Hello there,

I am confused as to whether I am a child of the '70s or a child of the '80s. I was born in 1976. I see a lot of teenage kids here who were born in the mid-late '80s who say they are children of the '80s. Hmm.....I guess that makes me a child of the '70s because I was born in '76. Though I never considered myself a child of the '70s because I don't remember anything of the '70s except the vaguest recollection of whatever was happening to me when I was 3 years old.

My childhood was in the '80s, that's when I grew up as a kid, but from the way people discuss things on this board I guess I am a child of the '70s.

Confused on this matter. What year were you born in and what do you consider yourself? I don't want to get these teenagers that were born in the '80s upset or anything. If they want to say their children of the '80s, that's none of my buisness. But if you were born say from 1983 or 1984 and on, what could you possibly remember of that decade? I honestly believe a lot of these kids who say they remember the '80s are really remember in the early '90s when they were 4-8 years old. Madonna and Michael Jackson were still somewhat popular in the early '90s, and many times things from 1990, '91 or even '92 can be confused with the '80s to people who were not old enough to know the difference.

I mean one teenager here called Beverly Hills 90210 "an '80s show". Huh? The show ran from 1990-2000. It was very popular when I was in high school, and I didn't go to high school in the '80s. Yet another teenage kid here said he has fond memories of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air "back in the '80s". What? That show ran from 1990-1996. See what I mean? I'm sure there a lot more of those type comments here where people who were born in the mid-late '80s remember watching something from the early '90s, "back in the '80s". New Kids on the Block weren't even an exclusive '80s boy band, they ran into 1994 or 1995 before finally breaking up.

I know I still can't always distinguish the late '70s from the early '80s. Well not always. If I think I remember the '70s, its probably me remembering the early '80s and whatever reruns or old music I was listening to at that time.

Anyway, curious to everyone's thoughts.

: Hello there,

: I am confused as to whether I am a child of the
: '70s or a child of the '80s. I was born in
: 1976. I see a lot of teenage kids here who
: were born in the mid-late '80s who say they
: are children of the '80s. Hmm.....I guess
: that makes me a child of the '70s because I
: was born in '76. Though I never considered
: myself a child of the '70s because I don't
: remember anything of the '70s except the
: vaguest recollection of whatever was
: happening to me when I was 3 years old.

: My childhood was in the '80s, that's when I
: grew up as a kid, but from the way people
: discuss things on this board I guess I am a
: child of the '70s.

: Confused on this matter. What year were you
: born in and what do you consider yourself? I
: don't want to get these teenagers that were
: born in the '80s upset or anything. If they
: want to say their children of the '80s,
: that's none of my buisness. But if you were
: born say from 1983 or 1984 and on, what
: could you possibly remember of that decade?
: I honestly believe a lot of these kids who
: say they remember the '80s are really
: remember in the early '90s when they were
: 4-8 years old. Madonna and Michael Jackson
: were still somewhat popular in the early
: '90s, and many times things from 1990, '91
: or even '92 can be confused with the '80s to
: people who were not old enough to know the
: difference.

: I mean one teenager here called Beverly Hills
: 90210 "an '80s show". Huh? The
: show ran from 1990-2000. It was very popular
: when I was in high school, and I didn't go
: to high school in the '80s. Yet another
: teenage kid here said he has fond memories
: of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air "back in the
: '80s". What? That show ran from
: 1990-1996. See what I mean? I'm sure there a
: lot more of those type comments here where
: people who were born in the mid-late '80s
: remember watching something from the early
: '90s, "back in the '80s". New Kids
: on the Block weren't even an exclusive '80s
: boy band, they ran into 1994 or 1995 before
: finally breaking up.

: I know I still can't always distinguish the
: late '70s from the early '80s. Well not
: always. If I think I remember the '70s, its
: probably me remembering the early '80s and
: whatever reruns or old music I was listening
: to at that time.

: Anyway, curious to everyone's thoughts.

Ah, you've unlocked something that has always been a pet peeve of mine as well, OP, ever since I became a regular on this site two years ago. Your feelings pretty much reflect mine as well...

