Favorite Decade of the 20th/21st Century

[TNF]

I never understood the love affair with the 1960s. I mean I understand the sympathy for the civil rights struggle, but that began in the 1950s and most of the big battles on that front were in the supposedly ultra-conservative 1950s (which also had the most strikes up to that period, I should note). For reformist liberals and social democrats, liking the 60s is kind of baffling given that their entire project began to unravel in this period as it was challenged by the revolutionary left in most of the industrialized world, in both the western nations (the anti-Vietnam war movement) and the eastern bloc (Prague Spring, etc). By the end of the decade the consensus that had sustained the past three decades or so of liberal reformism/social democracy had collapsed.

That said, I think both the 1930s and the 1970s are far more interesting than the 1960s for a number of reasons. Both were periods of massive labor unrest (doesn't the line go that for the working class the '60s happened in the '70s?) and both saw the building of powerful workers' organizations that called the bluff of their employers and engaged in really militant actions. Unfortunately both were defeated, but they produced a lot in the way of a public culture of militancy.

I also obviously have a soft spot for the 1910s, especially the latter part of the decade following the Russian Revolution and extending into the early part of the 1920s, when it seemed that the whole world was about to be turned upside down and the promise of socialism seemed nearer than ever. It's rather unfortunate how it ended up turning out.

And of course, part of me really likes the 1980s, mostly because of the aesthetic of the time and the music, the latter having been basically all I listened to growing up, because my parents were teenagers in the 1980s. I also can't forget my own teenage years, the 2000s, which were fun in their own way. This decade has thus far produced only one really phenomenal year (2011), although 2013 wasn't bad. Hopefully it ends up better than it started, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

[Sol]

1970s is most interesting to me.

[© tweed]

"the popular movements of the 1960s civilized American society" - Noam Chomsky

[OSR stands with Israel]

Top 4

1. 1990s( Best economy ever, tech boom, no war, NBA at its peak , amazing movies, everything else good)
2. 1980s( Hollywood at peak, NBA amazing, Great times to be optimistic,)
3. 1950s( Amazing economy, Civil Rights Movement)
4. 2000s( Many tech inventions, actually grew up in this era)

Worst 4

1. 1930s(Great Depression)
2. 1910s( Great War, Revoultions happeninng everywhere, freedoms curtailed)
3. 1970s(Inflation, Horrid Economy,  No Optimism)
4. 1960s( Vietnam, Hippies,Tragic Assassinations, and nothing other then Civil rights going well)

[Хahar 🤔]

Top 4

1. 1990s( NBA at its peak)

what

[Boris]

Top 4

1. 1990s( NBA at its peak)

what

I hope someday some kid born in 2014 tells you how horrible the 2010s were for baseball.

[bedstuy]

Top 4

1. 1990s( NBA at its peak)

what

The best basketball player ever was playing.  Along with Olajuwon, Shaq, Barkley, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson.  Certainly the best decade for center I guess. 

On the other hand, it was dominated by the Bulls and characterized by low-scoring defensive basketball which can be boring.  It sort of depends whether you like pace and offense or hand-checking and defense.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Top 4

1. 1990s( NBA at its peak)

what

The best basketball player ever was playing.  Along with Olajuwon, Shaq, Barkley, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson.  Certainly the best decade for center I guess.  

On the other hand, it was dominated by the Bulls and characterized by low-scoring defensive basketball which can be boring.  It sort of depends whether you like pace and offense or hand-checking and defense.

As a Blazer fan I thought they were going to win it all before Wes injury and it would wrap up this season being my favorite ever

[RosettaStoned]

  The 1990s, followed very closely by the 1980s.

[Antonio the Sixth]

"the popular movements of the 1960s civilized American society" - Noam Chomsky

That moment when I agree with both Noam Chomsly and Tweed.