Okay, here's just a fun question I thought I'd try out - of course we don't have time machines, so it's not like we'll ever REALLY know the definitive answer. ;)

As opposed to asking how people think of the 80's now, I thought I'd turn it the other way. If someone from the 80's (we'll say 1985 to make it 20 years) came to 2005, what would they make of the current fashions, music and the world in general?

I wonder if they'd think buzzcuts, baggy pants/shirts (though that's fading out) and really high cut-off pants on girls - and the like - were weird. On one hand, the overall look hasn't changed to a sweeping extent since the late 60's or so. We wouldn't NOTICEABLY stand out to someone from the 80's, it would be more minute differences.

I do think they'd be shocked at shows like South Park, or how rap basically has taken over. They probably wouldn't like that much of today's music (with some exceptions - probably more on the pop side) but may be equally amazed at computer animation, the Internet, Ipods and more technological advances.

However, they'd equally probably be comforted that, say the average street and ways of life are basically 100% the same. Certainly less of a change than 1965 and 1985 were in that regard.

So overall, they'd probably be 50/50 on it IMO. ;)

I think that they would be in a state of shock.

Seeing how things have changed, places and people's ideas have changed.

Seeing the world how it is now they would definately say that the world is also falling apart.

I think that they would be in a state of shock.

Seeing how things have changed, places and people's ideas have changed.

Seeing the world how it is now they would definately say that the world is also falling apart.

That's true, especially on a political level - with the aftermath of 9/11 and the War On Terror. I hadn't thought of that before.

I do think that's one of those "behind the scenes" things they'd slowly discover over time however.

Let's say a 1985-er came to this year and walked around observing things for awhile, maybe doing some minor interacting. We'll also say they knew it was the future but not when. If you asked what year they thought it was, I'm guessing they'd think sometime in the 90's - say 1996 or '97.

I don't think they'd guess it was 2005.

While fashion is certainly changed, logo's are updated and technology is way advanced from the 1980's, the world hasn't really changed in "instant look" terms.

Technologically, I don't think they would be in too much of a state of shock (the birth of the CD around 1985 was a major happening).

Consoles/Computers have got better visually, the mp3 player is replacing the CD player, DVD is replacing video but I think the major change has got to be the Internet - the way we view the world as a result of the Internet has changed drammatically.  :)

lines that someone from 1985 in 2005 would say ...

"holy crap!  there's a CD player in your car"

"oh my god.  Is that a video game?  It looks so realistic.  Quite a change from Pac-Man"

"who knew they could make cellular phones so small.  just yesterday they were the size of bricks"

"where did all the weekday gameshows go?"

"the jetsons were wrong.  No flying cars, no moving sidewalks"

"little CD's called DVD's that play movies?  Boy, people back in 1985 are going to think i'm crazy when I tell them about this"

^ Haha, that sounds pretty accurate. :)

On an off note, I'd LOVE to see what Doc from 1955 would say in our 2005. His reactions at 1985 technology and other things he learned from Marty were all pretty funny.

"Whuuuah! Great Scott!!! People actually have portable television studios on their computers in the year 2005. Ab-solutely amazing." ;D

I honestly think they'd probably be more dissapointed then anything else.  It would be more like, "wtf, THIS is 2005!?"  I know my 4th grade self from 1985 would be really pissed off that this was 2005.   

"Where the hell are the flying cars?" they would ask.  Where are the hoverboards, Nikes that lace themselves and stuff like that?  Why do we still use space shuttles to go up into space?  We still haven't gone to Mars yet?  Where's Autobot City?  All this most likely won't be happening by 2015 that's fer sure. 

Everything still looks the same.  Fashions have changed, but people still wear sneakers, jeans, and a t-shirt.  People aren't wearing Star Trek spacesuits.

They would be in awe of the cars I think, that would probably look cool to them.  But they would be mad that the cars can't drive themselves like in Knight Rider.  Computers still look basically the same, but they would be impressed by the speed of computers and the amazing things computers let us do.  You could impress them with your home entertainment and stereo system too.  Take them to a stadium theater, that would look cool.  Finding out Arnold Schwarznegger is the governor of California would be like finding out actor Ronald Reagan became governor of California, and then later president. 

The upgrade in computer and cell phone technology would definately impress, but outside of a tour of Circuit City and Best Buy,...I still think it would be more of an overall dissapointment though.   

