21st Century is a Bore

[samkydd]

It’s funny that whilst living very consciously through the 70s and 80s as a youth/adult (sometimes unconsciouly if the party was any good) and at the time I never really appreciated what was happening in the world of politics, music, lifestyle, television and film. Everything was taken for granted, and it’s only now you can look back and appreciate those days and mourn their passing.

So far the 21st century has offered little in the way of progress apart from technological trinkets, which are pretty meaningless when you consider that the country has deteriorated into a mess of crossover cultures with absolutely no identity or originality or anything remotely interesting to contribute. The French are still the French, the Germans, well, German, the Spanish, Spanish, even the Scots are still Scots only even more so with semi-devolution, but here we are just dodging the flak in No Man’s Land!

The pop music industry is no better than piped musak, theatre relies on retro musicals and the blandness of Lloyd Weber to get the crowds in, television relies on repeats, remakes and reality shows, and the cinema thrives on crap remakes or CGI cartoons. Tribute bands outnumber proper live bands by about ten to one, American style pig-feast chain restaurants and takeaways cover the land like a nasty rash, cars all look similar because designers no longer use pencils and paper so their creativity is only as good as the CAD software they have. Architects manage to make the same horrendous retro-looking developments all over the country from their pick n’ mix software house and flat plans, and they all end up looking like plywood sets in a Hammer film, people always taking the easier softer option rather than design something innovative and nice looking.

Fashions have also gone retro because there’s no-one in the industry with anything new to offer, and most of the country wander around looking like scruffbag extras in a Mad Max movie; flabby, baggy and scraggy! If they’re not then it’s the greasy sportswear for all occasions (whoever made sportswear fashionable needs to be beaten with heavy sticks). I remember Friday nights in the 70s when many young men went out to pub and the Disco on a Friday night in a suit, and women often wore skirts or dresses! Nowadays a lot of women go out in green baggy cargo pant type things and stinky trainers even if it’s somewhere nice, whilst the lads wear clothing that looks like the cat's been sleeping on it!

Also many of the people that were our heroes whilst growing up and into adulthood are no longer with us, which can’t help but leave a void. Especially when unlike previous generations there doesn’t seem to be anyone waiting in the wings to step into their shoes and I can’t think of anybody remotely on a par with the likes of Peter Cook, Peter Ustinov, John Peel, or more recently Ned Sherrin and Alan Coren. With the exception of Stephen Fry, who is very popular but he seems to be in a minority of mainstream "showbiz" people around with anything interesting to say!

So seven years in and a very disappointing 21st century so far and it needs to get kick-started now if it's to get any better, because like the rest of you I'm not going to be around for the 22nd!

Like a lot of people these days I feel like a Customs and Excise official performing a detailed examination of a suspected drugs mule – I’m just going through the motions!

[Fellwanderer]

I think it's time for your slippers and mug of cocoa

[Wolfgang]

I think it comes down to globalisation - it tends to have homogenising effect. Britain inparticular with all its gagging laws even wants us all to think like one another too.

[penfold]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang I think it comes down to globalisation - it tends to have homogenising effect. Britain inparticular with all its gagging laws even wants us all to think like one another too.

What gagging law is that then ?? We all seem to be fairly robust in our views on here, and I've yet to hear of a visit from Messrs Plod ??

[Wolfgang]

Look what happened to Nick Griffin - got tried twice for calling Islam "wicked faith". Make what you will of his politics but that is pretty close to outlawing opinions.

[penfold]

Incitement to racial or religious hatred is a bit more than a mere expression of opinion....and I imagine you would be as against his anti-immigrant 'politics' as much as I am.

[Wolfgang]

If everyone had picked up their cricket bats after that BNP meet and gone 'Paki bashing' then it would be reasonable to determine how much Griffin's comments contributed to that and how accountable he is for whatever followed. To me, 'incitement' is akin to 'conspiracy' law. By 'conspiring' you have planned crime, by 'inciting' you have knowingly created atmosphere for that crime to be undertaken. If no crime occurs then it is very difficult to determine to what extent conspiracy or incitement took place. Since his audience conducted themselves appropriately, then did he really incite anything or did he just publically voice his own controversial opinion?