Speaking for myself, I was born in '67. I was 12 when the '80s started, and therefore 22 when they ended. So whenever this question comes up, I always say I was a child of the '70s, and a teenager of the '80s - I feel it's fair to say I "grew up" in both decades (although I personally have a deeper fondness for the '80s)...

IMO, it's always cool to see current teenagers who were born sometime in the '80s come on this site and express an interest and appreciation for the '80s, be it the music, movies, TV, toys, fashion, etc. But like you, it annoys me to no end when some of these same folks born around 1983-84 say they "grew up" in the '80s, claim to have a total knowledge & understanding of the decade (even though they weren't even alive during a good portion of it!), and then attempt to re-write history! It's one thing to say you ADMIRE the '80s (no matter how old you are - even if you weren't born until 1990), but it's definitely another when you try to lay claim to actually GROWING UP in them, which is why I totally agree w/ you...

Since you say you were born in '76, I'd say that makes you a child of the '80s, and a teenager of the '90s. Heck, I lived through the last 2-3 years of the '60s, but I don't try to fool myself (or anyone else) into thinking I actually "grew up" in - or have many fond memories of - "the decade of peace and love"!

: Heck, I lived through the last 2-3 years of
: the '60s, but I don't try to fool myself (or
: anyone else) into thinking I actually "grew up"
: in - or have many fond memories of - "the
: decade of peace and love"!

Well said! I was born in 65, but to call myself a child of the 60s would be ludicrous! I've always identified more with the 80s, even though I turned 13 in 1978.

: Well said! I was born in 65, but to call myself
: a child of the 60s would be ludicrous! I've
: always identified more with the 80s, even
: though I turned 13 in 1978.

Well Wicked Lester and 80smusicfreak, I am right there between you two with my birth year being '66. I have very vague memories of the 60's, but very vivid memories of growing up in the 70's, and would have to say that I was definitely a child of the "Me Decade". I do have great memories of the 80's, too, but I was already an adult by 1984.

: Well Wicked Lester and 80smusicfreak, I am
: right there between you two with my birth
: year being '66. I have very vague memories
: of the 60's, but very vivid memories of
: growing up in the 70's, and would have to
: say that I was definitely a child of the
: "Me Decade". I do have great
: memories of the 80's, too, but I was already
: an adult by 1984.

I think it all depends on what you consider your favorite time, or strongest memories.

I was born in '69 ("EXCELLENT!") and my strongest memories start around my 8th birthday('77). Toys, friends, going places, etc. But my favorite TV shows, cartoons, music, etc starts around 11 or 12 (80/81). So, I think I would consider myself an 80's child. I have fond memories of the late 70's, but I feel I was a PART of the 80's.

Again, there's nothing wrong with embracing ANY era, or several, as your own. But, I can see OptimusPrime's frustration if someone is claiming to clearly "remember" a time when they were 3, 4, or 5 yrs old. That's stretching it.

I hope that's not sugar coating anything....oh, wait. That's a different thread. Nevermind.

>;-P

: Well Wicked Lester and 80smusicfreak, I am
: right there between you two with my birth
: year being '66. I have very vague memories
: of the 60's, but very vivid memories of
: growing up in the 70's, and would have to
: say that I was definitely a child of the
: "Me Decade". I do have great
: memories of the 80's, too, but I was already
: an adult by 1984.

Hey Karen, you know the best thing about being born in the mid 60s? We get to claim the 70s and 80s as "our" decades

I identify my childhood with the 70s. You know, all the toys, the television shows, the Saturday morning cartoons. But I got my drivers license in 1980, so most of the teenage stuff and definitely the college stuff is all 80s. In a sense, we have the best of both worlds!

: Hey Karen, you know the best thing about being
: born in the mid 60s? We get to claim the 70s
: and 80s as "our" decades

: I identify my childhood with the 70s. You know,
: all the toys, the television shows, the
: Saturday morning cartoons. But I got my
: drivers license in 1980, so most of the
: teenage stuff and definitely the college
: stuff is all 80s. In a sense, we have the
: best of both worlds!

Right on, Lester!!!!