I was in my early 30s with a young family and not much money. So I wasn't plugged into investor sentiment in the same way I am today. Back then I (and I would say most people my age) were not so focused on individual market investments. I was more worried about bills, loans, gas prices, etc.
Gas prices and inflation were my biggest worries, with long gas lines, double digit inflation, and mortgages hard to get. I was building a house during that time with a short term buidling loan and had to rush to finish it by the 12 month loan guarantee period because mortgage rates were hitting 18%, and that is if you could even find mortgage money.
But for me, it seems that the current mood and sentiment are more wide-reaching. Maybe it's my age, but it seems that back then we felt things were temporary, and a challenge to overcome, rather than the end-of-the-world thinking that we encounter now.