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Time is a strange beast. One moment you think it’s still 1999/2004/2012, the next you realize you’re sitting in 2021. Confused, with no idea where the years went, there you are, busily counting how old you are on your fingers. Time doesn’t just fly by: it soars, does loop-de-loops, backtracks and fast-forwards, drips like a leaky faucet, rushes like a raging river, and delights in making you feel old and still young all at once.

Well, our team over here at Bored Panda wants time to be on our side, so we’re about to make you feel old and pine for the '90s and 2000s. Did we say ‘feel old?’ Sorry! We meant ‘feel nostalgic.’ Whoops. You’ll definitely get these memes and jokes if you remember the '90s and 2000s well, so scroll on down for a trip down memory lane, and remember to upvote the pics that you liked the most. We’d also love to hear from you what trends, technologies, and events you liked the most from that era. So be sure to leave us a comment below.

Bored Panda wanted to learn more about our nostalgia for earlier decades, so we reached out to Kemi Omijeh, a child and adolescent therapist who is based in London and is also a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Read on for her insights, dear Pandas!

#1

The Days Of Poor Graphics And Endless Hours Spent On These Games

The Days Of Poor Graphics And Endless Hours Spent On These Games

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SusaHerring
Community Member
3 years ago

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My last pay check was $8750 just ecom working 12 hours for every week .My neighbor have found the estimation of $15k for a long time and the she works around 20 hours for seven days. l can not trust how direct it was once l tried it information. N­­e­­t­­J­­o­­b­­1­­.­­c­­o­­m­­

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nanashi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never figured out how to play minesweeper back then, and still vaguely understands it now.

M O'Connell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's if you had the Win95 "Entertainment Pack" which not everyone had. Ski Free was my favorite.

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Aaron Kara
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And yes, the exclusive releases. Imagine the release trailer for MS paint. "Make a shape. Fill it with colour. That's it."

Annie Niemands
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can't look at a picture of 3D Pinball Space Cadet without hearing the startup and ball ready sound sound, you probably heard it aswell. bwwwwwwwwwWWWOOO dindindin tonk drink clurnk

Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The refuelling noise too? Swip swip swip swoop swooh (I'm not good at writing down the sound in my head lol sry)

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone remembers Creative Writer? Also, how about that screenmate or desktop game thing with cockroaches running on your desktop and you could kill them by clicking on them?

Shika Louis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Born in 2003 but those games were literally my childhood... Such good memories though I never knew what I was doing :)

JuJu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And games on diskette and you had to change it in the middle of the game

Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, Dos games. You had to restart your computer every time you wanted to play one so that, instead of typing "win" and pressing enter, you would type in the file name of the game. Did a lot of ssf2 ♡

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Tawfiq H
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still do this when my parents turn off the internet and tell me to do something else

Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son loves these games on my pc! He has his modern nintendo switch, but enjoys these, kings quest, Sega, ps1 and original Pokemon on my gameboy, I think partly because he likes that they are things I like to play tbh, but he does seem to genuinely enjoy them (he's working on kings quest 6 atm). Ive slowly acquired these old gaming things over the last decade, a few I once had but mostly these were the things I coveted as a kid, and can now finally own :D "that 90s nostalgia, it's so hot right now" M.

Janine B.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually I still have these on my computer and often enjoy playing them.

B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No internet? Luxury! When I grew up we had no games. Just sticks to threaten each other with. We lived in a hole in the ground and ate sand.

afoben
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg finally someone who can tell what we actually had to do there and what the objective was! Do share! I just clicked on random squares until something exploded... never figured it out. 😂

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AnaSan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember when i won solitaire game I would leave jumping cards for quite a while and watch them with smile on my face

k1ddkanuck
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved 3D Pinball!!! It actually popped into my head a few days ago. Might have to go on a nostalgia quest and try to find a downloadable version.

NWB
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A simple time without bloody in app purchases and ads!

Cathy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish these games were still around, what a great way to pass time!

