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You hear this all the time, but do you think the average 13 year old boy that grew up in say the the 1950's was tougher than an average kid that age that grew up in the 1980's? Was the average kid that age in the 1980's tougher than the average kid that age now days?
Every generation seems to think the next up and coming generation is nothing but a bunch of pussies, but is there any truth to this? I can't speak for generations past mine, but as someone that grew up in the 80's and early 90's, I can say without a doubt that the average kid was in better physical shape before the gaming and information age. We played some Nintendo, and I do remember AOL, but most kids at least in the 1980's spent the majority of their time outside. Add to this that kids ate much better back then. Their was always a few fat kids in every classroom in school, but it wasn't like it is today where about a 3rd of the kids are soft.
Fighting and aggression was more acceptable back then too. You weren't as protected from bullies, and it was still somewhat acceptable for a male teacher or coach to tell you to stick up for yourself. You weren't as babied, and kids in general were given more responsibility, so I think kids were mentally a little tougher on average 30 years ago too.
Maybe this all could be countered with the fact that kids are slightly bigger these days. The kids that actually do engage in sports seem to be getting bigger faster, and stronger. I look at some of the times and marks at the HS state track meets, and they're more impressive. I see more kids that are soft, but I also see more kids that are jacked at a young age. I don't remember seeing too many 8th or 9th graders that could bench press 200lbs, but at my nephew's middle school, there are like 10 guys on the 200lb board. One of them is putting up 260lbs at 15 years old and my nephew says the kid is only like 170lbs. That's crazy.
So what do you think? Are kids on the AVERAGE getting weaker, or is it just a myth?
Every generation seems to think the next up and coming generation is nothing but a bunch of pussies, but is there any truth to this? I can't speak for generations past mine, but as someone that grew up in the 80's and early 90's, I can say without a doubt that the average kid was in better physical shape before the gaming and information age. We played some Nintendo, and I do remember AOL, but most kids at least in the 1980's spent the majority of their time outside. Add to this that kids ate much better back then. Their was always a few fat kids in every classroom in school, but it wasn't like it is today where about a 3rd of the kids are soft.
Fighting and aggression was more acceptable back then too. You weren't as protected from bullies, and it was still somewhat acceptable for a male teacher or coach to tell you to stick up for yourself. You weren't as babied, and kids in general were given more responsibility, so I think kids were mentally a little tougher on average 30 years ago too.
Maybe this all could be countered with the fact that kids are slightly bigger these days. The kids that actually do engage in sports seem to be getting bigger faster, and stronger. I look at some of the times and marks at the HS state track meets, and they're more impressive. I see more kids that are soft, but I also see more kids that are jacked at a young age. I don't remember seeing too many 8th or 9th graders that could bench press 200lbs, but at my nephew's middle school, there are like 10 guys on the 200lb board. One of them is putting up 260lbs at 15 years old and my nephew says the kid is only like 170lbs. That's crazy.
So what do you think? Are kids on the AVERAGE getting weaker, or is it just a myth?