In the summer, we started playing rugby, and remember a birthday of mine being recorded, with all my friends in the backyard playing. We'd use the fence posts for a goal, and didn't really know how to play. Kinda improvised football, allowing one to kick or throw the ball in the "net" with a goalie. And we didn't play that two-hand touch like The Kennedys.
We played hockey in the winter. Behind our house was enough ice to play real ice hockey, or on the friend's side lot across the street although I preferred to play in the woods, which was a regular hang-out for us. It wasn't far, but secluded away from everyone.
We also had this huge field as you enter our street, which was perfect for football and baseball (until a few home runs hit the convenient store.... several times, although Ahmed never complained once!).
My cousin came over a few days ago and because of detours, we had to take a lot of neighborhood roads to get to my place, and even he noticed, "No kids ever play outside?" .. It was a nice day, and then I noticed no basketball hoops and if by some chance there is a kid outside, they're on a phone, standing.
"Something is wrong with your kid.. Give them these pills... They'll ruin his life when our liability runs out!"
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samoanjoes (58666)
a year ago
I stopped at my parents place twice last week. It's the same place they've lived since I was a kid. Both days were extremely hot, and I couldn't believe that there was absolutely no one doing anything in the streets. Not even adults sitting outside. Maybe we're just in the technology age.
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BillHicksFan (10719)
a year ago
Exactly what I hear from all over the country from people who have kids and/or grandchildren. And childhood obesity and mental health is problematic, especially with the record and heartbreaking "deaths of despair".
I'm so happy I was 13 before I got AOL. I was also lucky that all the kids on my street were my age and boys. Even if we didn't play sports, we'd walk up and down the street while talking until we decided on something to do. I used to play basketball, but my friends would complain about not being able to wake up in the morning, and another one wanted to watch football, while I just liked hanging out and getting in shape while having fun.
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samoanjoes (58666)
a year ago
I grew up in the 90s when internet really started to take off, but even then when I was on the web for a few hours, I used to think to myself: "okay, that's enough. Time to do something physical". Kids don't do that anymore and they see nothing wrong with it.
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BillHicksFan (10719)
a year ago
Yeah, it's all they know, so they don't have our lives to compare with. For me, it was a last resort thing, although my brother and I would race the second we got home to the computer room downstairs. I did a lot of IMing with people from school, some chat room chatting, since our computer only had 4 MB Ram and opening a browser required 8 MB Ram, but sometimes I found ftp sites, which were just to download.
And it's only going to get worse. At least some of the other oldest people aren't stuck on them like it's another part of their body, but the Boomers are going to be dropping rapidly as a result of post WW2 fucking
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102000 (6352)
a year ago
I can understand kids not playing outside when it's in the mid 90's but they aren't outdoors when it's nice either.
I love summer and I'm out on my patio regardless of the temperature - I don't get people who want to stay inside all of the time.
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