I was wondering, how do you speak of the '80's?  I mean, do you call it "the Eighties", "old school", or "retro"?

I've noticed that people that really grew up in the 1980's are inclined to call it old school or the Eighties.  Whereas people that never really grew up then, or in some cases some 12 year olds (and under) that were born in the '90's and weren't even alive then, will call it retro.

To me that's the best way to tell if someone grew up in the '80's.  No one that *really* grew up then would ever call it "retro".

Agree or disagree?  Other thoughts?

I just call it the '80s or "the Eighties".  :) 8)

Old School? Retro? What's that?  ;)

I call the 80's the godd old days....I guess I'm dating myself!

I know "Old School" sounds a little bad, but I feel that is usually a more positive or affectionate term, used by people who actually lived through a time.

Usually people who lived through a time don't look back on it and call it retro.  I see a lot of children and teenagers call the Eighties retro and I realize I am getting older.    

Old School dates the 80's so much, IMO.

I just don't like to remember they're that long gone.  :-/

Boy, do I feel old. Oh well.  8)

Now I may be "old school" in many things, but "the Eighties" is not 1 of them!

I've never heard anyone call that or ANY period "old school".  This board is the 1st I've ever heard such a term.  So yes, I just plain say "Eighties".

I call it the best time of my life! ;D

I have many names for it, and "retro" or "old school "has never crossed my mind.  I just go with "the eighties".

Yeah, "old school" may not be the best term, a straight "Eighties" is probably best.  But I'm sure you all agree that old school sounds light years better then retro.  Old School or "Old Skool" (depending on spelling) is by no means a demeaning term in my opinion.  I mean I was calling the bulk of the '80's old school back in the early '90's, and it certainly wasn't a put down of the decade.    

But "retro", whoa there's nothing nice sounding about that word.  Retro makes the '80's sound so.....ancient.  I've never heard anyone that grew up in the '80's ever call it retro.  You can tell you're talking to a teenager or child if they use "retro" as their word to describe the 1980's.    

I just call it The Eighties.

I will definitely be calling the 80's 'the good old days'.  But just not yet.  It still feels like yesterday.

Personally I think of retro as the 50's !

I just say "The Seventies" "The Eighties" "The Nineties" "the Naughties".

I am with SOUTHERNSPITFIRE the 80s were the best time of my life also.

What do I call the 80s?

"The Greatest Decade of All"
"The Eighties"
"The Reagan Years"
"Back Then"
"Back When"
"The Beta Days"(referring to the pre-VHS days)
"The Fun Years"

Dang I miss the 80s!

Oddly enough I always just refer to the time period as The 80's (or "remember back when we were in high school, and...") but it has occured to me that on my computer all my 80's song files are in a folder called "Old School".

;D 80's

TimRATT-n-ROLL

Definitely, "the eighties".

I call them the "80s" but I believe "old school" is an appropriate term, seeing as the local oldies station started playing tunes from the 80s...makes you feel old, don't it?

I just call them the eighties, but I have heard rap music from the eighties called "old school rap" or just "old school".   Maybe that's where it comes from?  ???

The best time of my life! The 80's are just that, the 80's. Just like the 50's are the 50's. Or if your looking for a phrase like "The Dirty 30's" or "The Roaring 20's" try "The Awesome 80's" because that's what they were!  

The 80's were the best time of my life.