The 60's = Lame

[GuyFawkes38]

It seriously pisses me off how lame the 60's were.

Yet, those from the "baby boomer" generation continue to praise it in a disgustingly idealistic way :
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2b3qp_springsteen-seeger-sb-we-shall-over

I have had ENOUGH!!!

The 60's were an awful time period that should not be replicated for the sake of nostalgia.

PLEASE, Baby Boomers, leave us young 20, 30, and 40 year olds alone to shape history. We don't need your disgusting ways to contaminate our viewpoints.

[XUglow]

Guy, what is your problem? Without the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's, we don't have Obama running for president today.

Are you against the overthrowing of segregation and oppression, or do you simply hate to be reminded that there ever was such an epic battle?

[MADXSTER]

And how about the fact that when you start to debate with them, they answer with, well you weren't there so you don't know what you're talking about. They have a divine knowledge that the rest of us couldn't possibly have the cognitive resources to even begin to comprehend. Thus they are right and we are wrong. A bunch of know it alls.

Also interesting is most born again Christians that I meet are from the 60's. They don't see that they wouldn't have to be "born again" if they didn't go astray. But then again I wasn't there so I don't know what I'm talking about.

[MADXSTER]

Guy, what is your problem? Without the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's, we don't have Obama running for president today.

Are you against the overthrowing of segregation and oppression, or do you simply hate to be reminded that there ever was such an epic battle?

For me it's the arrogance.

[American X]

Obama = Great Society Redux

Go for it. It has turned out so well the first time.

[XUglow]

Obama = Great Society Redux

Go for it. It has turned out so well the first time.

Am X, the whole point of the civil rights movement is that A) Obama has the opportunity, and B) you are able to disagree with his politics vs. being against him because of his race.

[GuyFawkes38]

I meant to put this thread in the "house of smack" board.


And how about the fact that when you start to debate with them, they answer with, well you weren't there so you don't know what you're talking about. They have a divine knowledge that the rest of us couldn't possibly have the cognitive resources to even begin to comprehend. Thus they are right and we are wrong. A bunch of know it alls.

Also interesting is most born again Christians that I meet are from the 60's. They don't see that they wouldn't have to be "born again" if they didn't go astray. But then again I wasn't there so I don't know what I'm talking about.

I can't agree more with this.

Why is it that baby boomers (Bruce) like to claim the Civil Rights movements as one of their accomplishments? A lot of baby boomers will admit it was a bad time. But they'll add, "what about the civil rights movement".

It's insane. The Civil Rights movement mostly occurred in the 1950's by hardworking activists going door to door to register people to vote. Woodstock had nothing to do with the Civil Rights movement.

And to be frank, MLK, Rosa Parks, and JFK had very little to do with the movement. The Civil Rights movement was a bottom up movement.

[GuyFawkes38]

Guy, what is your problem? Without the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's, we don't have Obama running for president today.

Are you against the overthrowing of segregation and oppression, or do you simply hate to be reminded that there ever was such an epic battle?

Come on now. You have to admit that Bruce singing "we will overcome" is nauseating.

[Stonebreaker]

The counter-culture shock of the 60's didn't exactly help the social fabric of America. To me, America lost its innocence during that time. It boiled down to self-pleasure, revolt, and anti-establishment, while pushing the mantra 'anything goes'.
The 60's are over, it's time to bury it.....never to be opened again.

[Stonebreaker]

Am X, the whole point of the civil rights movement is that A) Obama has the opportunity, and B) you are able to disagree with his politics vs. being against him because of his race.

The 60's were not about race, but about revolution (on many fronts). That was simply one issue that would have happened by now anyway.
The nose to the grindstone attitude by those in the 40's and 50's were replaced with:

"we're entitled"
"the government owes us"
"it's my body, I can do with it what I want"
green (quasi-religious) movement

[muskienick]

You bashers of the Baby Boomers are correct that there was a "counter-culture" of free-lovers, dopers, and those who expected others to see them through to (and perhaps even well into) their adulthood. But what you are missing is that this segment of the 60's society represented a relatively small portion of that overall age bracket. Oh, yeah, many folks enjoyed the music and psychedelic fashions of the day, but most did so without adopting the "drop out and toke up" mentality and life-style.

[GuyFawkes38]

You bashers of the Baby Boomers are correct that there was a "counter-culture" of free-lovers, dopers, and those who expected others to see them through to (and perhaps even well into) their adulthood. But what you are missing is that this segment of the 60's society represented a relatively small portion of that overall age bracket. Oh, yeah, many folks enjoyed the music and psychedelic fashions of the day, but most did so without adopting the "drop out and toke up" mentality and life-style.