[Harleybloke]

I thought all was lost when they banned Kellogs 'Sugar Smacks' for having too much sugar! They always had the best give away Thunderbird toys in the 60s.

That was the beginning of the end..........................

[samkydd]

Originally Posted by Harleybloke I thought all was lost when they banned Kellogs 'Sugar Smacks' for having too much sugar! They always had the best give away Thunderbird toys in the 60s. That was the beginning of the end..........................

When they made the Mercedes accessible to sales reps in the 90s was the turning point. The basic C Class was in a similar price range to a high spec Mondeo, and consequently the roads are now full of them, as seen more recently with the Ford Jaguars! People should know their place and stop trying to be something they're not, it gets confusing all these oiks pretending to be successful businessmen and stains the once respected reputation of the marque! It wouldn't be so bad if they bloody cleaned them now and again!

[Harleybloke]

Originally Posted by samkydd When they made the Mercedes accessible to sales reps in the 90s was the turning point. The basic C Class was in a similar price range to a high spec Mondeo, and consequently the roads are now full of them, as seen more recently with the Ford Jaguars! People should know their place and stop trying to be something they're not, it gets confusing all these oiks pretending to be successful businessmen and stains the once respected reputation of the marque! It wouldn't be so bad if they bloody cleaned them now and again!

Steady Sam, next someone will have a pop at those 'Chelsea Tractors'........

[samkydd]

Originally Posted by Harleybloke Steady Sam, next someone will have a pop at those 'Chelsea Tractors'........

No I'm kidding. I don't have anything against Chelsea Tractors because women feel less vulnerable sitting in a high driving position in a 4WD, especially in an urban environment. So if anyone tries to rob her at the lights, which happens, she can escape from the blighters across verges and pavements, or if they're game gels they can chase after them and flatten the creeps!

[Marky B]

I've nothing against 4x4's - my opinions on cars tend to be toward taste rather than pigeonholing them.
Although,I have Citroen Picasso (mainly for my father's benefit),I'm a Volvo man.
If I get round to checking this Lotto Lucky Dip I bought yesterday - I m mean,I'm sitting here,typing away and I could be a millionaire - and I am a winner,straight down to the Volvo dealership tomorrow for a Volvo V70.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[samkydd]

Originally Posted by Marky B I've nothing against 4x4's - my opinions on cars tend to be toward taste rather than pigeonholing them. Although,I have Citroen Picasso (mainly for my father's benefit),I'm a Volvo man. If I get round to checking this Lotto Lucky Dip I bought yesterday - I m mean,I'm sitting here,typing away and I could be a millionaire - and I am a winner,straight down to the Volvo dealership tomorrow for a Volvo V70. Ta Ta Marky B

I don't criticise makes of cars these days because they're all pretty darned good compared with the crap I used to have to put up with when I first started driving in the late 70s. Although the styling of some cars today is rather bland and uninspiring.

When I was a child you has very distinctive shapes in cars like the Anglia, Morris Minor, Hillman Avenger, Austin/Morris 1100 whereas today they're all designed by CAD software and tend to follow the same lines.

Citroen always had very distinctive shapes and my all time favourite car is the Citroen DS, the two door convertable and the estate version, the Safari.

[batman]

This is my favourite .... the Triumph Herald.



Bats.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by samkydd I don't criticise makes of cars these days because they're all pretty darned good compared with the crap I used to have to put up with when I first started driving in the late 70s. Although the styling of some cars today is rather bland and uninspiring. When I was a child you has very distinctive shapes in cars like the Anglia, Morris Minor, Hillman Avenger, Austin/Morris 1100 whereas today they're all designed by CAD software and tend to follow the same lines. Citroen always had very distinctive shapes and my all time favourite car is the Citroen DS, the two door convertable and the estate version, the Safari.

Unless you want to get one serviced. They are expensive to run if anything goes wrong with their strange suspension.

I agree about the styling of cars though. Nowadays I just can't tell most of them apart unless I read the make & model on their badges/labels. Most are just a tin box with a wheel at each corner.

I needed to buy a new (second hand) car this year and asked a mechanic friend which small hatchback I should go for. He said that they're all much of a muchness.

Steve