Anonymous wrote:80's were the best.

Everything else.

80’s were amazing. Everything else pales in comparison.

Anonymous wrote:
Overall, life was so much better before the invention of smartphones.

+1

Plus social media and cable news.

Anonymous wrote:Loved the mid-late 90s in DC. The Clinton years--take me back!

So true!

Anonymous wrote:2016-2022 were HORRIBLE. The Trump years were painful + COVID.

This

1990s - college/young adult
1980s - child/HS
1970s - child
2000s - first half sucked but ended strong
2010s - first half was great, then steadily downhill until the present day
2020s - sucked big time so far

2016-2022 were HORRIBLE. The Trump years were painful + COVID.

Loved the mid-late 90s in DC. The Clinton years--take me back!

Anonymous wrote:80's were the best.

Everything else.

One thousand percent, as they say now.

Anonymous wrote:What I get from this as someone who is 38 is coming of age in post-9/11 was the ultimate shaft

+1 I feel exactly the same. Just turned 39.

I’m 54. Born in 1969.

The best decades were:
1. 1970’s - a great childhood with lots of outdoor play. We came home when the streetlights came on. No responsibility.
2. 1990’s- graduated from college, first “real” job, first apartment, independence and fun
3. 1980’s - my tween/teen years. Fun but with the usual teenage angst of finding myself.
4. 2000’s - newlywed years, death of Mom, birth of kids, busy and sleep deprived blur
5. 2010’s - the kid years. So much fun but being responsible for kids adds stress along with caring for aging family members.
6. 2020’s - DH & I will soon be empty nesters and looking forward to travel, but current events and worry about launching young adults into this world are big concerns.

Overall, life was so much better before the invention of smartphones.

Anonymous wrote:The 70s were the best in terms of culture and because it was my birth to 10 years old decade, it was the time of my greatest innocence and particularly because it was the only time of my life I was free of the male gaze - although not free of molestation by males, sadly.

The 90s were my favorite decade because I spent the entirety of them in college, graduate school and law school and it was the greatest time of self growth and coming into my own in the midst of the last truly hopeful time in this country.

I feel that post 9/11 America, while not American carnage, has never felt as hopeful as 1970s/80s/90s America and I’m not sure it ever will, for me anyway. I also feel strongly that overall the advent of widespread internet use and then the rise of social media has diminished the human experience more than it has enhanced it.

Are you me (bolded)?

90's were great because met DH. 00's were great because of DCs. Greatly miss the world as it was before '01, however, and wish DCs could know what it was like, in a way. The best part about adulting (00's on) is you can pick out real friends vs. fake friends; and the few insecure, vindictive (and potentially dangerous) people vs. the many normal people. When you are younger, you tend think everyone has good intentions (and more people seemed to have good intentions then). When you are adulting, you learn to listen to your parent's wisdom far more.

80s / 90s
2000s
2010s
2020s.

There's a clear dividing line before and after 2001.

9-11 is as good a turning point as any date can be. So much changed after 9-11. While there was plenty of anxiety and concerns in the 80s and 90s and no shortage of problems and social ills, at the same time life felt less stressful and just easier all around.

I'm 55. The 80s were great, but honestly, I am currently having the best time in my life. Kids are grown and I have more money. We have tons of super fun friends. I am having a blast.

Anonymous wrote:People should only rank decades in which they were an adult supporting themselves. Anyone 50ish was a child in the 80s.

Those folks are dead and who says you get to make the rules?

Anonymous wrote:80s
90s
2000s
2010s
70s
2020s

This.

The 80s were amazing! I miss Reagan.