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Original poster

When did the narrative around warm weather change?

209 replies

Katypp · 13/07/2025 18:37

It used to be considered a lovely thing if we had a warm summer. Older people (me!) have happy memories of summer 76 and endless days playing outside in shorts during the holidays.
No it seems to be considered a bad thing, with people complaing about the heat, getting agitated about children going to school or even going outside at all. Weather forecasters wanging on about 'staying hydrated' as if we are children and delivering the forecasts as if it is a bad thing that we can enjoy nice weather for once.
Why are we so joyless, sucking on to bottles of water as if they were dummies and seemingly afraid to venture outside in case we self-combust.
Yes i know ow global warming and skin cancer but our reaction to a pleasant day is somewhat OTT i think.

OP posts:
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Lilifer · 13/07/2025 18:50

Katypp · 13/07/2025 18:37

It used to be considered a lovely thing if we had a warm summer. Older people (me!) have happy memories of summer 76 and endless days playing outside in shorts during the holidays.
No it seems to be considered a bad thing, with people complaing about the heat, getting agitated about children going to school or even going outside at all. Weather forecasters wanging on about 'staying hydrated' as if we are children and delivering the forecasts as if it is a bad thing that we can enjoy nice weather for once.
Why are we so joyless, sucking on to bottles of water as if they were dummies and seemingly afraid to venture outside in case we self-combust.
Yes i know ow global warming and skin cancer but our reaction to a pleasant day is somewhat OTT i think.

Fully agree. I also remember the summer of ‘76 and also ‘95, a full 3 months of back to back sunshine, no doom and gloom or scaremongering, this is very much a recent narrative

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 13/07/2025 18:49

Summer 76 was lovely, day after day of sunshine in the school summer holidays but crucially it wasn't as hot as we have been seeing max temp recorded was 35.9, yes that's hot but the hottest ever for the uk was over 40 and was in 2022. The extremes are getting hotter which is an issue

dizzydizzydizzy · 13/07/2025 18:48

The narrative changed because the climate has changed.

A quick google will tell you that, even with 1976, the 1970s summers were not as hot as they are now. We have far more frequent heatwaves.

TrixieFatell · 13/07/2025 18:48

Do you mean the 1976 heatwave where there were plenty of government warnings about the weather, including new Drought Act and the new minister for drought being emoloyed. Or the one where there was an excess death rate rising to 20%. Did the fun also include standpipes being fitted in the streets and parts of the country having water supplies turned off during the day?

SoftPillow · 13/07/2025 18:43

getting agitated about children going to school or even going outside at all. - who are these agitated people? No one at our schools mentioned any concerns. Kids are out at the park and in gardens.

Weather forecasters wanging on about 'staying hydrated' - again, I’ve not heard this, which forecast?

Why are we so joyless, sucking on to bottles of water as if they were dummies and seemingly afraid to venture outside in case we self-combust. - all our friends are very joyful, no water bottle sucking and hiding indoors. Maybe you need new friends?

You seem to be the one who is agitated and joyless, is it too hot for you perhaps? 😉

Thingsthatgo · 13/07/2025 18:42

The parents at my son’s secondary school were keeping their children home because the school refused to let them wear PE kit instead of uniform. It only got to 25 degrees here on the hottest day - it was such a weird overreaction.

HarryVanderspeigle · 13/07/2025 18:41

Because summers weren't as hot. Also, as a kid there was much more paddling pool and lolly action and a lot less having to do the cooking and go to Asda

Nicflowers82 · 13/07/2025 18:39

Agree. And it was always just ‘summer’ but now it’s a heatwave 🙄

Lactofull · 13/07/2025 18:38

Lovely massive sweeping statements there OP

”back in the good ol’ days”

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