Carolyn
my friends and I call them the "grasshopper generation" (based on the ant and the grasshopper story)
of course we are evil "gen X" ppl
oh well
It began with the drug culture which broke down inibitions and allowed people to do things they never thought possible. It was the "instant generation" - they wanted EVERYTHING - NOW! They had instant entertainment [TV] - they had instand food [TV dinners].
There were leaders telling young people to take drugs - you forget all your problems. The real problem was - when the young people woke up - the problems were still there - and they were still unequiped to deal with them.
It was "free love" - and all that sort of rot. To me - the real problem was that the parents of these young people DIDN'T STAND UP AND TAKE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION .. having been raised to believe that if they quelled their little darling's expressions - they would stunt the kids mind. Looks like a whole bunch of mind stunting would have perhaps solved that situation.
I'm so glad I was not a part of that generation .. but my sons were influenced by it and one of them is still struggling with it.
That song was almost past the fact wasn't it? Early 70's I think. Anyway, it was common knowledge with my previous generation that it was Ed Sullivan's fault for bringing the Beatles over here! : )
"Let's Spend The Night Together" didn't help things either!
That song always made me alternately angry and sad. It reminded me of past failed partners who could not control themselves and found out, rapidly, the limits of my tolerance (e.g. zero).