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I loved those nostalgic fact sheets like "What the World Was Like 25 Years Ago"... you know, with young Joe Montana, Miami Vice on TV, Police Academy and Terminator on VHS, Ronald Reagan in the White House - right up until I realized that, damn it, this wasn’t a quarter of a century ago!

Yeah, 25 years ago is 1999. Yes, I understand that many of you, dear readers, were not even born at that time, but for me personally, it was so recently, it seems like, no, not yesterday, but at least like last week. But it turns out that two and a half decades have passed, and people in nostalgic online threads like this one remember all the good things that happened then. Let's remember too...

More info: Reddit

#1

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Being able to not be reachable and people being ok with it.

ninevah8 , Rahul Shah Report

#2

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Folded paper maps in the glove box. Bonus points for the spiral map books!

jclark77 , Jason McHenry Report

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Hey!
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My house is at the wrong place and have to tell Google every 3-6 months. Taxis, deliveries, etc. they all go to the wrong place. Both our door is the same but the other one is a court, one part facing my avenue, so Google takes that as my house, one unit, vs. townhouse. The ladies, who don't speak English, are good sports about it when I go to retrieve my packages. Apps tell me the delivery is done and it's not at my door so I take my car over there. Taxi drivers call me when I don't answer the door. It's super annoying.

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Lyone Fein
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We keep a road atlas handy. It is always better to be able to see the big picture.

CD King
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have paper maps. I find that they are better for travelling and you can use a highlighter on the roads you travelled. It’s like reading a paperback vs a kindle. They have the same function but, one is a much more satisfying experience.

Lotekguy
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Paper maps are the navigational equivalent of comfort food.

Disgruntled Pelican
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We took a trip through Montana and Idaho this past fall and used the spiral map book instead of Google. Much better than using a ton of data or not having reception!

Tams21
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's interesting to have a map of West Berlin in a post about 1999.

Irene Bucior
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I carried a roadmap for almost 50 years, until about two years ago. I moved and just haven’t gotten another one yet.

Clover
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I will never totally rely on Google maps, etc. A paper map is more reliable.

Jan van den Broek
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mostly for sentimental reasons, but I still have my German map in my car.

Janet Graham
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have a Rand McNally atlas in my truck and foldable maps for my state and my neighboring states.

Downunderdude
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't have a map of Berlin in my glovebox because I live in Canberra. AITA?

Paul Gerrard
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Map 44 G5. I woukd argue if you gave a street directory to a modern kid they would struggle

Randy Sanders
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a retired long haul trucker, I can tell you that Atlas(es) are crucial to that end. Learn to use a map. It might be old school, but it never fails, unlike GPS, which frequently does.

Griffy
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still get a trucker's atlas sometimes. They come in handy.

Javelina Poppers
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I keep a road atlas and get a new one every two years. They're invaluable when you love road trips like we do.

Ivona
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have folding paper maps and use them in addition to GPS.

Miki
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I preferred the book type. I am thinking about buying one. Just in case of orcs.

Kira Okah
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still have the spiral map book of the local area in the car door, stll use it.

Carole Petricek
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I keep an updated road atlas because the few times I've needed a map, I've been in a no-phone-zone. (There are still areas in the western US that are too remote for cell service). Besides, I need to see the big picture of a map; those GPS screens just don't help me.

David
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a vinyl pouch thing with various maps of the western states / cities I frequented. Technically I still have it but have not used it in years. Also shout out to AAA trip tick booklets.

Fembot
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Useful if you want to explore an area, not just getting from a to b as fast as possible. But I’m glad there’s sat nav too.

Nicky Shrimps
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved Thomas Guide! Used it at work and almost memorized the greater area for my city.

Hey!
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When we travel by car, my husband always makes sure we have maps. I drive because I can't read them so he does and tells me where to go. Works for us.

Jessica SpeLangm
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband would LOVE if these were still available. He is NOT a Google maps fan. LMAO

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#3

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone AN ABSOLUTELY BONKERS YEAR FOR MOVIES.

The Matrix

Dogma

Fight Club

American Beauty

American Pie

Green Mile

The Mummy

The Sixth Sense

Office Space

Boondock Saints

Varsity Blues

Blair Witch Project

And f*****g more! Not reboots, remakes or sequels. Just fresh f*****g content and original stories.

kainxavier Report

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Panda-sized Potato
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8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A few reboots, remakes, and sequels, but still a good year for movies. It also gave us Galaxy Quest and The Iron Giant.