If they just walked down the street and didn't pay attention to the cars, etc. and just looked at the people they probably would think they were in some of kind strange alternate reality of 1975 by the fashions and hairstyles. But if they saw the technology then they might think mid 90's as most people in 1985 would've thought there would be farther advancements by now than there is.

Probally less shell shocked than someome from the 50's.

I can tell you this dude from the 80's isn't reacting too well to the 21srt Century. Don't like it one goddamned bit

8)  Hear ya Metal..Me either..

I think they'd go what the f@3k?

"holy crap!  there's a CD player in your car"


Actually we had a cd player in our car in 1984... it was fairly large but not awkward looking. It was built into our Isuzu Trooper.

Back on topic - I agree with all the points... I'd expect flying cars, but depending on where you live, things will look vastly different especially in new supercities. Older cities don't have the advantage of building from scratch so they will always look dated.

If it was me in my time machine I'd be like "Punky's had a baby"!!!  ;D

ps: MetalManiac - I hear ya... it just ain't the same anymore!

What do you mean, the Cold War is over?

You mean that Lybia is actually our friend now?

Fidel Castro is still alive?

General Francisco Franco is still dead?

Where is your record player?

What do you mean, Metallica is "Classic Rock"?

What, no floppy drive on your computer?

The internet is less then $20 a month, for unlimited time, and CompuServe was bought out by Quantum Link?

Oh, I see the "Mac Tonight" meal is still here, but it has a new name.

"Where's the Beef?"

Well, actually, I agree with a lot of what everyone has said. When I was in 1st or 2nd grade, I remember reading a story in my English book that was probably written a few years prior (so probably 1984-1985) and it talked about how in 2000 we were going to be in gas masks and we had to crawl through these tunnells to survive because the air was so polluted. That story really depressed me. That was what I was really expecting.

I think someone from 1985 transported to 2005 would be in awe yet also be disappointed. They would be amazed at the technology. Even though CD players were just fresh off the shelves in 1985, most have to admit that buying CD's were rare for most common folk- as most record stores had a much larger selection of analog tapes and LP's. I hardly remember seeing a CD until about 1988 or 1989.  DVD's were unforeseen, unless you were really in the know at the time. I also never imagined a computer could surpass 200 megabytes of hard drive. I use to think that was HUGE! Also, flat screens of all sorts are something probably most people didn't predict happening.

As for fashion, fashion has been a disappointment in recent years, but up to about a year or two ago, it's really taken a nice, clean turnaround. I am so happy to see girls in skirts again. Not that I am fond of the real high ones, but at least it's feminine and not gothic or gangsta looking. I love the comeback of tweed, as its a perfect style to wear around fall time. I love that boys are growing their hair out and making it look shaggy again. So, as far as fashion goes, the 1985 person would probably embrace  it.

Music is the biggest loser here. Music in 2005, I will admit, is showing signs of better years to come, but there is just nothing very defining for our times right now. There is not a single artist this decade who has really defined our era. A 1985-er would be letdown at how little our music has evolved. He'd probably prefer to go right back to 1985 and enjoy his latest Foriegner LP.

"Where's the Beef?"

Well, actually, I agree with a lot of what everyone has said. When I was in 1st or 2nd grade, I remember reading a story in my English book that was probably written a few years prior (so probably 1984-1985) and it talked about how in 2000 we were going to be in gas masks and we had to crawl through these tunnells to survive because the air was so polluted. That story really depressed me. That was what I was really expecting.

I think someone from 1985 transported to 2005 would be in awe yet also be disappointed. They would be amazed at the technology. Even though CD players were just fresh off the shelves in 1985, most have to admit that buying CD's were rare for most common folk- as most record stores had a much larger selection of analog tapes and LP's. I hardly remember seeing a CD until about 1988 or 1989.  DVD's were unforeseen, unless you were really in the know at the time. I also never imagined a computer could surpass 200 megabytes of hard drive. I use to think that was HUGE! Also, flat screens of all sorts are something probably most people didn't predict happening.

As for fashion, fashion has been a disappointment in recent years, but up to about a year or two ago, it's really taken a nice, clean turnaround. I am so happy to see girls in skirts again. Not that I am fond of the real high ones, but at least it's feminine and not gothic or gangsta looking. I love the comeback of tweed, as its a perfect style to wear around fall time. I love that boys are growing their hair out and making it look shaggy again. So, as far as fashion goes, the 1985 person would probably embrace  it.

