Someone Asks “What Is The Most Gen X Thing?” And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane

Generation X (or Gen X for short) is the Western demographic cohort following the baby boomers and preceding the millennials. They are the first generation to grow up with personal computers to some extent, thus defining what we now consider tech-savviness.

But in order to find out what it really means to be a Gen Xer, you have to ask those who know it better than others, the Xers themselves. “What is THE most Gen X thing?” someone asked on Ask Reddit and the responses started rolling in, revealing why and how this particular generation is unique.

From traits like quiet quitting to being the last ones to remember life before the internet, these are the surprising things characteristic to Generation X, according to people who gave it a good thought.

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Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Being the last unreachable generation. There were hours where no one knew where we were and our parents has zero way to contact us.

nakedreader_ga , Taylor Heery Report

Final score:

471points

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To find out more about generational differences and what’s unique about Generation X, we spoke with Lauren McMenemy, a professional writer, journalist, and marketer with a burning desire to tell stories, to shine a light on society, to advocate for better mental health and self-care, who was happy to share some insights into the topic. Lauren is also a writing mentor and coach who runs workshops and training to help people get their words down right.

“I've never really been a believer in strict generational differences - we're all different in different ways! - but I do believe there is something to it when it comes to technology,” Lauren explained.

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Being old enough to remember (and appreciate) life before the Internet and cellphones but being young enough to transition into that world without a hitch.

TikTokTinMan , Orin Zebest Report

Final score:

436points

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Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane I'm just on that border between Gen X and the oldest Millennials but my sister is 8 years older than me. We would call the local rock station to request a song then sit there with a tape at the ready to hit record as soon as they played our song. Repeat that about 10x and you've got a nice mixtape.

HoopOnPoop , Mario Spann Report

Final score:

403points

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Being able to entertain ourselves for hours. This came from being latchkey kids.

I didn’t mind the covid lockdowns too much at all.

Outside-Flamingo-240 Report

Final score:

388points

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“Gen X may not have grown up with the internet, but we did grow up with ever-advancing technology. The '80s were all about video games and the welcoming of computers into our homes, and it seemed every year there was a new version of Nintendo to covet. To me, that makes us adaptable and flexible - especially in terms of technology, but in general, too,” Lauren explained.

Lauren added that “we also had to amuse ourselves much more often - we were the 'latch-key' generation, with parents working full-time - so are less reliant on screens and can think through challenges with logic and precision,” she explained.

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Remembering phone numbers.

lordph8 , Markus Spiske Report

Final score:

381points

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Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Calling your girlfriend's house and hoping that her dad does not pick up. Kids will never know this fear.

dtrickk , Arnie Kim Report

Final score:

335points

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Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Massive CD collections neatly stored in binders for easy access.

Suspicious-Sleep5227 , Luke Jones Report

Final score:

332points

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Moreover, Lauren sees the Gen Xers as a bridge of sorts; “we can take the millennials' ideas and translate them for older generations, and can help smooth communication and ideological differences between them.”

“We're also the forgotten generation, as the two generations on either side of us are such huge cohorts, which very much plays into the ‘slacker’ mentality of Gen X - we can get passionate, for sure, but it takes a lot to rile us up,” Lauren explained.

She also believes that Gen Xers are also used to be overlooked and making their own way, or being stuck in the middle. “As parents, I think Gen Xers are less ‘helicopter’ parents, more willing to let their kids make their own mistakes (but I say that as a non-parent!),” the writer and essayist concluded.

The fact that our generation was kind if passed over. When I started my career, they wanted us to be deferential to older more experienced co-workers, “pay your dues and wait your turn!” As soon as we became more seasoned, they were like, look at all these amazing millennials and their great ideas! We’re like the Jan Brady of generations.

atlantachicago Report

Final score:

324points

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Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Video arcade. Before Gen-X, graphics weren’t good enough, and after Gen-X, you’d play the games on your own home console. No other generation claimed them like we did.

Masonsknob , K Strange Report

Final score:

266points

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#10

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Swatch Watches.

fredfreddy4444 , srgpicker Report

Final score:

266points

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Ches Yamada 1 year ago (edited)

Aww, I love these. They had such funky designs! They still do, but I miss the one I found when I was little at a local park. No one claimed it so I got it. It was so cool.

46points

Bina Wei 1 year ago

Same, I miss them

2points

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Molly Whuppie 1 year ago

yes I loved swatch watches! and they had those coloured rubber bands that went over the face to prevent it from getting scratched too.

9points

Greymom 1 year ago

Swatch Guard😁. I had a white Swatch knockoff with a red Swatch Guard because the real ones were too pricey for our tight budget. Still thought I was the coolest thing in town 😁

0points

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Upstaged75 1 year ago

I still remember my purple Swatch with the pink face-guard. It's wasn't cool enough to just have the watch. You HAD to have a guard too. :)

1point

Shelby Minchew 1 year ago

They made those gigantic ones to put on the wall for your clock!