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So, year 1999: the last year of Bill Clinton's presidency, in the UK folks are seriously thinking about what life will be like for the country after Queen Elizabeth (naive peeps, ha ha...), Michael Jordan has just retired for the second time, and Steve Jobs has just recently returned to his office at Apple headquarters, and is already hatching grandiose plans.

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The music world is captivated by Cher’s triumphant return, and Steven Spielberg recently received his second director's Oscar for Saving Private Ryan. Just recently Windows 98 was released, and millions of users around the world are cautiously opening a new internet search product called Google - through Internet Explorer, of course...

#4

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Pluto as the ninth planet.

sleepingnightmare , Oğuzhan Ali Report

#5

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone All their friends’ phone numbers memorized.

47h3157 , 幾架D Report

#6

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone A "stereo system" in the living room.

Edit: Look man, if yours doesn't have a squeaky-a*s turntable, tape-to-tape deck and a shiny "metal-style" plastic carapace, we're not talking about the same thing.

Get out of here with your Bose, you hipster muso snobs. Shoo! Shoo! 🧹🧹.

sixty10again , Joe Shlabotnik Report

Do you want more? Okay, Jeff Bezos becomes Time's Person of the Year, Albert Einstein is recognized as the Person of the Century, and the whole world is afraid of the terrible upcoming “Error 2000", which will allegedly render millions of computers around the world unusable. Britney Spears releases her debut album Baby One More Time, and John Elway wins the Super Bowl for the second time in a row, going from greatest loser to two-time champion in just two years.

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Sony announces the start of development of the PlayStation 2, with the new Walkman model trying to spread the minidisc format throughout the world. Among the new video games, Silent Hill, Unreal Tournament and Quake III Arena stand out. Humanity sees off the penultimate year of the 20th century with nostalgia and looks forward to the new millennium with optimism...

#7

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone The ability to drop off/greet people at the boarding gates at the airport.

Fickle_Diamond_675 , cubby_t_bear Report

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SlothyK8
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AND.... Not having to remove your shoes to go through security Food and drink were way cheaper Airplane seats were wider and more comfortable

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#9

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Concert tickets that you could afford.

NoSleep4Money , Tony Report

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Mike F
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if consumers stop utilizing the over priced services they're upset about, things will change. For instance, some entertainers give lip service to the folks who attend their events decrying the fact that Ticketmaster (et al) have a monopoly on event tickets, but they still perform. If people went one season without purchasing the overpriced tickets and let the entertainers (or their fan club) know WHY they aren't purchasing tickets, things would change. The loudest voice you have is your $$$.

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“The real question is actually not how good it was 25 years ago compared to now,” says Valery Bolgan, a historian and editor-in-chief of Intent News Agency from Ukraine, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment here. “People in general tend to be nostalgic about the past, and the years that have passed since then only smooth out all the negativity that took place then, leaving only warmest memories. This is the specificity of human memory.”

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“Yes, in 1999, and I remember it quite well, there were many wonderful things and phenomena left, but at the same time I am almost sure that when in another quarter of a century you and I remember the year 2024, we will also talk about it with extraordinary warmth and nostalgia: about TikTok, Reddit and Taylor Swift. Simply because this is also part of our life and our memory," Valery summarizes.

#10

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone The *need* to be home at a certain time on a certain day to watch the next episode of your favorite show.

Unapologetic suntans. (Edit: haven't you guys ever heard of slathering yourself in baby oil before going to lie in the sun? We all did it back then.)

A cassette deck in their new car.

WomanOfEld , Mark Doliner Report

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IamMe
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My aunt used to use vegetable oil. She switched to olive oil, because it's healthier. Yup, she looks like a well worn saddle.

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#12

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone A video rental store.

vapeshaker , Travers Scott Report

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In this collection you will find both wonderful old-school things, which, however, today have been replaced by much more convenient ones, as well as simple human feelings and people who, alas, have left us. So just feel free to scroll this list to the end, put your likes under the best submissions, and once again either remember 1999 yourself or simply discover the past. After all, as old good Frank Sinatra used to sing, “it was a very good year!”