Music is the biggest loser here. Music in 2005, I will admit, is showing signs of better years to come, but there is just nothing very defining for our times right now. There is not a single artist this decade who has really defined our era. A 1985-er would be letdown at how little our music has evolved. He'd probably prefer to go right back to 1985 and enjoy his latest Foriegner LP.


Huh?? Fashion would be the biggest disappointment to the 1985er. Take it from an ex-teenager of the 80s. The male "shaggy" long hair style is ala late 1960's - 1970's and is far from the big hair, layered, hairsprayed, short bangs look of the 1980's. I know, I was a long haired hard rockin' guitar player of the era. And don't even get me started on the look of females now as opposed to then.

Foreigner was a group that had a few hits in the 80's but was mainly a 70's group as most of their greatest hits were from that era. Lou Gramm had his solo stuff in the 80s that was pretty popular (IE: Midnight Blue, etc.) but someone from 1985 would more likely fire up Motley Crue's "Theatre Of Pain" or if they were into mainstream Pop then Aha or Duran Duran (New Wave) or something.

Huh?? Fashion would be the biggest disappointment to the 1985er. Take it from an ex-teenager of the 80s. The male "shaggy" long hair style is ala late 1960's - 1970's and is far from the big hair, layered, hairsprayed, short bangs look of the 1980's. I know, I was a long haired hard rockin' guitar player of the era. And don't even get me started on the look of females now as opposed to then.

Foreigner was a group that had a few hits in the 80's but was mainly a 70's group as most of their greatest hits were from that era. Lou Gramm had his solo stuff in the 80s that was pretty popular (IE: Midnight Blue, etc.) but someone from 1985 would more likely fire up Motley Crue's "Theatre Of Pain" or if they were into mainstream Pop then Aha or Duran Duran (New Wave) or something.


Whoa - Don't worry, I knew and was around a lot of teenage cousins and family friends when I was living the 80's. NOT everyone looked like a punker in the 80's. 1985 still had lots of kids with shaggy hair - even if it was a fashion trend that started in the late 60's-througout the 70's. I'll admit the big hair was becoming the dominant fashion, but there were still 70's leftovers in 1985.

Foreigner, I admit, was at their height in the 70's (I do know that much!), but they had hit records in the early to mid-80's, so it isn't a falsehood to say that someone wouldn't have owned their 1984 record in 1985 and listened to it. And of course, they would also have listened to new wave or metal, whatever they wanted - Foriegner was just an example - not the ONLY album they'd listen to.  ;D

OK Ultraviolet 521, take a look at my avatar. That's what I looked like in the 80's, far from a "punker" look. Take a look at this:

http://www.rocktrip.net/imagenes/clasicos/Dokken/Dokken01.jpg

Now that doesn't look like anything you'd see nowadays, right? That is the look I meant.

This is more of a "punker" look of the 80s:

http://www.buzzstuff.net/archives/mohawk.jpg

Not exactly the look I was trying to achieve.

Here's a picture from late 60s:

http://rockandpop.galeon.com/portades/beatles.jpg

What do you think the modern male hairstyles most likey resemble????

I'd say the internet would be the most amazing thing to a time traveler from 1985.
We don't appreciate every day how much it has changed our routines.  And, wow, all that porn, for free!
;)

I don't think any economist Right or Left looking into a crystal ball in 1985 would be pleased, although there would be a lot more 'told you so's' coming from the Left.

'80s people would think the whole thing was a joke if viisions of Arnold Schwarzeneggar, governor of California, appeared.  9/11 and the 2001 Presidential election would appear as a dystopian nightmare.  So would our response to global warming.

Space travel would fail to meet our expectations by a long shot.  The fate if the space program would seem a bit more plausible if you were peering into 2005 after January, 1986.

If you time traveled from the early '80s to today, you would be amazed to see the Soviet Union had crumbled fourteen years earlier, and the Berlin Wall getting toppled sixteen years earlier.  Again, only left-wing conspiracy theorists would believe the size of the post-cold war defense budget.

BC- I agree with you on that.. you made some valid points. I think I was just making the point that in 1985, shaggy hair still existed, even if it still wasn't the primary hairstyle. And, yeah, that metal look (like that of Motley Crue) really is gone - even THEY don't look like that anymore!