I think your both right and wrong. For a Pro-lifer like myself, who believes in the importance of the family unit, the 60's started some bad trends which have had far reaching negative effects on our society.

And why is Washington so messed up? The feuds in Washington today started in the 60's. You can divide baby boomer politicians into the Nixon or JFK/McCarthy camp.

[Stonebreaker]

Maybe the 60's wasn't as bad as we think, but it sure as hell started the anti-military movement (spitting on soldiers, protesting at funerals) which I abhore.

[Kahns Krazy]

I think your both right and wrong. For a Pro-lifer like myself...

There are two reasons I didn't read any farther than this.

[XU05and07]

I liked Hendrix, Joplin, and the rest of the music that came from the 60s...Without the 60s, we have no Woodstock and thus no Woodstock 1999 and the fires

[MADXSTER]

The Race for Space would have been a very exciting time.

[American X]

Am X, the whole point of the civil rights movement is that A) Obama has the opportunity, and B) you are able to disagree with his politics vs. being against him because of his race.

Try not to conflate the civil rights movement with the Great Society programs too much. The movement was certainly the impetus for the voting rights and anti-discrimination legislation, but the entitlement programs have been disastrous.

[wkrq59]

I don't consider myself a baby-boomer, but the 60s were pretty good as far as I'm concerned.
Met my wife of 44 years, married, my son was born, started a new job and entered a profession that has served me well and I it, bought a house in which we still live and call home, saw things accomplished in that decade I never thought I would and the only negative was my father died the day before JoeNamath and the Jets shocked the sh!t out of the sporting world and anybody else remotely interested in sports by predicting a win and then beating the Colts. Dad would have loved to see that.
As far as all the changes --good and bad--that were wrought during that decade, they are what they are.
People see what they will see the way they want to see it, no matter what and I believe that. What has to be will be if it never comes to pass and I believe that.
*If I want to remember the good things about the 60s I will; likewise the bad.
*If I choose to focus on the good events and accomplishments of the 70s, such as my daughter's birth, and the fun of covering the Bengals and the opportunity I took advantage of to grow in my profession and my ever deepening love for my wife, I will. Oh, I could focus on the darkest era of Xavier basketball during that decade but why. There was more good sh!t than bad. My mom died in that decade but I don't dwell on it.
*The 80s saw the start of Xavier's basketball renissance and the opportunity for me to meet and work with Pete Gillen, an opportunity and pleasure I will always treasure. Don't know how Pete feels about that--well, yes I do--but I know the damn decade was very special in more ways than just sports.
*I look in wonder and awe on the 90s, because among oither things, the birth of my grandson, and some of the finest moments in Xavier basketball that have continued to today. And through this marvelous medium I have had the chance to meet, communicate with, and come to appreciate the marvels of the Xavier Nation and my friends on XavierHoops and Musketeer Madness.
Those reminiscences are just a tiny microcosm of the wonders I have seen, of the phenominal--for the good and not so good--changes I have witnessed.
I could if I chose get wrapped up in the politics of each age, in the good and the bad. I could let those things color my judgment and keep me from in many ways realizing how very fortunate I am to have lived and seen what I've seen.
Not that those who choose to find something disagreeable in that decade of the 60s, which for better or worse, depending on the glasses worn, has altered our world forever, are wrong. They're neither right nor wrong, just expressing an opinion. And so am I.
I could curse the year 2007 as my worst on earth, but that would be sad, because I survived (so far) a battle with cancer and chemo and had a chance once again to watch and marvel at the growth and accomplishments of Xavier basketball.
Just think, in the past 48 years, we've seen events joyful and tragic, and had the good fortune to live in the age of the internet, the iPod, the Blackberry, Open Source vs. Microsoft, and a world in which we can instantly communicate with our fellowman across oceans and even around the corner.
And throughout the reading of previous posts on this threat I keep recalling the words of Alexander Pope: "Be not the first by whom the new is tried, nor yet the last to cast the old aside." :D

[Snipe]

CNN had a show on the 60 running all the time over the weekend. It really made me want to throw up. Boomers like to take credit for all of life's achievements. I don't think any generation in the history of mankind has talked up themselves as much as the 60's generation.

[boozehound]

The music in the 60's sucked too! (with a few exceptions). I get so much crap for not liking music from the 60's. It's almost like saying that you don't like 60's music is similar to saying you like to kick puppies, in the reaction you get from people.

[muskienick]

boozehound,

You won't hear the likes of me criticizing you for not liking '60's vintage music. Most folks think the music of an era other than their own is either dorky (pre-your era) or atonal and pointless (post-your era).


