The Dangers Gen X Faced!

Those who are parents today would freak out over some of the perils that Generation X had to overcome. For most kids during that time period it really wasn't a big deal. But since that time, many things have changed and as we look back it will make you wonder who any Gen X kids ever survived. In this video we will see some of the danger Gen X faced. Remember any others?
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#genx #memories #nostalgia

[@jamesmanolakis2420]

I was born in 71. A couple years ago I was building a pool on Maui. It was hot so I went and grabbed the hose we were using to mix concrete. I took a long drink looked up and all the millennials were staring at me as if I'd just drank fro the toilet. I love being a GenX....

[@GeeEm1313]

The water from the hoses is absolutely disgusting and not just because of the taste. Any water laying in the hose would leech in chemicals.

[@donut3946]

@@GeeEm1313 lol, it ain’t sitting there for years.

[@MsMcKayOnline]

@@GeeEm1313 Maybe your hoses but not ours. Ours was awesome lol.

[@shawnahall7246]

Lol 😆

[@guitarwins1896]

I was born in during the 80s so I was Gen Y but I did the same thing too. I miss those days. Back when things were much simpler. Miss riding bikes looking for my friends in their usual hangout spots if they weren't home. My niece thinks it's nuts. She also doesn't understand why we we outside so dang much. So much kids these days are missing out on.

[@chrisspratlin5656]

As a 53 year old today I look back at my childhood memories and thank God that I grew up when I did. I believe that we were the last generation that grew up free. We also kept our innocence and were taught to be independent, which all of us as adults use daily. We were that last generation of free kids.

[@Stormy-pe2xc]

Agree 100%

[@scallen3841]

Yep it was a different world back then

[@matthewallen6752]

Agree also

[@crazydayz1080]

So true. Today's kids live in the world of cell phones and video games. And we all live in fear of what is coming next.

[@americanpatriotbill]

Yep, never saw a dude in a dress, a girl with a mustache!! Definitely a better time

[@colinerikstanhouse6385]

Born in '70. These kids nowadays would have never survived the 70s and 80s. What a glorious time to grow up in !

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching colinerikstanhouse6385!

[@borntoclimb7116]

Nah, come to Europe, lot of kids doing Lot of stull from the past, Germany for a example, play outsite, ride bikes, Go alone to school or use Public transportation, WE dont have school buses like in the USA and we have No paranoid parents.

[@dr.edwardkevorkian5439]

FOR SURE !

[@noeller.russell8895]

I was born in 69 and things were so different growing up in the 80’s. The music,hairstyles and clothing. No computers,internet or cell phones. Went outside and played, rode our bike and had all day cartoons on Saturday. Pretty cool era to grow up in!❤

[@noeller.russell8895]

So cool to think back on those years now. Being 54 I feel pretty lucky to be part of gen X generation! We grew up tough…❤

[@beemonique8466]

Same. 69!💪🏽

[@mannyvega7726]

Summer of 69!... Viva Gen X...

[@coalitionofcommoncanadians5651]

cheers ! me too MAY 1st 1969.. we are brother and sister..lol.. we came through the same shite.. for sure, and we are better for it then these poor kids today, who are headed for transhumanism IMO.. soon enough BLADE RUNNER world will be upon us! :)

[@muskellunge4932]

Nov "69" It was the BEST era to grow up in, Really miss those days!!

[@MKJNS7086]

Gen X childhoods were the original survival culture. We lived like feral animals, drinking from any available highly questionable water source, getting meals randomly from convenient neighborhood moms while we inhaled second hand smoke and played with knives, lawn darts, and bb guns. We stayed out until the street lights came on, letting the sun bake our skin into a thick leathery hide, resistant to the many injuries we incurred roaming the suburban wastes. God it was glorious.

[@dustyking8851]

I was born in 1961, don't consider myself a Boomer at all, we did the same things. Out all day, back for dinner and play grounds were still concrete sometimes there was grass. All of the things you mentioned made me laugh out loud. It was so much better than now.

[@MKJNS7086]

@dustyking8851 It really is summed up in the meme " we didn't know how good we had it". I feel bad for todays kids, because our generations might be the last to have those experiences. Honestly, it's like their childhoods have been stolen from them.

[@pommiebears]

Same in Britain. We did exactly the same. 😊

[@MKJNS7086]

@@pommiebears Right on.

[@azavy]

It Sure was!!! ❤❤❤ 😆🤣

[@Sarika38]

We did do quite a bit of “dangerous “ things didn’t we?😂😅. It was such fun being a Gen X kid though!❤😊

[@EricT3769]

Agreed!

[@Richard-or2km]

I know I did😁 Hanging on to my dad's truck bumper while being towed through the snow and getting a face wash at the same time.😀 One time the front of my banana seat let go and I went ass over tea kettle over the handlebars hit my chin on the pavement, got back up and rode home with one hand on my chin to slow the blood flow, put a band aid on and went back to riding. Never told my mom about it. My favorite thing was to 'modify' fireworks and make something new from them (little pyro that I was back then)😁it really pissed my mother off at times. I remember riding in the back hatch of a Ford pinto (that's danger pay right there)

[@Richard-or2km]

And no I wasn't wearing a helmet or any pads at the time.😃😃

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Sarika38!

[@Sarika38]

@@RhettyforHistory you’re welcome, I really enjoy your channel,brings back so many happy memories!😊

[@fgjr96way]

55 years old and we had better food, tv shows respect for older ones ,family love and respect to others you did not know, glad to be part of a generation that lived the good life ,hard times yes but not stressful like today

[@Bigdong-kl2fh]

67 years old. I miss the world I grew up in.

[@samzach2057]

I’m 54 and this really brought back some memories!! I’m so glad I grew up in that era.

[@alphawoolf5981]

Of all the things I miss from my childhood, I miss my parents and grandparents the most...

[@jenniferhansen3622]

Same 😢

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching alphawoolf5981!

[@Dadsezso]

@alphawoolf5981 Agreed. So many relatives have passed on. I'm the last one still living in my immediate family. All siblings and parents gone long ago. I remember when I was a teen in the 60s, my great grandmother, who had been born in the 1880's, was still living. A couple of things about her never fail to make me smile when I think of them. First, if there was an Elvis movie on the TV, everyone better sit down and shut up or she'd tell you she was going to split your wig open. I hardly ever heard her swear but, in 1969 when they landed on the moon, she watched in amazement and told me "Honey, that right there is bulls**t." LOL, I sure miss them all.

[@mikepalmer2219]

Damn man that hit hard. Me to.

[@The_Naughty_Kitten]

💔 😢 same for me

[@c1catwoman794]

I remembered its just common to eat at a friends house for lunch or dinner; no invitations needed. Mothers just provide a quick meal and after we are done we run off on our bikes to play. I recall almost every home in my neighborhood was an open house ( included ours) and welcomed. You know everyone name, aunt, cousin, their boyfriend, dogs names, etc 😅 Seriously looking back it was really a different world we lived in. So lucky I grew up during those times 😊

[@overload65]

@c1catwoman794 lived in Australia at this time it was open house we had to make entertain our selves . We used to go swimming and dive off a low railroad bridge. Happy days.

[@CookingWithMichaelD]

All the time and they would eat at our house as well

[@Surroundedbyevil368]

It's as if we're living in a parallel universe compared to the one we grew up in I sure miss those days.

[@StONed-yx5qq]

My parents worked Saturday mornings so, my friends would come over for breakfast and lunch….all the time!

[@bcrown00]

Hard to believe this is the same world 😢

[@conniemaria2121]

I’m 52 and watching this brought back so many great memories and thoughts of crazy childhood adventures. Man, I miss those days.

