ChatterBank1 min ago
Youv'e never had it so good, but are you happier? It appears not.
22 Answers
http://www.dailymail....r-report-reveals.html
Interesting to note : There are some jobs which barely existed 60 years ago. In 1952, there were only around 20,000 people working in personnel, compared to today’s army of around 400,000.
Interesting to note : There are some jobs which barely existed 60 years ago. In 1952, there were only around 20,000 people working in personnel, compared to today’s army of around 400,000.
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so jobs in personnel go up by 1900% yet the number of private sector firms increases by 2800%, that makes sense. i'm happy.
in 1952, britain exploded its first nuclear bomb and pictures of atrocities committed by british troops in malaysia against ethnic chinese rebels wre published in british newspapers. i'm happy we are past that.
in 1952, britain exploded its first nuclear bomb and pictures of atrocities committed by british troops in malaysia against ethnic chinese rebels wre published in british newspapers. i'm happy we are past that.
My jobs in the past have involved interacting with people, using my skills and creativity in solving problems now I sit at a desk bored out of my skull and am retiring early so I can have my life back... So many jobs now have disconnected us from the real world where a smile can make you feel you are doing something worthwhile.
I always thought most people i came across in HR were useless, perhaps it was changing the name from personnel to HR, another example of american speak, much like proactive, meaningless. I don't think we are happier, but i would be a damn sight unhappier were we living in the same conditions we grew up in, poor, bad housing, rationing, don't really see that as good.
AOG
There were conflicts with the Middle East in the 50s (the Suez crisis).
In fact, I've read a few books on modern history (by Andrew Marr and Dominic Sandbrook principally), who would argue that it was in the 50s that Britain started changing from the country it was, and the way it saw itself (the loss of the Empire and especially the Suez crisis which showed the 'special relationship' with the US to be a load of hokum.
The 50s saw the seeds of Irish nationalism being sewn - which led to three decades of non-Muslim oriented terrorism.
In the 50s, if you were from a working class background, your chances of advancement were much more limited than they are now.
In the 50s, university was for the middle and upper classes. Talented and clever poor kids remained where they were.
In the 50s, as a woman, you had to work significantly harder than your male equivalent to achieve a much reduced salary (which was completely legal!)
In the 50s, being gay could actually have you thrown in jail...or even worse (Alan Turing).
From what I've read, there was a brief period after rationing ceased and the relaxation on HP legislation where Britain felt the 'white heat' of the forefront of a technological and social revolution - but then boom and bust pretty much put an end to that.
But at the end of the day - I can't compare the 50s to today, because I didn't experience that decade...I've only read about them - and to be honest, as a black gay man, I don't think I'd *want* to experience them...could be a little...lonely and/or dangerous.
There were conflicts with the Middle East in the 50s (the Suez crisis).
In fact, I've read a few books on modern history (by Andrew Marr and Dominic Sandbrook principally), who would argue that it was in the 50s that Britain started changing from the country it was, and the way it saw itself (the loss of the Empire and especially the Suez crisis which showed the 'special relationship' with the US to be a load of hokum.
The 50s saw the seeds of Irish nationalism being sewn - which led to three decades of non-Muslim oriented terrorism.
In the 50s, if you were from a working class background, your chances of advancement were much more limited than they are now.
In the 50s, university was for the middle and upper classes. Talented and clever poor kids remained where they were.
In the 50s, as a woman, you had to work significantly harder than your male equivalent to achieve a much reduced salary (which was completely legal!)
In the 50s, being gay could actually have you thrown in jail...or even worse (Alan Turing).
From what I've read, there was a brief period after rationing ceased and the relaxation on HP legislation where Britain felt the 'white heat' of the forefront of a technological and social revolution - but then boom and bust pretty much put an end to that.
But at the end of the day - I can't compare the 50s to today, because I didn't experience that decade...I've only read about them - and to be honest, as a black gay man, I don't think I'd *want* to experience them...could be a little...lonely and/or dangerous.
To be fair, I can imagine why people could feel happier in the '50s. For the majority, your life was pretty laid out for you - you were virtually guaranteed a job, and it was by and large expected that you'd marry and start a family (my grandparents for instance were forced into a hurried marriage because they conceived a child early). Unless you had a good reason not to go down those trajectories, that's fine.
But I suspect the major difference is that in the '50s people could still remember the war. It must have been pretty easy to be optimistic, and if you're optimistic you're more likely to be happy.
But I suspect the major difference is that in the '50s people could still remember the war. It must have been pretty easy to be optimistic, and if you're optimistic you're more likely to be happy.
I would go back to the fifties anytime.We never had much money ,but then neither did most of our friends and neighbours. I passed my exam for the Grammar school---Opportunities were available for even the poorest kids. We were all geared up in our primary schools to take the scolarship exam at eleven. Then we had the three tier system---Grammar,Secondary Modern and technical schools. Passed ten O-levels (as they were then called ) ,worked in a laboratory for a few years. No arguments about inequality of pay . You were more private about your personal incomings and outgoing monies. Everyone seemed happier and more content with life. Started courting as it was then called, got engaged then married. Yes ,there were shotgun weddings but most seemed to work out ok. Sex wasn't openly talked about and the 'f' word wasn't heard in public.(I think it was Lady Chatterley's Lover where it was first seen -- Divorce was a difficult long drawn out process. Drunks were put in the cells for the night.spitting was prohibited and foul language in public was frowned on. Respect for parents,teachers, policemen ,old people all helped to make a better society than today. When did it all start to go wrong? When people started to '' keep up with the Jones'',Hire purchase, L.S.D.,Cheap booze amongst other things.Material things began to matter more and more. Don't knock the 50s if you have never lived through them.
i think we need perspective. how old were you in the 50s?
my dad was a young man in the 50s and of course he loks back with fond memories (don;t we all ponder our youth as such?), but he also remembers arriving in the uk looking for work and lodgings only to see signs everywhere that said:
'no blacks, no irish and no dogs'.
my dad was a young man in the 50s and of course he loks back with fond memories (don;t we all ponder our youth as such?), but he also remembers arriving in the uk looking for work and lodgings only to see signs everywhere that said:
'no blacks, no irish and no dogs'.
i wouldn't go back to the 50's, with the outside privvies, a lack of accommodation, as much in London had been bombed in the war, rationing, large families living on top of one another, fine if you don't care about privacy, smog due to the coal fires, industry, few privately owned cars, and education that consisted of old school masters, relics of the war teaching pupils who were champing at the bit for a wider world. Life may be up and down now, but sorry i value privacy, decent housing with adequate facilities. Music was good in the 50's, rock and roll, but so was the 70's, and right through, it simply depends on your taste and time you grew up in.
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