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The Genealogist

(4,739 posts)

15. Back in my day (hehe)

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Fri Feb 3, 2012, 01:31 AM

Feb 2012

Yes, it is going to be one of those "grumpy old man" rants. Back in my day, it wasn't a trip to the park unless you, someone you were with, or some random kid--SOMEONE--got hurt. Some kid jumped out of the swing when it was too high, and knocked the wind out of him or herself. Or someone climbing on wooden equipment got a big splinter, swallowed some sand, got burned on the scorching hot metal slide, or puked the rest of the day after one too many trips on those metal merry-go-round things you had to spin and risked getting caught under. Skinning your knee didn't really count as someone getting hurt unless they really took off some skin! I see the playground equipment in the park nowadays, and it doesn't look like it would be much fun for kids anymore. Lawsuits and concerned citizens, I guess, won.

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Highlight:

New Playgrounds Are Safe�and That's Why Nobody Uses Them [View all] The Straight Story Feb 2012 OP

I remember the swings Turbineguy Feb 2012 #1

Wow. Instant flashback. Jackpine Radical Feb 2012 #3

It is not a swing unless you can pump it up and see over the bar. Downwinder Feb 2012 #10

Nothing like a metal slide on a hot summer day--in shorts! TwilightGardener Feb 2012 #2

Especially in Florida. We left pieces of our ass seared on to those things. geomon666 Feb 2012 #8

my brother and I called those spinning things... Javaman Feb 2012 #35

Merry go rounds were my addiction LastLiberal in PalmSprings Feb 2012 #4

We had one just like that!! RandySF Feb 2012 #6

Those things were probably the most dangerous. trackfan Feb 2012 #11

And the nausea and vomiting! Gormy Cuss Feb 2012 #31

I remember the good old days. RandySF Feb 2012 #5

did u guys used to use wax paper on the really long metal slides? super zooming nt msongs Feb 2012 #7

yup :) /nt think Feb 2012 #9

We would slide gravel down the slide... cyberswede Feb 2012 #12

that's how my collarbone got broken when I was a kid! provis99 Feb 2012 #19

Ow! dmr Feb 2012 #21

no - damn.. now I wish I had nadine_mn Feb 2012 #23

Wow, that brings back a memory! nt Javaman Feb 2012 #37

Or maybe they are more interested in their Nintendos and Sony PSPs. progressoid Feb 2012 #13

I remember when my elementary school installed a new playground. white_wolf Feb 2012 #14

Back in my day (hehe) The Genealogist Feb 2012 #15

Your comment about getting sick remnided me of tire swings. white_wolf Feb 2012 #16

Oh yes, tire swings are fun! The Genealogist Feb 2012 #18

At our school, we had tractor tires, blueamy66 Feb 2012 #24

I still have scars. Lugnut Feb 2012 #22

It was a badge of honor... scars to point to that said you nadine_mn Feb 2012 #25

Everyone should be familiar with this clip: kentauros Feb 2012 #17

the big red rockets were my favorite..... rppper Feb 2012 #20

In 4th grade, I broke my thumb on one of the old playgrounds. Zoeisright Feb 2012 #26

The parents encourage those interests ... surrealAmerican Feb 2012 #27

Ah, wax paper on a metal slide. Lots of fun until kid almost hung himself on it. Gone next day. nt Hoyt Feb 2012 #28

Can't agree completely - at least now they have soft surfaces Patiod Feb 2012 #29

When I was in grammar school in the 50s, MineralMan Feb 2012 #30

Not one person has mentioned the most significant difference hedgehog Feb 2012 #32

When my kids were younger, we lived in a very small rural town, and they walked to school TwilightGardener Feb 2012 #33

The key to preventing "stranger danger" is to have a number of adults hedgehog Feb 2012 #34

Although my sister and I walked to school from an early age when other kids were walking too Nikia Feb 2012 #38

When I was eight years old, in 1956 ....... oldhippie Feb 2012 #40

My favorite was old rusted monkey bars built over concrete which was... Javaman Feb 2012 #36

not always mimitabby Feb 2012 #39