[@Christina-71]

I'm also 52 and I'm ready for those time traveling aliens to hurry up, 1982 is waiting for me somewhere in the past! 😂 I would go in a heartbeat!

[@GhostOdyssey]

Thinking back; how many of us would gladly swap today's convenience and amenities for the good old times? Don't forget, we sometimes freak out if we leave home without our cell phones, heh.

[@YoreHistory]

Also 52 and agree 100%. I miss those days too. We really were the last free generation.

[@Rondo2ooo]

Same here.

[@RonaldDaub-xi5jz]

57

[@sari5045]

1973 Gen X’er here and boy, do I wish I had a Time Machine. Even my grown boys, 29 and 25, think this was probably the best time to grow up and it was. The last carefree generation. I miss that world, especially when I look around this current world we are living in. Wish we could hit a button and rewind, kinda like we used to do with our cassette tapes😉

[@sueprator9314]

So right cuz us Boomers had a lot of freedom actually (even though we HAD TO BE IN for dinner at a certain time). My daughter born in 72 we are really close. The kids today are sad and crippled sorry from technology and brainwashed bull from social media.

[@sari5045]

@@sueprator9314 Yes….my parents are boomers and they had it better than I (they literally walked a mile to Universal mall in Warren Mi and saw Bob Seger play for God’s sake! lol) and my grandparents had it even better. Had 7 kids, Gram stayed home and raised them all, grandpa worked sometimes 2 jobs, they co-owned a cottage on a lake with siblings that my great grandparents built snd that our family spent time at every month of the summer and they literally traveled the world. That doesn’t exist anymore. My oldest son will be 30 in July and he works so hard and has done everything right, is successful, and a good person but he’s always saying how did grandma and grandpa do it. It breaks my heart because I have to tell him that it doesn’t exist anymore. I question if that was all an illusion anyway. We were all sold a bill of goods at one point in time. I don’t even recognize this world and the young people these days……Lord help us.

[@jasonq703]

Slip and Slide, Big Wheel, rock fights, pinecone fights, hide and seek, riding our bikes all day, spending the night at our friends house and staying up all night. No cell phones! I miss those times 😢

[@FeyNoel]

Also, king of the hill especially on big piles of dirtclods at some construction site. lol

[@gmckinney12]

And nothing like a good old fashioned bottle rocket fight

[@heavyd777]

Lawn Darts and Klackers.

[@lc4817]

Oh Yes,,, the Big wheel, hahahahaha. Jumping the 3 little steps at the end of the side walk. Great Fun!!!

[@BruceAndrews-ko9uj]

Swimming in the canals in California

[@DarrinBell]

My mom let us loose onto the world. All she told us was to look both ways before crossing streets, and to be home before dark. And there were always kids wearing casts at school on our broken limbs. Getting your cast signed by the whole class was like a rite of passage.

[@marciayoung8735]

My Mom turned us loose also.. oh the fun we had..

[@georgeramos1462]

Once we moved away from my home town to a nearby town 7 miles away, I would walk 7 miles back to my home town to hang out with my best friend, and then walk back in time for Dinner! (I would pick pears from the orchard beside the road to hydrate during those long Summer walks!)

[@misslora3896]

Unlike now where parents want to protect their children from every bump or bruise, our parents knew part of being a kid was playing hard and getting hurt. Moms back then kept well stocked 1st aid kits and they were all used to the sight of blood... You'd just come home, get patched up and usually head right back out. I think most of us saw our mothers tear up bed sheets when the band aids weren't big enough (road rash) and nearly every kid knew what the inside of the local ER looked like because, we visited once or twice a yr for stitches or broken bones. When I was 10, I ended up in the ER needing stitches 5 times in one year. It was the all time record in our house.

[@did_I_hurt_you_feefees]

IKR! My parents used to send me out after breakfast and I'd hop on my bike and be off. I once rode my bike so far away from home that I had no idea where I was. I'm talking probably 30 or so miles. I just turned around and came back. When I told my mom she got really upset and asked, "What would you have done if you got a flat tire?" My dad said, "He'd have carried the bike home." I nodded.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

A group of friends, a belly full of cordial, an old tractor tyre, and a hill. _"Last one to vomit wins!"_ That was my youth! 😂😂

[@JanettaB.]

I am almost 52 years old and wouldn't trade my gen X upbringing for anything... We truly had the best childhoods ever!!!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching JanettaB!

[@cbonez2909]

I'm 44. Born 79!! Last of gen x and so proud of it. We all had keys in our pocket and walked home from school together!!

[@heraldomedrano1417]

I never lost the keys.

[@matthewlee9728]

i was born in 84 and yes i know im a milenal but all my syblings are gen x so i grew up that way

[@charlesmaclelland891]

84 here I honestly don't think I'm anything but Gen x I was raised exactly like this..

[@79solidsnake]

The "dangers" of being a Gen X kid was not only fun, but it helped us in life. I wouldn't change a thing🤘🤘

[@captin3149]

Making things so safe now isn't exactly bad, but it doesn't let anyone grow and learn.

[@katemiller7874]

Right! I feel it made us adaptable. We went with the flow this generation cannot

[@jcbulldog533]

​@@katemiller7874No they absolutely can't.. Unfortunately they're being coddled in a bad way & not learning anything at all about being aware of their surroundings,sticking up for themselves & not being taken advantage of..These are just a few things that need to be taught or learned So they're ready for the real world & they're at least semi prepared

[@Ginalopez7877]

Those were the good Ol days of being a kid in the 80s 😊

[@RhettyforHistory]

Absolutely! Thank you for watching reginalopez7877!

[@frankrizzo4460]

Yes I totally agree with you I really believe that we were blessed to have experienced those days. I miss them now more than ever before.

[@Epic_C]

I was born in 81 and luckily had the chance to grow up on the tail end of some of these things. Unfortunately most of these things no longer happened after the 2000s.

[@secondchance6603]

Things were so dangerous for us kids back then that none of us died falling off a cliff taking a, 'selfie' or got killed using an electric scooter.

[@bobhemphut4011]

Teen suicide wasn't an epidemic either

[@bellabelle3227]

I am 51 - I had completely forgotten about having to go out on the porch often in bad weather and spin to adjust the TV antenna on the roof while someone yelled through the window -- more, more or go back ... thanks for this video walk down memory lane! I remember when we got our first microwave, our first VCR, when "cable" was STARZ TV that only came on between 7pm-2am, and I even remember going to the AT & T store in the mall and picking out our first ever push-button house phone! I climbed trees in dresses, we played together with all the neighborhood kids within about a 2 block radius outside till dark, and we could walk places all over town by ourselves. And I grew up in a very urban mid-sized city not some county town in the middle of nowhere. Kids today have no idea the freedom we had, the fun we had, or the absolute PAIN those metal bike pedals were on bare feet or through flimsy flip-flops!

[@matthewsmith2979]

In between the "walk it off"s my father would tell me that scars "add character". I sure have a lot of character! Enjoyed it every time.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories matthewsmith2979!

[@adamperkins2011]

My dad told me that a lot

[@bobbackward6461]

Yep, it was a wild world we grew up in. But those of us still around today, we proved our strength.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching bobbackward6461!

[@brian70Cuda]

Great time, we had no snowfakes then;) I rode many miles in the back of a truck and on a package tray of a Chrysler four door as a kid.

[@macorte1972]

Had to be strong or die… 😬

[@scallen3841]

Don't forget the accountability we had to face if we got caught lol

[@jayj8208]

​@@scallen3841My dad was the type that instilled fear in any kid that was up to something. Stray animals coward away if he yelled at them. I had to learn to be sneaky. I got really good at it. He was mean. However, there were several times boys knocked at the door asking him to make a bully return stolen property from bullies. Real bullies. The x definition, like down right strong arm robbery. I think the expansion of the word bully is harmful.

