patrick.net

That’s your yardstick for…?

People knew how to cook, clean, fix cars and appliances, do minor plumbing and electric. This was how they practiced fine motor skills, not playing fucking xbox or playstation.

"Get off my lawn!"

Don’t most people have roommates in their early 20’s? Seems like a red herring issue.

The price increases are real, though. Rent here was $800/mo in 2012 for a 2 br/ba. By 2020, the same unit was $2200/mo. Wages did not increase 3-fold over the same 8-yr period. Investment groups have been buying up even the crappiest trailer parks (with zero APR fed money), then renting above market for regular units. They make the difference with govt-assured money for sec 8 and immigrant housing.

Factor in $1000/mo for insurance if you’re not state or corporate employed. DEI hiring blockades for the wrong groups. Unusual increases in budget foods like soup, mac, and so on (because of EBT expansion). Repaying 80k college debt only to be elbowed out by phony degrees and nepotism in H1B. I do not envy kids starting out now.

Take this issue seriously, solve it, and Republicans win the youth vote for the foreseeable future. Dems offer nothing but lies (“affordable housing” while stuffing the country with 12M) and mea culpa for whites.

First job in SV was almost 80k (for 2000 a dream salary) and I had 5 roommates. We did go out a bit but meal delivery fuck no. Pansies!

Just put corporate tax rates back where they were in 1980 (46%) instead of the 21% they are today.

That'll drop stock prices 50-75%. Give the youth the same investment opportunities as the Boomers had.

Real estate prices would grenade as a result as, as well.

South Florida was a seasonal market. So Summer through Autumn rent was cheap. Many efficiencies, and one br apartments.
But yes, when I was in my 20's, every peer I knew had their own place. But we also didn't have to compete with third world foreigners imported by Soros and Democrats trying to replace us, and convince us that our $200+ a day tradesman job, was a job that we didn't really want and should give it to illegal invaders instead.
I was doing carpet, getting $2.25 a yard. The average job was 70 to 100 yards. I was done by 4:30 then went to happy hour and stayed until closing time. Got up and did it again the next day. Now I'm worthless the next day after only 4 beers the night before.

I remember LA. Cost of living was low, part time work afforded basics. There wasn’t horde of illegals on every job. People cared about America a lot more. Opportunities were everywhere. Now everything goes to illegals and overseas.

Want to run a business today and not hire illegals, you are at massive disadvantage. It’s stupid what everything became.

It’s opposite now from what it was. Costs are high, illegals everywhere, homelessness, and corruption skyrocketed, opportunities are not there.

Don't forget, Corporations are people now. Think about that.

FortWayne's gif here is pretty accurate.
https://patrick.net/post/1386345/2025-12-22-1970-to-2000

I remember a kid was hit by a car and died in school in the mid 80s. Homework as usual, brief mention on the PA in the morning, moment of silence, the rest of the day went as normal.

And of course the Challenger thing where we watched the Teacher blown up in real time. Still had homework. No Grief Counselors to be seen.

AmenCorner_AntiPanican says

FortWayne's gif here is pretty accurate.
https://patrick.net/post/1386345/2025-12-22-1970-to-2000

I remember a kid was hit by a car and died in school in the mid 80s. Homework as usual, brief mention on the PA in the morning, moment of silence, the rest of the day went as normal.

And of course the Challenger thing where we watched the Teacher blown up in real time. Still had homework. No Grief Counselors to be seen.

This is bullshit anyways, humans (and animals), and especially kids do not grief for people they didn't have any relationship with, it's way too abstract for them. This fake grief shit rose with social media where everything is fake, likes and prayers. Kids are actually among the most resilient beings on the planet, physically and psychologically.

stereotomy says

"Get off my lawn!"

LOLOL - perfect!

AmenCorner_AntiPanican says

FortWayne's gif here is pretty accurate.
https://patrick.net/post/1386345/2025-12-22-1970-to-2000

I remember a kid was hit by a car and died in school in the mid 80s. Homework as usual, brief mention on the PA in the morning, moment of silence, the rest of the day went as normal.

And of course the Challenger thing where we watched the Teacher blown up in real time. Still had homework. No Grief Counselors to be seen.

I watched a documentary recently and apparently they didn't blow up. Powers that be hid the fact that they actually died when they hit the water. They were alive I think 2 minutes after the explosion - or at least some of them. They were able to tell that they were taking action to try to save themselves when the part where the astronauts was discovered.

But that would have been much worse publicity apparently for the space program so they let the blew up and died instantly store stick around.

mell says

First job in SV was almost 80k (for 2000 a dream salary) and I had 5 roommates. We did go out a bit but meal delivery fuck no. Pansies!

Daymn... I was making 39,500 at that time but I was a lab rat and that doesn't pay well. Any time I see someone on the working in a lab I know they are broke.

I reached 80 in 2006, 100 in 2007 but I'd been out of the lab since 2000 by then. Technically mid-December 1999 I made it to 45K getting my 1st bioinformatics role but most of 1999 I was sub-40K.

I had a shitty studio though in Redwood City for 850/month by then. I'd had it with room mates so it was worth it to me.

I still make 95% of my meals these days. Not for the $ anymore but for the health. I ate a seafood platter in Baton Rouge a few days ago and asked for tartar sauce. They brought me little single service sealed plastic containers of soybean oil crap so I didn't use it.

Right, makes sense.

I don't think the shuttle had an abort system of any kind anyway. One of the many valid criticisms.

AmenCorner_AntiPanican says

If you show me rent living alone in a 1/2 bedroom on an entry-level job, shut the fuck up.

Hey, man, I lived in a studio apartment off of Moonlight Beach in Encinitas CA, right after school. No car, I bussed it down the coast to the Scripps Research Institute where I worked as a lab monkey, paid from the PI’s grant. Immunology research, fascinating stuff. I think I was making maybe $24,000/year. Rent was an astounding $500/month.

In the morning, when I was waiting for the bus, I loved that smell, the smell of FREEDOM.

My first job out of school ('99) I was making 58k which was "good money" back then. Rented a 2 bdrm place with a buddy. Had a crap ton of student loan debt which held me back, paid it down as fast as I could. Extra cash went to going in town to the clubs on Friday and/or Saturday nights.

Ended up "on my own" once I met my now wife a couple of years later.

As I recall heat was included in the rent, electric was cheap. We moved outside of the city to save $$$. I bought my first new car to look "professional". There was no door dash, Internet was still mostly dial up, cell phones were like $20/month, basic cable was under $100/month, although we splurged on HBO because... The Sopranos which was much watch TV.

Simplier times. I miss them.

In either '03 or '04 I tried (and failed) to buy my first house. Ended up stumbling into this place back when it was solely a housing forum. Stuck around ever since.

Life isn't supposed to be all rainbows and lollipops. Hard times build character. Persitance wins in the end.

Now I'm middle aged and am finally "comfortable" by most metrics, although I feel solidly middle class even if the HH income says otherwise.

I moved from rural Ohio to DC area, lived with 6 other guys in Law School. Quietest place ever. Took a job in a delicatessen until I could find a real job. Unlike today’s people that work menial labor I didn’t strike and expect to make a living wage at the deli. I got real good at chipping ham, however.