Yes, people from the 80s are smarter? How do I know, I was born in 1980. First hand experience FTW!
OT: It's not that people from any era are necessarily smarter, it's just how we perceive them. Between age, maturity, and overall life experiences, us old farts from the 80s have seen a lot. Oh, and by the way, I'll be 33 in a few weeks, nowhere near 40...yet...