It does seem like more and more younger boys these days are growing their hair out. I actually recognised at least 5-10 young boys today alone who had that "shaggy" hair style of the late 60's- mid-70's and I was all happy - I felt like I was time warping.. lol. Sounds crazy!

Maxwell Smart - You made an excellent point about the Internet. I didn't even give that thought until now - but that would amaze someone, especially all the nifty things they could do on it!

You still see the occasional fan mohawk where dissolute youth congregate.  It's sort of a perennial.  I was never a "punk."  I was a New Waver/New Romantic.  Or, according to the hardcore punks and metalheads, "hey f*gg*t!"  They said I was gay, but I wasn't gay, not even bi-curious.  Nick Rhodes wasn't gay either.  The deal with me and makeup was more of a Goth thing.  The word "Goth" was just emerging in the '80s.  It was in the club scenes in the cities.  Out in the 'burbs, my darker Bauhaus/Sisters of Mercy phase so earned the catcall, "hey f*gg*t!"
I never had one of those fan mohawks, but my friend Wayne did.  I had whatchamacall a "Clash" mohawk for a while, first dyed orange, then totally bleached out.
Was it worth it to go through all that abuse?  I dunno, man, it's not a question I can entertain.  I mean, I just did and that's all there was to it.

http://80music.about.com/library/artist/images/replicas.jpg
New Romantic and/or New Wave


I do think it would surprise an '80s timewalker to see the accepted range of body jewelery, tattoos, "punk" hair-dos, and freaky fashions kids strut around in today.  When I got my earring in '86, it was still controversial for a guy to have just one earring.  In fact, it got you called, you guessed it, "Hey f*gg*t!"
:P

Below: The late Joe Strummer and "Clash" mohawk

Reactions to television:


200 channels and nothings on!

MTV became Moronic TV

The Disney Channel is nolonger a premium channel, but mostly air teenybopper garbage instead of Disney toons

What happened to Saturday morning cartoons, afterschool specials, and those sappy phone commercials...which are replaced by a very annoying guy with orange hair!

^^ Oh, Joe Strummer - What a Hottie!

You still see the occasional fan mohawk where dissolute youth congregate.  It's sort of a perennial.  I was never a "punk."  I was a New Waver/New Romantic.  Or, according to the hardcore punks and metalheads, "hey f*gg*t!"  They said I was gay, but I wasn't gay, not even bi-curious.  Nick Rhodes wasn't gay either.  The deal with me and makeup was more of a Goth thing.  The word "Goth" was just emerging in the '80s.  It was in the club scenes in the cities.  Out in the 'burbs, my darker Bauhaus/Sisters of Mercy phase so earned the catcall, "hey f*gg*t!"
I never had one of those fan mohawks, but my friend Wayne did.  I had whatchamacall a "Clash" mohawk for a while, first dyed orange, then totally bleached out.
Was it worth it to go through all that abuse?  I dunno, man, it's not a question I can entertain.  I mean, I just did and that's all there was to it.




Bro, I would've never called you a "f*gg*t" for what it's worth. I had friends from all genre's including Wavers, Punks, Skas, etc. and even people who were just called "school boys". Thanks for posting the Joe Strummer pic. That actually was who I was going for when I responded to Ultraviolet521 but couldn't find a pic to post.

Also, as I am confident you know, there were different kind of "punks" as well. There were "suicidals" who had their heads shaved  and "peace" punks who were more into the Descendants, Subhumans, etc.

'80s people would think the whole thing was a joke if viisions of Arnold Schwarzeneggar, governor of California, appeared. 


About the way that Doc. Brown reacted in BTTF when he was told that Ronald Reagan was President, eh?  8)

One thing I always found interesting is that Republican actors will enter politics and run for office, and most Democratic actors only talk about politics.  There have been a lot of one (Reagan, Bono, Grandy, Arnold, etc), but I find it hard to think of any actors that have entered politics as a Democrat.  (just something to think about, no real point to be made)

Speaking of which, try telling somebody in the early 80's "Gopher will be in Congress".  lol

So many things that were in the 80's are still going strong today...the punk rock fashion, the "goth" look, electronic music, video game systems, etc.  The young people of the 80's would probably adapt easily.

My formula for predicting the future- Expect have of what you do, half of what you don't.