[@reset-xs9ql]

I was born in '70. I miss the 70's/80's. My childhood, I fear, was much more enjoyable, interesting, educational, exciting, stimulating than my child's currently.

[@justmeandjustme5772]

ME TOO 70’S AND 80’S ARE THE BEST YEARS EVER ALL THE WAY!!!!

[@did_I_hurt_you_feefees]

I know what you mean. I actually feel sorry for kids today. They have no idea what privacy is and most of them can't figure out how to do anything. I'm not saying your kid is like that, but a lot of them are. Having to fend for ourselves taught us a lot of valuable skills that we now use as adults. It was also a lot of fun.

[@rodneyperry6942]

And we didn't have to worry about getting our pictures taken with a cell phone when we were up to no good! (We just had to make sure Mrs Kravitz, the neighborhood karen wasn't around)

[@sueprator9314]

@@did_I_hurt_you_feefees Ur on point

[@jacobac07]

I was born at the very tail-end of Generation X, 1980, but this video definitely described much of my childhood!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching jacobac07!

[@LiveTUNA]

I was born the very first week of 1981. I will never EVER consider myself a millennial, ever. You might get knocked out for doing that 😂😅. I still have my 8th grade graduation shirt commemorating us as the very last class of generation X to leave our Jr high school for high school. What's strange is that it has written on the top "Generation X 1967-1982"

[@pandemic7]

⁠@@LiveTUNAI’m born spring of ‘81 and I’ve always considered myself a GenXer. It wasn’t until recently that I heard some calling early 80s babies “millennials” or “xennials” or whatever. But I clearly remember being a called a GenXer by my teachers back then. I think it also depends on your upbringing, economic status, having or not having older siblings (all my older siblings are born late 60s and early 70s). I remember the challenger explosion, the Berlin Wall, baby Jessica in the well, my first concert was smashing pumpkins in 1993, yeah…I’m definitely a GenXer. The tail end for sure, though. I’m so glad I grew back then.

[@TheGraduate702]

I was born in 83 and they still raised us this way well into the 90s. The split must be 89 because my sister was spoiled and helicoptered

[@JBags72]

72!! here..This video is 100% accurate!! Long hot summer days in Queens NY meant being on a bike all day (no helmets bells or whistles) performing dangerous stunts. No phones, beepers or internet. Parents had to ask the neighbors where their kids were, discarded refrigerator boxes meant a new hideout and the local freight train tracks were irresistible. Fireworks, Bazooka gum and a garden hose were all we needed. By evening the bath water was a testament to the day’s fun. I’d do anything to go back!

[@minkya1010]

76, Astoria here

[@JBags72]

@@minkya1010 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

[@redpilledprophet8829]

I was born in 1970 & grew up in Ozone Park-wouldn’t change it for anything but now I live rural in the North Georgia Mountains & wouldn’t change that for anything-raised our kids here-it was the best thing to do, the world is so damn different now

[@jayalexander3356]

I climbed, and fell out of, many trees. I was never seriously injured. I also had a friend whose roof we used to jump off of on to her trampoline. Had a mid air collission once jumping over a sand dune on my bike. We both agreed not to tell our moms and nursed our own scrapes. Had many cuts and bruises. We weren't whiny and never complained. And I'm a girl! We are tougher people for having had an adventurous childhood.

[@loki2240]

I also did a lot of those things and was never seriously injured. But I also had a football teammate who was riding his bike, got hit by a car, and lost his life. I also have a friend whose niece was riding a go kart in the 2000's, got hit by a car, and lost her life. I also know that many other kids have lost their life, or have been seriously injured, despite the fact that I didn't know them personally. There's more to existence than our personal experiences.

[@thebackrooms7511]

Yes we were! If we did tell or they found out, my parents would say either, "that's what you get" or you won't do that again will you!".

[@thebackrooms7511]

@@loki2240 I'm sorry to hear this.

[@philovance1940]

I my brother and I play fighting like we saw on TV. He smacked me in the face and cut my upper lip just below my nose. I was crying because it was bleeding pretty good and he was crying because he knew he was going to ‘get it’ from my dad when we got home. Probably should’ve gotten stitch or two . I was one of 7 children so our house was busy. I just kept my head down at the supper table and my parents never knew. I saved my brother from good spanking so he owed me big time in my books. Still have the scar.

[@jayalexander3356]

​@@loki2240sorry about your friends. Not sure how getting hit by cars is relevant though. But helicopter parenting is the reason we have so many anxiety riddled, dysfunctional young people today. Now young people just find stupid, non fun, ways to injure themselves or die. Remember the tide pod challenge? Life is inherent with risks. You can't bubble wrap your kids.

[@DR-mq1vn]

I was born in 1968 and I'm Generation X. I laughed through this entire video. I remember it all and miss it so much!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching DR-mq1vn!

[@Nomaswearefull]

I wasn't the fastest runner. Never got a blue ribbon. Second place is the first loser. Participation trophy's didn't exist. How did I ever survive?

[@tommcdonough6086]

Born in 68 while my Dad was in Vietnam, there was nothing better growing up in this era. And yes we survived it all. We were little daredevils. Today's youth are being cheated big time. 55 now where does the time go 😮😮. Peace..........

[@nonaboccalupo7733]

62, I was so upset when the big wheel came out and couldn’t fit on my little sister’s lol

[@tommcdonough6086]

@@nonaboccalupo7733 The Big Wheel now that's a blast from the past.....peace.......

[@SatoriSoul]

Late 60s child here, so much history that we experienced unlike any other era. I am glad i got the chance to see and experience it. Still a bit miffed that what i had is now considered "Retro." I feel old and young at the same time, and still get a kick out of hearing a song from my childhood sampled in todays music. Love the life you have, there will never be another time in history quite like it.

[@Tekkaman1994]

I'm 47. I'm good with being a Gen Xer. My childhood was quite good. I watched tv at night, and I was okay with there only being three(later four) tv networks when FOX came along. I talked to my friends on a land line phone, and my parents took I and my brother to our local mall every other weekend. I played with GI Joe, He-Man, and Transformers. I did play outside with the other neighborhood kids, but I and I my also played quite a few video games on our Sega Genesis, when that was released in the late 80's. I had such a good time growing up, that I do have fond memories of that era of my life, but I wouldn't want re-live it again. We are certainly tougher than Gen Yers and Gen Zers with their safe spaces and trigger warnings! We weren't coddled like all these Gen Zers that's for sure. I'm so glad to be a Gen Xer, because I got to be a child in the 80's and a teen in the 90's. It was a good era to be young.

[@johnlopez3996]

We Generation X kids put up with tons of scrapes and scratches from play, and those were like badges of honor. The drawbacks were that our parents treated our cuts with alcohol, mercurochrome, or hydrogen peroxide. Bactine was a luxury. Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide would sting like crazy and you blew like crazy on your cuts as soon as the hydrogen peroxide started to foam. Thank you for your video presentation. Take care.

[@The_Naughty_Kitten]

Mercurochrome was the best! I wish they still made it.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

I still use them when I cut or scratch myself. Mercuochrome isn't available anymore, probably because it was the most efficient of the 3. It was the best.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

​@@The_Naughty_KittenYeah, it was very effective, and I think that's why they don't make it anymore.

[@eveningprimrose3088]

Mercurochrome was made with mercury, and that is why it isn't available anymore, just like mercury thermometers. But I stayed painted with the stuff and never had a skin infection. It stayed on, too, until the injury healed. Amazing. Good times!

[@777slynn]

Bactine was the worst. My school had Bactine spray. We would twist the swings so that the chain would unravel and spin us around. One day the chain kinked. When I swung normally it let go and took a piece of my pinky with it. There was a hole in my fingertip. My teacher sprayed Bactine directly into the hole. My scream was stuck in my throat it burned so badly.