Philippa Davies
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was obsessed with every one of these at some point in my teens/ early twenties

Casper Sand
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was really good at minesweeper. I alwas found all the mines

NgatiDreadz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still don't know how to play minesweeper I just click and hope for the best

Andy Acceber
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still use Paint as my go-to image alteration software. 😂 Hahaha, though it's no Photoshop, I now have 20 years of experience with Paint and know how to work it really well.

Carlota
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Today, at 32 years of age I finally finished the expert minesweeper level. My work is finally done

bdunbar@kcls.org
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We got our first Apple IIC in mid 80's. I still love mine sweeper and space cadet pinball. Mom is still the master of both in this house ;-)

Colin Mochrie At Its Finest
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know KCLS. Are you intentionally putting your work email for anyone to access? Just looking out.

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Potato Puffin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am i the only one who played Hearts? Also I aced minesweeper and mahjong

Colin Mochrie At Its Finest
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did these and we had a program where you plan a family. i always created families, depsite it probably being a adult program or something.

Arikan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ohhhh Yes. And also Prehistoric, Aladdin and Lion King!

Chyppa Homer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yah, when a game actually had to be done and fully functional, before they sold it

Seabeast
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You may laugh, but I still miss the document software I had on my home computer back then. It worked far more intuitively than what I've got now.

Dave P
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

all of us who grew up in the 90's with internet had those too. I was a child in 1993 when my family got dial up. I have been using the internet since I was 4

Falcon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also remember my mother's PC at work had Prehistoric 2 and some sidescroller called Dave. Good times. 😁

Luisa Vasconcelos
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tetris snake and NOKIA 3310 !!!!! ( OH II was happy and didn't knew) and my KIDS are asking if I was not afraid of the DINOSAURS. I repeat, of the black and white TV.

Sum Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who knew how to play minesweeper looked down on everyone

Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My poor dad played it heaps when he was sick years back, he was stuck on bed rest for several months and was queasy during that time, played minesweeper to distract himself....cut to now, he can't stand it and if he sees me playing it, even on my phone (my app is 90s style), he genuinely gets nauseated! Edit: so he's sickened by minesweeper but for a whole different reason I guess lol

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Whimsy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still love these :) my record for a solitaire game was 63 seconds!

SusaHerring
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My last pay check was $8750 just ecom working 12 hours for every week .My neighbor have found the estimation of $15k for a long time and the she works around 20 hours for seven days. l can not trust how direct it was once l tried it information. N­­e­­t­­J­­o­­b­­1­­.­­c­­o­­m­­

SusaHerring
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My last pay check was $8750 just ecom working 12 hours for every week .My neighbor have found the estimation of $15k for a long time and the she works around 20 hours for seven days. l can not trust how direct it was once l tried it information. N­­e­­t­­J­­o­­b­­1­­.­­c­­o­­m­­

SusaHerring
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since I started with my online business I earn $90 every 15 minutes. It sounds unbelievable but you wont forgive yourself if you don't check it out..... W­­w­­w­­.­­N­­e­­t­­J­­o­­b­­1­­.­­c­­o­­m­­

SusaHerring
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my co-worker's sister-in-law makes $79/hr on the laptop. She has been without work for 5 months but last month her payment was $17498 just working on the laptop for a few hours. hop over to here ... Www.NetJob1.com

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#2

Anyone Else Get Mesmerized By The Windows 95 Screensavers As A Kid?

Anyone Else Get Mesmerized By The Windows 95 Screensavers As A Kid?

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According to therapist Omijeh, our memories of the past can contribute to our sense of self and well-being. "The period of time we tend to be nostalgic over are significant moments that stood out. Perhaps it was a time when we felt happiest or safest, or perhaps it’s a period where things changed for us."

She explained that the age we were at during the era doesn't matter as much as what exactly the time period represents to us. "Our memories of the past can change over time depending on how often we revisit and also depending on what is going on for us in the present."

#4

Latchkey Kids Unite!

Latchkey Kids Unite!

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Liz the Wanderer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, when did this change? I was capable of having a snack and not dying when home alone at age 7.

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Omijeh joked that "of course, the '90s was better! But then again, I may be being very biased here." The therapist pointed out that who we were during each decade will influence our impressions of it.

