Vehicles are exponential better. Electronic anything is not even a debate. Medicine, ditto. Travel, same. Guns, it's hit or miss. What many don't remember is the firearms industry has always cranked out a fair amount of junk. It just didn't last and we forgot about it or never knew of it in the first place. Very few are waxing nostalgic about hundred year old Mossbergs or Iver Johnsons. And I will say as a plastic model builder (my other vice) the stuff today is beyond anything imaginable even thirty years ago, and yes most of it is coming from China. 3D technology is amazing.
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New vs. Old
- Thread starter lihpster
- Start date
BLACKHAWKNJ
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
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I wouldn't say Mossbergs or Iver Johnsons are junk, granted they have no cachet, I don't think Iver Johnsons were ever seen at Camp Perry or in the hands of champion shooters, but tucked into the pocket of a doctor making house calls on a dark night, a storekeeper locking up for the evening....
My experience with overreliance on electronics is it leads to an erosion of skill and people get too dependent on them, and they assume that the manufacturer and the programmer did their jobs properly. When I worked for the limo company the better drivers complained that the cars were always beeping and chirping at them. Someone asked me about spell checkers, I replied in "my" day-the 1960s, not the 1860s, the dictionary was the spell checker, not only did it show you the correct spelling but you could see if you were using the word correctly.
My experience with overreliance on electronics is it leads to an erosion of skill and people get too dependent on them, and they assume that the manufacturer and the programmer did their jobs properly. When I worked for the limo company the better drivers complained that the cars were always beeping and chirping at them. Someone asked me about spell checkers, I replied in "my" day-the 1960s, not the 1860s, the dictionary was the spell checker, not only did it show you the correct spelling but you could see if you were using the word correctly.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
It also made one hellava spitball shooter and if you really wanted to get evil get some cotton and straight pins for a wicked blow gun into the back of the nerd sitting in font of you.
Caj, I see now why Bluto is your avatar…
And he's a suit...scuse me...a lawyer....isn't that what Bluto became.....or a Senator
I know a lot of things are now better than before, especially in efficiency of automobile engines, but I still miss my 1942 Packard convertible, my 1940 Packard 4-door sedan, and my scorching '56 Studebaker-Packard Hawk. Not fuel savers, but style you don't see nowadays.
CCantu357
Member
To me, new vs old depends on the product. I love old cars, but new cars do seem to last longer. However, when they do have problems they are harder to work on. Older guns were very well made, but often had issues with reliability and feeding. New guns are might not be as pretty, but tend to run better and are easier to work on - less fitting I suppose. The Internet, phones, and other electronics are simply just better now.
On the other hand, I find that some things have declined over the years. Clothes, especially Levi and Wrangler jeans, seem to be less durable now. Inexpensive bourbon and other whiskey seems to be younger and of a lesser proof then in years before. Appliances seem to have more features but tend to not last as long and have more issues than older models. Just my observation, yours may vary!
On the other hand, I find that some things have declined over the years. Clothes, especially Levi and Wrangler jeans, seem to be less durable now. Inexpensive bourbon and other whiskey seems to be younger and of a lesser proof then in years before. Appliances seem to have more features but tend to not last as long and have more issues than older models. Just my observation, yours may vary!
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Lot of improvements across the board
In my youth I thought I would always need heavy thick glasses
I haven't worn any since 1990, I am 73 and can read the paper or a road sign and spot a deer over 500 yds away
In my youth I thought I would always need heavy thick glasses
I haven't worn any since 1990, I am 73 and can read the paper or a road sign and spot a deer over 500 yds away
Alton
Member
The good ole days. My dad use to say when driving down the road when it was 100 degree's outside in South Texas, glad we have 480 AC in our station wagon. Which meant all four windows rolled down going 80 miles an hour. Always had to add air and oil at every fill up it seemed. Driveways always had oil stains on them.
F4phantom
US Veteran
These are the good old days. Think about it.
Water heaters in the 70's had no moving parts and could go 20 years, especially if you had a water softener.
Todays have an energy cut out for over temperature, electronic pilot confirmation or ignition, and can have a lot more. Frequently the electronics fail in the 5-7 year mark.
Furnaces in the 70's were rated at a generous 65%-70% efficient. You got a 30-40 year life. Since we began saving the planet we now get 84% or 90% efficiency. We now have a significantly shorter life span, largely due to cool spots in the heat exchanger and electronics. We are saving money each month, but costing more in the over all life span.
AC however, has been improved, IMO, by mini- splits.
Todays have an energy cut out for over temperature, electronic pilot confirmation or ignition, and can have a lot more. Frequently the electronics fail in the 5-7 year mark.
Furnaces in the 70's were rated at a generous 65%-70% efficient. You got a 30-40 year life. Since we began saving the planet we now get 84% or 90% efficiency. We now have a significantly shorter life span, largely due to cool spots in the heat exchanger and electronics. We are saving money each month, but costing more in the over all life span.
AC however, has been improved, IMO, by mini- splits.
