Changes worth celebrating, that have happened in my lifetime

[Badger_Boom]

Where do you live swee'pea99? There's lots of racism, sexism and homophobia in Birmingham.

I was sadly about to say the same for Yorkshire, and as for the internet...

 

[Gunk]

Partly responsible for the demise of town centres

Local authority town planners were mainly responsible for the demise of town centres by allowing so much “doughnut” development, Northampton is a prime example of how destroy a town. Over 200,000 population and even M&S have pulled out and closed its town centre store.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

However there is a fear that diseases such as diphtheria and measles could come back even more here as people don’t get their children vaccinated (polio not specifically mentioned).
These diseases certainly exist in the developing world despite effective vaccines

Diphtheria is done same time as polio. So if one comes back the other could well do.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Motorcycle clothing is immeasurably better than the crap we had to put up with in the 70's & early 80's. Gore tex, cordura, thinsulate, kevlar fabric, body armour and airflow clothing have all made riding motorcycles more comfortable and protective.

Goretex first sold commercially in mid 70s. Been with us almost 50 years.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Dog poo 💩 bins and the surrounding laws.

 

[Brains]

The fall in fatal Industrial injuries Per year, from 651 in 1974 to 150ish in recent years, thanks to that much derided elf n‘ safety.

'Only' 651 deaths in 1974 ?

Given the amount of mining and heavy industry around at the time, as well as fishing and agriculture, that figure sounds a tad low to me.

My Dad ran a ship repair business in the 1960's and into the 70's, they had industrial accidents on a regular basis,
to such an extent they had a uniformed nurse as a member of staff, who, as a paid side line also looked after the managements kids during the summer holidays in what we would now call a "work place creche", visits with 'Matron' to the foundry when they were pouring were especially exciting when you are 8 years old.

Hospitalisation was a regular occurrence and there were at least 2 deaths that I can remember, but one assumes in reality there were many more (especially as they were doing a lot of asbestos lagging )

 

[Beebo]

but one assumes in reality there were many more (especially as they were doing a lot of asbestos lagging )

Asbestos deaths don’t count as fatalities at work.
There are around 4000 lung disease related deaths per annum but the death toll peaked around 2018 as the exposed workers from the 70s reached old age.
The number of deaths in the 80s was much lower as it takes a long time for the effects to materialise.

 

[stephec]

Asbestos deaths don’t count as fatalities at work.
There are around 4000 lung disease related deaths per annum but the death toll peaked around 2018 as the exposed workers from the 70s reached old age.
The number of deaths in the 80s was much lower as it takes a long time for the effects to materialise.

One of those was my father in law, aged 73.

At his inquest the coroner read out a statement from him describing the work he did in a foundry in the mid seventies, sawing sheets of asbestos to reline the furnace without wearing any PPE.

 

[mudsticks]

Indoor loos
Loved to visit my nan and have to use the outdoor facilities mid winter and newspaper for wiping

Nah.. Outdoors is far more hygienic.

With the modern paper - of course.

We've often got a wren nesting in our loo.

You don't get serenaded on the throne like that, with indoor facilities.

Nor such a nice clear view of the trees.

It's very easy to get bogged down in the negative news, and social change we dont like. What social changes have you seen that you would like to celebrate?

Here are three of mine:


The growth of the hospice movement.

Community cafes and shops.

A better attitude to disadvantaged groups.

Reading through I think you've mentioned this already but once more, with feeling.

- Freely available contraception, and other fertility services.

If only it was available for everyone. ..

Love my kids to bits, but two was plenty ..

Plus the idea of inflicting my parenting on any more blameless children

 

[screenman]

I feel signing a trade deal with Turkey is worth celebrating, we have lots of friends out there which hopefully will be easier and cheaper for them to visit.

 

[stoatsngroats]

Digital photography.
Disc brakes on bicycles.
Environmental awareness across the globe.

 

[PaulB]

Goretex first sold commercially in mid 70s. Been with us almost 50 years.

Goretex doesn't work. It is physically impossible for it to do what it claims to be able to. And since it's been with us for that long, why is it still so ridiculously expensive? All the R&D costs have been recouped and the invention has well paid for itself yet they still charge an amount far in excess of its worth like it's some magic material invented last week.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Have microwave ovens been mentioned yet? My mum and dad bought their first one in 1980. At the time they were so 'futuristic' being able to warm/cook food in a fraction of the time we'd been used to. Now i find myself grumbling when there's another minute to go before i can have that warmed up meal. How we take things for granted and wish no matter how good they are,they'd just be a little better.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Free Movement for UK in Europe.
RIP 31.12.20

We can still travel freely throughout Europe (I presume you mean people rather than freight) Also,why did we have to have passports when we were allowed 'free movement' when we were in the EU?🤔

 

[srw]

I feel signing a trade deal with Turkey is worth celebrating, we have lots of friends out there which hopefully will be easier and cheaper for them to visit.

It was worth celebrating when it was signed - in 1996. When we were part of the EU. All that's happening now is a rollover of that deal on a bilateral basis. Strange how a customs deal with a repressive semi-dictatorship isn't a restriction on sovereignty....

I'm not sure that will translate into easier holidays - we've never been that welcoming to visitors unless we've had to be.