Speaking of the internet age and people jumping to conclusions....
I saw a piece last night where the commentator was saying that his grandkids will grow up never knowing what it feels to walk around safely like he did as a kid. That started me thinking about growing up in the 70s-80s and riding my bike 5 miles to the mall or to a fireworks stand in Benbrook, miles away. Or how my Mom would drop me and a friend off at a golf course at 8 am and pick us up at sunset. We would have a group of us that had BB guns, walk to the creek, shoot stuff, etc. Not once do I remember a fear of so many bad things...at school, home, the mall, etc.
I think the internet, as much as its a blessing, has really hurt too. Back then, you read the paper for news and in general, people didn't have access to so much information or different ways to communicate with people. Sure, there were bad things going on, but it didn't seem as prevalent as now...at least as large scale. Now we see online bullying, instructions of how to make bombs, chat rooms where people can talk of any subject..no matter how nuts. At times, its an oversaturation of information...like we get in sports. I know those decades weren't perfect, just like the 50s weren't for my parents. But they seems a long ways from now where every psycho out there has decided to take every slight and turn it into vengeance. Just hope my children get to see improvements in all that is going on now and that they don't have to deal with this stuff.
