Dec 10

Grew up in the 70’s and Rode a Bike without a Helmet

This video on X/Twitter describes the things kids who grew up in the 70 learned (and how they were psychologically enhanced).

Here are the main points:

  1. Self-Directed Problem Solving – 70s kids learned to create their own purpose and entertainment, strengthening creativity and executive function.
  2. Adaptive Risk Calibration – Regular exposure to physical risk trained better danger assessment and reduced adult anxiety.
  3. Comfort with Solitude – Time alone without screens built emotional stability and tolerance for boredom.
  4. Analog Patience – Waiting for shows, photos, phone calls, and results built impulse control and delayed gratification.
  5. Unsupervised Autonomy – Freedom to roam without tracking developed internal motivation, judgment, and responsibility.
  6. Lasting Adult Traits – Calm in crisis, independence, discipline, comfort with silence, and critical thinking.
  7. Cultural Contrast – These traits are framed as increasingly rare in the digital, highly supervised modern childhood.
  8. Overall Claim – 1970s childhood formed psychologically resilient adults during a unique historical “window.”

Here is a narrative synopsis:

The passage argues that children who grew up in the 1970s developed rare psychological strengths due to an unusual mix of freedom, responsibility, and unsupervised play. With little structured scheduling, kids learned self-directed problem solving, creativity, and independence by inventing their own activities. Regular exposure to physical risk—without constant adult intervention—trained their brains to assess real danger, resulting in lower adult anxiety and stronger crisis management.

Pre-digital solitude also shaped emotional resilience. Without constant stimulation, 70s kids learned to tolerate boredom and became comfortable being alone with their thoughts. Their analog world required patience: waiting for weekly TV shows, developed photos, and phone calls trained impulse control and delayed gratification. Finally, broad freedom of movement built internal motivation and decision-making skills.

The author concludes that these traits—independence, calmness, patience, depth, and competence—are fading in modern culture. Rather than being outdated, 70s kids are portrayed as carrying forward psychological strengths shaped by a uniquely formative era of childhood.