I think for most people who were old enough to keep track of the news, it would be how the cold war ended. While it wasn't on my mind because of my age, what I got from the adults and from talking to those who were older back then is that we were destined at some point to go to war, most likely armegeddon.

The idea that the Soviet Union fell without a real war would totally amaze them.

I agree with many of the other posts.  I think the internet and technology would be one of the biggest surprises.  Our world has gotten smaller since 1985, and a lot of that has to do with the internet and technology. 

What do you mean, the Cold War is over?


...wait a minute! You mean the KGB didn't just win, they did so without firing a shot? 

Or did we have WW3, and if so, why did we surrender when Star Wars nailed every missile except the one aimed at New Orleans?

Gas prices might send them into slight shock too!  :P

In actuality, they'd be semi-astonished at the technological advancement (mainly bright new screens, comparatively super-fast computers, and of course DVDs and mp3 players), quiet bemused at how the urban landscape looks so glossy, without alot of the grittness which characterised the 80s (which ironically was in itself a glossy, sanitized decade). Indeed, I feel the urban landscape changes alot faster than one might think. I can even tell a difference between 1999 and 2005 (of course cars and to a lesser extent fashion are the best daters). But even young kids can instantly recognise a street scene from the 1980s - even though the essential function of everything pretty much remained the same.

They could probably relate to the Bush/Reagen parallels, and also the so-called 'materialism' of the 00s so often talked about. Teens would abhorr the 'nerdy/preppie' mentality so indolent of current teenagers - with 80s teens being more overtly rebellious than today's (e.g. talking back to teachers.etc).

In actuality, they'd be semi-astonished at the technological advancement (mainly bright new screens, comparatively super-fast computers, and of course DVDs and mp3 players), quiet bemused at how the urban landscape looks so glossy, without alot of the grittness which characterised the 80s (which ironically was in itself a glossy, sanitized decade). Indeed, I feel the urban landscape changes alot faster than one might think. I can even tell a difference between 1999 and 2005 (of course cars and to a lesser extent fashion are the best daters). But even young kids can instantly recognise a street scene from the 1980s - even though the essential function of everything pretty much remained the same.

They could probably relate to the Bush/Reagen parallels, and also the so-called 'materialism' of the 00s so often talked about. Teens would abhorr the 'nerdy/preppie' mentality so indolent of current teenagers - with 80s teens being more overtly rebellious than today's (e.g. talking back to teachers.etc).


Good points. Personal technology and politics are clearly where changes are most noticeable.

What year would someone from the mid '80s think this was if they were time warped? I'd say 1996-98 or so.

I think that's a very good point about rebellion. I've often thought that too. Of course, it's always been there, but I think it was more "cool"/shocking to do it back then. Even in the earlier '90s, I remember the kids being more like that.

Good points. Personal technology and politics are clearly where changes are most noticeable.

What year would someone from the mid '80s think this was if they were time warped? I'd say 1996-98 or so.

I think that's a very good point about rebellion. I've often thought that too. Of course, it's always been there, but I think it was more "cool"/shocking to do it back then. Even in the earlier '90s, I remember the kids being more like that.


Yes, that's one thing I notice instantly about teens and youth culture of the 50s onwards. It was driven by a sense of rebelling against authority, or at least your parents if not the law. You could attribute this to any number of 'subversive' cultural influences like the Sex Pistols, or violent video games, but I'd attribute it more to societal frustrations and basic human nature. I think any year up to about 1994 or even early 1995 could still be mistaken for the 80s - indeed, I often feel the 80s only really died in 1994, well after Grunge hit the scene.

I saw this show on TV and this woman was watching this recording of her on this computer screen, and I was thinking that even in the 1990s, that would look pretty futuristic.

If someone woke up out of a coma from 1985, it would be something like this (actually 1984):

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/05/earlyshow/series/main760296.shtml

Here's a different one from 1985.  I'm sure that some people have probably seen this already.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3052269.stm
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/07/07/mute.no.more/index.html

If someone woke up out of a coma from 1985, it would be something like this (actually 1984):

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/05/earlyshow/series/main760296.shtml

Here's a different one from 1985.  I'm sure that some people have probably seen this already.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3052269.stm
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/07/07/mute.no.more/index.html


Wow - great links - thanks for sharing.  Like Sarah I was also 18 in 1984 - I cannot even imagine waking up after 20 years and seeing all that has taken place.