And Snipe,

The Boomers are just now reaching retirement age. Their accomplishments, whatever they may be, were amassed over a 4-decade period of time, not just in the 60's. It is stupid for CNN or any media outlet to judge a designated generation (e.g. Baby Boomers, Gen-Xer's, etc.) until their time is done.

[MADXSTER]

It's almost like saying that you don't like 60's music is similar to saying you like to kick puppies, in the reaction you get from people.

COME ON NOW. Who doesn't like to kick puppies?

[sirthought]

I think Guy is out to post at least one opinion on every possible topic before the season begins. :D

[GuyFawkes38]

I think Guy is out to post at least one opinion on every possible topic before the season begins. :D

I must say, it's very therapeutic.

[Fred Garvin]

You bashers of the Baby Boomers are correct that there was a "counter-culture" of free-lovers, dopers, and those who expected others to see them through to (and perhaps even well into) their adulthood. But what you are missing is that this segment of the 60's society represented a relatively small portion of that overall age bracket. Oh, yeah, many folks enjoyed the music and psychedelic fashions of the day, but most did so without adopting the "drop out and toke up" mentality and life-style.

Nick is right on about what a small portion this was of that age bracket. The flower children only live on because of Hollywood and Madison Avenue. Want to know their legacy? It's a tye dye at The Gap. Yesterday's flower children are today's blooming idiots.

[Fred Garvin]

Come on now. You have to admit that Bruce singing "we will overcome" is nauseating.

It can't be worse than Pete Seeger.

Did anyone catch the History Channel's 1968 with Tom Brokaw? It features noted scholar Bruce Springsteen being completey wrong about the TET offensive.

[Smooth]

I heard some member of one of the 60's bands say "We were a bunch of young people who thought we could change the world by taking drugs, singing songs, and having sex."

It is easy to see why a guy would try to convince women that they could change the world if they just............ When you repeat the same line over and over redundantly again and again, you start to believe it yourself.

It's also easy to see why people of other generations get sick of hearing people from the 60's taking credit for things that they had no to little part in effecting.

[Juice]

I along with a lot of you hates the 60's. I was not even close to living in them but I hate them. I share the same sentiments on hippes as Eric Cartman. The problem is that we have these new aged hippes popping up thinking they are "starting a movement" while they listen to crunchy tunes. The music in the 60's was crap and so were the people. They were lazy and should have just gotten jobs and not wasted everyone elses time.

[jdm2000]

Also interesting is most born again Christians that I meet are from the 60's. They don't see that they wouldn't have to be "born again" if they didn't go astray. But then again I wasn't there so I don't know what I'm talking about.

Now this I don't understand. You don't have to "go astray" (i.e., "become a hippie") to be born again. As I understand it, you can be chugging along living a totally Christian lifestyle and have an intense religious experience resulting in your personal commitment--and you're born again.

(Of course, I'm not an evangelical protestant, so take this for what it's worth.)

[jdm2000]

The music in the 60's sucked too! (with a few exceptions). I get so much crap for not liking music from the 60's. It's almost like saying that you don't like 60's music is similar to saying you like to kick puppies, in the reaction you get from people.

Well, to the extent you say music from the 60s sucked, you're saying the Beatles sucked...which is a tough position to take.

(FWIW, I prefer music from the 1970s and 1990s to the '60s. The "music" of the 1980s was so putrid and unredeemable that it embarasses me to have grown up during that decade.)

[GuyFawkes38]

(FWIW, I prefer music from the 1970s and 1990s to the '60s. The "music" of the 1980s was so putrid and unredeemable that it embarasses me to have grown up during that decade.)


There's some really good 80's music out there (and the important thing is that it was less pretentious than 60's music).

What about The Police, Early U2, The Clash, the Sex Pistols and Queen (hmmm, lots of English bands in there).

And what about my favorite German techno band, kraftwerk.

[boozehound]

Music in the 80's was awesome.

[xu95]

THe 80s was the decade of the one hit wonders. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

xu95

[Snipe]

link (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-daum25-2008may25,0,4227776.story)


Even though I wasn't alive when any of this stuff happened, I sure feel like I was. Maybe that's because my generational cohorts and I have already endured five anniversaries of 1968 (one for each decade, plus the 25th thrown in for good measure) as well as four Woodstock revivals and countless Summer-of-Love-themed concerts. As though trapped at a reunion for a school we didn't attend, pre- and post-boomers can only nod in bored bewilderment while the no-longer-hippies get their retroactive groove on.

