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Original poster

If you grew up in 70s/80s what things did you do which would be unimaginable these days.

631 replies

newlabelwriter · 03/01/2022 16:47

Just thinking about this. When I was about 9 my friend and I used to go around knocking on our neighbours doors to see if we could pick dandelions (or something similar) for her pet rabbits. Seems such a random thing to do and obviously v v young to knocking on doors to go into their gardens!

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoing · 09/01/2022 18:31

For anyone who recalls CB radio do you also recall a BT phone call service called Talkabout? Both me and my best friend were encouraged to use this chat line by our mums to “make friends” which was great but loads of people lied about their ages, the chat room attendants would often allow us to give us details so we could meet up. Once I met up with a man with this best friend in central London, they were obviously both 18 or older and we were 15! Luckily they lived right across the other side of London to us but we went out to clubs with them underage until we both got bored. I would freak out if a teen daughter of mine did that now! Shock

Gonnagetgoing · 09/01/2022 18:32

I mean I suppose Talkabout is imaginable as opposed to unimaginable these days but there are controls in place and teens are monitored over what they could do nowadays.

itssarcasmjoan · 09/01/2022 18:40

I was thinking about when and why attitudes changed so much and I think that the Murder of Jamie Bulger, The soham girls, Maddie M etc all scared parents into being more protective. Those who did have bad experiences when they were little refused to allow history to repeat?

RoyalFamilyFan · 09/01/2022 19:11

@itssarcasmjoan I think various highly publicised child murders made parents very scared. But there was also the growth in women working. That meant kids in afterschool clubs instead of playing out after school, and for those not working, there were no longer lots of kids out playing. The fact so many kids used to play out made it fairly safe.

PeskyYeti · 09/01/2022 19:28

I was 11 and went Calais with school for day trip.

One we didn't need passports, they did a pay passport kind of thing for us all.

Then I wondered the streets of Calais alone for an afternoon. Didn't have any friends, wondered off in search of a shop selling camera film. Walked blocks asked for donations with my few months of french lessons. Found my way back to the coach in time. Can you imagine now, no mobiles, no idea how to use a phone or who to contact it in trouble or lost.

somewhereoverthechipshop · 09/01/2022 19:33

So so many..being so bored that we would phone the operator on 100 in a call box just to take the mick out of her/blowing raspberries etc,
Having ‘rooftop picnics’ on the flat roof of our local scout hut about aged 8 after climbing a tree to get up so we could eat our club bars up there,
When I was about 6 Dad lighting a cigarette in the living room then asking me to pass the lit cig upstairs to my mum.
Clubbing at 14 with my older sister. So much freedom!

orangetriangle · 09/01/2022 19:42

peski yeti
I too remember going to Calais on a day trip age 11 and remember being allowed to walk about all afternoon alone in a strange city Could you imagine it now

CluelessHamster · 09/01/2022 19:59

Sixth form school trip. I think we were supposed to be visiting the science museum but can't remember if we actually got there. Just remember a lot of wandering around, drinking Shock Iirc, we had to check in with the teacher every few hours or so - he'd positioned himself near one of the fountains, cig and can of beer in hand! Good times!

DreamboatCharlie · 10/01/2022 08:43

When I was 14 in the 80s we went on a school trip to Germany. In the evenings we were allowed to go out on our own in the town, so we got drunk and went clubbing. I assume kids wouldn't just be let out like that now?

Gonnagetgoing · 10/01/2022 12:01

@orangetriangle

peski yeti I too remember going to Calais on a day trip age 11 and remember being allowed to walk about all afternoon alone in a strange city Could you imagine it now
@orangetriangle - we went to Boulogne and Calais on 2 separate day trips at 10 and 11 in school. I'm sure we were allowed to swan off alone too.

A few years later parents took us to Calais or Boulogne from Folkestone for the day and teen friend of DB tried to bring back flick knives/penknives he'd bought and was told off by my DM for doing so. Same child bought a crossbow from a car boot sale on the same trip. What were the sellers thinking?!

Gonnagetgoing · 10/01/2022 12:03

@DreamboatCharlie

When I was 14 in the 80s we went on a school trip to Germany. In the evenings we were allowed to go out on our own in the town, so we got drunk and went clubbing. I assume kids wouldn't just be let out like that now?
@DreamboatCharlie - I had an exchange trip to I think near Hamburg to see a German penfriend of mine in 80s and I was 15. We went out a bit - the German friends she had weren't so much into clubbing but we did get drunk, went to a concert and had fun. Similar when she visited here. No checking of age or anything.
valerianroot · 10/01/2022 12:41

The only thing my mum was really strict on in this respect was we weren't allowed to go fairgrounds, totally off limits. All else were seemingly fine though!

