I found this, and completely agree with it. It also helps continue to push my theory that kids today are pussies (And, so are their parents.)

Born before 1980?

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's...

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because .

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!


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, and we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our 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 did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound, CD's or Ipods! No cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.......

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!


We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,
Made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!


The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives so much, than for our own good.

And while you are at it, share it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

Yeah, back in the good old days before kids had cellphones, or even pagers. The golden rule was go you go play wherever you wanted in the neighborhood, and just had to be back when it got dark. There was no parents keeping 24/7 watch of their kids. Therefore, we did alot more shit that we should done, or wouldn't done had an adult been around to point out our stupidity. Also, we lived in fear of our parents, because if we did something wrong we were punished with the hand, or a paddle. Who gives a shit if your grounded? Gee, I guess I'll just have to hang out in my room, with all my toys and games. Bummer.

Also, children seemed to have more respect for their elders. My generation said "Please", "Thank You", and "I'm sorry." Nowadays, I watch kids swearing at their parents, and generally being rude to strangers, with a "I don't care, because there is nothing you can do to me." attitude. 15-20 years ago, if you were rude to a stranger and rubbed them the wrong way, they could beat the respect into you, and wouldn't worry about jail time and/or being sued by the parents.

15 years ago, kids didn't wear pads to bike, skate, or anything else, because we had skinned and scraped our knees and elbows so much, they had natural calluses to protect us. And If you pissed off an adult, they would let you know.

Nowadays, people sue McDonald's because they burn themselves on the fries and coffee, as well as, sue people who look at their kids the wrong way.