"Generally speaking, the better decade is associated with youth and freedom. Nostalgia also often gives us rose-tinted glasses from which to reflect from. How we reflect on the past decades can play a part in how we engage with the current decade." If you're living in the UK and would like to speak to a therapist, you can find a counseling professional through the BACP right here.

#7

Movie Time In School

Movie Time In School

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#8

I Member...

I Member...

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Mrs_ Possum
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am this old!! When I saw this pic, I literally heard the thunk of the ball hitting the pad, and the rip of taking it off to throw again.. Aah, good times 😄🤣

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Bored Panda previously spoke about nostalgia with therapist Omijeh in more depth. "Many psychologists, myself included, believe our childhood is the foundation to who we are as adults. It explains why we frequently revisit our childhood as it influences our present," Omijeh told Bored Panda.

According to Omijeh, the kind of childhoods that we had directly correlates to how we remember our childhood experiences. To put it simply: we’re nostalgic for the times that we felt loved and nurtured.

“If we’ve had a difficult childhood, it can be hard to feel nostalgic, instead it will feel like something we need to get over in order to move on," the therapist said.

#11

Gather Round, Children, While I Tell You Of Bath Beads

Gather Round, Children, While I Tell You Of Bath Beads

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#12

Burning The Sickest Cds In The Neighborhood

Burning The Sickest Cds In The Neighborhood

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"Nostalgia can also be a good coping strategy for times of low mood and challenges," she detailed. However, she warned that nostalgia is only useful to a certain extent. The moment it starts interfering with our ability to be present in our everyday lives is the moment that we should start to be worried.

“If we end up comparing it to our experiences today and feeling like nothing is as good as it was, then this will inevitably affect our mood and our ability to do what we need to do," Omijeh said. “We can become stuck in our nostalgia; in which case it might be best to seek help from a counseling professional to help you process your past in order to enjoy your present,” the therapist explained. In short, it’s fine if you feel nostalgic for the 90s and 2000s, but remember to enjoy 2021, too!

#14

Sure Grandma

Sure Grandma

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Wilf
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You kids! I used to have one of those fake cassettes with a headphone wire... to play my Sony Discman...

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#15

Fridays At Blockbuster

Fridays At Blockbuster

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Az
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remember driving around to all the video shops in town to find the movie you wanted to watch?

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Earlier, Bored Panda also spoke about the changes in technologies and trends over the past few decades with Ramona Pringle, who is the Director of the Creative Innovation Studio and Associate Professor at the RTA School of Media at Ryerson University.

According to her, even if we know what trends occurred in the past, we can’t say for certain what the future will hold. “We don’t know what the future holds, and anyone who says that they do is selling snake oil. But, there are certain things we can count on: we love stories, and we love to be part of something biggest than ourselves. Be it oral storytelling, books, blogs, movies, or video games, we’ve never lost our love of narrative.”

Entertainment and connectivity, then, will continue being a vital part of our history as human beings as we move boldly (or trembling slightly from excitement and anxiety) into the future. “Equally true, even when we can’t go into a concert hall or colosseum, we look for ways to be together, connected, and part of a communal experience. The tech might change, but these will continue to be the drivers of our entertainment experiences,” Pringle said.

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#16

Before The Days Of Internet

Before The Days Of Internet

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Jeffrey Pellegrini
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, AFTER the internet any douche can post something and MILLIONS will believe it. Give me "middle school kids any day. 😎

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#17

Lol

Lol

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remember when you had to play Final Fantasy in 3 or 4 separate CDs? ♡

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#18

It Really Was

It Really Was

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And do you think I can remember how to fold them like that? I used to start all my letters with Hey Chicky or Hey Chicka dee and end with Catch ya round like a fruit loop.

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Pringle explained to Bored Panda that over the next decade, entertainment tech will change and improve, focusing even more on immersion and interactivity. 

“For the last decade, we’ve leaned into virtual reality because of how it enables both of these. We can step inside a world and have influence over it, and the story or experience that unfolds,” she said. “I think one of the things we can expect moving forward is, in a sense, the opposite of virtual reality. Instead, more of an enhanced reality or fictional reality, wherein the entertainment isn’t in a headset, but instead, all around us.”

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#20

How Many Of Us 90s Kids Destroyed Our Family Computer With Viruses For Free Music?

