Agreed the violence of the 80s was insane, especially in NYC. I was 10 the first time I was threatened with a gun, 12 the first time someone broke my bone in a beating (still visible 30 years later), 15 the second time I was beaten with a base-ball bat (20 years of chronic pain), 16 when I beaten by a group/gang. This doesn't even account the violence I saw perpetrated on others and things I forgotten. Violence was conspicuous and passerby's wouldn't even think of getting involved.

While I was nerdy, these things happened more because of differences of ethnicity than anything else.

When I left NYC I met someone who claimed that he had "never been punched" and I thought that was the craziest statement I had ever heard.

I am near two high schools in downtown Oakland and I have seen only 1 fight in the past 2 years. I think that today's kids are much less prone to violence even in the rougher neighborhoods and adults are much more likely to intervene.

Yeah, I can believe things are different since the 80's. Nerds seem to be much higher on the social totem pole now IMO. Also can I now say that I feel the the old guy going 'WELLLLL, back in MY day..." :-/