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In terms of my writing I’m particularly keen on the period between the 1920s -1940s so I do a great deal of research on these twenty odd years. I have about 70 sites on my Favourite Bar that I visit on a regular basis.

I read somewhere that only depressed people live in the past. Guess I qualify then.

The one thing that has struck me during my research is the number of young men and women who host these Retro sites. In fact about 80% of the people who put up these sites seem to have been born between 1980 and 1990. Many of them post that they wish they could have been born during these periods.

Which begs the following question: Why this great interest in events that took place 40 to 50 years before they were born? In my youth we looked upon what took place before our birth as being “old fashioned,” yet today there seems to be a yearning to return to the days of yore.

Could it be that the youth of today are perhaps growing tired of the 21st century and all its accompanying hype?

I wonder and live in hope.

The same age group has developed a fascination with other periods, as well.

There are those who are into the Victorian era, or the Medieval period. So many eras where the romanticism, and adventure were far more promising that what we see at our disposal in the modern day.

They don't see how far we have come from the mid-20th century, and don't see all of the advances in technology that were made in the recent decades, and frankly, in their short lives, they have seen only the down-turn in economy and frightening political turns, making their future far more uncertain than the past will ever be.

I know I have grown quite weary of the 21st century, already, myself, but I know enough of the past to realize that hiding there offers little real comfort, either.

Onward into the uncertain future is the only path with any certainty.

Hopefully, these young'ns will learn the lessons the past has to teach, and move to make the rest of the century something that their great grandkids will be able to look back upon with fascination.

There is no history of mankind, there is only an indefinite number of histories of all kinds of aspects of human life.

Karl Popper

jones jones;1423770 wrote: In terms of my writing Im particularly keen on the period between the 1920s -1940s so I do a great deal of research on these twenty odd years. I have about 70 sites on my Favourite Bar that I visit on a regular basis.

I read somewhere that only depressed people live in the past. Guess I qualify then.

The one thing that has struck me during my research is the number of young men and women who host these Retro sites. In fact about 80% of the people who put up these sites seem to have been born between 1980 and 1990. Many of them post that they wish they could have been born during these periods.

Which begs the following question: Why this great interest in events that took place 40 to 50 years before they were born? In my youth we looked upon what took place before our birth as being old fashioned, yet today there seems to be a yearning to return to the days of yore.

Could it be that the youth of today are perhaps growing tired of the 21st century and all its accompanying hype?

I wonder and live in hope.


I don't think it is particular to today's youth to look to the past for a simpler life. Can't see what was so great about the Great Depression, World Wars, Lenin and Mao.

Ice boxes (not refrigeration), disease (polio, small pox, typhoid, etc).

I guess some people just can't even understand life before microwave ovens, cell phones and personal computers.

tude dog;1423808 wrote: I don't think it is particular to today's youth to look to the past for a simpler life. Can't see what was so great about the Great Depression, World Wars, Lenin and Mao.

Ice boxes (not refrigeration), disease (polio, small pox, typhoid, etc).

I guess some people just can't even understand life before microwave ovens, cell phones and personal computers.




Well I'm afraid I'm guilty on all counts.

Is nostalgia dead? With so many people pining simultaneously for so many eras, is it time to decalre nostalgia over? - chicagotribune.com

along-for-the-ride;1424429 wrote: Is nostalgia dead? With so many people pining simultaneously for so many eras, is it time to decalre nostalgia over? - chicagotribune.com


The yearning for "the good old days" ... were they that good? is probably an indictment by the current generation against something. Are they scornful of the 21st century and all the hype that accompanies it? I think not as they openly flaunt their ipads, their tablets and god knows what else they use, but whatever they are they must be addictive as I have never ever seen that many earthlings, young and old walking about with their eyes down and glued to an apparatus clutched in their sweaty palms.

Personally I have only just managed to master the fax machine in my office and am going to attempt to grasp what emails are all about.

I can write a love letter, I can compose a poem and I can communicate via snail mail, but apps and ibooks and similar buzz words leave me cold and confused.

Hi JJ. Glad to see you!

AnneBoleyn;1424436 wrote: Hi JJ. Glad to see you!


Hi Annie! likewise ...