How Many Of Us 90s Kids Destroyed Our Family Computer With Viruses For Free Music?

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Willow Quinn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your youth is showing. Many of us will never forget the original. RIP Napster

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The changes to tech have been massive, but we’ve absorbed them so well (some of us, anyway) that we sometimes don’t even notice them anymore.

“A decade ago, we didn’t talk to robots. Today, many of us do,” Pringle detailed. “Siri and Alexa are some of the more common bots, but we already interface with non-human characters regularly. As technology advances, including augmented reality and mixed reality, I think we can expect that entertainment will be something we can engage with off of the screen, but out in the world, with characters and stories we can engage with throughout the day, or throughout our houses.”

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#23

Who Remembers These?

Who Remembers These?

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The rise of e-sports is one clue that the ways that people engage one another change in unexpected and often surprising ways. “Whoever would have thought that people would pay money to watch other people play games? Media that engages us and gives us something to gather around, be it together, or virtually, is something that will always appeal to us.”

#26

The Early 2000s

The Early 2000s

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Pringle made some more predictions about the near future: “I think we can expect to see the ebb and flow of experiences that bring people together offline and then on screen, or online, as well. In the last few years, we’ve seen the rise of interactive and immersive venues like the museum of ice cream or the Dr. Seuss experience,”

#29

TV Guides

TV Guides

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Nanna still gets the TV guide from the Sunday newspaper and goes through it marking all the shows she wants to watch or record.

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She continued: “These are places we can go, with friends and family, and have a shared experience. It feeds back into our online experiences because we can share photos or memories and these environments are designed to foster that. Certainly, as we find ourselves in a time of social distancing, we’re seeing new creative ways of “being together” even when we’re apart. So I think we can expect to see entertainment that helps us connect, be it online or off, and immerses us in an experience, story, or community.”

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#33

Getting Blisters

Getting Blisters

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nanashi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

glad my mom never bought me these even after several times asking, or I'd too experience the blisters

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#34

The Memories

The Memories

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Randomcthulu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really miss this, got more free pizza from Bookit buttons, and their salad/pizza bars were great

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#36

A Late 90s Classroom

A Late 90s Classroom

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Nora
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And I'm so ancient over here, we just had pencils and paper. Hey, remember pencil sharpeners? Those were great. Ah.. the good ole days

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#37

Where’s The Remote?

Where’s The Remote?

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IronEagle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never grew out of that - still search the house for AA's for my xbox controller because I'm to old school to get 'play and charge' kits... No TV remote batteries are safe in this house.

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#40

I'm So Glad...

I'm So Glad...

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JuJu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a big box full of photos and photographic negatives... I was the only one with a really good flash on her camera - I could blackmail them all *evil laughter*

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#41

Low Rise Jeans

Low Rise Jeans

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Isabella
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love low and mediul rise jeans and hate the high waisted ones ! I am that old! :))))

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#42

This Was The Life

This Was The Life

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James016
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Daytime Tv for the win. When I was 13 I got very sick and was off school for half a term, about 2 months. All I could do was watch daytime tv. Thankfully MTV was still good back then

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#44

Crackin' Open A New Laser Pointer With All Those Attachments

Crackin' Open A New Laser Pointer With All Those Attachments

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#47

If You Were Raise In The 90s

If You Were Raise In The 90s

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#49

Take Your Vitamins

Take Your Vitamins

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#50

Is It Haunted?

Is It Haunted?

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Chyppa Homer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was always wondering, where the hell are the spirits from the recently deceased ? How come, no ghost ever moans :"What's the wi-fi pass ?" :D

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#52

Fresh Prince Basketball Court 1990 vs. Now

Fresh Prince Basketball Court 1990 vs. Now

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YoyoSthlm
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't get this one... there is no difference between the two photos? And if it's still the same why should it be on this list?

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#53

'90s Music Video Starter Pack

'90s Music Video Starter Pack

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#54

In The '90s, Sliding Into Dms Was A Bit Different...

In The '90s, Sliding Into Dms Was A Bit Different...

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#56

Miss The Kids Club At Bk

Miss The Kids Club At Bk

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