Gawain 0 #1 June 3, 2004 Maybe it's a repost, I dug it up in an old email while doing some e-cleaning... I Can't Believe We Made It! According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's or even the early 80's, probably shouldn't have survived. Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint. 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 children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors! We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode 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 street lights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable! We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat rooms. We had friends! We went outside and found them. We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt. We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits 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 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. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home 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. Some students weren't as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade. Horrors! Tests were not adjusted for any reason. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. 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 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. And you're one of them! Congratulations. ************************************************************ Pity the generations who will never know the gentle beauty of this bygone way of life. It was a kinder, gentler generation, one of respect and trust and guess what...we were spanked! Oh the Horror of it all!So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #2 June 4, 2004 It is amazing what my 2nd and 5th grade boys are not allowed to do at school. Such as play tag. Someone might get pushed from behind, fall down and get hurt. You can imagine everything else that is disallowed.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shawndiver 0 #3 June 4, 2004 Two elementary schools here have banned all nut products because someone might have an allergic reaction. Eating a PB&J sandwich is now grounds for expulsion. Use a sandwich, go to jail!_________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #4 June 4, 2004 Perhaps we shuld just all go out and sterilize ouselves so that we won't have to worry about what might be safe for our kids. No TAG? NO PB&J? WTF! And Dodge Ball -- Play dodge ball and get expelled from the state and incarcerated in the local Gang Farm.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #5 June 4, 2004 Quote It was a kinder, gentler generation, one of respect and trust and guess what...we were spanked! Oh the Horror of it all! ...and lucky few of us still are!! Oh shoot, that was my 'outside' voice again, wasn't it?? Actually Gawain, ALL schools in our district just removed all of the swings, monkey bars, and ANY climbing apparatus. They were fearful of a law suit if a child fell off. GOOD LORD. Is that just absolute and complete bullsh*t or what???~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunaplanet 0 #6 June 4, 2004 Probably the best post on these boards ever. Forty-two Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #7 June 4, 2004 Makes me wonder what we'll be reading about in the coming months: "Joe Snuffy, attorney for the plaintiffs, stated, 'Movie studios need to accept responsibility for their actions. Children see things on the movie screen and then emulate those actions, often resulting in emotional distress if not physical injury. 'The makers of 'Dodgeball' and its distributors knew full well the risk that children would view this film and attempt to emulate the game of dodgeball. They have, causing thousands of injuries and hurt feelings..." Yeah, I survived dodgeball, too. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyRock 0 #8 June 4, 2004 QuoteProbably the best post on these boards ever. deffinately one of.. I can't beleive the bs rules they have come up with now -Seth :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #9 June 4, 2004 I believe that's already been argued...dunno (or don't recall) the outcome. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #10 June 4, 2004 QuoteProbably the best post on these boards ever. I take that as a true compliment! Thanks! So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ritchie 0 #11 June 4, 2004 wow- if only we can remember our upbringing while raising our own children- amazing post!A favorite....is never a favorite for long! Ovid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yoink 321 #12 June 4, 2004 Someone should sue Microsoft for making the Xbox on the basis of it being detrimental to the kids health Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
