# Things you remember from your childhood that would be ABSOLUTELY UNTHINKABLE today

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-remember-from-your-childhood-that-would-be-absolutely-unthinkable-today/492561>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 9, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-remember-from-your-childhood-that-would-be-absolutely-unthinkable-today/492561 "2009-04-09T21:05:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 20

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-remember-from-your-childhood-that-would-be-absolutely-unthinkable-today/492561/381 "2009-07-04T23:25:37Z")

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> [@alphaboi867](#):
>
> After turning 18 boys also got free check-ups from Uncle Sam at the local draft board. According to my father this involved being hearded around buck naked like cattle from station to station (inlcuding things like eye exams and the physiatrist) for a day.

Yes, I experienced that in 1970. My draft number was 24. But I really did have asthma, and luckily I had an attack in front of the doctor.

> [@zenith](#):
>
> And speaking of beer at the grocery store, how many states are like Nebraska and Iowa in that teen clerks can’t ring it up? The teens have to call for a “Code 18” or simply an “18” and get an adult over to ring the beer.

It’s 21 in Illinois. But I remember occasions where the young clerk would have the person purchasing the bοoze ring it up!

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**Author:** ![NoRadar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/41988e/32.png) [@NoRadar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoRadar)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-remember-from-your-childhood-that-would-be-absolutely-unthinkable-today/492561/382 "2009-07-06T04:30:51Z")

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I just read this thread – all 8 pages! – and what a trip down memory lane from a lot of these posts. Got a few to add:

I remember a field trip to Teddy Roosevelt’s home, in elementary school. **On bicycles!** There were probably 50 kids and a couple of teachers, and the ride was probably a good ten miles.

Every summer I was sent to Europe, to see my father. My first solo trip was when I was 7. Back then (mid-60s) there was no airport security. None.

We had a huge swimming pool. It was not fenced in. Neither was the property. As a matter of fact, nobody’s property was fenced in.

I remember we used to have a huge Christmas tree each year, lit with actual candles (a European tradition).

In jr. high, kids used to call in bomb threats (sometimes a couple a day) to get out of taking tests.

And then, just last night, as my daughter and I were frying up some bacon, I mentioned to her that growing up we used to eat raw bacon sandwiches all the time. They were yummy! And Steak Tartare (raw hamburger meat, raw egg, and spices smoooshed together, then spread on toast).

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