I hated that my carefree life style had to end.

I went to collage and had to work.

I had to be 'normal'  and make money to pay for my crappy apartment.

I Hated the Gulf War  for taking my boyfriend away.

I hated flannel.

The music was  just ok.


I sympathize.  I had no personal ties to the Gulf War, mind you.

I mentioned in another thread, my psychiatric illness set in in my teen years of the 1980s.

I had to hear the warnings of teachers, guidance counselors, and the half-azzed therapists I went to regarding what would happen if I didn't:
Get good grades.
Get a good SAT score
Get into a good college
Get a good "career plan."
What they didn't understand---what I didn't understand myself---was I would have done all these things had I been able.  One of the worst things about dysthymia (+ major depressive episodes,with ADD/anxiety factors) is that to others and yourself  it seems like everything would be find if you'd just get cracking and snap out of it.  It's not like schizophrenia or bipolarity where the individual's behavior is obviously out of control or wrapped up in delusions.  You just appear to be a slacker who won't take personal responsibility.  But...that's not true.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysthymia

So that was the '80s.
In the early '90s, the stressors of adulthood--after a youth bereft of achievment--were like a fists in the face over and over.
Panic attacks.  Depersonalization. Rage. Alienation. Paranoia. Hyperesthesia. Anhedonia.
Basic atmospheres of the early '90s for me.
::)

The TV

Not a big grunge fan.

The TV

That's interesting. Even though I prefer '80s music, I think television was one of the stronger points of the '90s. It seemed to be more diverse in its options. I really liked alot of the sitcoms, as well as semi reality shows like Unsolved Mysteries and Rescue 911 with recreations of events.

The '80s seemed kinda like a dead period for TV, at least until c. 1987 when sitcoms started getting popular again, or shows like The Simpsons at the very end of the decade.

The '80s seemed kinda like a dead period for TV, at least until c. 1987 when sitcoms started getting popular again, or shows like The Simpsons at the very end of the decade.


What about A-team, Knight Rider, Automan, V... all great shows with great concepts. Nothing run of the mill there. Plus cartoon wise, the 80s are unmatched with Thundercats, HeMan, GI Joe, Transformers. Then you had big sitcoms like Cosby Show and Golden Girls.

The 90s seemed a lot "safer" for tv. No-one took wild chances like they did in the 80s with way-out concepts that got your imagination going.

What about A-team, Knight Rider, Automan, V... all great shows with great concepts. Nothing run of the mill there. Plus cartoon wise, the 80s are unmatched with Thundercats, HeMan, GI Joe, Transformers. Then you had big sitcoms like Cosby Show and Golden Girls.

The 90s seemed a lot "safer" for tv. No-one took wild chances like they did in the 80s with way-out concepts that got your imagination going.


Oh, I don't doubt there were good things to watch at the time. I do like alot of the late '80s shows like Full House and Growing Pains, but I think my personal perception has something to do with the fact that TV and movies reflect more on different aspects of real life. On the other hand, music seems to be the one of the most universally enjoyable things - I guess 'cause all you have to do is hear it or like the melodies, lol.

So back then (and in the time since), while I might've liked songs on the radio or on albums, I didn't really interact with people or experience life as much. Yes, I have an excellent memory for the most part, but truthfully, I didn't start getting a really good grasp on pop culture until about late 1990 or early 1991 (I started a new school then, right after I turned 9). This is why I probably relate more to Nineties TV.

I guess I'll put it like this - I'd rather live in 1995, but be listening to 1985 music. ;)

That all being said, I do like '80s movies quite a bit too. Although most of those I was introduced to in the early-mid '90s.

To me, the 80's was so much more fun than the 90's, especially the music, television, movies, and fashion. There are some things I like about the 90's (certain music and movies) but it just wasn't the colorful decade the 80's was.

The 80s was the transition from the old times to the modern era, but still, the TV shows and many other things in the 80s were so much better than the 90s and beyond. I loved the action in the 80s shows such as The A Team and many others. By the time the 1990s started, I have pretty much stopped watching TV cuz most of the shows were a joke!

I dislike that I had to be born in January 1990!

Sorry, but that's the one thing I guess I'll have to permanently agree to disagree on. ;) To nitpick it, 1987 to 2001 was probably the extended era of "Nineties TV", and that was the best. You can't deny that the more intelligent/laid back sitcoms as well as kids' shows were much, much better then compared to now. Same with movies.

Even though I do love '80s music, I think the better '90s stuff is quite underappreciated (like anyone born before 1973 seems to generally have a disliking for it, lumping it all together as "crap", etc).


For the point of discussion since we're already on the topic, I just wondered....do Generation Xers or just general fans of "pure eighties" stuff (1982/'83-1988 pop like Michael Jackson, peak Phil Collins, new wave, Madonna, Van Halen and Lionel Richie) also like the fringe stuff from the very end of the decade around 1989 or 1990? In other words, do you guys tend to lump "U Can't Touch This", "King of Wishful Thinking" or Paula Abdul in with stereotypical Nineties music, or is that sorta the last wave of things you enjoy too?

In some ways, that's my favorite era because it's got elements of both (like 1989-1992 or early '93).

Sorry, but that's the one thing I guess I'll have to permanently agree to disagree on. ;) To nitpick it, 1987 to 2001 was probably the extended era of "Nineties TV", and that was the best. You can't deny that the more intelligent/laid back sitcoms as well as kids' shows were much, much better then compared to now. Same with movies.

Even though I do love '80s music, I think the '90s is underappreciated (like anyone born before 1973 seems to generally hate it).


I agree, I think 80s TV sucked for the most part until the late 80s. There's some good shows from before 1987, but not a lot. The 80s are about equally good as the 00s for TV, maybe a little better. The 90s were the best age for TV, maybe because they were the last decade where TVs were bigger than computers?

^ Yeah, it didn't start turning around until Growing Pains, but it was very hit or miss. Movies were pretty good in the early-mid '80s, though.