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Growing up in the 1980's

GPK26
7 months ago

Following on from my "Good Old Times" discussion, I thought that I'd start a discussion about growing up in the 1980's...

It was during the 80's that I became a teenager with a certain amount of living carefree without the responsibilities that adult life brings and without knowing (or even suspecting) that I was autistic.
There was a lot going on - both good and bad.

BAD

  • We were still going through the Cold War - as a child I remember the seemingly constant threat of nuclear war.
  • The Falkland War
  • The miners strike
  • High unemployment (3 Million)
  • Famine in Africa
  • The rise of AIDS

GOOD

  • The British Armed Forces demonstrated how capable they were in protecting the Falklands
  • Space exploration was revitalised by the Space Shuttle programme
  • Only 4 TV channels, mostly with great quality programming (no narcissistic reality crap!)
  • Technological advances....that didn't take over our lives as mobile phones and social media have done
  • Band Aid / Live Aid (probably one of the most positive memories that I had of the 80's)
  • The Iron Curtain / Berlin Wall fell 
  • IMHO, probably the best decade for music 

What are your memories from the 80's?
Do you remember them as the best times of your life? Or maybe the worst times?

Parents
  • 7 months ago

    I was too worldly, at that age. My family watched the news religiously.

    Growing up right in the middle of Republican East Tyrone meant that I was shielded from a lot. However, my dad was still killed in the Troubles.

    In spite of all that, I was sympathetic towards our perceived enemies. I watched English TV, followed English Football and didn't have Gaelic culture rammed down my throat. But we were Catholic, and I still am.

    My first exposure to America was Sesame Street. Then American Football, thanks to the video for 'Walk of life's by Dire Straits.

    To be honest, I preferred the Nineties. But there are still aspects of the Eighties ingrained in me.

Reply
  • 7 months ago

    I was too worldly, at that age. My family watched the news religiously.

    Growing up right in the middle of Republican East Tyrone meant that I was shielded from a lot. However, my dad was still killed in the Troubles.

    In spite of all that, I was sympathetic towards our perceived enemies. I watched English TV, followed English Football and didn't have Gaelic culture rammed down my throat. But we were Catholic, and I still am.

    My first exposure to America was Sesame Street. Then American Football, thanks to the video for 'Walk of life's by Dire Straits.

    To be honest, I preferred the Nineties. But there are still aspects of the Eighties ingrained in me.

Children
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