I often talk to people, who claim that it was better before, compared to today. Was it better in the 80s or today? This is the survey I posted on many Facebook groups of retro computers, Commodore and vintage electronics.
It all started from this video, which I had made to compare the performance of the Commodore 64 compared to that of a couple of modern PCs.
I thought: in the face of impressive technological progress, have the quality of our lives and work increased proportionally over the years?
The options available in the survey were three:
- It was better before: it was better in the days of the Commodore;
- We are better off today: progress has improved the quality of life;
- We basically do the same things we did before.
In short, it was possible to vote: it was better in the 80s, it is better in 2020, but also to express a vote of equal.
In total, on the various groups, the survey received 204 votes, while the exchange of comments has reached almost 200. The people expressed a number of sufficient opinions to set the foundations for some reasoning, in favor of the 80s and also in favor of modern times.
The opinions listed below are not the result of my reasoning, but of those who participated in the survey. I have only tried to summarize them.
Un ultimo appunto, prima di entrare nei numeri e nelle opinioni: mi è stato fatto notare che postare un sondaggio del genere su gruppi di persone affezionate a tecnologie vintage, non ha senso! E' ovvio che i membri di quei gruppi sono legati al passato! Al contrario, con mio stupore, su uno dei gruppi ha addirittura vinto l'opzione: "si sta meglio oggi".
Si stava meglio negli anni '80!
Why was it better off 40 years ago, when today we can have so much more, including items we could buy before?
The question is legitimate, and it should be asked to 109 voters out of 204. The percentage of those who think that it was better in the 80s is about 54%.
In fact, this option was the most voted. How come?
Some expressed this opinion because, in the 80s, they were experiencing a happy period of their lives. They were guys, at that time, and they had less responsibilities than now. It is not uncommon to feel people, even older, to express evaluations in favor of the past, when, however, there was not even hot water at home!
Other voters argue that, apart from being younger, people's behaviors were better 40 years ago. It was better because people had more respect for others.
In addition, it emerged that there were more money circulating. This fact, added to less consumerism, allowed people to have more savings than today.
Computers and software, 40 years ago, did not have to be updated: designers and programmers had to be much more attentive to what they did, before putting a product on the market!
Another added value of a 1980 programmer compared to one of 2020 is that ... he knew how to optimize the code! The programs had to be in very restricted memories. Today, on the contrary, the software are very heavy and it is always necessary to buy more and more powerful computers.
40 years ago, the rhythm of life was slower! There was time more time to reason, also because the machines had fewer features. In the slowness of 40 years ago, it was the people who were waiting for the computer, when he loaded a program or when he had to return a result. During the wait, it was not uncommon to activate the brain, which in the meantime wandered among a thousand thoughts.
The wait was also a widespread feeling then. Waiting to buy an object, or a video game, made it even more special and was not bored immediately.
1980 and 2020: it's the same thing!
In the poll, it was possible to cast a tie vote.
Basically, today we do the same things we could have done 40 years ago, just with different tools.
Or, today there are many positive aspects, as in the past, for which expressing a vote is difficult.
Another thought expressed by those who voted in a neutral way is that both today and yesterday the same things are done, but we are the ones who change the point of view. The world, in reality, continues its race anyway.
This is the thought of 23 people out of 204: 11% of voters.
The equality vote was not very chosen: most those who participated in the survey preferred to express a stronger opinion.
It's better today!
And here, finally, the data and opinions of those who support are better today, compared to the 80s.
As many as 72 out of 204 voters, 35%, think they are better off today.
Even the opinions of those who believe that we are better off today are very well articulated.
Today there are much more powerful computers than 40 years ago: with such high-performance tools, you can do practically anything and in a short time.
Moreover, technology is now within everyone's reach: the prices have lowered and there is more choice, both in terms of hardware and software.
The world has really turned for two great inventions: the Internet and mobile devices. Through these tools, you can share ideas and knowledge immediately.
Technology has greatly increased the quality of life: today you can also work from the comfort of your home, in smart working.
Life, today, is simpler: there are satellite navigators that accompany us when we go by car, we have electric bikes, you can order your groceries online and receive it directly at home.
Today the information is many and immediately available to everyone on the Internet: not as in the 80s, when you had to go to the library to read a text!
A provocation
The survey highlighted how, for many people, it was better in the 80s than today. And this, despite the enormous progress that humanity has traveled.
One person suggested an article to me, explaining that the LEM's computer, the Lunar Excursion Module, used in the Apollo missions to land on the moon, had a computing power equal to that of a microwave oven today.
In short, it doesn't matter how powerful your computer is, but what it's used for!
"The lesson, maybe, is simple: if your phone is so much more powerful than the computers that put humanity on the moon, then why are you just staring at Instagram all day?".
The Underappreciated Power of the Apollo Computer - www.theatlantic.com
Very interesting article, I believe that in the end it is only a matter of perception, to feel good is a situation dictated by the time in the adaptation to the conditions in which you find yourself, as soon as you get used to it, precisely then you are fine.
I just wanted to add my thoughts, and that I consider an error abandoning the old life systems by totally relying on technology, so there is the tendency to abandon basic knowledge, since even if it is unlikely, it is not impossible to find yourself isolated from it, even simple orientation becomes a big problem, communicating in another language equally equally, these are just a few examples, but there are many other cases for which I can arise serious problems, this is my concern, this is my concern. Main, the future generation, to say some, will no longer consider to know the position of the important constellations, let alone write by hand.
Christmas, thank you for expressing your opinion and for deepening the speech. I hope that some guys, of the new generations, will enjoy reading your comment and treasuring what you write.
I am part of those who have lived and not in ETA as a poppante the 80s and obviously today has no doubt ... you lived very well before, while doing less than the myriad of comfort that we have and we use today, while paying a dear price for everything ... (the world is always worse for over consumerism, food and material, to which we add a rapid devastating every beyond the climate change that shocks each continent. Weekly ... making this planet more uncomfortable and poor ... or rather to say ... human life! ...
However, a fundamental thing must be specified ... It is not possible to make a comparison with then, if you cannot understand that the vast majority of today's comforts, then they often did not exist even in the science fiction films and show ...
So if one used the time machine to return to the golden age of the C64 ... he would suffer a lot, knowing that he had to abandon the internet (and everything that depends) ... Smartphones PC and PDAs of all the species and dimensions, SAT, PayTV, HD, even having to steal some magazine or comic VM18, or browse the underwear of Vestro .... to enjoy a naked woman ...
Put the 127 on motorbike to go to work ... you could make a gigantic list
So beyond the momentary charm of reliving those moments first -person ... shortly afterwards you would go crazy for the shortcomings known.
The right comparison is therefore better the 80s with the head of the time and without knowing anything about what would come out later and we have today ... or rather today without knowing absolutely anything if not by hearsay, because born in the new century with bread for Playstation (and I miss the 1 ....) ?? If so I asked the question, the answer is very buried ... better before ... in all aspects it was clearly better (politics, justice, economics, social, civic education, traditions, respect, daily life, social relationships ...) not that the misfortunes and worlds were missing and national and national dramas then ... but the hands of the time turned less fast ... and therefore the beautiful moments lasted and were enjoyed a lot, but much more than today ....