fk off.
The defence rests.
Why must you bow to the opinions of others?If I don't like or hate something, I'll say so. But often, I can't because I must bow to the opinions of others.
Note that I don't start an 'action group' and try to raise awareness. Nor do I seek the imposition of legislation to ban or control the particular aspect of life.
Why? Because many years ago, I grew out of telling teacher/mum/dad etc in order to get my own way.
For example, f
k off.The defence rests.
I certainly won't.
Back then we were living with the very real threat of the millenium bug. Boxster sales took off as software programmers throughout the thames valley provided solutions to this worrying threat.
Thankfully we also had 100ft high Gail porter on the houses of parliament to help us through this difficult time.
I think the cars look better back then, but (of course) not as technologically advanced, fast, safe. But not as bloated.
The roads were quieter too, from my memory. But now we have very clever traffic manageement tech. And no lead in the petrol. And evrey car has aircon as standard. We forget what its like to get a hot car and not be able to do much about it.
Thankfully we also had 100ft high Gail porter on the houses of parliament to help us through this difficult time.
I think the cars look better back then, but (of course) not as technologically advanced, fast, safe. But not as bloated.
The roads were quieter too, from my memory. But now we have very clever traffic manageement tech. And no lead in the petrol. And evrey car has aircon as standard. We forget what its like to get a hot car and not be able to do much about it.
Down and out said:
Why must you bow to the opinions of others?
I certainly won't.
I was vilified for being racist for quoting from a 301-year-old patent. James Puckle invented a gun that could fire both round shot and square projectiles . Puckle said that the latter were to be shot at Turkish Moslems, to teach them the benefits of a Christian upbringing. I certainly won't.
It was verifiable fact vs opinion and it stopped me contributing to the Facebook group concerned.
davhill said:
If I don't like or hate something, I'll say so. But often, I can't because I must bow to the opinions of others.
Curious. What opinions do you feel unable to express these days?I presume you aren't talking about pizza toppings. But if you are, and you're going to say anchovies, then you can f
k right off. williamp said:
Back then we were living with the very real threat of the millenium bug. Boxster sales took off as software programmers throughout the thames valley provided solutions to this worrying threat.
Thankfully we also had 100ft high Gail porter on the houses of parliament to help us through this difficult time.
I think the cars look better back then, but (of course) not as technologically advanced, fast, safe. But not as bloated.
The roads were quieter too, from my memory. But now we have very clever traffic manageement tech. And no lead in the petrol. And evrey car has aircon as standard. We forget what its like to get a hot car and not be able to do much about it.
Not all cars have A/C as standard, when we had that really hot spell last year?, we were invited to a family party in Essex, me, Nicky, her brother and his wife.Thankfully we also had 100ft high Gail porter on the houses of parliament to help us through this difficult time.
I think the cars look better back then, but (of course) not as technologically advanced, fast, safe. But not as bloated.
The roads were quieter too, from my memory. But now we have very clever traffic manageement tech. And no lead in the petrol. And evrey car has aircon as standard. We forget what its like to get a hot car and not be able to do much about it.
Sister-in-law was happy to stick to Coca-Cola, so suggested going in her Nissan Micra, but I volunteered Nicky to drive her Peugeot 2008, (with A/C) down there, and SIL could drive it back, as it is insured for any driver.
She demurred at that, concerned at possibly denting the 2008, so we had to suffer the no A/C Micra there and back in temps of 27c to 28c,
20 years ago things were different but not really better or worse.
You get a lot of people whinging cause they cant afford a house, surely if this was the case no one would be buying them and the price would drop. I had to find a 20% deposit and borrow 4 times my earnings for a 1 bed flat in 1985.
Information is far easier to get these days, but does that make the world a better place or does it just mean we get opinions from uneducated people rather than facts written down by people who know?
Engineering is better in all ways, and things just tend to work. this was not the case 20 years ago. But is there too much technology? do you need an app to control your washing machine?
Personally my life is much easier than 20 years ago, I earnt well in the 90's and 00's so now don't have to work. Where as in the 90's I worked long hours and travelled with work too much, in the 00's I worked hard with less travel. In the 10's I had work life balance under control.
My life is better, and that's all i care about really.
You get a lot of people whinging cause they cant afford a house, surely if this was the case no one would be buying them and the price would drop. I had to find a 20% deposit and borrow 4 times my earnings for a 1 bed flat in 1985.
Information is far easier to get these days, but does that make the world a better place or does it just mean we get opinions from uneducated people rather than facts written down by people who know?
Engineering is better in all ways, and things just tend to work. this was not the case 20 years ago. But is there too much technology? do you need an app to control your washing machine?
Personally my life is much easier than 20 years ago, I earnt well in the 90's and 00's so now don't have to work. Where as in the 90's I worked long hours and travelled with work too much, in the 00's I worked hard with less travel. In the 10's I had work life balance under control.
My life is better, and that's all i care about really.
I have reluctantly voted Yes, as I am not generally someone who is reactionary and backward-looking.
Britain was definitely a more united and socially cohesive country 20 years ago than it is today.
Brexit is a disastrous mistake and has proved horribly divisive in many ways. Old vs young. University educated vs non-graduates. Scotland vs England. White vs non-white. London vs the rest of the country. Sadly, the worst may be yet to come. It is hard to see how Brexit will not result in the break-up of the U.K., one way or another.
We also have to look at the causes of Brexit. Inequality, globalisation and neoliberalism were huge factors, but we also have to acknowledge that the pace of social change caused by immigration was much too fast for many communities, and lack of integration among some immigrant groups caused widespread resentment which was ignored and dismissed for far too long. We reap what we sow.
Britain was definitely a more united and socially cohesive country 20 years ago than it is today.
Brexit is a disastrous mistake and has proved horribly divisive in many ways. Old vs young. University educated vs non-graduates. Scotland vs England. White vs non-white. London vs the rest of the country. Sadly, the worst may be yet to come. It is hard to see how Brexit will not result in the break-up of the U.K., one way or another.
We also have to look at the causes of Brexit. Inequality, globalisation and neoliberalism were huge factors, but we also have to acknowledge that the pace of social change caused by immigration was much too fast for many communities, and lack of integration among some immigrant groups caused widespread resentment which was ignored and dismissed for far too long. We reap what we sow.
It was good times.
The main ones for me:
Affordable and attainable mortgages
Not being blown up because of northern ireland or 9/11 type terrorism worries.
Decent exciting cars coming off the production line, computerised enough but not too troublesome.
Less speed cameras, less traffic, no average speed cameras.
The world felt a safer certain place.
I don't think we knew how good it was
The main ones for me:
Affordable and attainable mortgages
Not being blown up because of northern ireland or 9/11 type terrorism worries.
Decent exciting cars coming off the production line, computerised enough but not too troublesome.
Less speed cameras, less traffic, no average speed cameras.
The world felt a safer certain place.
I don't think we knew how good it was
I remember 1999 like it was yesterday. It was the year I left school. Nu Metal was the big thing, Slipknot released their debut album. Got my exam results that summer. Passed my driving test the year after.
Was it better than now?
In some ways I'd say yes, but that surely is influenced by your age at the time. I was 16 years old. I had no worries at all. I used to stomp around in my baggy jeans listening to my walkman, whereas now I'm 36 with two young kids with a mortgage to pay. Still stomp around in baggy jeans listening to nu metal however. It was better because I just had to care about myself. I don't really remember watching the news or anything like that, I was just in my own bubble. I also recall it as a fairly lonely period in my life too. Wasn't a massively sociable person then and we didn't have the easy communication that we do now, so consequently I didn't stay in touch with anyone I went to school with. Just a couple of close friends from outside of school, who I'm still friendly with to this day. Days used to be spent playing football or skating.
As mentioned, I'm now 36, run a house and have 2 young kids who I adore but in my head I still feel like that 16 year old. In some ways it's better, the advent of technology for example is a big plus. I can now stream pretty much any album I want to listen to at the touch of a button. I can find out anything I want to with a few clicks, but in a way we're bombarded with far too much information at all times. I only have a Facebook account and I'd dearly love to do away with it, but it's a great tool for keeping in touch with others. I'd miss so much without it. Slipknot are about to release their 6th studio album and the hype around it is huge. This new mask, that snippet of info. Back in 1999 we got one teaser on a free CD and a review of the album. Sometimes I wish we could go back to that simpler time.
I've rambled off on a tangent, sorry.
Was it better than now?
In some ways I'd say yes, but that surely is influenced by your age at the time. I was 16 years old. I had no worries at all. I used to stomp around in my baggy jeans listening to my walkman, whereas now I'm 36 with two young kids with a mortgage to pay. Still stomp around in baggy jeans listening to nu metal however. It was better because I just had to care about myself. I don't really remember watching the news or anything like that, I was just in my own bubble. I also recall it as a fairly lonely period in my life too. Wasn't a massively sociable person then and we didn't have the easy communication that we do now, so consequently I didn't stay in touch with anyone I went to school with. Just a couple of close friends from outside of school, who I'm still friendly with to this day. Days used to be spent playing football or skating.
As mentioned, I'm now 36, run a house and have 2 young kids who I adore but in my head I still feel like that 16 year old. In some ways it's better, the advent of technology for example is a big plus. I can now stream pretty much any album I want to listen to at the touch of a button. I can find out anything I want to with a few clicks, but in a way we're bombarded with far too much information at all times. I only have a Facebook account and I'd dearly love to do away with it, but it's a great tool for keeping in touch with others. I'd miss so much without it. Slipknot are about to release their 6th studio album and the hype around it is huge. This new mask, that snippet of info. Back in 1999 we got one teaser on a free CD and a review of the album. Sometimes I wish we could go back to that simpler time.
I've rambled off on a tangent, sorry.
Bradgate said:
I have reluctantly voted Yes, as I am not generally someone who is reactionary and backward-looking.
Britain was definitely a more united and socially cohesive country 20 years ago than it is today.
Brexit is a disastrous mistake and has proved horribly divisive in many ways. Old vs young. University educated vs non-graduates. Scotland vs England. White vs non-white. London vs the rest of the country. Sadly, the worst may be yet to come. It is hard to see how Brexit will not result in the break-up of the U.K., one way or another.
We also have to look at the causes of Brexit. Inequality, globalisation and neoliberalism were huge factors, but we also have to acknowledge that the pace of social change caused by immigration was much too fast for many communities, and lack of integration among some immigrant groups caused widespread resentment which was ignored and dismissed for far too long. We reap what we sow.
Without wanting to turn this into a Brexit thread, I can pretty much use common sense and say once we leave, within a few months things will continue pretty much as normal.Britain was definitely a more united and socially cohesive country 20 years ago than it is today.
Brexit is a disastrous mistake and has proved horribly divisive in many ways. Old vs young. University educated vs non-graduates. Scotland vs England. White vs non-white. London vs the rest of the country. Sadly, the worst may be yet to come. It is hard to see how Brexit will not result in the break-up of the U.K., one way or another.
We also have to look at the causes of Brexit. Inequality, globalisation and neoliberalism were huge factors, but we also have to acknowledge that the pace of social change caused by immigration was much too fast for many communities, and lack of integration among some immigrant groups caused widespread resentment which was ignored and dismissed for far too long. We reap what we sow.
Despite all the dire warnings propaganda things will just crack on, business and cash always win.
What interests me about this thread is the choice of a mere 20 years as a significant marker. I suppose it reflects the Pistonheads demographic.
I am 70 now, and 20 years ago still seems pretty recent to me. When you are younger you might cast your mind back and get the years mixed up. I confuse the decades now!
Discuss 50 years ago and I would have plenty to contribute. Go back just 20 and all I would be able to think of would be mobile phones and social media. Both negatives in my opinion. The Internet, as a broader concept is an positive opportunity so far not realised.
My verdict on 50 years ago? It was great!
I am 70 now, and 20 years ago still seems pretty recent to me. When you are younger you might cast your mind back and get the years mixed up. I confuse the decades now!
Discuss 50 years ago and I would have plenty to contribute. Go back just 20 and all I would be able to think of would be mobile phones and social media. Both negatives in my opinion. The Internet, as a broader concept is an positive opportunity so far not realised.
My verdict on 50 years ago? It was great!
Compared with 20yrs ago;
Good;
Internet has resulted in easy access to masses of information.
Easy to stay in touch with people.
Medical science improved.
Vehicles substantially better.
Bad;
Multiculralism has failed/is failing.
Music is awful.
Pub scene has died.
SJW's, offence merchants everywhere.
Social discourse is falling apart.
Narcicism has become an epidemic.
High Street dying.
People more connected but less connected.
In essence, my own life is better now in terms of progress, but I don't think wider society is in a better place at all.
Good;
Internet has resulted in easy access to masses of information.
Easy to stay in touch with people.
Medical science improved.
Vehicles substantially better.
Bad;
Multiculralism has failed/is failing.
Music is awful.
Pub scene has died.
SJW's, offence merchants everywhere.
Social discourse is falling apart.
Narcicism has become an epidemic.
High Street dying.
People more connected but less connected.
In essence, my own life is better now in terms of progress, but I don't think wider society is in a better place at all.
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