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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Smoking in pubs, free speech, having a laugh

297 replies

Wannalivewithcommonpeople · 31/12/2021 13:32

Aibu to miss all this? The relaxed, laid back FUN of the 90’s to maybe maybe late 2010
ish?
I don’t smoke or take drugs anymore, hell I haven’t been able to drink in 21 months, due to long covid, but sat here watching 90’s & 2000’s music videos whilst Dh takes toddler out and thinking of the past.
Aibu to just bloody miss the simplicity and fun and to hate these times?

OP posts:
Original poster
Wannalivewithcommonpeople · 31/12/2021 13:33

I’m aware I was younger so that has an impact, but up until 2 years ago, there was still life to be lived, I wasn’t watching what I said in case I offend someone, life just wasn’t so god damn heavy

OP posts:
BusterGonad · 31/12/2021 13:36

You're right, there was such utter freedom that won't happen again, now we worry about everything and offending everyone.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/12/2021 13:37

YABU. Smoking in pubs was vile.

Original poster
Wannalivewithcommonpeople · 31/12/2021 13:39

@Waxonwaxoff0 Yes, it was, I obviously wouldn’t want that back..but, it’s what it represented in a way, knocking back drinks with pals in a proper pub or dancing in a club with a cigarette and no phones. Life is so very different now, so many rules and regulations and so so serious.

OP posts:
TrishM80 · 31/12/2021 13:40

Don't miss smoking in pubs, the smell the next day was minging. Miss being able to go out and not have a camera phone stuck in your face for a photo every 5 seconds.

OakRowan · 31/12/2021 13:40

What do you mean free speech, you want to be casually racist/sexist/homophobic/offensive in public? That's not the good old days.

Hospedia · 31/12/2021 13:41

Smoking in pubs was shit and unfair on the staff and the non-smokers, I definitely don't miss that.

We still have free speech but we rightly recognise that certain stuff shouldn't be tolerated or passed off as "just a joke" or "banter". People bemoaning a lack of free speech and about everyone being easily offended are usually people who want to be able to express shitty views without the repercussions of expressing said views.

Original poster
Wannalivewithcommonpeople · 31/12/2021 13:41

I admit I miss smoking, I miss not having a care in the world, not worrying about my health, the future, everything..just being in the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wannalivewithcommonpeople · 31/12/2021 13:42

Perhaps I’m having a mid life crisis

OP posts:
galaxybaby · 31/12/2021 13:42

@OakRowan

What do you mean free speech, you want to be casually racist/sexist/homophobic/offensive in public? That's not the good old days.
That's exactly what I was thinking
Hospedia · 31/12/2021 13:42

What you're missing is youth.

Original poster
Wannalivewithcommonpeople · 31/12/2021 13:42

@OakRowan (Sigh) Of course not

OP posts:
Omicrone · 31/12/2021 13:42

I don't miss the smoking in pubs, especially not since having kids as we would never be able to take them in a pub at all, and I did use to hate stinking of old fags after a night out. But there is something about the late 90s/noughties that I'm worried has been lost forever. I think social media has a lot to do with it, people are so worried about being 'pure' and perfect now, with their opinions, with their photos, with everything, and they are scared to be infallible human beings.

TokyoDreaming · 31/12/2021 13:43

Smoking in pubs was disgusting and you do have free speech but if you want to say offensive things there are quite rightly consequences.

Original poster
Wannalivewithcommonpeople · 31/12/2021 13:43

@Hospedia Yes for sure 💜but it was also a different time, wasn’t it?

OP posts:
CeleriacOfTheNight · 31/12/2021 13:44

It's called nostalgia, every generation experiences it Grin

I also look back and think 'those were the days'...but then I also remember the casual racism that was absolutely rife and totally accepted. The sexism, and differing expectations for boys and girls etc so it's not always with a rosy glow.

BusterGonad · 31/12/2021 13:44

I now we have a thread that people are offended by...

RoomOfRequirement · 31/12/2021 13:44

@OakRowan

What do you mean free speech, you want to be casually racist/sexist/homophobic/offensive in public? That's not the good old days.
That's exactly it.
AutumnLeaves21 · 31/12/2021 13:45

I agree op.

CounsellorTroi · 31/12/2021 13:45

[quote Wannalivewithcommonpeople]@Waxonwaxoff0 Yes, it was, I obviously wouldn’t want that back..but, it’s what it represented in a way, knocking back drinks with pals in a proper pub or dancing in a club with a cigarette and no phones. Life is so very different now, so many rules and regulations and so so serious.[/quote]
Dancing with a cigarette is dangerous and selfish. You could set someone’s clothes on fire.

Eleganz · 31/12/2021 13:45

Hated smoky pubs. Went on a trip to Dublin in that period where they had the ban and we didn't and realised that it was so much better. I was really glad they banned it.

I'm much older than I was in the 90's and 2000's so life is a bit more serious with a mortgage and kids, and of course right now we are in the middle of a pandemic. However, I really don't see much evidence that 20 something's these days aren't able to go out and have fun. They may do it a bit differently than we did, but then again we didn't do it the same way as our parents.

Political correctness still existed in the 90's and 2000's and our parent's generation complained about it then. It has, of course, moved on from then, but I do wonder what it is you want to say that you feel you can't.

Lacedwithgrace · 31/12/2021 13:45

We can all speak freely, it's just that we don't tolerate people being assholes anymore which clearly you're upset about.

Gardeningcreature · 31/12/2021 13:45

Hell no. I don’t miss having to be in the same space as someone blowing smoke all over me. If you want to smoke go ahead but don’t inflict it on others, including children and staff.
If you have to censor what you say then perhaps you should rethink your thought process.

Hospedia · 31/12/2021 13:46

but it was also a different time, wasn’t it?

It was, I was 18 in 1999 and it was different to now. Not necessarily better, I could rattle of a list of ways in which it was worse as well as ways it was the same. One thing that does stand out is that we were the last generation to not have our whole lives documented, I did a lot of stupid shit and aside from some awesome memories there is no photographic or video evidence preserved on the Internet forever.

BusterGonad · 31/12/2021 13:47

@OakRowan

What do you mean free speech, you want to be casually racist/sexist/homophobic/offensive in public? That's not the good old days.
Yeah, of course. We miss that. You've hit the nail on the head... 👏