One could think that there is “nothing new under the sun”, referring to some important things that stay the same or change very slowly, yet it would be a mistake to underestimate the effect various, even seemingly minor, alterations have in shaping the human world. These people have demonstrated that a single person lives long enough to witness some quite significant changes by answering one Redditor’s question: “What existed when you were a child that doesn’t exist now?”
Do you remember something from your childhood years that no longer exists or is now rare? Please, share your thoughts in the comments!
More info: Reddit
Freedom.
Starting around age 10 to around age 14, when I got back from school, nobody knew where I was until dinner, and nobody cared. The only rule was be home before dinner which was about 7:00 PM.
I would just hit my bike, join up with the knot hole gang in the neighborhood, and we would just ride all over the place and go where we wanted and do what we wanted.
Basically, we were the kids from Stranger Things, albeit with a lot less paranormal activity.
No cell phones, not even any pagers.
I'm 46 so this was some 35 years ago.
Seems like it could be 350 years ago now.
Now you almost never see a kid riding anywhere on his bike, and nobody knows their neighbors.The freedom to be a kid without being influenced by the internet and having your worst moments immortalised on it.Actual toy prizes in cereal boxesA paper TV Guide that you used to find out when TV shows were going to be aired. Usually it came in the Sunday newspaper. Also newspapers.Taking pictures with film cameras and waiting for them to get developed until you could see how bad you looked lol9 planetsThe solar system used to have 9 planets, but now only has 8. <...> Pluto was just reclassified as a dwarf planet, and we always had dozens of dwarf planets like Ceres and Make-Make.Iampepeu said:I know it's silly, but we all sort of collectively love and care for Pluto.Phone books. Every once in a while one would just show up at our front door.Card catalogs at the library.Affordable housingSaturday morning cartoons or weekly morning cartoons.Playing outdoors without supervision and just returning home once the sun setsAn expectation of being unreachable sometimes. I went to school, and my mom couldn't reach me all the time. She lived. I didn't feel like picking up the phone, no one cared.
No 'Read' messages unanswered causing drama.
Being able to be 'Unplugged' and not getting s**t for it.
Being able to read a physical map and navigate that way.A sense of optimism for the future.Phone boothsPrivacy. Back in the day, the only way someone could know what I was up to was if they physically followed me. Now, my smartphone does that for themA phone number you could call that just told you the time and weather.Getting off the phone so someone can use the internet. HahaYugoslaviaBlockbusterTypewritersWhite Dog S**tThe high beam switch in your car was on the floor by your left foot.Kmart Blue light specials. JC Pennies was upscale for us, and don't even talk about Macy's where the 1%ers shop.
For you youngin's, a blue light special was they'd roll a cart with a blue police light on a pole, then announce some that an item was on sale over the speakers. It was like a IRL pop up ad.
Those are some fond memories. And also all the racist joke books they'd happily sell an 8 year old. I was an adult before I realized the horrible stuff I read.Woolworths
Note: I'm referring to the business in the UK that dissolved in 2008.Restaurant smoking sectionsMcDonald’s ashtraysCigarette machines.Cameras that had rolled up film which needed to be developed.TVs with a fine tuning dial and were part of a huge wooden console.# Dialup Connection Screeching Intensifies
