4 ms·

We look back at the suburbanization of America with such regret, but looking at these pictures, it’s hard to imagine sticking it out in these cities during that

We look back at the suburbanization of America with such regret, but looking at these pictures, it’s hard to imagine sticking it out in these cities during that time. I question how anyone who was alive back then would want to return to this. Compare today to the 70s—an era with high inflation and unemployment—you’d think that generation would marvel at how low the cost of environmental protection has been. Yet, it seems it’s the younger generations who are most concerned with the environment.

Insanity 7y ago
The younger generation will have to suffer longer than the older one.
cosmodisk 7y ago
This is common across the world.Not sure if there's a special word within the books of psychology, however people somehow manage to manufacture memories of limited spectrum,aka only remembering the things they really like about that particular moment.Most of those, who rave how great 70's or 80's were, remember it when they were young. They remember relationships,parties,family stuff but not a factory chimney spitting out black fumes. When I ask my parents how they remember soviet occupation, my dad has very fond memories of it,as he was young, used to play music in local discotheques and had it very easy.My mother,on the other side,used to queue outside empty shops for hours with two little kids hoping they will sell something,so obviously she hated it then and she hates it now.
- ajmurmann 7y ago
  I wonder how much of this also might have to do that some bad things weren't noticed because most people were used to them and took them as given. If you always lived next to the giant, smoking chimney, are you going to get up every morning and be upset about the smoke ruining the air? It's different if it gets built after you've lived without it. Now we have many younger people growing up with decent environment around them and we see on TV how the polar bears are starving, the ice is melting and the coral reefs are being bleeched.
  - cosmodisk 7y ago
    That's also a very valid point and is applicable across many fields. For instance, I did some shopping the other day. Went to Waitrose,which is essentially an upmarket food retailer in the UK.I bought some veg,including some tomatoes.The price was 2-3 times higher than in other places.They had a strong and pleasant natural smell,which is almost nonexistent when you buy cheaper tomatoes.Now if someone grew up in a large city and never had a chance to have an access to a private garden where vegetables grow, he's used to that lack of taste and thinks it's normal. However I know how a real tomatoe from your own garden tastes so it's easy to understand the difference. Hadn't I lived in a house in a small city,all these things would be Impossible to understand.The same applies to pollution- once you go outside your polluted city,you realise how fantastic the air can be in the middle of a forest.

Insanity 7y ago

The younger generation will have to suffer longer than the older one.

cosmodisk 7y ago

This is common across the world.Not sure if there's a special word within the books of psychology, however people somehow manage to manufacture memories of limited spectrum,aka only remembering the things they really like about that particular moment.Most of those, who rave how great 70's or 80's were, remember it when they were young. They remember relationships,parties,family stuff but not a factory chimney spitting out black fumes. When I ask my parents how they remember soviet occupation, my dad has very fond memories of it,as he was young, used to play music in local discotheques and had it very easy.My mother,on the other side,used to queue outside empty shops for hours with two little kids hoping they will sell something,so obviously she hated it then and she hates it now.

ajmurmann 7y ago
I wonder how much of this also might have to do that some bad things weren't noticed because most people were used to them and took them as given. If you always lived next to the giant, smoking chimney, are you going to get up every morning and be upset about the smoke ruining the air? It's different if it gets built after you've lived without it. Now we have many younger people growing up with decent environment around them and we see on TV how the polar bears are starving, the ice is melting and the coral reefs are being bleeched.
- cosmodisk 7y ago
  That's also a very valid point and is applicable across many fields. For instance, I did some shopping the other day. Went to Waitrose,which is essentially an upmarket food retailer in the UK.I bought some veg,including some tomatoes.The price was 2-3 times higher than in other places.They had a strong and pleasant natural smell,which is almost nonexistent when you buy cheaper tomatoes.Now if someone grew up in a large city and never had a chance to have an access to a private garden where vegetables grow, he's used to that lack of taste and thinks it's normal. However I know how a real tomatoe from your own garden tastes so it's easy to understand the difference. Hadn't I lived in a house in a small city,all these things would be Impossible to understand.The same applies to pollution- once you go outside your polluted city,you realise how fantastic the air can be in the middle of a forest.