The 1960s marked a completely different era in human history — a time when many everyday actions that people considered normal would shock modern society. Looking back at these behaviors shows just how much laws, safety standards, and social norms have evolved over the past 60 years.
Many common activities from that decade would result in serious legal consequences today, from driving practices to workplace behavior. These changes reflect society’s growing awareness of health risks, personal boundaries, and the need to protect vulnerable groups.
Smoking in Hospitals
Doctors and visitors freely smoked cigarettes in hospital rooms, even around oxygen tanks and sick patients. Medical staff often kept ashtrays on their desks and in patient rooms. Smoking was so normalized in healthcare settings that some doctors even recommended certain cigarette brands to their patients. Hospital gift shops commonly sold tobacco products right next to magazines and snacks.
Driving Kids in the Trunk
Parents regularly transported children in the back of station wagons and pickup trucks without any restraints. Kids would bounce around in the cargo area during road trips, completely exposed to potential accidents. During summer, groups of children would ride in open truck beds on highways. Parents considered this normal entertainment rather than a dangerous activity.
Dumping Used Motor Oil in Backyards
People routinely poured used car oil directly into their gardens or down storm drains after oil changes. This practice was considered a normal way to dispose of automotive fluids. Some even believed the oil would help control dust or kill weeds. Nobody thought about the long-term environmental impact or groundwater contamination.
Leaving Young Children Home Alone All Day
Parents commonly left children as young as five or six at home while they went to work. These “latchkey kids” would spend entire days unsupervised, often caring for younger siblings. Neighbors kept an informal watch but rarely intervened unless there was obvious trouble. Children had house keys tied around their necks with string or shoelaces.
Drinking and Driving Openly
People casually drove while drinking alcohol, often with open containers in their cup holders. Police rarely enforced drunk driving laws unless someone was obviously impaired. Some bars even had special parking lot designs to help intoxicated drivers leave more easily. Party hosts would encourage guests to have “one for the road.”
Burning Trash in Residential Areas
Families regularly burned household garbage in backyard metal drums or pits. This included plastics, packaging, and other toxic materials that released harmful chemicals. People would add fresh trash throughout the day, keeping the fires burning constantly. The smoke would drift through entire neighborhoods without complaint.
Physical Discipline in Schools
Teachers and administrators freely used physical punishment on students, including hitting with rulers and paddles. This discipline happened in front of other students as a deterrent. Parents often encouraged schools to use corporal punishment and signed permission slips authorizing it. Some schools kept special paddles with holes drilled in them to increase the impact.
Children Working Heavy Machinery
Kids regularly operated dangerous farm equipment, power tools, and industrial machinery. Parents viewed this as valuable work experience and a way to teach responsibility. Children as young as ten would drive tractors, operate sawmills, and use powerful cutting tools. Many families depended on child labor for their farming operations.
Racial Discrimination in Business
Store owners and service providers openly refused to serve people based on their race. Businesses displayed discriminatory signs and enforced segregated facilities without legal consequences. Housing developments had explicit racial restrictions in their contracts. Banks openly practiced discriminatory lending.
Abandoning Old Cars in Nature
People regularly dumped unwanted vehicles in woods, fields, and waterways. This practice was seen as a convenient way to dispose of non-running cars. Some areas had informal car graveyards where multiple families abandoned their vehicles. Nobody considered the environmental impact of leaking fluids and rusting metal.
Medical Procedures Without Consent
Doctors performed surgeries and procedures without fully informing patients or getting proper consent. Medical professionals often made decisions without explaining options or risks to patients. Experimental treatments were tried on unknowing subjects. People trusted doctors completely and rarely questioned their decisions.
Dangerous Construction Practices
Construction workers performed high-risk tasks without any safety equipment or protocols. Workers walked on high beams without harnesses, handled asbestos without protection, and used dangerous tools without guards. Companies rarely provided safety training or protective equipment. Injuries were considered a normal part of the job.
Animal Cruelty as Entertainment
People organized animal fights and other cruel spectacles as public entertainment. Children were encouraged to watch and participate in these events. Abuse of pets and livestock was rarely reported or punished. Animals had virtually no legal protections against mistreatment.
Medication Sharing Among Neighbors
People freely shared prescription medications with friends and neighbors who had similar symptoms. This included powerful painkillers, antibiotics, and mood-altering drugs. Neighbors kept “community medicine cabinets” where they stored shared medications. Nobody questioned the safety or legality of this practice.
Public Harassment of Women
Men routinely followed women down streets and touched them without permission in public spaces. Construction workers leaned off scaffolding to shout vulgar comments at female pedestrians. Supervisors demanded sexual favors from female employees as part of their job requirements. Business leaders actively blocked women from filing complaints about harassment and often fired those who spoke up against inappropriate behavior.
15 Sleep Mistakes Sabotaging Your Health After 50
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