would anyone else like to travel back in time?

Discussion in 'Other Conversation' started by cabsmom40, Dec 19, 2009.

  1. cabsmom40

    cabsmom40 Active Member

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    I often wish (but I don't dwell on it) that I could travel back to Little House on the Prarie times. I know that I probable have an overly "rose-colored" view of this time period, but I would want to take some of the advantages we have now back there. I would want the advances in medicine. And I would not want the segregation and racism that existed and were accepted as normal. But I think that even though they had to work hard, people were probably less stressed than today. Maybe I am wrong, I really can't know for sure. As much as I like TV and computers, I think sometimes they become a substitute for interaction and living (as I sit here at the computer;)). Sometimes I think the amish have a better way of life than a lot of people in the "rat race."

    Let me know how you feel. I think this has a lot to do with how I view education and how crazy it has gotten. :!:
     
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  3. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    Yes, I would if I could "pick and choose" about what I could bring with me. I mean, no running water!!! But realistically, it'd be exchanging one "rat race" for another!
     
  4. Ohio Mom

    Ohio Mom New Member

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    Jackie, I agree with you. I would also like to go back in time, but I'm thinking about the cold right now. I couldn't imagine not having a furnace and insulation. No heating and cooling. Not for me. I like to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I could do without the electronic things, but running water and toilets, I don't think so:)
     
  5. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

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    I don't know. We have a romantic view of some past eras, but that's because we tend to forget (or ignore) the unpleasant parts. Personally, I'm very grateful to be living in the current era:

    - We see forms of life - microscopic, deep sea, remote, etc. - that no previous generations have ever seen.

    - We know more about the wonders of creation than any previous generation has ever known.

    - We have more wealth and discretionary time than any previous generation. Do we use it to full effect?

    - Many diseases that were fatal in previous generations are now curable.

    There's good and bad in every place and in every generation. What matters is how we choose to live in the era assigned to us, right? :)
     
  6. AusCan

    AusCan New Member

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    I always fantasized about going back in time and living in the past. Until I obtained my History degree and learnt about the realities of life back then.
    I like all the mod cons, but don't like a lot of where I see society heading, so I can see your point.
    After growing up in a city of almost 5 million, I now live in a "town" of 8,000. What a difference! I find life much slower and easier to take, people don't seem to be so much in a hurry and they actually look you in the face and smile when I am out and about. I have found it difficult to meet any real friends yet because I think that small town people like to know where you came from (ie who you came from) and when you have no "background" it takes a while for them to open up.
    That's okay, I enjoy all the other aspects. We have found an idealic life here and hope to stay. I think it was the life I wish I had and thought it could only be found in the past.
    Katrina.
     
  7. KrisRV

    KrisRV New Member

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    it depends on what going back in time means.
     
  8. Deena

    Deena New Member

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    LIke you said, cabsmom40, you'd like to go if you could take certain modern conveniences with you! I agree, I'd have to have medical, air-conditioning, heat in winter, etc., etc. However, I totally understand wanting to get out of the rat race and not be so stressed!

    Oh, the women often spent all day cooking for the men, even when it was so hot----I DON'T want to do that! :)
     
  9. 2littleboys

    2littleboys Moderator

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    I've always been intrigued by the old days, but I also have an "if I knew then what I know now" mentality about it. I'd like to visit, but I wouldn't stay. If there were a vacation spot that was completely free of modern advances (like running water), I think it would be really fun and relaxing (good old wood-chopping is relaxing to me). I wouldn't want to live there, though.
     
  10. mandiana

    mandiana New Member

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    After watching "Frontier House", "Colonial House" and "The 1900 House", there's no way I would go back in time, lol. I think life is much easier now.
     
  11. sloan127

    sloan127 Active Member

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    I have often thought about it, but I would not go back to the Little House days, but more to The Waltons. It too was a hard time for many, but the family was so close and I loved each one of them. Yes I do know it was a tv program, but I was so into it. I loved the way the generations lived together and worked together and how family was so important to them. I loved the close community that looked after each other. And! They had a bathroom!
     
