# Things we used to be allowed to do (in the last 60 years) that we aren't anymore. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 28, 2005, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285 "2005-10-28T05:57:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/1 "2005-10-28T05:57:27Z")
Regarding specific things: Drive over the Roosevelt Dam in Arizona. (Closed for safety puposes) Climb to the top of the Washington Monument via the stairs. (??? Elevator run now ???) Go to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (???) Calling someone a troll on the SDMB. (To avoid causing uneeded trouble/feeding real trolls) General things: Wait for people to come off the airplane right outside the airplane gate. (Pre-9/11) Have free love with most people. (Pre-AIDS) I realize that there were more STDs before AIDS that were still a problem back then, but things still seemed to be more lax then they are today. And regarding the 2nd and 3rd things, I only heard about those two, so I’m not sure if they’re all together true. I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong. Anyway, I’m sure there’s a million other things. What else were we, as people, allowed to do before (within the last 60 years) that we aren’t allowed to do anymore in various places, areas, rights, privleges, moments of life? ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/2 "2005-10-28T06:04:56Z")
GO to the torch of the Satue of Liberty? Oh, and before anyone says it, both students AND teachers can pray as much as they like, in school. They can pray their littles hearts out, for all I, or the law cares. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/3 "2005-10-28T06:17:40Z")
> [@Idle Thoughts](#): > > Wait for people to come off the airplane right outside the airplane gate. (Pre-9/11) How far back do you have to stand? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/4 "2005-10-28T06:20:31Z")
I remember a time, back in the mid 80’s during my first try at college in Louisiana, when you could smoke in class. They had ashtrays built into the desks. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/5 "2005-10-28T06:28:11Z")
Heh. My son had some friends over one afternoon this summer. One of the boys begged me to “tell the story!” time after time… about how, once upon a time, anyone could go to the cigarette machine with a buncha quarters and get a pack of cigarrettes. Then my ancient father has to chime in about, when he was a kid, he could take a quarter and ride his bike to the corner store and buy his dad a beer. 🙂 A kinda-big thing I miss, post 9/11: anyone used to be able to climb to the observation deck on the Barnett Reservoir. Nice days. those :). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/6 "2005-10-28T07:57:06Z")
Used to be a young kid could have fun sitting in the back of a station wagon (the waaaay back, ever play tailgunner?) and not have to worry about annoying things like seat belts. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/7 "2005-10-28T07:58:05Z")
I climbed to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in 1981. I mean up to the tippy top, the top of the wall that surrounds the roof. The chamber at the top is open to the sky but is surrounded by a round wall. I was wearing soft leather moccasins at the time, which were slippery to begin with on that smooth marble surface. When I got up there it began to rain, making it dangerously slippery, so I went barefoot to get a firmer footing. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/8 "2005-10-28T08:34:28Z")
[ul] [li]Carry a pocket knife on a commercial airplane.[/li][li]Tour the White House by getting in line. Now you need to make arrangements through your congressional rep.[/li][li]Go see two ballgames in one day in a double-header without leaving the park. Now you have to leave the park after the first game, and re-enter for game 2.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/9 "2005-10-28T08:45:39Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > How far back do you have to stand? Well, at most airports in the US (at least in the US, but possibly other places too) now, you have to wait before the security gate. You can’t go to the separate gates at all. Basically, you have to wait near the entrance of the airport, right before that scanner/securty thing you go through to get to all the airport gates. ---
**Author:** ![hildea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ebca7d/32.png) [@hildea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hildea)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/10 "2005-10-28T09:05:11Z")
In my country: Blatantly discriminate someone based on gender (probably race, sexual orientation and religion, too). Beat your children. In the aftermath of WWII: Sentence someone to death. No, I’m seldom nostalgic for the good old days, I like the present fine! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/11 "2005-10-28T09:11:56Z")
> [@Idle Thoughts](#): > > Go to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (???) Well… as you can see from [this picture](http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/5822/pisa6ws.jpg) I took on my hols last year, they’ve re-opened the Leaning Tower and visitors can go right to the top. 🙂 Things that are becoming harder to do in the UK: 1. play conkers in school 2. have your own Guy Fawkes night firework display 3. buy unpasteurised milk and cheese ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/12 "2005-10-28T10:16:07Z")
Clamber about on Stonehenge. I remember doing this as a kid, these days you are kept a fair distance away and can’t really get a feel for it. For anyone thinking of visiting, consider **[Avebury](http://www.stonepages.com/england/aveburyhi.html)** instead. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/13 "2005-10-28T10:25:45Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > [ul] > [li]Go see two ballgames in one day in a double-header without leaving the park. Now you have to leave the park after the first game, and re-enter for game 2.[/li][/ul] I hate the day/night doubleheader as much as anyone. Still, at least for some later season makeup games, they will still play an old fashioned double header. The White Sox played the Rangers in a twinight doubleheader this year. The Rangers were so far out of it, I guess the didn’t think they’d sell too many tickets in the blistering TX heat for a day game during the week. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/14 "2005-10-28T11:24:50Z")
Ride in the back of a pick-up truck. Climb the hill to the Hollywood sign. Let your pets run free. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/15 "2005-10-28T11:40:55Z")
You can’t drive across the Hoover Dam anymore. The road that runs across the top of the dam was permanently closed after 9/11. They’re building a bridge nearby to serve the traffic that used to drive over the dam. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/16 "2005-10-28T12:36:26Z")
Help a lost kid without worrying about being arrested. Film a casket of casualties of war in the USA. Fertilize your lawn. Have it rain without paying a tax on it. (There are towns that tax you for rain.) Prosecute financial institutions for usury. (The banks can charge whatever amount they want for interest and they don’t get prosecuted.) Drink alcohol at age 18. (Reagan fixed that and started the feds will cut your highway funding if you don’t do what I want bit.) People could retire before their mid seventies. You could get immunized for free and were. Most Americans could access basic health care. (Now you should just shut up and die quickly.)(This one is a bit personal, so I must say it.) People could pay a one time small fee at age 65 and fish and hunt until they died. That also included access to the state parks. It was easy to find a deserted stretch of highway. You could make products with raw eggs, because the chickens didn’t lay internally tainted eggs. (The eggs only had salmonella on the outer shell.) I could eat any part of a cow I wanted. The same goes for deer, moose, and elk. I could open that large air vent by my feet in a car and cool down without air-conditioning. I could buy household items without having to show identification period. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/17 "2005-10-28T12:43:37Z")
A senior citizen could buy alcohol without having to show ID. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/18 "2005-10-28T12:51:04Z")
> [@Harmonious Discord](#): > > Have it rain without paying a tax on it. (There are towns that tax you for rain.) Example, please? ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/19 "2005-10-28T12:58:17Z")
Do needlepoint on an airplane. Now you can’t have a needle, and you can’t have scissors on a plane. Why bother to fly anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285/20 "2005-10-28T13:21:35Z")
Open the Sears catalog, find a nice rifle or shotgun you wanted, send off a check and have it delivered to your door. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-used-to-be-allowed-to-do-in-the-last-60-years-that-we-arent-anymore/328285.md?page=2)