Dear Elders, Do you think it is easier being 12 years old today or 70 years ago?
Signed,
Roundsie
Casper Kranenburg
Dear Roundsie,
Let’s see – a little arithmetic here . . . 12 years old 70 years ago makes me. . . . hmmm . . . 82 . . . now, dear Roundsie, look at my picture again . . . I know it can use a little makeup and some of the lines still show and it can use some Photoshop work, but my 82nd birthday is a few years off still. Usually, at age 12, one’s life is easy street all around, but with a bit more arithmetic, you will discover that 82 years ago, it was the year 1927 and at that time, nobody’s life was easy. Especially not for Henry Ford, as his Model T production ended that year after 19 years!
Roioli Schweiker
Dear Roundsie,
Neither my daughter nor I thought being 12 was “hard,” so if you do, I guess it is now.
Steve Leavenworth
Dear Roundsie,
Life was much more enjoyable for me at 12 than I think kids today enjoy. I may be wrong, but I think so many kids today seem to have nothing to enjoy but computer games and TV. They hardly ever play outdoors. When I was 12, we played outdoors all day – swimming, baseball, exploring the town, riding our bikes all over. There was no TV, but we had half-hour radio programs; the Green Hornet, Jack Armstrong, Don Winslow of the U.S. Navy. The good thing about radio is that it helps develop imagination. I also read a lot, even then. When you enjoy reading, you will always have entertainment at your fingertips and from the reading, you learn about all kinds of things; you can go anywhere in the world at any time in history.
Jan Stickler
Dear Roundsie,
That is like trying to compare apples and oranges. Being a 12-year-old 70 years ago compared to a 12-year-old today has only one constant – a 12-year-old, but not the same 12-year-old. It was another world 70 years ago. Half the things we take for granted weren’t even invented then. There were different pressures, perks, expectations and responsibilities. I think any age, in any time, can be difficult, today or yesterday, take your pick.
Bill Twibill
Dear Squarsie,
I may be an elder, but I’m not feeble. Since I was born in 1939, I have not reached the beautiful age of 82. Please come back in 12 years and contact The Insider with the same question. I’ll probably be the Insider editor by then and Danielle will be the publisher and CEO of a national chain of newspapers. You will find us on Twitter model 2021.