Annabelle69 · 10/01/2022 20:20

Flashers.

Flashers were pretty common around the woods and common I walked my dog on. Circa 1982, I'm 12. My dog was a Lurcher called Seamus. He was badly trained, lightening fast and really stupid, but insanely friendly. I turned round to call the dog, to see a man with a hanky over his face, just socks on and gesturing provocatively with his willy. The flashers was about 15ft away. The dog of course bounded up to him, jumped up on him and started licking. He had zero recall and wouldn't come back and I ended up apologising to the flasher for my dogs terrible behaviour.

I told my parents but no one thought this was a big deal Confused

RoyalFamilyFan · 10/01/2022 20:24

The police did not take flashers seriously. It was seen as something a bit naughty, but nothing more.

RoyalFamilyFan · 10/01/2022 20:25

@valerianroot I also was not allowed to go to Fairs without my parents ever. I worked a few years ago with an older man who used to work on the Fairs, and he thought my parents were sensible as they were lots of dodgy people who would hang around them.

Annabelle69 · 10/01/2022 20:27

@RoyalFamilyFan

The police did not take flashers seriously. It was seen as something a bit naughty, but nothing more.
Yes, concerning looking back. I guess now with the Internet, text and WhatsApp etc, they can "flash" away without going out in the cold.
CMhater · 10/01/2022 20:34

At school I had double PE on a Friday after lunch so at midday I'd just go home. I did this for the whole year and it was never mentioned and on my way home I'd call at the corner shop (obviously still in my uniform) and buy 8 cans of Special Brew that I'd drink before I went out clubbing in town. I was 14.

RoyalFamilyFan · 10/01/2022 20:37

@Annabelle69 it only changed when research showed that sex offenders and rapists often start by doing things like flashing and stealing underwear. So suddenly these men were seen as at the beginning of their sexual offending careers.

WeAllHaveWings · 10/01/2022 20:49

I remember we would go out all day but had to be back by the time the lights were on.

When lights were starting to warm up you would hear your, and others, mums on their doorsteps calling out to their dc to come in, when one started the others would start too. It would be Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiings........ Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiings ........Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiings........ They didnt need mobile phones, if you heard your name you would sprint home so you didnt get a clip around the ear because you were late!!!

Fabvegetablegrower · 10/01/2022 21:03

We went to Guide camp in the back of a lorry. Also running through the showers in our towels after PE (early 80s). Smile

Toocoldtocamp · 10/01/2022 21:36

Calais/bologne/le touquet must have been jammed packed with roaming tweens while our teachers were in a bar no doubt (I too remember being dropped off aged 11)

We also did a school residential aged 10 where we we went into a nearby seaside town and left to our own devices with funfair and spending money. Also remember we had to walk 2 miles into the town and then 2 back in the dark (with teachers but down a country lane...that wouldn't happen now!). Same on annual Sunday school trip... bus just chucked you off on seafront with instructions to be back by 6pm. It was definitely not safer as I remember men as dodgy as anything because our trip was always Rhyl or Blackpool. I genuinely feel sorry that my kids don't get this kind of freedom (even though dodgy). They're not even allowed spending money now.

SantaClawsServiette · 10/01/2022 21:55

Buying cigarettes for my mum at the shop across the street.

Walking four blocks to school, twice a day because I came home at lunch, from age 5.

Spending all day out on bikes or in the woods without adults.

No helmets, for biking/skiing/skating, etc

Applying for university, picking courses, arranging my first apartment, with no parental input or help.

Waiting in the car in the parking lot while my mum went into the shop, often for almost an hour. Windows open so we didn't get too hot.

No seat belt. Sitting on the armrest between the two seats.

Sitting on my dad's lap to drive.

bendmeoverbackwards · 10/01/2022 22:05

Yes to the wandering in and out freely of school. I used to go to the local shopping centre at lunchtime. No signing on or out! Sometimes I would go home for lunch thinking my mum would give me a lift back. But if she wasn’t in, I’d just take the afternoon off 😂

Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure · 10/01/2022 22:12

Not get offended by everything and anything.....

SantaClawsServiette · 10/01/2022 22:15

Oh, another one was that my dad had a party line as he lived in a rural area. My sister used to listen in on conversations at other people's houses.