why do older generation people keep their friends?

[mrs. mike]

Hi fstmxr,

To say "things were just different back then" is an over-simplification, but that's kind of what it boils down to. I think part of it is because the "traditional family unit" was much more common than it is now, the divorce rate was much lower than it is now, and family members learned how to work through problems. Families had dinner together just about every night, talking about all kinds of things both good and bad, so children learned communication skills and problem-solving. Also, a lot of parents back then didn't put up with near as much "guff" from their kids as parents do today.

We didn't have all of today's communications technology so we actually talked face to face with our friends on just about a daily basis and learned how to develop true friendships, we treated each other with respect (for the most part). TV shows were much simpler with no profanity, no or little sexual references, no violence other than Wally lightly swatting Beaver on his arm.

All of those kinds of things brought people together in a more "pure" way than some things today. And so much of it was simple respect. It seems that today, society as a whole has "respect issues."

Excellent question - thanks for asking it.

Deb