Keller @ Large: Comparing Blizzard Of 2015 To Blizzard of '78

BOSTON (CBS) - Was the Blizzard of 2015 anything like the legendary Blizzard of '78?

Maybe, in terms of accumulation. But as someone who lived through that famous storm I can tell you there are more differences than similarities.

Check: Blizzard Snow Totals

For starters, even though we had advance warning of the big one back then, media wasn't nearly as pervasive. Hundreds of drivers got caught out on the roads in '78.

That one hit during the afternoon rush, and this had a nighttime start. But you had to be living in a snow cave not to know all about this latest storm, thanks in part to social media.

Back in '78, something like #snowpocalypse would have been viewed as an item off a diner menu.

Another difference - these days it seems the public is more compliant with the orders of state officials, like the once-rare travel bans laid down by first Gov. Patrick two years ago and again by Gov. Baker. In '78 there was widespread defiance of Gov. Dukakis's order to companies to let their night shift workers go early as the blizzard rolled in.

We've gotten more used to accepting government mandates since 9/11.

Back in '78 the Blizzard brought people together, neighbor helping neighbor, strangers looking out for each other. This time around, it's much easier to just retreat into your electronic cocoon.

Read: Digging Out Safety Tips

And one more major difference - in 1978, when the snow melted and summer came, you knew the Red Sox would find a way to blow it. Nowadays, they're just as likely to win it all again.

Now that's what I call positive progress!

Listen to Jon's commentary:

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