[@capnjohn7455]

With the fireworks in the toy truck, that is how my parents met. My dad in his 20’s drove home from South Carolina with a trunk full of fireworks. He saw my mom sitting in my great uncle’s backyard. He set a firework off to get her attention. It went in the wrong direction and went off under my great uncle’s chair. It scared my great uncle and got my mom’s attention. Now they are married for over 50 years.

[@D-Fens_1632]

Reminds me of a 4th of July in the 80s. A neighbor kid was at our house lighting things off and was showing off his ability to toss bottle rockets with his hand. The poor bastard lit one and was tossing it just as a cop came around the corner. It threw off his aim and it somehow launched perfectly under the cop car and exploded. Hundred to one toss, he couldn't do it again if he tried. The cop slammed on his brakes and got out and just told us to go in the backyard and stop by 10 pm (fireworks were illegal there). But we didn't push our luck and stopped right then. Mom didn't marry the cop though.

[@PafMedic]

Grew Up In Newry SC,We Use To Put Ours Together With About 20 Other Kids,Split Into 2 Teams,And It Was War In The Church Parking Lot,Till A Spark Flew The Wrong Way,Then It Was Every Man For Himself😂😂😂😂….Went Back The Next Morning And Cleaned Our Messes Up Too,lol

[@marciayoung8735]

NC is that where you lived ? I grew up in California but moved to NC in the 90s . We still go to SC and get our fireworks.

[@tammyrogers9129]

I'm 56 and I am thankful that I grew up when I did. Kids today are not same. We were the last generation without cable the internet and cell phones.

[@marvelousministry9434]

We LOVED our freedom and opportunities to explore and become problem solvers. Way better than the garbage we are forced to live under now. Loved climbing, roofs, fences and tree forts. Making homemade wooden go carts with rope steering and no brakes out of old lawn mowers. Lawn darts

[@Stormy-pe2xc]

Born in 1966, the 70s was the best decade being a kid, and so was the music!

[@evamoore2297]

Amen

[@kenik2023]

66 here also. Yea I frggn LOVED it!!!

[@shismith10]

You are spot-on!

[@usnva5638]

I agree with you 100% on the 70's having the best rock music. It was also a time when a bunch of us could pile into the back of a pickup truck, not fastened in any way, and go down the highway at 70+ mph. We would occasionally egg on the driver to go even faster, sometimes reaching speeds in excess of 90. People still had the choice between "leaded" and "unleaded" gas. While the service attendant was fueling your car, he would clean your windows and check all the fluids. The 70's was still a decade where you could get pulled over for drunk driving, tested for impairment, and if the cop thought it was unsafe to drive, he would have you place a cloth in the side window and told you to walk home or he might give you a ride depending on the distance.

[@chefscorner7063]

Born in 63 and agree with you 100%!!

[@srmurc6zo6]

Gen X was not the first generation that had a free range upbringing, but it may have been the last. Those dangerous toys and activities served to give us learning experiences that would lead to what is called "common sense". By getting in trouble or hurt (or both), we learned how to avoid problems in life. I've come to realize over time that the best parents were the ones who let their kids experience childhood so they could learn realities that would benefit them later.

[@razor75250]

Gen x is definitely the last free generation

[@did_I_hurt_you_feefees]

Stupid hurt and it taught us very quickly to not be stupid LOL Now the bubble wrapped world kids live in is not doing them any favors and is created very pathetic adults.

[@cjpietropinto9293]

Yes and know. Prior to gen x, there was generally a stay at home parent. Gen x was the first, as a generation, not simply individual accounts, to come home to an empty house after school. Making is unique in that time frame. Most parents I currently know, have at least one stay at home parent, or part time work so they can avoid daycare costs. (Also, kids before us had granny's to go visit. Our granny's were working).

[@paulwhitaker6844]

Agreed on that. I’m a Gen x but agreed the last of green range

[@King-Ghidora]

So what happened? I was born in the 60's (last of 8 kids) by a couple born in the 20's; so my parents were not baby boomers. Generally though, gen. X'ers were raised by boomers and we came out all right (or so I think). Subsequent generations (y, z, millenials etc.) have typically gone down in quality. Where down the line did things go wrong? Although gen. X's grew up during a great, dangerous time, did the lack of involvement from baby boomers cause gen. X's to acquire faulty family raising skills? Maybe being "free range", "latch key" kids wasn't such a good experience. Maybe todays kids are simply faulty, weak.

[@LallyPopp]

I remember me and my brothers going out to play, riding our bikes (after chores of course) and not coming back until dinner time. Riding on the back of the truck and not having to wear seatbelts. Kids were savvy and independent but respectful, people cared for each other, life was simple but good. I miss those times.

[@Cathrope1]

Born 1980 and graduated 1998. it was the best years of my life.

[@GloW_Bug1]

I’m an eighties baby too! I’m a Xennial.

[@marvinpreston6819]

Being a kid in the 70s, looking back was glorious. we didn’t have much and I guess that was part of the best memories… Kids just being kids.

[@did_I_hurt_you_feefees]

Every time I see a kid walking down the street with their face buried in a phone, I feel sad for them. They think they are connected and smart but they are the exact opposite. If you can't even go for a walk and be alone in your own head, what chance do you have in real life?

[@Chicharrera.]

My husband still has his original 1983 BMX bike. He is 53 and rides it regularly and can still do wheelies on it.😁

[@Osprey850]

That's awesome. I still have my skateboard, though it's in my parents' attic. Every 5 years or so, I get it down, only to discover that I'm just as unable to do the simplest tricks as I was 35 years ago. 😞

[@DavidReyes-1970]

Diamond backs...hutch...quad angles...GT...❤

[@breakshot7451]

few month ago i finished recreating my old bmx. born 74 and a middle child so i am basically a feral nutcase;))

[@heraldomedrano1417]

I got scars.

[@Symphony0o-]

Mid-80’s and 90’s were like the golden years! We didn’t have much but our hearts were rich.

[@johnvaughn2590]

Mom used to tell people that "The boy's will find out for themselves". She was right. RIP brother Edmund.

[@frankrizzo4460]

I remember all of this especially drinking water out of the garden hose on the side of the house after playing tackle football in the street. Living in South Florida at the time my sister's would sun tan with tin foil on the inside of a record album. No helmets or pads on bikes and made our own ramps. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

[@thefrogking481]

We had a name for "tackle football" that would get me banned from YT if I typed it.

[@HWG-wm8ld]

Smear the

[@sueprator9314]

I loved riding my bike w/no helmet growing up in my teens actually! Im a boomer and lived 20 short city blocks from the beach in foggy old San Francisco when it was a clean awesome family City. Way before a bunch of diff groups came and just parked themselves there and it changed everything.

[@teresasparks9194]

As i sit with kids today who literally cannot function without a tablet or gaming system, and will cry if they can't go on such things I'm totally glad i was part of the last generation that went outside and had to use my imagination to play. I don't care how old i sound

[@stevesalyards6228]

“In my day…..” Yep, it was so much better back then! I’m 54 and I feel like I’m 94 in today’s world! Ha!

[@Day-OSeven5SS]

1975 here! Loved this video. Loved being a kid in the 80’s. Nothing better. Us GenXers need to put our powers together and fix the times in our country.

[@DPRyan-vd5pp]

GenXer here! Born in 1972! Great memories growing up in the 80’s!! Big metal lawn darts were awesome!! Lol

[@istrumguitars]

A ton of these things continued well into the 90s too! I remember almost no helmets, metallic pedals and reckless bike tricks, fire crackers, pop guns and BB guns, disappearing for hours into the woods, those awful lawn chairs 😂

[@D-Fens_1632]

All depended on where you lived, really. My world in the 80s was largely just a continuation of the 70s. Sort of like the anachronistic world Napoleon Dynamite lived in.

