Born in the 1970s: Unveiling Dusty Memories

Author: Yang Mei, Huang Rong, Xiao Yue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features:
Everyday busy work almost makes us forget the meaning of time. Day and night, under the shade of the OFFICE curtain wall, become a fleeting scenery; spring, summer, autumn, and winter, in the alternation of air conditioning, have long lost their original significance. It seems that we have been chasing after a goal. It seems that we have been constantly losing memories that should have been cherished. I am very grateful to my good friend for sending this gift during this hot summer. It is a memory belonging to a generation, or perhaps something worth sharing with a generation. It makes us feel that the corner in our hearts, which we thought had been forgotten, is still warm and humid.
People born in the 1970s are a group that has now become, or is becoming, or will become the backbone of this society. Compared to their older siblings from the 1960s, they are more sensitive to new things. Compared to their younger siblings from the 1980s, they carry more distinct marks of Chinese tradition. Their childhood was also turbulent, but that turbulence was more blurred and not deeply engraved. Their youth, though not materially wealthy, was not separated by security gates in high-rise buildings and was filled with the joy of collective games. Although this joy seems to contain very little high-tech content today, it still radiates warmth and reality with intertwined hands and feet. Their youth was filled with too many shocks. This shock was not only the baptism of foreign culture when the country's doors began to open, but more so from within themselves. Their eyes, ears, and gradually fuller bodies endured a series of pains and joys as the ancient nation regained its youthful glow. They had to work hard to adapt to and accept too many new things. As their minds grew, the winds of time swept them to the peaks and plunged them into the valleys. And now, the goals that most of us pursue have quietly and stubbornly taken root in our hearts at that time. This goal might come from a movie, a TV series, a pop song, or even a novel.
People born in the 1970s had not experienced the internet during their growth. Therefore, relatively speaking, their world is simpler: Although their horizons are not yet broad, they are also free from the mix of good and bad, the genuine and the fake. As a result, their memories are relatively monochromatic but still warm as before. This kind of memory may not be enough to outline the growth of an era, but it is the track of a generation's spiritual growth. This track is especially worth reminiscing and recalling in today's chaotic era.
Foreword by Lin Hai
The term "born in the 1970s" is gradually becoming a concept and a label for a generation. In the online world, discussions about "born in the 1970s," as well as the works of netizens, have drawn more attention to this hot topic. On the Blog China website (www.bokee.com), the special topic "The Great Debate on '70s People'" has inspired countless "born in the 1970s" individuals to reminisce about the classic memories that once moved them. The authors of this book hope that I can talk about the characteristics of "born in the 1970s" in my eyes. I believe that there are no simple words to summarize this entire decade-spanning generation. I can only say that the experiences of 70s people are special, and their fortunes are fortunate.
The experiences of 70s people are special. In their childhood, they experienced some material scarcity and felt the social spirit that prioritized faith and ideals. However, when they became adults, they caught the booming period of social development and accepted more material and realistic values. Thus, they are different from the 1960s, when people drank and talked about life, and the 1980s, when people discussed fashion and sensuality. They lack the perseverance of the 1960s and the carefree attitude of the 1980s.
The fortunes of 70s people are fortunate. As the operator of Blog China, I have many friends born in the 1970s. In terms of the internet industry, which I am most familiar with, both 70s and 60s people seized the opportunities and stage of the internet. The era created a group of 70s internet elites. They seized the chance of the imbalance between talent supply and social development, bridged the gap between age and experience, and, together with the 60s people, grasped the opportunities of the era's development.
I was born in 1969. My childhood was in the 1970s, and my youth was in the 1980s. I have many memories similar to those of people born in the early to mid-1970s. When I was a child, I used to run to play marbles and collect picture cards with my friends after school. I also used to secretly save money to borrow the comic books I liked from book stalls. I would sit on a small stool in my neighbor's house to watch TV. In my youth, I also loved listening to "Childhood" and "Love Song 1990," I was once obsessed with Little Tigers and Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and I sang "Never Give Up Youth" with great enthusiasm. All of this is deeply buried in my memory. When I casually open this book, I find the shadows of the past, and the long-forgotten memories are once again reawakened. That innocent and carefree childhood, that passionate youth, that unrestrained youth, make me rediscover the long-lost emotions.