If someone from the 1950s suddenly appeared today, what would be the most difficult thing to explain

[boradis]

At least when it comes to Americans, it would be how wrong we were about how much. Vietnam, Watergate, civil rights, women's rights, gay /existence/ let alone rights ? each of those things blew this country's mind when they happened. But to be force-fed them all at once? Just the loss in faith in authority would be a major blow for anyone transported directly from that era.

Sure, the Internet's existence would be confusing, and its content would be equally overwhelming and appalling. But in a lot of ways it's like combining videophones with the telegraph. It's a new technology, rather than a revelation that much of what your society was based on was lies.

 

[Hazy]

"We have a wealth of information at our fingertips via this mystical voodoo magic called the internet. You can literally look up anything and get information on it.

We use this to look at pictures of cats and naked people."

 

[Il_Exile_lI]

how the world has basically been so pussified, you can pretty much guarantee as soon as they opened their mouth they would be done for political correctness. Try explaining political correctness and health and safety to someone from the 50s

Why are you acting like society now discouraging ignorance, close minded hatred, and exclusionary behavior is somehow a bad thing?

 

[Brotha Desmond]

How one of the political parties would let a country default on its debt just because they didn't get what they wanted.

 

[IndridCold13]

The moon is old news, we're focusing on mars now.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

how the world has basically been so pussified, you can pretty much guarantee as soon as they opened their mouth they would be done for political correctness. Try explaining political correctness and health and safety to someone from the 50s

Try explaining 'First World problems' - people who live a life of unbelievable and unprecedented luxury and convenience by 1950's standards but who still feel the need to ***** and complain about how 'shitty' their life is. I know the word 'entitled' is thrown about a lot these days, but I wouldn't blame anyone from the 50's for absolutely going to town on the current generation. In fact, I may even join in.

 

[DeltaEdge]

How people can sit in front of a dimly lit screen for hours on end, how black people and women are now equals, and supposed to be respected based upon their merits like adult white males, Why kids aren't allowed to be physically disciplined at school by teachers, and last but not least, In an age where near any piece information is nearly instantly accessible, and at most people's fingertips, how on earth do people almost never take advantage of it and remain so damn ignorant!?

 

[chadachada123]

I really don't think that the race or gender politics would be that difficult for a person from the 50's.

They may not agree with it, and they will likely still have huge prejudices even after spending years here, but I think that a person from the past would very well understand that the future's culture is going to be *extremely* different from their own.

As an example, Thomas Jefferson had a pretty good hunch that some generation down the line would eliminate slavery and extend at least some liberties towards black slaves.

No, I think that the ludicrously fast speed of communication and the availability of information is going to be the biggest problem for them. Communication in general, really.

Edit:

how the world has basically been so pussified, you can pretty much guarantee as soon as they opened their mouth they would be done for political correctness. Try explaining political correctness and health and safety to someone from the 50s

yeah this would be my first thought too.

People are simultaniously more crude, rude, and disgusting in general, while at the same time more whiny and easy to offend.

"We have a wealth of information at our fingertips via this mystical voodoo magic called the internet. You can literally look up anything and get information on it.

We use this to look at pictures of cats and naked people."

"We have the wealth of the worlds collected information, sciences, histories, and art at our fingertips. Yet the majority of the population is dumber than ever. Dont ask me how."

Holy shit. I never thought about it that way before. You are completely right. I added emphasis to the part that I'll be quoting from now on, but the whole post is spot on.

 

[Robot Number V]

how self centred people are would be the biggest thing

Seriously? Are you implying that self-centered-ness has only been around for the past 50 years or so?

OT: Honestly, I would just give him a laptop, help him through a few basic Google searches, and leave him alone for about a week. He'd probably get caught up pretty quickly. That, or he would discover porn and starve to death masturbating.

 

[Bruenin]

how self centred people are would be the biggest thing

Is this implying that people weren't self centered before? Or do you assume that a time traveler wouldn't know people very well? :/

OT:

The internet, it will blow his mind o.o that and changes to socially acceptable treatment and behavior.

 

[EHKOS]

A smartphone, rap music, and the current state of racism.

 

[DarklordKyo]

The current US president would be quite a shock to most I'd imagine...

All in all though I'd say computers and more specifically the internet, just because it had no natural precursor, which is quite unusual.
TVs are smaller cinemas, mobiles are better telephones, planes and cars and guns have got better, material science and medicine have improved. But those are incremental improvements rather than brand new things.
But the internet is a new concept entirely, with it's own norms, culture, and effects.

I guess a predecessor to the internet would be the library, since one of the intended main functions of the internet is research.

OT: I guess I'd teach the dude about computers, as well as the internet (and all the free porn you can find on it). I'd also talk about these new fangled VCR-like thingamajiggers we call DVD players and Blu Ray players.

 

[schrodinger]

Mobile phones.

That depends on who. If the 50's person was a WWII veteran they may have a bit better understanding how cell phones work since many soldiers were walking cell phones.

OT: Pretty much the internet and the instant receiving/sending of information. The sense of fashion might confuse them, especially why people's pants won't stay up. Although, that 50's person might have a fedora or 5, so they could finally show other how to properly wear a damn fedora!

edit:

captcha: Marry Me
Why Mr. captcha, this is just so sudden!

 

[Silverfox99]

I think the person would easily understand where the phone and internet came from and grasp that, what I think they would have a hard time with is why we haven't advanced more with technology. What held us back from doing more and creating more?

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

10 Things too Difficult to Explain to a 1950's American:

1. Lawsuits over trivial things
2. How some schools are removing footballs/baseballs from recess because someone "might get hurt"
3. Dubstep
4. People who listen to dubstep
5. Video Games in general
6. All forms of Metal music
7. Why we're not driving flying cars yet
8. The increasing lack of people with common sense
9. People with multiple divorces
10. The lack of Personal responsibility in society (no one is at fault for what they do)

I'm not even going to get into politics on this one.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Civil Rights are a thing.

People hate America now, despite generally having less problems then other countries.

The internet is a thing.

Medicine is now awesome, death rates have plummeted.

We've been to the Moon, have the capability but not the funding to put someone on Mars.

Communism still exists, but nobody gives a fuck anymore and China does all our manufacturing for us now.

South Korea is now stable and a technological powerhouse, North Korea is now a giant laughingstock.

Nobody really pays attention to Japan anymore.

Russia is now very capitalist and a kinda-ally to the US.

Radical Islamists are the new thing everyone is irrationally afraid of.

Politics are now more terrible then they've ever been before. Were you a Democrat? Congrats, you're a Democrat. Were you a Republican? Congrats, you're a Democrat. Were you batshit insane? Congrats, you're a Republican.

We now have these cool things called "video games", they're things people argue about for hours over on the aforementioned internet. As a cute parlor trick, you can also play them.