#13

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone My dad who passed away on June 18, 1999, at the age of 71, the same age I am now. "Everyone" didn't know him, but I sure as hell did. I held his hand until he let go. **Miss ya big time dad**. Till we meet again.

Crazy_Distribution95 , Pixabay Report

#15

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Affordable housing.

MrsGerstner , jonasosthassel Report

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Hey!
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can this apply to the title???? 34 Things That Were Considered Necessities In 1999, But Are Practically Extinct Now. It is still a necessity to have affordable housing!!! Practically extinct but necessary.

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#17

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone A reasonable expectation of privacy.

Clintman , Scott Webb Report

#18

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Land lines. Mom still has hers, but all the phones are cordless. The days of a handset connected to the receiver with a 25 foot cord are long gone. Scrolling through comments, yup Mom has an Answering machine connected to her landline. Edit #1: Mom is in her middle 70's. Edit #2: Supporting documentation

Seattlescape , Jason Thibault Report

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StrangeOne
Community Member
8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I miss having my corded phones. They worked during black outs to make emergency calls. Now when your in a black out you have to make sure your cellphone is not dead.

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#19

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone A VHS tape rewinder. "Be kind, rewind!".

Horzzo , cottonbro studio Report

#20

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone A local newspaper subscription.

Euphoric-March-8159 , Jon S Report

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Lyone Fein
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is so culturally shattering. It is basically impossible to create new networks of people in a community without a shared vehicle of communication. This means that there is a lot of social stagnation even though there is this appearance of rapid progress on an individual technological level.

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#21

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Cameras with film, posh people had digital ones

Dial up Internet

Discmans

Minidisc players

Floppy discs.

wilsonianuk , James Case Report

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Nicola Mawson
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now, posh people have the latest film cameras because they are being made again. I still have my 80s one

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#22

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Fear of Y2K.

Aaront519 , Christian Frausto Bernal Report

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Panda-sized Potato
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The problem was real, but it was discovered early enough that it was fixed before it became a disaster.

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#23

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Smoking section in a bar.

Bman409 , Ken Hawkins Report

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Panda-sized Potato
Community Member
8 months ago

One of those things I'm glad is gone. The smoke never stayed in its own section.

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#24

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Antennas on the outside of their cellphones.

Famous_Track_4356 , In Memoriam: Andy / Andrew Fogg Report

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Fabian Bernard
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew battery outside the phone. For his job, my father had a big Alcatel phone, heavy as a wallet, working only inside Paris and close surburbs, and highways. One minute call fee was crazy, the phone itself cost the equivalent of 7500€ in FF

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#25

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Dial up modems.

D-Rez , Paul Boxley Report

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LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep*............... DEEE DEEE DEEE DEEE VREEEEEEEEEEE KADOOOONG KADOOOOOONG KRSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (When I was a kid in the 90s, I used to sneak onto AOL/the internet at night when everyone was asleep and I would pile pillows and couch cushions around the PC in the desperate hope of muffling the dial-up sound...)

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#26

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone AOL free trials.

Tongue4aBidet , barrie Report

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Mike F
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another disc in the mail every week! A dozen different email addresses to utilize the freebie.

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#27

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Multiple disc cd player.

loki143 , Toshiyuki IMAI Report

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#28

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Windows 95 or 98.

Narc_Survivor_6811 , Chen Zhao Report

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Janet Graham
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were good, but XP was better. It could run all of the stuff from 95 or 98.

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#29

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone The ability to get on an airplane without spending 20 minutes going through TSA.

The ability to navigate around town without a GPS or phone.

A nintendo 64.

Frozentank_ , Frédéric BISSON Report

#30

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone CRT televisions.

jimicus , Ryan Smith Report

#31

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Wallets with picture holders.

dreadmon1 , Robert Bogdan Report

#33

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone Inflatable furniture

Mudd brand clothes/accessories.

IronicJeremyIrons , ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒ Report

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HurlWurk
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Inflatable furniture is very much alive and well. It's just branded as "travel" now. I use an inflatable ottoman under my desk

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#34

25 Years Ago Almost Everyone Had These 34 Things, But Now They’re Gone A preferred 800 number for collect calls.

Saul-Funyun , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

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S. E. in Indiana
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And when you called these numbers, you got to speak to someone who was in the USA and not some foreign country. And you could actually understand what they were saying.

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