Nostalgia is not what it used to be -or is it?

I like the nostalgia threads.
I don’t post on them but I love reading about other peoples memories.

I have no problem with nostalgic threads - as an only child in the North East, it’s interesting to see what went on in other families, especially in different parts of the UK.
Unfortunately, without wanting to get maudlin, it seems as if many GNs don’t have much to look forward to and daren’t speculate on ‘the future’. We have GN’s with terminally ill loved ones, or suffering the same fate themselves. Many are finding themselves less active and not as alert with the passing years. None of us knows what lies ahead and I’m fairly fit, but for now, I’ll be more than happy to babysit DGS2 on Wednesday.

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No one not none…

I enjoy the Nostalgia threads, my parents and brother are dead and I have none to reminisce with, other than those here on GN.
MrOops had a very different upbringing than I did and he’s useless at reminiscing or even remembering.

How can you look forward when you literally don’t know what’s coming?

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Someone earlier said that the types of thread you mention are, apart from anything else, interesting from an historical perspective and I agree with that, as well of course by allowing us to think “oh yes I remember those”.

However I do feel it was rather unkind of you to infer that those who start those threads (and presumably also those who contribute) could be in the early stages of senility.

No harm in a little reminiscing as long as we still make the most of today.
Memories are part of the rich tapestry of life. Are these sort of memories any different to remembering holidays and events in the past ?
The clue to content of a thread is usually in the title so, we all have the choice to read it or not.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that phishers and hackers love all this nostalgic wandering as often people use favourite words as passwords and GN is public.

I agree that there has been a proliferation of such threads recently Maw and I find myself thinking ‘who cares?’ and scrolling past. I do enjoy an occasional dip into Past Times but on the whole I’d rather read stuff about the ‘here and now’. Good job we are all different I suppose. Life’s Rich Tapestry and all that.

Mind you there’s so many topics I don’t engage with due to my lifestyle choices - I don’t craft, have a garden, bake - fortunately I’m not estranged from family members, nor depressed. GN does have something for everyone though which is good.

Have you tried Capital Radio kitty - it's mainly contemporary. I switch off when the DJs get a bit too hyper!

I don't mind the odd reminiscence but I agree, Maw, that we should look forward.

Riverwalk, I feel the same way about listening to radio stations that play music from my youth. I enjoy lots of current music and wish I could find a somewhere to listen to both.

Don't mention Tesco's - reminds me of when I was 15 and stacked shelves there, being tortured by the music on a continuous loop and you'd hear the same songs about 20 times a day!

Have you seen the price of eggs in Tesco’s 😂

The term ‘nostalgia’ derives from the Greek words nostos (return) and algos (pain). The literal meaning of nostalgia, then, is the suffering evoked by the desire to return to one’s place of origin.
Well, that ain't me! (see above).

In these rather chaotic and uncertain times, occasionally it’s very comforting to hark back to simpler, more carefree times, when life seemed just that, with other (older) people to do all the worrying, planning, making decisions. As long as it doesn’t get to be too obsessive.

And the usual GN advice is if you don’t care for a particular thread, just pass it by. No one is forcing you to read it or comment.

I think they are popular threads because they are safe and sort of gentle. The word "share" has cropped up in several posts already. I don't care whether anyone is really listening to me, but I am happy to share my experiences because they are unique to me and my life has been a journey in every sense. I like listening to others' memories too, in the big picture some are 20 years apart from mine and are interesting.
I agree with NotSpaghetti that threads are self perpetuating.

Interesting Maw - I feel the same way, just as I do when posters say they listen to radio stations that play 60s/70s music.

Not that I don't reminisce about past times or enjoy the odd old record here and there, but for some reason I get a feeling of 'dread' with too much nostalgia.

I wish I could stop thinks my if the past but memories come in incident and dreams are the uncontrollable. I do get up every day with a purpose in mind and usually fulfilled it.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I love a trip down memory lane. Sharing memories with folks of a similar era validates my past and who I am now and it also gives me a warm feeling of days gone by and happy childhood memories and the people who meant so much and are no longer here.

Maw - I think the reason there's a spate of this is because ONE thread asked such a question and it brought up other thoughts and just snowballed.

If someone asked "how do you get rid of slugs?" and someone said something about drowning them in Newcastle Brown, the next thread would be "Newcastle Brown or lager?" and then someone would ask "How old were you when you had your first secret drink?" Before we know it we are on 1st dates, makeup (worn to 1st date), Films (seen at first date), Sweets of our youth (such as eaten instead of popcorn on first date) and so on into perfume and hairstyles....

Backwards looking threads inviting us to share our “first” or “earliest” are proliferating because each triggers the next.

I think it's because modern life seems so alien to us. Well to me anyway.

Maw you did make me laugh, and reminisce, I remember my mum and dad doing the first example you give, except it was cigarettes, sweets and the cinema

I think its not whether you talk about the past, but how you talk about it, and whether it's all you talk about or just as part of life including present and future..