“In 1950s, sociologists worried that rampant individualism was tearing family apart. There were serious racial & class tensions, & everyone lived under threat of nuclear annihilation.
Many in 1950s thought the good old days were to be found in the 1920s.” wsj.com/articles/why-w…
Many in 1950s thought the good old days were to be found in the 1920s.” wsj.com/articles/why-w…
“But in the 1920s, the pioneering child psychologist John Watson warned that because of increasing divorce rates, the American family would soon cease to exist.
Many people at the time idealized the Victorian era, when families were strong and children respected their elders.”
Many people at the time idealized the Victorian era, when families were strong and children respected their elders.”
“But in the late 19th century, Americans were worried that the unnatural pace of life brought on by railroads and telegraphs had given rise to a new disease, neurasthenia, which could express itself in anxiety, headaches, insomnia, back pain, constipation, impotence, diarrhea.”
“Why are humans so nostalgic for past eras that seemed difficult to those who lived thru them? One possibility is that we know we survived past dangers—otherwise we wouldnt be here—so in retrospect they seem smaller. But we can never be certain we’ll solve the probs facing today”
“Another reason is that historical nostalgia is often colored by personal nostalgia.
When were the good old days?
Was it, by chance, the incredibly short period in human history when you happened to be young?”
When were the good old days?
Was it, by chance, the incredibly short period in human history when you happened to be young?”
“A U.S. poll found that people born in the 1930s and 1940s thought the 1950s was America’s best decade, while those born in the 1960s and 1970s preferred the 1980s.
In the 1980s, the popular TV show “Happy Days” was set in a nostalgic version of the 1950s;”
In the 1980s, the popular TV show “Happy Days” was set in a nostalgic version of the 1950s;”
“Researchers found that we encode more memories during adolescence and early adulthood than any other period of our lives, and when we think about the past, this is the period we most often return to.
As we grow more distant from past, we tend to remember them more positively.”
As we grow more distant from past, we tend to remember them more positively.”
“When schoolchildren returning from summer vacation are asked to list what was good and bad about it, the lists are almost equally long.
When the exercise is repeated a couple of months later, the list of good things grows longer and the bad list gets shorter.”
When the exercise is repeated a couple of months later, the list of good things grows longer and the bad list gets shorter.”
“By the end of the year, the good things have pushed out the bad from the students’ memories completely.”
“Vaccination, anesthetics, steam engines, railroads & electricity all met w/ resistance when they were first introduced.
Many feared bicycles would create a generation of hunchbacks, since riders leaned forward all day & that sitting in a bike saddle would make women infertile.”
Many feared bicycles would create a generation of hunchbacks, since riders leaned forward all day & that sitting in a bike saddle would make women infertile.”
“The point isn’t to show how silly previous generations were.
The same kinds of anxieties have been expressed in our own time about innovations like the internet, videogames, genetically modified organisms and stem-cell research.”
The same kinds of anxieties have been expressed in our own time about innovations like the internet, videogames, genetically modified organisms and stem-cell research.”
“And not all fears about the future are unfounded:
New tech do result in accidents, they disturb traditional cultures and habits, and they destroy old jobs while creating new ones.”
New tech do result in accidents, they disturb traditional cultures and habits, and they destroy old jobs while creating new ones.”
“But the only way to learn how to make the best use of new technologies and reduce the risks is by trial and error.
The future won’t be a utopia—but then, neither were the good old days.”
The future won’t be a utopia—but then, neither were the good old days.”
“This essay is adapted from the new book “Open: The Story of Human Progress,” by @johanknorberg.
https://twitter.com/johanknorberg/status/1301407339992547329
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