  12. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    Little House days, I don't think so.
    Maybe the 50's -- most of the conveniences, but people visited each other, enjoyed company, but the television and electronics hadn't taken over yet.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2009
  13. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

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    OK. You can go back to the 50s - but it must be as an African-American. I hope your family doesn't mind segregation. :(

    As with any period of history, it's so easy to idealize. Yes, we have many problems today, but we've solved many as well.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2009
  14. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    I never said the 50s were perfect --
    just that they had most of the modern conveniences.

    I was growing up in the 50s in a very small town (graduated high school in 1969). There was very little crime here then (as compared to now), no drugs, the worst thing you could get from having sex was pregnant - no AIDS, herpes, drug-resistant strains of this and that -- and you could leave on a two-week vacation without locking up your house and it would all be there when you got back.
     
  15. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

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    Your description reminds me of when we visited friends in a small town in rural Nebraska. They asked me to step in to help with rehearsing a musical because the usual piano accompanist was unavailable. As I walked into the church building where they were practicing, all the women's purses were on a shelf in the lobby. No one thought twice about anyone stealing anything. And hardly any houses in the town had locks on their doors.
     
  16. cabsmom40

    cabsmom40 Active Member

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    I guess I would just like to have a community where more people knew each other and really cared for their neighbors. But, since there is no ideal time in reality, I have to do what I can right now. I already do spend a lot of time with neighbors, when I have the time. I work full-time and homeschool my son, which pretty much occupies 5 mornings and 5 evenings every week (except holidays and such). I really wish I could pick and choose certain things and bring them to the here and now. But, in some places in the world people do still live like more of a community. My neighbors are from Mexico and they are VERY inviting and open and loving. It is one of the biggest blessing in my life to have them as neighbors. If they have family over for a big event (everything is celebrated), I and my son are welcome to join. I at one point felt that we were intruding too much and tapered off the visits some. But, come to find out the mom from next door thought we didn't want to visit. It was quite a conversation, but very revealing- they love it when we come over and they don't mind at all. It is really a stark contrast in culture. I much prefer that type of culture. I do like some aspects of the U.S. culture, but this is one area we really lack in.

    Just as a side note. I feel called to the mission field and have for many years. But, I don't really plan on pursuing it until my son is done with school, so I can go to a Bible college or whatever is necessary. I would love to go to Mexico or S. America, but really it is up to God (as I say that I am pleading with him to send me somewhere warm- I can stand being hot-but I am a cold weather wimp). I love people from all kinds of cultures. I wish I could travel worldwide and meet people and learn their languages. The world and the people in it are fascinating. Isn't God great to create all the different people?
     
  17. cabsmom40

    cabsmom40 Active Member

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    Oh, I also wanted to respond to my own original post. I read up on the Amish and while I still admire some of the things they do. I realize a lot of it sounds legalistic when you know the reasons behind it. So, while I don't think I would mind living on a farm, I don't want to be told I have to wear only plain colored clothing and things like that.
     
  18. mamaof3peas

    mamaof3peas New Member

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    I second watching frontier and colonial house. We have been watching them from netflix, and it really is a reminder of how hard and harsh life was. But there were good parts too! My kids and I have enjoyed watching while on break, and except for a few things ( a discussion on birthcontrol and personal issues) these have been quite educationa. I highly recommend them! I would still prefer the little house days, even after watching all that work ;)
     
  19. rhi

    rhi New Member

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    While I like the idea of it the simpler way of life, was it really simpler? They worked from sun up to sun down and a lot of times it was hard labor work. I have to say, I like my luxuries, running water, electricity..internet! LOL. But I liked how much more respectful people were years ago. Each decade, has their problems. Some we've learned from and grew as a culture or country and others it seems we've digressed. Such as manners, many people of many different ages don't have them anymore. Saying thank you, please and excuse me aren't part of our culture in general, not everyone. Signs of respect are also gone and wiped out in our society in general, not everyone but in general we have lost it. Instead of looking back in time and saying I wish I could live then because let's face it it's not going to happen. I'm going to work on the things that I like about the era's past gone..manners, respect, quality family time ect... it's what I can do to show my kids how nice it can be.

    Has anyone watched the movie blast from the past?
     
  20. mamaof3peas

    mamaof3peas New Member

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    No, never seen it. Maybe that could be my goal, to bring the positives of past eras to our life now!
     

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