Do you ever wish that you were a teenager in the 80s?

Let’s look at the things that came out of the 80s for teens to enjoy: Amy Heckerling teen films, MTV, John Hughes teen films, Cosby sitcoms, talk shows, anti-family sitcoms, good underground music, Corey films, designer clothes, new dance styles, mainstream rap, and Nintendo.

Do you ever wish that you were a teenager in the 80s?

Let’s look at the things that came out of the 80s for teens to enjoy: Amy Heckerling teen films, MTV, John Hughes teen films, Cosby sitcoms, talk shows, anti-family sitcoms, good underground music, Corey films, designer clothes, new dance styles, mainstream rap, and Nintendo.


I was a teenager between 1987-1989 so I guess I wouldn't mind being a teenager in that time period.

I was a teenager between 1987-1989 so I guess I wouldn't mind being a teenager in that time period.


What did you dislike about being an 80s teenager?

I'd love it best because I reckon the 80s was the height of metal (rock would have been declining slowly then I think, but I'm not a fan of 70s guitars in some cases); other than that and the geometric and more androgynous aesthetic than even the 2000s in a few cases, I don't find much that interests me about it.

I would love to have the freedom of hanging out with other 80s teens after school and working at the mall to get some expensive designer clothes.

What did you dislike about being an 80s teenager?


Being picked on.

Being picked on.


What did you do for fun in those days?

What did you do for fun in those days?


played handball, rode my bike, played Nintendo.

played handball, rode my bike, played Nintendo.


Did you ride your bike to 7-11 like tons of other 80s teens did?

Did you ride your bike to 7-11 like tons of other 80s teens did?


Just around the house.

Just around the house.


You missed out. I would be zipping to the mall and 7-11 if I were an 80s teen with a bike. Those were the best days to hang out with someone.

No 7-11 or malls in my area. I rode my bike everywhere in the summer. Down back roads. To the gas station in town. To the campground and hung out with kids who were camping there. Exploring abandoned places. Built forts in the woods behind my house. Fishing. In the winter or bad weather I’d snowmobile. Learn songs on my bass. Wrote programs on my calculator. Built things. Stayed up late and see what I could find. I was never really bored.

Howard, what posters did you have in your room in the late 80s?

You missed out. I would be zipping to the mall and 7-11 if I were an 80s teen with a bike. Those were the best days to hang out with someone.


I was a kid so I didn't travel with my bike except to the parks and home.

Howard, what posters did you have in your room in the late 80s?



Bart Simpson, Bret Hart, I used to have baseball posters in my room some included Rusty Staub, Rollie Fingers, Daryl Strawberry and Mookie Wilson just to name a few and after I wasn't a baseball fan any longer I turned to wrestling.

Being picked on.


Yeah, the Gen X teens during the Reagan era were rough. If you didn't look like William Zabka then you got tormented by the ones that did.

Bart Simpson, Bret Hart, I used to have baseball posters in my room some included Rusty Staub, Rollie Fingers, Daryl Strawberry and Mookie Wilson just to name a few and after I wasn't a baseball fan any longer I turned to wrestling.


Bart Simpson posters were first sold in the early 90s.

You didn’t have any movie posters, band posters, car posters, or skateboard and surfer  brand posters in your room?


Yeah, the Gen X teens during the Reagan era were rough. If you didn't look like William Zabka then you got tormented by the ones that did.


William Zabka?! Even in 1987 and 1988?

Yeah, the Gen X teens during the Reagan era were rough. If you didn't look like William Zabka then you got tormented by the ones that did.


I got into fights cause Me And My Brother were wusses.

Other things to hate about being a teen in the 1980s:

- Gangs in school
- Weapons in school
- Slambooks

Bart Simpson posters were first sold in the early 90s.

You didn’t have any movie posters, band posters, car posters, or skateboard and surfer  brand posters in your room?

William Zabka?! Even in 1987 and 1988?


I did have some movie and film posters some I cut out from the newspaper and taped them to my wall.

I did have some movie and film posters some I cut out from the newspaper and taped them to my wall.


I went to the poster store in the mall for my stuff. To this day, I’m blown away by Garfield, Betty Boop, and Jessica Rabbit.

I voted no, as I loved being an 80s "kid". I became a teenager at 13 in 1989 though. I started high school in 1987 and absolutely loved it.

I voted no, as I loved being an 80s "kid". I became a teenager at 13 in 1989 though. I started high school in 1987 and absolutely loved it.


You started high school as an 11 year old? Are you gifted?

You started high school as an 11 year old? Are you gifted?



Arggghh not this again lol. The UK has a different school age system. Primary is 6 - 10 yrs old and secondary is 11-17 yrs old.
The age system has since changed since I went to school and that too confuses me.

Other things to hate about being a teen in the 1980s:

- Gangs in school
- Weapons in school
- Slambooks


Surely this must've only been in inner city schools? I know some movies portray school life like this, but was that generally the case nationwide?

Surely this must've only been in inner city schools? I know some movies portray school life like this, but was that generally the case nationwide?


Mostly inner city schools.