[@nooneyouknow5516]

Omg the lawn chairs. Ouch! 😢

[@endofsociety]

It's true. I believe the 90s especially the early 90s were an extension of the 80s. Nothing really started changing till the late 90s IMO.

[@johnsecord8539]

Definitely went into the 90s. The USA changed a lot after 9/11/01. Most people became soft in the last 20 years or so

[@yourlifeisyourfault.4212]

Yup...

[@KayBeeAustralia]

I'm a 1970 Gen-X who grew up in Sydney Australia. Yep, pretty much every one of those things mentioned in this video happened to me. I especially laughed at the TV aerial moment. Dad made me go on the roof, and I can still hear him yelling out the window saying 'no, turn it the other way...THE OTHER WAY!!'.

[@Itzallgoood]

Those were the absolute best days. Thanks for the content.

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome and thank you for watching Itzallgoood!

[@joeboyko8013]

I'm a 48 year old man who was born in the 70's, grew up in the 80's and came of age in the 90's and am so happy to have been birthed during the cosmic accident of Generation X. Having an independent childhood without being low-jacked with overbearing technology and neurotic parental supervision, coupled with a healthy dose of discipline when you eventually screw up was the best maturing process ever.

[@manleybadger8311]

Gen x was from 1965 to 1980. I was born in 1979 so a young Gen Xer, but still one. I'm a kid of the 80's but I still remember most of these things. Generation X is awesome.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching manleybadger8311!

[@MountainRancher]

I'm a 79 model. Rock on brother!

[@GabrielGomez-ur2rc]

Most of the people and actives depicted seem to be from the Baby Boomer era.

[@marciayoung8735]

​@@GabrielGomez-ur2rcI guess I'm a baby boomer, but the stuff on the video lasted throughout the 80s ...

[@Eggmanrocks]

National geographic tv series 1961-1981

[@mikehughes4969]

I was fortunate enough to grow up with woods and a creek in my backyard and you can believe that I practically lived in them during the summer. I swam in the creek, sort of, because even at ten it barely came up to my waist, and I skated on it in the winter. I camped in those woods more times than I can count. Not fifty yards from my own back door and I might as well been on a different planet. Never used a tent, just a ground tarp and a sleeping bag. Sometimes it would rain, which would send me scrambling back to the house, where the backdoor was always unlocked. Once I woke up to a curious deer investigating me. Other times it would be a raccoon or a possum. Those really were the good old days.

[@ozarkrefugee]

My childhood was very similar. we had 30 acres of hills, hollers, shelter caves, and bluffs behind the house, I would camp out back there for a week at a time. Parents more or less knew I was camping, no big deal.

[@joeminor15]

Nothing can compare to the memories of our youth!

[@thefrogking481]

I grew up on a 127 acre farm in Alabama. All we needed for hours of entertainment was a dirt bike and a 22 rifle. Be inside by dark? Nope. Only a city idiot tied lumber to the roof of a car.

[@yankees29]

There was a woods behind my house in Amityville NY. We had forts and bike tracks back there. My older cousins lived next door. After Hurricane Gloria there were trees snapped about 7-8 feet up that made an elevated walkway above the woods. 2-3 fell in a row. I used to walk across the woods up on the trees. Awesome times.

[@scallen3841]

Now kids don't go outside with mom or dad hovering over them , because behind every bush or shadow is the boogey man

[@michaell874]

Back in those days, my God, were wonderful in so many ways. Our neighborhood had dozens of us kids. When the movie Star Wars came out, our parents drove us to the movie theater in droves. They would drop us off, and then go back and pick up other kids. Walking home after the movie I counted 27 of us kids. My favorite activity was a game called Kill the Guy with the Football, and we all played Hide and Seek where we hid in our neighbors’ backyards, although I would never recommend anyone do nowadays. Back then we knew which neighbors were World War II veterans who had to tolerance of anyone stepping on their perfectly manicured front lawns. I can easily add dozens or even hundreds of more things from those days. Nostalgia.

[@patrickgrengs7594]

Born in 1965, living much of my growing years in a small town, rural Wisconsin. As kids, we salvaged materials from broken fences along the rail line and new home construction sites. We also "borrowed" nails, hammers and saws from our folks' garages and built shacks in the woods near the rail line -- I recall even implementing a communication system consisting of twine, wire and railroad spikes, a frictional system that required constant maintenance. Our "shack town" even had a bank, general store and museum. The trains would zoom by on the line only 50 feet from the shacks. On one summer day, a brush fire started along the line -- we were ready for it with 60 gallons of water that we had stockpiled in old plastic milk jugs -- us kids put out the fire and were amply rewarded by the folks that lived in the house closest to the tracks. The rail line is still there ... but the trees and shacks are long gone, all the kids grew up and went their own way. Nostalgia -- it ain't what it used to be :)

[@vasiliarkhipov2121]

The thing I remember that I think sums up the era is this: when I crashed, no matter how hurt I was, the first thing I did was pop up and see if I ripped my clothes. Multiple bleeding injuries were a distant secondary concern to how mad my mother would be if I ripped my clothes. I heard 'Dammit Kevin we just bought you those' so many times I lost count. I still remember completely smashing my nose and elbows and walking home for blocks with my hand under my nose to scoop away the blood so it stayed off my shirt. When I came in the side door I proudly proclaimed "Don't worry mom my clothes are fine." I then sat in the kitchen kicking my feet proud as can be waiting for her to treat my injuries.

[@dustyking8851]

Same here, they're favorite was, "Is a bone sticking out? No? You're fine.". 🤦

[@azavy]

Tough as nails we were! Tough as nails! 😂👍

[@remconoordermeer7015]

Ah yes, and that is why we often carried handkerchiefs. Parents would accept the loss of one of those being used as blood mop or improvised bandage over those precious clothes any day and, literally, twice on Sunday.

[@skeezix8156]

We had “play clothes”, lol didn’t want us messing up the school clothes we outgrew in five months

[@remconoordermeer7015]

@@skeezix8156 In my case that was because I had two brothers who had to be able to wear those clothes as well, when they grew into them. And play clothes couldn’t be mended indefinitely.

[@billyhughes9776]

I barely make the cut as a "Gen Xer" (born in 1965). Experienced all of what was mentioned in the vid -- summer's were the best. Outside all day riding bikes, exploring the woods, skateboards, sprinklers, drinking from the hose -- awesome. Fear is one of the biggest motivators -- wasn't as all consuming back then as it is now.

[@mckid2683]

I barely fit in as a Gen X'er in terms of year born on the opposite end of the spectrum as I was born in '79. I keep constantly "forgetting" my age as I still can't believe I'm in my 40's because of all the "dangerous" things we lived thru like those mentioned in this video! We were always told to go outside n play and that's all we did as kids. We would show up home long enuf to eat dinner n head back out til supper time. That's IF we checked in at dinnertime. I remember going to the store at 6 years old for my parents to get them cigarettes, pop, chips, a chocolate bar for each of us(myself, mum n dad n 2 sisters), and a cpl of rented movies. All I needed to pick up all this, including the cigarettes, was a note in my pocket my mum had written. We made fun of the dorks that wore helmets and/or elbow n knew pads ffs! I think it's illegal now to ride a bicycle down the street without the "proper safety equipment". Anyways, everything else in the video is accurate and sooooooo many more differences!

[@Marinegrunt0311]

I was born in 1964 missed Gen X by a year.

