ADVERTISEMENT

Each generation thinks their decade is the best. Millennials would say that it's the '90s. For Gen Z — the 2000s. And the often-overlooked Gen Xers will always love the '80s. In the end, it's all about the time when you were a kid, right? Big enough to go to your friend's house by yourself, but young enough to not have to worry about important adult stuff.

And who wouldn't love growing up in the '80s? Mullets, conversations on cord phones, and biking with your friends to the middle of nowhere were quintessential for a true '80s experience. Luckily, the IG page Totally 80's Room shares little snippets of what life was like back then. Scroll down and see the best picks of their content!

Bored Panda reached out to the creator of the page, Pete. He was kind enough to answer our questions and tell us more about his virtual (and physical!) '80s museum. Besides, Totally 80's Room is not just an Instagram page with almost 900k followers. It's also a popular TikTok account with over 2 million likes. Check out our conversation with the creator of the project below!

More info: Instagram | TikTok

Totally 80's Room is not just a platform for memes and nostalgia-inducing content. It’s also actually a room. The creator of the project, Pete, has a room dedicated to all things '80s. "The collection started first with just a few items I remembered from my childhood in the '80s, like toys and games," Pete tells Bored Panda.

"But just like any collector, it kind of snowballs from there with more and more items. I then decided I'd like to collect 1980s popular culture items like music, toys, clothing, electronics, common household items, movie props, etc. to represent the decade. I love to have one clean, great working example of items rather than quantity."

"The social media stuff came second because I wanted to share this collection of not only items but memories, nostalgia, and laughs with as many people as possible," Pete tells us about the inception of the Instagram and TikTok pages. "The feeling of these great memories and nostalgia is powerful and that’s what I enjoy sharing with people."

ADVERTISEMENT
#2

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Multa Nocte
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Two Great Ones: William "Bill" S. Preston, Esq., and Ted "Theodore" Logan.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

“I was a kid in the 1980s and the pop culture just had an impact on me,” the creator of the Totally 80's Room says about why he chose this decade in particular. “Kids growing up in the 1980s had the best childhood [in my opinion] and it was a great time to be a kid. This decade represents a very unique place in time for culture,” the man behind the pages, Pete, says.

The '80s revival in our current pop culture is going stronger than ever, and Pete says that he loves it, especially in style and musical influences. “It’s a testament to the uniqueness of the era. For me, it’s like having the experience of being a kid in the ’80s and now kind of experiencing the culture as an adult, and that’s exciting.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Pete says that he likes some of the remakes in TV and movies. Admittedly, they’re not all that good. “But that’s definitely on point with the 1980s,” the creator quips.

“I love searching for and sharing content that gives you a laugh or digs up a memory for someone. There are a lot of younger people interested, and that is awesome, and so everyone is welcome in the totally80sroom universe. The pop culture of the '80 and '90s is so fascinating and influential, it bridges a generation gap, and that is awesome!”

We call the memes on this list "Gen X Memes," but the cutoff years for when one generation ends and another begins aren't so clear-cut. We know that Gen X is the generation after baby boomers and preceding millennials, but what years were they born exactly? And why are the '80s called their decade?

ADVERTISEMENT

Most sources claim that Gen Xers were born between the 1960s and the early 1980s. Some pinpoint the beginning of Generation X in 1965, like the Pew Research Center. According to them, Gen X is between 1965 and 1980. Then millennials have 1981 as their starting point, right? Well, some people feel like there is a micro-generation with characteristics of both Gen X and Gen Y.

#7

Gen-X-Memes-Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
troufaki13
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well to be fair people back in the day really did look way older than their actual age!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

They call them Xennials – a portmanteau of 'Gen X' and 'millennials.' For those who like numbers, those born between 1977 and 1983 can call themselves Xennials. Associate Professor of Sociology at The University of Melbourne, Dan Woodman told Mamamia that they're a mix of both generations. If we consider Gen Xers to be "depressed flannelette-shirt-wearing, grunge-listening children," we think of millennials as more bubbly, maybe too optimistic and sure of themselves, and tech-savvy.

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Carl Roberts
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Well, the hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows It's no stranger to you and me" Dun dun dun dun dun dun ...dundun

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Gen-X-Memes-Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Min
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mmmmm...the taste of hot plastic. (I grew up in the desert so it probably hit different for most people)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Xennials have a little bit of both. "Around technology they do have a particular experience – we hit this social media and IT digital technology boom in our 20s," Woodman said. In their childhood and adolescence, Xennials didn't have to worry about social media and mobile phones. "Then we hit this technology revolution before we were maybe in that frazzled period of our life with kids and no time to learn anything new. We hit it where we could still adopt in a selective way the new technologies," Woodman added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many Xennials sent their first emails upon finishing high school. This doesn't sound familiar either to Gen Xers or millennials: the former didn't have computers yet, and the latter most likely already had an email account when they were kids. Yet Woodman also said that it's normal if not everyone born at that time relates to what it supposedly means to be a Xennial. Such factors as gender and a family's financial situation can play an important role.

