Would you have survived 200 years ago?

Zerodette

basically I just think it's odd that so many people too something like a topic on survival prior to modern conveniences and took it to a level of racism, slavery, and not having medications for their depression, which is a common 'first world' problem.

Honestly, it is only odd for you because you wouldn't have to think about things like racism and slavery and you take that for granted. I mentioned before, the first question I always ask when this hypothetical comes up is "Would I still be black?" and it has made people think-- wait, the olden days weren't so great, for reasons beyond missing modern medicine and conveniences. And if whimsical hypothetical questions sometimes make you think about more serious things, that's okay.

TheVirgoddess

yes! im a farm girl and love being outside!

Well I'd be a slave, so the above wouldn't be quite so whimsical as it sounds. If the topic of going back in time comes up in conversation, the first thing I ask is "Would I still be Black?"

If I retained my skills/knowledge as a physician, I might get to be a midwife or house slave. Lucky me!

why would you have to be in America though?

People of color were treated like crap all over back in those days.

People of color are still treated like crap all over... including in America.

First of all, which color? Brown, as in Latino? They're doing pretty well in South and Central America and the Iberian peninsula. Yellow, as in Oriental? They're doing pretty well in Asia.
Black? Then.... as of today,
Where is this all over of which you speak? South Africa, yes. Portions of the United States, yes. The majority of Africa, no.

Every race and ethnicity gets treated like crap somewhere. Not everywhere, but "all over" as in many different places. As you point out, there are places where certain races or ethnicities are not treated like crap. I'm not going to go into so much detail as to make you a map for each race and each ethnicity with every village or region where they are treated like crap. Broadly speaking, they are. You can disagree if you wish, and I support free speech so that is alright, but I'm not going to spend time arguing with you.

PS: You forgot native peoples, for example: American Indians and Eskimos... I'm not sure there is any place this group is thriving, even on reservations.

thiisook a strange turn....

basically I just think it's odd that so many people too something like a topic on survival prior to modern conveniences and took it to a level of racism, slavery, and not having medications for their depression, which is a common 'first world' problem.

I think it's weird not to. It's reality. My first thought when I read the question was "I'd hate being treated as a second class citizen. I'd probably be a prostitute". Why is considering how poorly people of your race/color were treated any different?

mccindy72

yes! im a farm girl and love being outside!

Well I'd be a slave, so the above wouldn't be quite so whimsical as it sounds. If the topic of going back in time comes up in conversation, the first thing I ask is "Would I still be Black?"

If I retained my skills/knowledge as a physician, I might get to be a midwife or house slave. Lucky me!

why would you have to be in America though?

People of color were treated like crap all over back in those days.

People of color are still treated like crap all over... including in America.

First of all, which color? Brown, as in Latino? They're doing pretty well in South and Central America and the Iberian peninsula. Yellow, as in Oriental? They're doing pretty well in Asia.
Black? Then.... as of today,
Where is this all over of which you speak? South Africa, yes. Portions of the United States, yes. The majority of Africa, no.

Every race and ethnicity gets treated like crap somewhere. Not everywhere, but "all over" as in many different places. As you point out, there are places where certain races or ethnicities are not treated like crap. I'm not going to go into so much detail as to make you a map for each race and each ethnicity with every village or region where they are treated like crap. Broadly speaking, they are. You can disagree if you wish, and I support free speech so that is alright, but I'm not going to spend time arguing with you.

PS: You forgot native peoples, for example: American Indians and Eskimos... I'm not sure there is any place this group is thriving, even on reservations.

thiisook a strange turn....

basically I just think it's odd that so many people too something like a topic on survival prior to modern conveniences and took it to a level of racism, slavery, and not having medications for their depression, which is a common 'first world' problem.

I think it's weird not to. It's reality. My first thought when I read the question was "I'd hate being treated as a second class citizen. I'd probably be a prostitute". Why is considering how poorly people of your race/color were treated any different?

Maybe it's just odd the two sides of how people think - about half the people answered based on survival abilities, while the other half zeroed in on societal issues only,

earlnabby

There are really two ways people are looking at this question: would you have survived if you had been born 200 years ago vs, would you survive if you were sent back 200 years. The OP was referring to being sent back 200 years (methinks someone has been watching "Outlander").

I am pretty sure I would have survived if I had been born 200 years ago. I come from hearty stock with very few childhood deaths. In fact, among my direct ancestors only two died before their 70's and one was an accident (the other was TB). My birth was uneventful and I haven't had any serious health complications.

Surviving if I went back 200 years? Probably but it would mostly depend on where I was able to live. I have skills that would be in demand in a city like cooking and sewing. I am also well read and have taught so getting a job as a governess would be a possibility. I am too old to get work as a prostitute but I can pull a pint with the best of them so maybe a barmaid. If I ended up in the middle of nowhere, maybe. I have some experience with survival living but I don't know if I have enough to keep me going until I got to a city.

elprincipito

Hellz yea. I was born in Colombia. That's like tougher than being born in Sparta.
errmm...back in the 300 times