Community Chat

[jellyBEAN]

I am in my early 60's now.  But when I was growing up as a kid, and thinking about The Future, this is not what I had in mind.

As a kid, I thought the Future would be more like 'The Jetsons'.  Really.  I thought we'd have flying cars, we'd live in futuristic looking high rises and jet around in our vehicles hovering outside our apartments.  We'd have robots and our food would be so extremely nutritious because the soils and fertilizers would be perfected to grow abundant healthy food which would be minimal and everyone would be slim.

I'd also had the chance to go the '64 World's Fair in NY and see all the planned technologies for the future.  We stood on conveyor belts that took us thru huge buildings and saw phones where we could see who we were talking to (OK, that part happened - at least).  My point being the Future looked so marvelous and exciting.  And now we have this.  No better off than 100 years ago.

What did everyone else think about the Future when they were growing up?  Did you think it would be like this?

[stevieb]

I enjoyed your poignant observations, @jellyBEAN... I don't really know what I expected the future would hold but it sure as hell wasn't this...

[germanshepherdlove]

I thought the problem with air pollution would be fixed.  CA with the exception of San Franscisdo gets failing grades in every category according to the State of the Air report. Sad knowing that living there is like smoking every day of your life.  I guess all the regs in their toolbox can't fix it. 

Regarding flying cars, no never anticipated that would really happen. I loved the Jetsons though and our family got a chuckle out of it for sure including our parents.  

[denisemb]

@jellyBEAN 

I'll be 67 this month and reading your first paragraph, immediately thought "The Jetsons!"

Even being a complete pessimist about many things, never imagined a worldwide pandemic would develop so quickly!

[deepwaterdotter]

I remember hearing about the possibility of a global viral pandemic, but always hoped the world leaders would have a plan to neutralize the threat. 

[KarenQVC]

I grew up thinking the US can do just about anything.  It seems at least 1/3 of us now think if it's hard don't even try.  I never thought that attitude would become so popular.

[Drythe]

I grew up thinking we could, and would make it a better world.

[patbz]

I'm 76 and this certainly isn't what I expected from the "future".  Growing up, I fully expected atomic fallout at some point (grew up in suburban MD/DC) but never imagined a pandemic.

[noodleann]

No, I didn't think it would be like this.

I thought I'd have a waist.

[Linmo]

Life seemed a lot simpler when I grew up in the sixties.  Now that we're here, I can't imagine living without a cell phone for my kids to call me if they need help or the internet to find things when I need help.  Technology has definitely come a long way!