...

It may be unoriginal to point out that the sanctimony of "getting back to the garden" in the late 1960s and early 1970s begat the equal and opposite sanctimony of the "greed is good" mantra of the 1980s. But one need only rent "The Big Chill" to be reminded that if there's anything boomers enjoy more than the music of Procol Harum and Three Dog Night, it's remembering the earnest piety of their college days. This reminiscing is even better if it can be done within the confines of an expensively furnished house.

"The Big Chill," released in 1983, is itself 25 years old this year. That means that many Gen Xers are now roughly the age of the characters played by Glenn Close and company. Why does that seem so hard for me to believe? Because for most of my peers, crushing student debt and a prohibitively expensive housing market preclude solipsistic weekends in that kind of square footage.

Even a lot of boomers hate boomers, and not just the right-wing kind, who love to blame the half-life of hippie-era hedonism for everything from teen sex to homelessness. The Democratic political consultant Paul Begala (year of birth 1961) published a screed in Esquire in 2000 denouncing boomers as "the most self-centered, self-seeking, self-interested, self-absorbed, self-indulgent, self-aggrandizing generation in American history." Pointing out that key objects of boomer worship like the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin were all born before World War II ended, he suggests that (Bruce Springsteen excepted) "the truest [musical] expression of their generation" was actually disco.

And a nice jab here:

"They had not been the first generation to sell out," Queenan wrote, "but they were the first generation to sell out and then insist that they hadn't."

[boozehound]

Well, to the extent you say music from the 60s sucked, you're saying the Beatles sucked...which is a tough position to take.

(FWIW, I prefer music from the 1970s and 1990s to the '60s. The "music" of the 1980s was so putrid and unredeemable that it embarasses me to have grown up during that decade.)

Yeah. I really don't care for the Beatles. Some of their songs are alright, but as a whole I don't really like them that much. I do not deny their contribution to the musical landscape and the evolution of rock music. I just prefer not to listen to them.

[XU05and07]

THe 80s was the decade of the one hit wonders. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

xu95

The 90s certainly followed up on that with one hit wonders:

-New Radicals "You Get What You Give"
-Lou Bega "Mambo No. 5"
-Len "Steal My Sunsine"
-Citizen King "Better Days"
-Everlast "What It's Like"
-Ben Folds Five "Brick"
-The Verve "Bittersweet Symphony"
-Verve Pipe "Freshman"
-The Cardigans "Lovefool"
-Butthole Surfers "Pepper"
-Dishwalla "Counting Blue Cars"
-Harvey Danger "Flagpole Sitta"
-Blur "Song 2"
-Right Said Fred "I'm Too Sexy"
-Natalie Imbruglia "Torn"
-Chumbawumba "Tubthumping"
-Meredith Brooks "Bitch"
-Semisonic "Closing Time"
-Marcy's Playground "Sex and Candy"
-Eagle Eye Cherry "Save Tonight"
-Divinyls "I Touch Myself"
-Sir Mix-a-lot "Baby Got Back"
-House of Pain "Jump Around"
-Deep Blue Something "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
-Shawn Mullins "Lullaby"

Those are just those on top of my head...I bet there are a ton more

[xu95]

Closing time is an awsome song.

I like the line "you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here".

While I am talking about favorite lines from a song, my all time favorite is "I really love your peaches want to shake your tree".

xu95

[boozehound]

That is a pretty comprehensive list Kahns. I had forgotten about quite a few of those songs.

[wkrq59]

Among the one-hit wonders---Jeanne C. Riley''s Harper Valley PTA; Hot Chocolate, "I believe in miracles, you sexy thing....:D

[Kahns Krazy]

Not my list, but I like it.

I heard Sex and Candy this morning on the way in. That tune always puts me in a good mood. It's so damn rediculous.

[boozehound]

Not my list, but I like it.

I heard Sex and Candy this morning on the way in. That tune always puts me in a good mood. It's so damn rediculous.

I stand corrected. I keep forgetting that several of you have the watermelon hat avatar.

[American X]

The 90s certainly followed up on that with one hit wonders:

-The Verve "Bittersweet Symphony"

-Blur "Song 2"


One hit wonders only in the states. Two excellent bands with long careers.

Verve was phenomenal. My theory is they should have exploded like Coldplay, but were just too good and did not play elevator music everyone could hum along to.

'Song 2' is the definition of irony. Hilarious that was their big hit in the U.S. Americans are dumb. Not really a one hit wonder anyway, since they had several minor hits here.


Wow did this thread veer off track.

[XUglow]

Wow did this thread veer off track.

That's a first.