ADVERTISEMENT

We also call Generation X 'latchkey kids.' Why is that, you ask? Gen Xers were born at a time when divorce rates were unusually high and more and more women started entering the workforce. Therefore kids were often left home alone spending time without adult supervision. That's why people often refer to Gen X as the 'MTV Generation,' as many would spend their time in front of a TV watching the music channel.

Many define Gen Xers as self-reliant and responsible for that reason. It's also why we consider Generation X to be incredibly independent. Many latchkey kids would have to microwave their own dinners, so, as grown-ups, they're used to doing things themselves. It's also why they're excellent DIYers. Because they would spend much time alone at home without parents, they had to learn a lot of things themselves by trial and error, like plunging a toilet.

ADVERTISEMENT
#23

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
MotherofGuineaPigs
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Burgers & fries, ya want some burgers & fries, well there's some right here (don't you tell me no lies!)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ban-One
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First Al Bundy here on this list and now Jefferson (I know this pic's not from Married With Children)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

In the never-ending battle of who's more entitled between baby boomers and millennials, Gen Xers somehow always get forgotten. It's no surprise that one of their other names is 'The Forgotten Generation' then. But in this war between the workaholics and the 'lazy youngsters,' Gen X are the winners – they're the "work hard, play hard" generation. They saw how their parents valued company loyalty over anything else and set healthy boundaries. Thanks to only burgeoning technologies, they also weren't available to their bosses 24/7.

#26

Gen-X-Memes-Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Corvus
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In summer, we sometimes stayed out even after it, just chatting in front of the building where we lived... with only street lights, lit windows on surrounding buildings, and the moon to keep us company.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

However, Gen Xers are also said to be cynical and quite pessimistic. That's mostly because of how the political, economic, and social situation was at the time. There was the AIDS epidemic, the end of the Cold War, the first flight of the space shuttle in 1981, and the U.S. Government's war on drugs. That's why sociologists often describe Gen X as cynical.

#30

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tracie Ess
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The look on airborne kid's face is "oh sh*t oh sh*t oh sh*t...look cool, act like this was what you meant to happen!!!

View more commentsArrow down menu

But it wasn't all bad for Gen X in the '80s. It's the decade when gaming was born: the ultimate gaming experience that is the arcade. Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Street Fighter, and Donkey Kong were all the rage then. And we still know the games to this day. We can also thank the '80s for portable gaming consoles like Nintendo and Sega. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to save the princess in Super Mario Bros, even though I'm way too young to be an '80s kid.

ADVERTISEMENT
#31

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mason Kronol
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep. She gave me nightmares. It was never a beautiful day in her neighborhood. .

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#44

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
kissmychakram
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Used to take the faceplate off, put it in it's box and stuff the box in the glove compartment. Fairly sure I'm not the only one!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#47

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ellie H
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every year my grandma asked me about my favorite PBS shows. I talked her ear off about the shows and why I liked each one. I found out a few decades later that she made regular donations to "keep my favorite shows on the air". Still tugs at the heartstrings 💜

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Upstaged75
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We still have the one my grandmother made in the 50's. It was a popular ceramics class.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#49

Gen-X-Memes-Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Malek Basata
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just like booting that abandoned 10 y/o console and be shocked by the downgrade of graphics since the last time you played on it 😭

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#51

Gen-X-Memes-Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Frunkadunk
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm STILL excited about it! I got excited looking at the pic!!!

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#56

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
UKGrandad
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the UK a lot of these have been repurposed as defibrillator cabinets. First aiders who work in shops, pubs and clubs nearby are trained to use them and have the access code to the cabinets.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#59

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Hphizzle
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rich kids in the 80’s/90’s. We rented it from the local video store for special occasions. Duck Hunt will always have a special place in my heart.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#62

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
kissmychakram
Community Member
7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kept mine in a cabinet that was about 4 ft tall and had a glass door panel

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#65

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
James016
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For some reason I thought that was the coolest American car when I went to the USA as a child. I think because it vaguely reminds me of the star car from The Last Starfighter.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#72

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kelly Scott
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

80s kid? This letterboard was present during my kindergarten class photo. In 1960.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#74

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Corvus
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, our PE teacher was a Russian lady... half of us feared her, the other half had naughty dreams about her :D

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#78

Gen-X-Memes-Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#82

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ryan Harris
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did that not too long back, I regretted it I'm getting too old for this s**t.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#85

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
ShaZam
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both require ID ... and if you aren't a member ... a friend's ID to pass off as your own

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#93

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
jon gilbertson
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1. Is that a mushroom cloud? 2. I used to have the full set of Smurfs glasses from Hardee's and loved them

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#94

Totally80sroom

totally80sroom Report

Add photo comments
POST
Malek Basata
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looking at the back of your new skateboard for hours hits different

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda