Discussion
I don't generally pass on these email type observation things, but this one appealed:
I Can't Believe We Made It!
If you lived as a child in the 40's, 50's, 60's or 70's, looking
back, it's hard to believe that we have lived as long as we have...
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a ute [???] on a warm day was always a special treat.
Our cots were covered with bright colored lead-based paint. We had
no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cupboards, and
when we rode our bikes we had no helmets.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors.
We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then ride
down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running
into the bushes a few times we learned to solve the problem.
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we
were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day.
No mobile phones. Unthinkable.
We got cut and broke bones and broke teeth, and there were no law suits from
these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame, but us.
Remember accidents?
We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get
over it.
We ate patty cakes, bread and butter, and drank cordial, but we were
never overweight...we were always outside playing. We shared one
drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one died from this.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, video games, 65
channels on pay TV, video tape movies, surround sound, personal mobile phones,
Personal Computers, Internet chat rooms ... we had friends. We went outside
and found them. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the
door, or rung the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.
Imagine such a thing. Without asking a parent! By ourselves! Out there in the
cold cruel world! Without a guardian - how did we do it?
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and ate worms, and although we
were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did
the worms live inside us forever.
Footy and netball had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those
who didn't, had to learn to deal with disappointment.....
Some students weren't as smart as others so they failed a grade and
were held back to repeat the same grade. Tests were not adjusted for any reason.
Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. No one to hide behind.
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard
of. They actually sided with the law - imagine that!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and
problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years has been an
explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and
responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
And you're one of them. Congratulations!
If you feel inclined pass this on to others who have had the luck to
grow up as kids, before lawyers and government regulated our
lives....... for our own good......
So true - when I was a kid I used to have a bath once a week - sometimes two if I had been gardening with my Dad. Also it is not that long ago that you had to get out of your chair to turn the TV to a different channel.
Forgot to mention - anyone see that programme on BBC2 last night where a women went to a dinner party at a private house and fell through the chair - slightly grazing herself? She tried to sue the host. They settled out of court for £200 - worrying.
>> Edited by Big_M on Thursday 5th December 08:46
Forgot to mention - anyone see that programme on BBC2 last night where a women went to a dinner party at a private house and fell through the chair - slightly grazing herself? She tried to sue the host. They settled out of court for £200 - worrying.
>> Edited by Big_M on Thursday 5th December 08:46
I agree with this, I am really worried that my son will spend his life in front of a computer eating shit food and becoming lardy.. Oh hang on thats my life.
On a more serious note, what is.
A) The worst injury you ever sustained on a pushbike, skateboard, sledge or something not involving traffic?
B) The best ever go kart you or your dad made?
I have two answers to A) The first was on my Rally Command which had tyres like those you would see on a chopper back wheel, it sheer sidewalls with no tread at all, hence you lean over and fall off. I managed this one day (I was 6, Jesus thats 28 years ago) bounced down the road on my face and managed to stick my teeth right through my lip. I was very, very upset..
A couple of years later I was cycling into the garage when the door blew doen, luckily I stopped it with my face! In a comedic sort of way the bike continued into the garage leaging me on the floor with a very broken nose.
B) Go karts, I built many, they were all great fun, they all nearly cost me my life when the TVR like built quality let them down!
D.
On a more serious note, what is.
A) The worst injury you ever sustained on a pushbike, skateboard, sledge or something not involving traffic?
B) The best ever go kart you or your dad made?
I have two answers to A) The first was on my Rally Command which had tyres like those you would see on a chopper back wheel, it sheer sidewalls with no tread at all, hence you lean over and fall off. I managed this one day (I was 6, Jesus thats 28 years ago) bounced down the road on my face and managed to stick my teeth right through my lip. I was very, very upset..
A couple of years later I was cycling into the garage when the door blew doen, luckily I stopped it with my face! In a comedic sort of way the bike continued into the garage leaging me on the floor with a very broken nose.
B) Go karts, I built many, they were all great fun, they all nearly cost me my life when the TVR like built quality let them down!
D.
- used to eat garden worms tho' instead of throwing them to the chickens
(A) I've had more pushbike related accidents in recent years than I ever had as a kid... 
(B) Dad was a bit too good at this engineering lark to let us out with a dodgy gokart, so no crashes due to mechanical malfunctions or missing parts (brakes!)
However...
(C) Sledges. Wonderful sledges. So much more scope for mayhem: brakes? what brakes? steering? that's for puffs!
The last incarnation of the family sledge was an absolute beast. Probably weighed twice as much as me & my brother combined (and that's saying something) and had lovely smooth metal runners. Overall effect is that it wouldn't stop for anything... Had several heart in mouth moments when we ran out of hill & carried on across roads, ponds, through snowmen etc etc
Them were the days... :rosetintedsmiley:
(B) Dad was a bit too good at this engineering lark to let us out with a dodgy gokart, so no crashes due to mechanical malfunctions or missing parts (brakes!)
However...
(C) Sledges. Wonderful sledges. So much more scope for mayhem: brakes? what brakes? steering? that's for puffs!
The last incarnation of the family sledge was an absolute beast. Probably weighed twice as much as me & my brother combined (and that's saying something) and had lovely smooth metal runners. Overall effect is that it wouldn't stop for anything... Had several heart in mouth moments when we ran out of hill & carried on across roads, ponds, through snowmen etc etc
Them were the days... :rosetintedsmiley:
A) Head down, as you do, to achieve maximum acceleration on my bike I managed to ride straight into the back of a parked Austin Cambridge (made even funnier - in retrospect - by the fact that it was a dead straight piece of road and I hit the car exactly in the middle of the rear bumper). Thankfully damage was limited to snapped
davidd said: A) The worst injury you ever sustained on a pushbike, skateboard, sledge or something not involving traffic?
B) The best ever go kart you or your dad made?
front forks on the bike and a dented ego; my friends cycling alongside rated it as good value though. 
B) My lovingly crafted go-cart towed a wooden box trailer in which I mounted a car battery to power the car spot lights and indicators on the cart. Unfortunately I had only used telephone cable to wire everything up so it all disappeared within two seconds of turning on in a plume of acrid black smoke. However, it proves that you need to live a little to learn.
Ah the memories - that go-cart even had a custom built rear wing to provide additional downforce.
too many cycling accidents to mention - all without a crash helmet..
Skinned just about every part of my body at one time or another, and blacked out once falling off a BMX on a jump..
but agree with the sentiment - I was never to be found watching telly, we were always in the park 'exploring'
Skinned just about every part of my body at one time or another, and blacked out once falling off a BMX on a jump..
but agree with the sentiment - I was never to be found watching telly, we were always in the park 'exploring'
Know what they mean about the go-karts. Round the back of the flats where I lived up to the age of 11 was a huge railway embankment with the tracks removed. It was filthy, covered in coal, bits of wood, pram wheels. So we made go-karts out of the debris and careered them down this 50-foot bank. Must have been mad! But what fun...
When I was five I fell off the scaffolding of our house-to-be which was my playground, landed on the joists 10 feet below and just cut my lip!
Used to spend ages on a home made raft on the gravel pits behind us, place was full of quicksand and huge piles of sand to jump off.
My childhood was full of dangers and so much fun.
My question is, how do you let kids nowadays have the same kind of experiences without going insane. I am tempted to run behing my daughter (8) all the time she is on her horse and to dress her up like a Michelin man every time she rides the quad.
My parents must have been so laid back, or maybe they had another agenda :-)
Nick
Used to spend ages on a home made raft on the gravel pits behind us, place was full of quicksand and huge piles of sand to jump off.
My childhood was full of dangers and so much fun.
My question is, how do you let kids nowadays have the same kind of experiences without going insane. I am tempted to run behing my daughter (8) all the time she is on her horse and to dress her up like a Michelin man every time she rides the quad.
My parents must have been so laid back, or maybe they had another agenda :-)
Nick
I was riding my Raleigh Grifter at the grand old age of seven, down my village high street as fast as I could when I decide to turn right.
Without looking. Into a Cavalier.
Ground, Sky, Big Sky, Van, Sky, Ground.
No injuuries. One very flat Grifter.
On the Kart side of things, I never had enough wheels, and a three wheeled karts was just sooooo uncool.
Now the sledge, what do ya need a sledge for.
Whats wrong with a coal sack.
Until you hit a sharp stone, that is...
Without looking. Into a Cavalier.
Ground, Sky, Big Sky, Van, Sky, Ground.
No injuuries. One very flat Grifter.
On the Kart side of things, I never had enough wheels, and a three wheeled karts was just sooooo uncool.
Now the sledge, what do ya need a sledge for.
Whats wrong with a coal sack.
Until you hit a sharp stone, that is...
SAme stroy just replace Austin Cambrigde with Marina (on Torquay Sea front)
jeremyc said: A) Head down, as you do, to achieve maximum acceleration on my bike I managed to ride straight into the back of a parked Austin Cambridge (made even funnier - in retrospect - by the fact that it was a dead straight piece of road and I hit the car exactly in the middle of the rear bumper). Thankfully damage was limited to snapped
davidd said: A) The worst injury you ever sustained on a pushbike, skateboard, sledge or something not involving traffic?
There was a big area of tarmac car park in Hyde Park some 18 years ago, all roped off at around 4 foot high to make a longer queuing system (or something like that). I was riding my bike between and under these ropes and having a proper laugh.
Right until I forgot to duck under a rope
One slightly crushed windpipe, rope-burn and assorted grazes later, I went home veeeery slowly.
Such fond memories.
Running thru peoples back gardens in the pitch black, climbing trees to pinch the apples (who the hell plants cooking apple trees anyway???), Knocky nine doors.
I try to remember the freedom we had as children when my kids ask me if they can go out. Its hard to dismiss the dangers that you know are there and let them find out for themselves. You have to trust your ability to teach them right from wrong, be wary of strangers and to look both ways while crossing the road.
BTW, a ute is an australian pickup truck usually found on the outback sheep farms.
Running thru peoples back gardens in the pitch black, climbing trees to pinch the apples (who the hell plants cooking apple trees anyway???), Knocky nine doors.
I try to remember the freedom we had as children when my kids ask me if they can go out. Its hard to dismiss the dangers that you know are there and let them find out for themselves. You have to trust your ability to teach them right from wrong, be wary of strangers and to look both ways while crossing the road.
BTW, a ute is an australian pickup truck usually found on the outback sheep farms.
mungo said: Did anyone ever play "Knock and run"?
Ahh knock down ginger as it was known round my way - oh yes! That and tieing cotton to peoples door knockers to knock from afar!
I'm with Jeremy though on childhood cycling accidents. Down a massive hill on my Chopper (steady at the back), knee down, round the corner, straight into the back of a Citroen van! Ouch!
Its true though, parents didnt seem to worry back in our day and also back then parents used to give their kids presents that would be looked on today as mad. Guns, knives, chemistry sets with proper chemicals, toolboxes with proper (if small scale) tools.
Matt.
mungo said: Like Plotloss says, wasn't it cool that we all had proper chemistry sets and an arsenal of toy guns!
We used to play "war" to.... "I SHOT YOU FIRST!!".... "NO YOU DIDN'T, I made the 'dadadadadadada' noise and you didn't!".... "Yeah but my gun has got a sound effect I didn't need to, my guns BETTER than yours!".... "I'll set my brother on you...."
So things haven't changed much, then...
Looking back at toys and my injuries;
Chemistry sets/chemicals in general - Bomb that blew up early and sliced my brotehrs hand open and splattered mine and his face in burning residue. No real harm
Petrol - lost eyebrows, and a bit of hair plus burn lips and neck.
Bikes - normal array of cuts, bruises, and being winded very badly.
Radio controlled cars - cuts etc (except at school where kids used to tape compasses to the front and drive at people, never got hit though, thank god)
Radio controlled planes/ gliders - nice scar on fingers from cutting down to bone with propeller.
Catapults - just lots of bruises
Airrifles/ Shotguns - No injuries always very carefull with guns
Electrics - Couple of shocks
Building stuff - black eye from walking into scaffold plank(Doh) and a few lost nails from hammers / paving slabs.
However, I have never broken a bone or ever done anything that as needed hospital treatment, but I have learn a hell of a lot, I know how to do most things I ever want to do and have an understanding about most of the others.
As a kid I never got overweight I have a healthy appitite to do things have tried just about anything and I believe am, a lot better for it. The only drawbacks are as an 'Adult' I like things that go fast, bank, are dangerous or have an element of adventure. I also like making things work or taking them apart then getting them to work again. I have also probebly saved thousands by doing things myself.
Now if my parents hadn't lived near the fields and gave me an atari (which I did get eventually but hardly ever used)I would probebly be a totally different person.
MY this is a long post for me, must pretend to do some work.
Chemistry sets/chemicals in general - Bomb that blew up early and sliced my brotehrs hand open and splattered mine and his face in burning residue. No real harm
Petrol - lost eyebrows, and a bit of hair plus burn lips and neck.
Bikes - normal array of cuts, bruises, and being winded very badly.
Radio controlled cars - cuts etc (except at school where kids used to tape compasses to the front and drive at people, never got hit though, thank god)
Radio controlled planes/ gliders - nice scar on fingers from cutting down to bone with propeller.
Catapults - just lots of bruises
Airrifles/ Shotguns - No injuries always very carefull with guns
Electrics - Couple of shocks
Building stuff - black eye from walking into scaffold plank(Doh) and a few lost nails from hammers / paving slabs.
However, I have never broken a bone or ever done anything that as needed hospital treatment, but I have learn a hell of a lot, I know how to do most things I ever want to do and have an understanding about most of the others.
As a kid I never got overweight I have a healthy appitite to do things have tried just about anything and I believe am, a lot better for it. The only drawbacks are as an 'Adult' I like things that go fast, bank, are dangerous or have an element of adventure. I also like making things work or taking them apart then getting them to work again. I have also probebly saved thousands by doing things myself.
Now if my parents hadn't lived near the fields and gave me an atari (which I did get eventually but hardly ever used)I would probebly be a totally different person.
MY this is a long post for me, must pretend to do some work.
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