Most everyone polled by Pew agrees: the Aughts sucked.
Really. If this decade was a guy in high school, he'd be one lonely fella. If this decade was an athlete, he'd be the last picked for the team. (Seriously — every other decade on which a poll has been taken has been well liked by a majority of respondents, but the aughts? Two to one negative.) If this decade were a sunset, it'd be hidden behind dark, ominous clouds. If this decade were a car, it'd be in the shop.
But Pew went on to ask a couple of really interesting questions. What good came out of this decade? Cellphones were the top contender, followed by — drumroll, please — green products.
Pew also asked a brilliant question: What word would you use to characterize the aughts?
The top choice was "downhill."
Reasonable, but I prefer Alex Ross's description: ghastly.
Thank God it's almost over.
Kit Stolz 