[@localsheriff]

Haha, buying cigarettes as a kid with a parent's handwritten note, I surely remember that!😄 Nowadays kids aren't even exposed to SEEING smokers...! @@mckid2683

[@did_I_hurt_you_feefees]

IKR. Everyone is afraid of literally everything. I'm surprised kids don't go to school in suits of armor now

[@RoseDreamsinger]

@@mckid2683 Knee pads I agree with. Roller skating was tough on the knees. Maybe my 50-year-old knees wouldn't grate and creak so much now, lol.

[@tonygrissom6564]

I’m 49, my ears still ring to this day from the 9 concussions I got as a kid riding bikes with no helmet and various other evel knivel activities! Wouldn’t trade it for anything.

[@knot8676]

Born 79 all of this just made me crave Oddels of Noodles. Thank you.

[@amytrumbull156]

Getting hurt now and then was how you learned what not to do, how to be careful and it sure made us stronger! I was always outside biking, roller skating, swimming and playing with friends well into the dark of night and man, we had a blast. We created ways to entertain ourselves and it wasn’t our parents or technology that was responsible for our entertainment. We were resourceful, creative, fearless and tough. It’s sad to now see all the kids with their faces glued to phones, antisocial, spoiled, out of shape and basically disabled by overprotective parenting, overuse of antibiotics and schools that are only indoctrination stations. Ah, the good old days!

[@misslora3896]

It's crazy how kids have been so held back and coddled, many can't function as adults. I watch arrest videos and the 1st thing most 20 something's want to do is call a parent right then and there. They need to ask them what to do or to rescue them. It's shocking. Beyond the age of 12 or 13, the LAST thing we wanted was to call our parents when we got in trouble.

[@katrinarobin4034]

It’s been at least 40 years since I’ve seen a proper crusty scab- and I work with kids!!

[@mikek0135]

Remember, though, the problems you have with kids today are because of our mistakes.

[@user-cb3qr9dt2k]

No internet, I miss that time the most! No cell phones, I miss that second. One phone in the house, and it was a party line, you shared it with other neighbors, you needed to check to see if someone down the road was on it. Only three channels on TV. I started riding a dirt bike at 8 years old, and did till I could drive and never owned a helmet. Parrents never asked where I was going or what I did all day. I could take off in the AM and not return home till dark. Drank maybe one glass of water all day, and it was usually from a creek somewhere. We rarely saw a doctor. I used to play lawn darts. Adults smoked everywhere they went, grocery store, gas station, bank, Yeup, I even went to town to by my mom cigerets. Never wore seatbelts. And road in the back up open pickup trucks. All the kids went roller-skating at the skate-rink on the weekends. Father often gave us fireworks to go play with for the day. The frogs never saw it coming. Climbed steep rocky canyons over 100 feet high. Played at the edges of waterfalls. And my cereal had at least a half a cup of sugar in it, It was so much the milk couldn't absorb it all and were left with a 1/4 inch of thick milky sugar slury on the bottom of the bowl. Too many fun times to list, Thank you for this nostalgia trip, and I grew up just fine. But I do miss the days before cell phones and internet.

[@user-kq2mn3rg8w]

Amen the good old days 👍

[@chrissiebawn9357]

Amen again 🙏 to simpler, BEAUTIFUL days for us CHILDREN 🙏❤🕊🖖😀. 51 year old CHILD still because of those BLESSED MEMORIES! Thank you Father and Lord for everything. The GOOD, the bad, the BEAUTIFUL, the ugly. LOVE ALWAYS wins 😀🙏❤🕊🌍🖖 Also the CELLPHONES, internet, STREAMING 😐🙄 etc...too! Feels you all! I thought there were only a few Ron Swanson and Gibbs's left in this world! 😀🤣🖖🙏❤🕊🌍

[@noelhernandez363]

Yes sir, I remember the daredevil bike jumps, flying off the merry-go-round and Saturday morning cartoons!! Those were the good ol days!!

[@ebaristogringo]

67er here,we climbed on the roof often,secretly smoking cigarettes that we stole from my mom,when we where caught,she was just mad about us being on the roof...i was twelve.. What a time...

[@bsquare6809]

Im a gen x and i have the scars to prove it. Isn't it funny how the times have changed. We learned everything the hard way, but you know what, we LEARNED! Today's kids dont learn anything. If you take ALL the dangers away, well then you also take the lesson away too (and memories). God those times were good, wish i could go back to 1985. Thanks for the video, it brought back some very nostalgic memories. Im gonna go up in the attic and find my old lawn darts. Then I'll call the kids out of their rooms and show them the backyard. Maybe I'll even explain what a "bike" was.

[@mojoschmee9320]

I call this current iteration of human existence The Age of Methodology, because people seem to know how to do things, but no one knows what the hell they're doing...

[@amaurycampbell3203]

Good luck trying to make them go outside or at least they'll need sunglasses, sun cream, gloves, hat, long sleeved shirt, long pant and all kind of protection attires . Can you imagine the danger outside ??? Sunburns, heat stroke, bugs, spiders, bushes, thorns, dust, pollen, gravel just to mention a few. Oh and of course, each and every one of them will bring their cellphone to call 911 just in case a bee or a nettles sting, or maybe worse....missing a post on social media. Worst tragedy on Earth !!!😉😃

[@petalumatube]

Proud to be gen x❤

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching petalumatube!

[@proudbrownconservative]

I was born 1977, so late 80s early 90s every thing you just said was right, in the late 90s early 2000s is when it went all went bad

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching proudbrownconservative!

[@vermont741]

Ss a kid in the 70s, we loved playing outdoors, going on hikes, sliding down hills on cardboard boxes, playing with fire, playing with water, making ice pops during the summer, inventing our own games, playing board games, playing cards, mooching our parents' cigarettes and smoking them in the woods, etc! So much fun!

[@randywaller7685]

Jeez... I remember all of that stuff. It was great and I wouldn't change a thing. Thanks for shaking those memories loose.

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome and thank you for watching Randy!

[@noahpartic7586]

Gen X from '72 here. I especially remember riding in the back of my Dad's Station Wagons many times. It was like my own personal space in a way...albeit if I didn't have to share with the siblings at the time.

[@TH-hy9kr]

I loved the rear facing seat. It was great sitting bak there and being away from the rest of my family in the car.

[@buckjones4901]

I remember laying down in the back of a Ford Pinto, it has a large hatchback when the back seats are folded down, with a window and could lay there and look at the stars or sky.

[@noahpartic7586]

@@TH-hy9kr Lucky You. Never had that option before.

[@AnitaDavenport-wg2bd]

@@TH-hy9kr I'm Gen X '77. I remember a friend of our family had one and it was a race to see which three of us kids got a chance to sit in the rear facing seat. We used to play race car lol. Good times 💖

[@thefrogking481]

We used to ride in the bed of the pickup standing looking over the cab.

[@mbrown5494]

All so true! Brought back many memories. I can't disclose some of the more nefarious antics. This a good collection of most of the so called "crazy" things we did

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching mbrown5494!

[@PhoenixTTD]

Gen X did crazy things like looking both ways before crossing the street and our homework.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching PhoenixTTD!

[@paigemills67]

1967 here. I wouldn't trade growing up as a Gen X for anything! It truly was the best of times!! We did anything and everything our parents told us not to do and most of the time, we never got caught. We didn't have cameras everywhere and no cell phones. Things were much more simple and.....dangerous!

[@floridapatriot9776]

Man I miss the good ole days. We had so much freedom growing up Gen X. It was an amazing time.

[@coloradodayhiker]

One of my favorite memories was my brother's and I train hopping. We had a train go by twice every day, and would grab our inner tubes hop the train to the next suburb (10 miles away) and tube back on the river which ran along the tracks. As long as we were home by dinner we were ok. Our parents never knew most of what we did.

