Childhood

Do you think the standard of childhood today is better than when it was 200+ years ago..Or Edwardian/Victorian Age..

It's hard to say, childhood now just seems like a big ball of hopelessness, things were probably a lot more harsh back then, but at least rules were listened to. Teenagers binge drink now, back then you'd be ashamed to get a divorce, etc etc. There's ups and downs for both, but what's the point focusing on the past when the present is bad enough as it is?

Hmm. I think, back then, it really depended so much on your class. Children born into poor families hardly had any hope of being much more than parents to more poor children. Climbing the social (and economic) ladder was extremely difficult. Now we sort of live in a more equalized age; it can still be hard to change your situation, but I think there are more opportunities for children, what with public schooling, etc. On the downside, I think children in those earlier eras were raised to be much more independent - they were often off on their own at a much younger age, handling their own affairs. Now, it seems like childhood lingers even into the mid-twenties. I'm not sure if that's really a positive thing.

'Only medically and academically....surely not maturity.'

I agree with that, though I believe it is the last point that needs to be debated. On one level, life back then was more disciplined and more difficult (although I cannot speak from experience), yet in the same vein, since kids are given much more freedom these days - often too much - they may be forced to grow up at a faster rate than their age would naturally oversee.

Well, I mean, I wasn't alive 200+ years ago, but educationally, I think the standards have been raised. However, when it comes to street smarts, we're just getting dumber and dumber ... I'll admit it.

Obviously better. U can even c dat! he he he lol