I was kidding about the personal experience.

I do not find religion to have any merit. Okay I am a Jedi but never tempted to riot or incite it. You can have good morals without any religious influence in your life. We have been pretty atheist as a nation for decades going back to the fifties. So that is not really a factor. Lack of parental responsibility has changed since the 80's. Though parents now are both working just to afford the inflated property prices to keep a roof over their heads. If at least one parent could stay home to monitor the kids then it would make a difference. It does depend on family support which has disappeared because of family breakups. etc.

"mmm... televisions.. trainers... a Jedi craves not these things!"


I'd actually disagree somewhat. I'd say if we're going to chart the downfall of religion as a mass culture in the UK, you'd be much more looking at the 60's and the start of a real anti-establishment movement. Religion is, after all, part iof the establishment. I don't think I've seen anything that suggests England of the 50's was radically different from pre-war England in that regard.


I think it's actually an issue of the loss of the extended family as much as direct parental.. lassitude. The mobility that people gained in the 60's meant you weren't in the same town as your parents any more, so a lot of people lost the support network that proximity provided to previous generations. I've seen how much harder it was for a friend of mine whose own parents were 200 miles away to cope with their children than for other friends who had grand parents available to help and provide a more varied social environment for the kids growing up. It makes a big difference IMO. Not that you can't raise happy, well behaved kids just with the two or even one of you, but I'd say the division of labour available definitely makes it an easier job.

Jon

Well the fifties was the start of the teen generation. And the rebellion of kids and then in the sixties there was beatniks and flower power. It was not major at first.


Yes loss of extended families is significant. I know of a single mother who brought up five kids without trouble because of extended family support. In the UK many people have moved around the country for work, and no longer have that support.

You know, it really fell apart in this country when we stopped being hunter-gatherers and settled down to an agricultural life. That just encouraged us to breed more humans, and grow into large settlements.

It's been downhill since about 3000BC.

I agree.

We should reforest the UK and reintroduce bears and wolves.

The first sensible idea I have seen since last weekend!

Can we introduce the prey before the predator? I like to eat boar as much as the other beasts. I find chavs leave a bad taste in the mouth.