[@phobet]

This brought back so many memories, things i haven't thought about in ages. Thank you for the time trip.

[@joeheid2776]

Let's get real. Dude doing a handstand on his skateboard needed his own TV Show.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yeah he was above my skill! Thank you for watching joeheid2776!

[@prestonlindbeck1197]

Or the Gong show.

[@leesashriber5097]

Such a great time to grow up!!!! Best generation. Thank you for the trip down memory lane!! 😊

[@stevefrasier8269]

Best generation.

[@betsyross2.065]

😂what happened?

[@stevefrasier8269]

@@betsyross2.065 Socialism happened.

[@mremington8]

As a kid of the 70's there was this random church bus - which basically a school bus, that would drive around trolling the neighborhoods looking to pick up kids and luring us in with cheap candy. several times i hopped on because i wanted candy and was bored, - this mystery bus would take me and a bunch of random preteens across town on the highway, none of us knew each other and there were always at least a couple dozen of us - it took us to some far away church service, and then drop us back to the neighborhood after a few hours- our parents didnt know, and they odd times i told them, no one cared. and here i am , alive to tell the tales also speaking of buses, no bus driver ever questioned or cared that a 8 year old just hopped on a city bus to travel downtown Seattle by themselves as long as we had the money for the fare...lol, none of this would happen today

[@notfamouschristopher]

I moved to east Africa 6 years ago. What's very interesting is kids still play outside and drink water out of anything with water .. I'm 46 and it's crazy how nice it is to hear kids running around neighborhoods in Africa, throwing rocks ( enjoy yelling at them to go somewhere else to throw rocks) kicking balls or each kicking each other and enjoying life.. yes I send kids to the store for me, just because I remember the adventures of my first time going to the store ( riding bike ) I do have them but me cigarettes ( ha ha ) it's like I traveled back to a better time ...

[@scavone72]

“Kids today know nothing about that level of pain”lol I haven’t thought about those metal bike pedals in forever!

[@andrewclarke3622]

I did the ramp thing ONCE! Did a faceplant and that was it. Had a friend that called me Evil Keneval for the rest of the summer🤣 My parents did roadtrips in the 80s. I LOVED annoying them by trying to get passing truckers to honk.

[@ericv7720]

I did it only once too. Ate the sidewalk and busted my two front teeth. Didn't pull that again!

[@chrispickett3092]

In Cali we built huge ramps, the 70s were a rocking time.

[@dragondancer1814]

My kids STILL try getting truckers to honk on road trips, and they thought they _invented_ Punch-buggy, until I killed that noise by telling them that WE invented Punch-buggy-they just added the “No punch-back” clause. When I said that, my older daughter looked like her dog had just died!

[@DeadInside-ew8qb]

Broke a finger doing that. The cast signing was totally worth it

[@SA-iw4ci]

My friends called me Super Dave when I broke a telephone pole. It was in 1988 and I was 14 years old. Borrowed my Dad's truck without permission and got shi t faced at a party. Thank God that pole was there to stop me from driving into a house. Luckily I was the only person injured.

[@dianestafford6968]

When I was a little kid I was an Army Brat that lived on the economy (for civilians that means you didn't live on base). We lived in an apartment building the our government rent from the German government. The older American kids were mean to us little kids. So the older German kids from the building next door and defend us. The bb gun battles were Epic. I was a bb runner picking up the bb's in the heat of battle and running them back to my side. It's a miracle none of us lost an eye. Ah the days of metal playground equipment and hot slides during Summer 😂❤

[@danielalvarez8729]

I'm 51 years old. Big Star Wars fan as a child. I was 5 years old when the movie first came out in theaters in 1977. I remember running around all day in the hot summer days with my friends in a mobile home park. When we were thirsty, we would run up to any random neighbors' home and turn their faucet on, and commence drinking from their water hoses. Not a single neighbor was upset at us for it so long as we made sure to turn their water off after we were done. I remember laying in the far back of my dad's car looking up at the stars. I used to scare myself by looking at the reflection of my own eye staring back at me. The only thing I do NOT miss was all of that smoking. I hated the smell of cigarettes when growing up, and I still do.

[@julzhotti5466]

I was born in 72 in Australia. I would have to walk up to the shop everyday to get my step mum a pack of ciggy's, I didn't need a note. Both my step mum & my dad smoked ciggy's. My brother & sister & I would be left in the car while dad sat in the pub to drink, by the time he came out, we would be jumping on the car roof, We dented a lot of dads car roofs in, we would get a hiding or dads belt. I had a Holly Hobby sewing machine at 6 yrs old, it had a real sewing needle & it actually did sew. We would hang on the clothes lines (Aust has rotating clothes lines) & spin around & end up destroying them. And ofcourse we would build make shift ramps to do jumps with our bikes. Oh yes i got a rippa shin scar that stayed for 15 yrs from those "bear trap" pedals. We (gen X) have been the only generation that has adapted & tolerated our old fashioned parents, we knew what it was like to live without mobile phones, we adapted to using mobile phones, computers, all technology & yet we have no problem getting our hands dirty working on a car, taking charge when things fail etc. We get off our asses & get the job done without complaining, we don't take things for granted, we dont expect everything to be handed to us on a sliver platter & we don't think or act like we're better than our elders.

[@1973watchdog]

Absolutely 100%. Couldn’t have said better myself. Makes you miss those years even more. I certainly don’t like or are enjoying the era of entitlement.

[@julzhotti5466]

@@1973watchdog oh mate, don't get me started on the "automaticly entitled" generation

[@heraldomedrano1417]

I bought cigarettes at 17.

[@gertibell]

Yeah, nobody needed a note to get cigs. Those bear trap pedals were needed to keep your feet on the pedals. It was worth the occasional skin ripping.

[@michaelaliotta9452]

I remember sitting on the steps outside the pub with my sister while my parents were inside. Men would see us and say G'day kids and go into the pub. Life was so much better back then. I feel for the kids of generations that came after ours.

[@johnie14151]

We didn’t look at it as dangerous. We looked at these things as fun. Great memories.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Johnie!

[@pb12661]

fun and ADVENTURES.....

[@krisnaylor9488]

A flood of memories. Thank you.

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome and thank you for watching krisnaylor9488!

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

A group of friends, a belly full of cordial, an old tractor tyre, and a hill. _"Last one to vomit wins!"_ That was my youth! 😂😂

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories PhantomFilmAustralia!

[@michaellee6489]

I was born in '73, and lived through all this and more! We lived out of town, so most of our adventures took place out in the woods, in the creeks, ponds, trees, hills and cliffs, not to mention the railroad tracks! What a great time to be a kid!

[@ANTONIOReyes-qm2zv]

I'm 51 gust thinking of my youth brings me to t😭

[@mojoschmee9320]

I'm your same age, and last summer I took my 12yo nephew into the creek behind my sister's house for some exploring and bonding time. That kid was so scared of every frog, waterhole, and grasshopper we saw. Thought he'd it love on account of the hours he spends playing a simulated fishing video game. Really is a sad state of affairs.

[@chrissiebawn9357]

And the dump and target shooting, for us Cragmont pop cans, driving, nay, four wheeling not only in the back of pick up with NOTHING to hold onto but each other, but Dad letting us drive too sometimes, on back roads 😀🇨🇦🖖, I was BLESSED 🙏❤🙏 not only being born in '73 but grew up mainly in the country, small towns, all around...Dad 🙏 was transferred a lot, THE ABSOLUTE BEST MEMORIES EVER 😀🖖❤🙏🇨🇦🌍🕊

[@HWG-wm8ld]

Same, I was in Baltimore city and had cousins in the county near all the creeks and estuaries of the bay. I had the best of both worlds.

