I’m going to hold your hand when I say this: 2014 was ten years ago. Shocking, I know—it feels like just yesterday. But in the decade since, so much has changed, both in the world around us and in our own lives.
Recently, Redditor u/Ok-Squash8044 sparked an interesting conversation, asking others to share things that would have been unimaginable back then but are completely normal now. Many users chimed in, and the thread quickly filled with thought-provoking insights. Read on for some of the best answers—and don’t forget to upvote your favorites!
#1
Computers making art, and people still doing mindless repetitive tasks. .
Image credits: 16bitgamer
#2
Subscriptions for damn near everything!
Image credits: enrod713
#3
Diseases that have been dormant for decades coming back.
Image credits: SituationalRambo
#4
Leave a pizza order on someone's front porch without even knocking.
Image credits: ExpertRegister1353
#5
How much spying our electronics do on us and we're totally cool with it.
Image credits: NewTimeTraveler1
#6
Kids having constant access to an AI that will effortlessly do all their homework for them.
Image credits: Excellent-Bill-5124
#7
Paying more than $10 for a fast food combo.
Image credits: Historical-Fudge
#8
That in 2024 we would be fighting about the abortion issue.
#9
A felon running for president.
#10
Working remotely.
Image credits: MbMinx
#11
Reading headlines about more women dying bc they were denied lifesaving healthcare when their pregnancies went wrong, because that procedure they needed is also a type of abortion.
#12
$17 pints.
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#13
Grocery pickup in our cars.
Image credits: Eclectic7112
#14
People being able to live a long life while being HIV positive.
Image credits: JamesSmith1200
#15
Everything, including Walmart, being closed before midnight.
Image credits: I_know_a_lot23
#16
I think almost everything about current US politics was unimaginable 10 years ago. 10 years ago we thought our country and our constitution was strong. Now we know better.
#17
Two very uk based ones:
1. Brexit - I was a final year politics student in 2014 and no one thought we would vote for Brexit, let alone a hard Brexit as that would be economic madness.
2. The normalisation of the far right - UKIP were on the rise but very much a fringe minority. The Conservatives were dogmatic in austerity but socially they had legalised gay marriage, promoted the big society, and were at least performatively tolerant. Worlds away from the culture war nonsense now. .
#18
The government no longer denying the existence of UFOs.
Image credits: BigD4163
#19
There’s been massive student-led protests in Thailand against the military junta throughout 2021 with the leaders being jailed yet barely a peep from western newspapers.
#20
Girls suddenly being not just 'okay with' but 'active facilitators in' distributing their own nudes and amateur porn for a quick buck.
#21
It being 95 degrees in f****n October.
Edit: not unimaginable as in "didn't know it could happen." But unimaginable as in ***surely those at the levers of power will be reasonable and take decisive action to prevent it***
Despite the decades long screams of "do something" [emissions have only fallen a little](https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions).
There are success stories like the [banning of CFCs](https://gml.noaa.gov/hats/publictn/elkins/cfcs.html) and the reduction of acid rain by lowering sulfur and NOx emissions. 2014 me thought that green house gas driven climate change would be another success like that that if not abated, would at least stabilize. There have been multiple international agreements since the 90s that haven't been ambitious enough or that were not signed by the US/pulled out of by the US. *Any progress is good* but its not enough. .
Image credits: Adhbimbo
#22
Just a reminder that 10 years ago was 2014. A lot of stuff on here was already well underway by then: Political division in the US really jumped into high gear after 9/11, your smart phone has been spying on you since at least 2010, etc.
Image credits: MAHHockey
#23
In Irvine CA, It seems every kid has a multi thousand dollar ebike.
Image credits: ketzcm
#24
*gestures vaguely at the state of U.S. politics*.
#25
A president who discusses the size of Arnold Palmer’s d**k.
#26
Maybe not 10 years ago (more like 20), but according to my grandma, everyone having tattoos. She said not a lot of people had them and even less would show them proudly, but now if you go to a waterpark or any place where lots of skin is exposed, you’ll see so many people with tattoos.
My grandma is very against tattoos, it’s so funny to hear her rant about them. I have a small one that I’ve been hiding from her for 2 years now lol.
Image credits: sirona-ryan
#27
A politician with free reign to say or do anything they want, with absolute impunity, and still have a legitimate number of votes to make it close or f*****g *win*.
In Clintons presidency, even ONE of these transgressions would endanger everything. The man fought tooth and nail to hide a blowie, and the nation reeled in the controversy.
Today, every day, an indictment worthy statement is shot across the news, and no harm no foul. Just keep rolling towards consignment to oblivion. All conditions normal at two minutes to midnight.
#28
Cheap fastfood places being neither cheap nor fast.
#29
People plastering presidential candidate flags and stickers all over their cars and houses like it was their favorite sports team. Even in a sports lens that would be seen as a mental illness.
#30
Seems a minor thing, but the interface on so many apps and streaming services is just hot garbage while searching for watchable shows is unnecessarily difficult. We went from xfinity/comcast being comparatively functional to looking up on your phone which streaming apps have a new show you heard about or older film you want to see and then making sure you have a subscription all before trying to actually USE the app, many of which are just bloody chaotic.
Image credits: NeiClaw
#31
Fear Factor guy interviews the game show dude and it's one of the post important political events ever.
#32
No new Elder Scrolls since Skyrim.
Image credits: Dodeejeroo
#33
A single Popeyes combo cost me $20 yesterday, no drink.
Image credits: chifashenanigand
#34
Living with smart home devices everywhere is now normal.
#35
The cost of living. 10 years ago it was possible to have disposable income, and save up for nice things. Now the entire pay cheque goes towards bills and other living costs, then the credit line has to cover the rest.
#36
A new Cure album.
#37
Tipping everywhere.
#38
Detroit Lions being a playoff contender.
#39
Going to the store to buy marijuana legally.
#40
Obergefell v. Hodges Was decided in 2015, Gay marriage had only been universally legal in the US for 9 years.
#41
Same day shipping.