[@kenyattaclay7666]

I was born in 72 and when I look back at my childhood I just think it was wild as hell. Before my mom passed I used to read her about how her, both my grandmothers my aunts & uncles would be in jail if they tried raising us the same way today. My mom’s response was “well, you still alive ain’t you.” 🤣 Seriously though, in some ways I feel sorry for kids who came after because I think we were the last generation that was truly allowed to be kids and not have every minute of our day micromanaged. I also didn’t grow up being afraid of the world. I honestly believe that’s why the 80’s were so great because late Boomers & Gen X were allowed just have fun.

[@NorthnSouthHomestead]

Unfortunately I think it was us Gen x’ers that broke the future generations….by raising them different than we were. We went soft and into cities and apartments with no place for the kids to have safe adventures. We went crazy with tv’s and video games in every bedroom. We spent too much time running kids to every extra curricular school activity as we could….instead of saying “Go play outside with friends “. All in the name of giving them a so-called “better” life than we had. It backfired big time. We had the better life. Now we just have a bunch of bubble wrapped, too tender, my feels got hurt so the world is coming to an end kind of ppl. There are some that realized this….and are working towards fixing it….in atleast their kids…. Farm life, Off grid type life, country living life…along with homeschooling, so that all of today’s world nonsense isn’t shaping their minds into weak qualities which lead to weak minded ppl that think the world revolves around them, and that they deserve everything, when they have earned nothing. We have a young son and we are working hard at raising him to be anything but what you see online these days. (Whimpy, Cry babies, no manners, brain washed into wuss-ism, and thinking everyone owes them lol) My Mom would have whipped their butts and would have said “Now, there’s something for you to cry about” 😂😂😂😂 Those Boomer parents had it right. We Gen X kids had it great .

[@YoreHistory]

Born in 72. The last free generation. I wouldn't change my upbringing for the world. Rode our bike to the arcades (arcade machines were everywhere). Dungeons and Dragons, the rise of gaming consoles and microcomputers...oh man and the music. So good...Gen X 4 Life.

[@chrisbalsamo968]

I was born in 73 and I can still remember the good old days when we would stay out day and when the street lights came on that when you knew it was time to go home.

[@DelbertSting-th7if]

The best of times! We were outside all day no matter the weather or the season. We camped out across the road with our friends every night in the summer. We rode our 3 wheelers all over the trails and roads without helmets or protection. I personally had stitches 6 or 7 times but it was no big deal. My parents would just drive me to the local emergency room to get patched up and back out I would go. We played tackle football, had huge snowball fights, got into fistfights at the Friday night football games, road our bikes down a major highway to play with friends in town, or buy a can of chew, in the middle of the night,jumped off ravines, pulled each other around on sleds, climbed trees, had rock fights, got ur fingers slammed in car doors, ghost rode our bikes off my house, played in a collapsing old dairy barn, played with Star Wars,he man, and gi joe figures,played man hunt and hide and seek, threw things at cars hoping to be chased,bought bags full of candy and binge watched cartoons after school, and on and on. I miss those times so much.

[@Woodstock271]

Yep. Born in 63 and spent my “formative years” as a kid in the 70’s. Bikes were everything and jumping ramps like our hero Evel Kneivel. Riding miles all day to places unknown, sometimes getting lost trying to find our way back home. Our parents never cared where we were, just glad we were out of the house, and as long as we made it back before the streetlights came on. (That was dinner time for most kids back then.) Getting injured was almost a daily occurrence and something to brag about. “Wow Billy, you almost made that last garbage can! Can I sign your cast?” Everything really fun had to be dangerous in some way, otherwise it was boring and for weaklings and girls. (Although the girls were fearless with those damn Clackers and most boys weren’t into that.) I seemed to be more daring than most my friends, so naturally I got hurt the most and was more popular with the girls. I made a zip line from my second floor bedroom window to the bottom of a big elm tree in the back yard. I used a ten speed bike ram horn handle bar to slide down the rope. It worked great, I just had to remember to bail before I slammed into the tree. My homemade hanglider sure looked like it would work but it didn’t, and I sprained both legs in a crash jumping off the garage roof with it. Watching shows on TV, I figured I’d make a great stunt-man. My friends agreed since I was really good at crashing and not so good at succeeding. Anyway, we kids from the 70’s were the most independent and grew up the toughest of any generation after ours.

[@marciayoung8735]

I was born in 60 and the 70s were great fun and so was the music 🎵

[@Woodstock271]

@@marciayoung8735 , Oh yeah my sister! The 70’s music was by far the best! No bands copied each other back then. That was out of respect. Bands were unique and had their own signature sound. And they all were great! Nowadays? They all sound the same and I can’t tell which one is which. I’ve been a lifelong guitarist in bands and the common question we all pose to each other is, “What decade had the best music in general?” The answer always is, “The 70’s.” Peace and aloha to you and yours my friend. 🤙🏼

[@punishersoriano2895]

Great video! I dont know how this popped up in my recommendations but i definitely got a kick out of it. Im a 90s baby and can relate to a few of these. These kids now a days dont know nothing and have it easy.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and I'm happy to hear you enjoyed this one punishersoriano2895!

[@missunderstanding357]

I was born in 75. My dad's favorite comment was, "Rub some dirt on it." Those were the days! 😂

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching missunderstanding357!

[@viperdemonz-jenkins]

brings back memories of when kids were allowed to be kids and make mistakes that we learned from.

[@oldrango883]

Last generation where it was still safe to allow kids to be freely kids.

[@katemiller7874]

Right. Now one was sued for kid things that you learn. Now I feel sorry for kids.

[@timkinney9690]

Yeah, and there was always one kid who never learned from his mistakes

[@hwksfn]

Kids today have no clue how awesome our childhoods were! 😊

[@goldenageofrap5899]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane ❤ Bike ramps, sling shots, drive ins.

[@deanna5221]

Omg you just described my childhood. Love it. I sure had a good laugh. Thank you.

[@Nolimit_Lou]

I was born in 1979 two years before Gen X ended, and while I did not grow up in the 70's I still remember doing many of the things seen in this video in the 80's and early 90's. I still remember scraping my knees while sliding playing baseball outside with friends. When I was growing video games were beginning to become common, but we still played outside everyday. With technology becoming more and more advanced the new generations will never know how much they lost.

[@digitalfootballer9032]

Born in '76 here, and yes we definitely had video games but back then you played them here and there but if it was a nice day out you always preferred playing outside with friends. I even remember our moms basically kicking out of the house if we were inside playing games, telling us it's nice out why aren't we outside?

[@alexbloddrunk1875]

Same here, but i was born in 78👍🏻

[@michaelscholfield7588]

BMX or video games? BMX and adventure always got my blood pumping when I was a kid in the 80s...i didn't start staying in and gaming more until later when "friends" wanted to go looking for trouble and calling that fun...

[@BlindingSun_]

I was born in 81 and I’m gen X whether anyone agrees or not. I grew up with a the stuff on this video

[@ACDZ123]

There's a big difference with gen xers born in the 60s compared to ones born around 79/80

[@prophez23]

As a 1972 Gen Xer this was exactly my childhood with the exception of being around smoking no one smoked in my family but I took up the habit in my late teens for a while then quit. But damn the memories this brought back was great. I'd give anything to go back and do it all over again. Mainly just to be able to be with all my lost loved ones. Those were the days..

[@kristiehahn2749]

I was born in the summer of 82. Some charts put me with gen X some don't, but that is always what I've considered myself. I relate with much of this except I was raised in the country not in town. Alot of bike riding, tree climbing, swimming in the river that ran near our house. The list goes on and on. The 80s were a great time to grow up in.

[@squish2913]

Remember having to ride your bike for miles, just hoping your friend was home and able to hang out, not doing chores or grounded ❤

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching squish2913!