1point

Id row 1 year ago

lol, these were a must have.

1point

Daniel Atkins 1 year ago

People would wear two on one wrist (the 80's) I wore two watches together neither of them swatches just because it seemed cool.

1point

Caffeine72 1 year ago

Wearing one now!

0points

Ambry Petersen 1 year ago

Or watches in general.

0points

Xx Xx 1 year ago

You had to have at least 2 swatches watches wearing them simultaneously..

0points

Mary Kelly 1 year ago

loved my swatch....why, still boggles me...but there's no denying that i did love it

0points

Tina Apicelli 1 year ago

What about the swatch clothes, I had mini skirts and a pair of jeans. I still own the jeans but can't get in them.lol

0points

Alessandro Zuffi 1 year ago

You can still buy them, and yes, they're still c**p

0points

Marilyn Russell 1 year ago

My dad got me a cool clear one back on the 80’s actually from Switzerland when he went on a business trip. Sadly one of my sister’s “friends” stole it when she had a house party.

0points

Regina Granat 1 year ago

You should see my collection! I get new ones every time I go overseas. They have them now specifically to the cities they're sold in. I have easily over 20 over the span of the years.

0points

Mari Mar Pinta 1 year ago

Still wear mine at 45!!! Love them so much!

0points

Terry Tobias 1 year ago

Mine was so 80's! Pink and turquoise were my colors and my swatch went with everything, from my high-top sneakers to the scrunchy in my hair!

0points

Lucy Timmons 1 year ago

I am Gen z and I have a brand new swatch watch, never knew these were old

0points

Rebekah 1 year ago

I loved my Swatches. I remember being told to keep the white one clean by using this certain type of tooth paste. Pearl Drops? I don't know if it worked or not, but I definitely scrubbed it each night.

0points

Um No 1 year ago

My mom got me one of these for Christmas! It's so cool, I wear it often (along with my members only jacket 😁)

0points

Ozymandias73 1 year ago

Anybody remember that show Parker Lewis Can't Lose? Their thing was saying: "Synchronize Swatches!" IIRC one of them even had that rubber watch guard on it.

0points

Heather Vandegrift 1 year ago (edited)

😱 I had ONE Swatch watch, it had Ouija numbers and Yes No beneath the numbers and human hands on the numbers and a blueish grey fuzzy band and it was AWESOME!!! I found it by googling and it's the Swatch Samtgeist if you want to look at it. I have no idea what ever happened to mine, and I don't have $100 to get a replacement 😞

0points

Michelle C 1 year ago

Yup! I think I still have a few of my Disney watch is like this and I’m a middle millennial.

0points

Linda Hixon 1 year ago

I loved mine. Wish it still worked

0points

Weim Central 1 year ago

You can take it to a Swatch store and they will look at it and replace the battery for free. I was amazed!

0points

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Marcos Valencia 1 year ago (edited)

I still use Swatch, but at the time I mostly used Casio.

0points

Sue Bradley 1 year ago

I still wear them!! Not the funky ones but a plain looking one, main reason is they are totally waterproof so never get destroyed:)

0points

Alex Martin 1 year ago

Swatches

-1point

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#11

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Always having a pencil in the car for the cassettes.

SillyPuttyGizmo , Monoklon Report

Final score:

264points

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#12

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Be kind, Rewind.

i4get98 , JJBers Report

Final score:

262points

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#13

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Hair crimper, riding bikes with no helmets, buying smokes for my dad at the shop. Putting baby oil on and sunbaking (cause we were literally baking ourselves haha) doing whatever I wanted for one to two hours after school by myself cause parents were still working. Being allowed to roam the streets until almost dark. I forgot to add getting your hair permed curly.

Master-Cricket9906 , Swapnil Sharma Report

Final score:

258points

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#14

My kid called me a boomer, and when I told him, 'No, I’m Gen X,' he said, 'No one cares.' I couldn’t argue with that.

AlDef Report

Final score:

249points

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#15

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane The Sony Walkman.

I_fix_things_right , k.e.'s kloset Report

Final score:

247points

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#16

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Never getting mentioned in the news. It always goes from gen z to millennials to boomers.

my_eternal , Roman Kraft Report

Final score:

226points

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#17

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane What defined Gen X growing up was living under the constant threat of nuclear war. If you wonder why Gen X is defined as 'whatever,' it's because we believed that at some point in our future, we'd end up living, or dying, in a nuclear winter.
The USSR was the 'evil empire,' and watching the succession of premiers being executed or disappeared confirmed that. So much so, that when Gorbachev actually started the process of Perestroika, I didn't believe it. I thought it was some kind of plot by the Russians to make us let our guard down.

The threat of nuclear war was constant. The continuation of human life on the planet was not a given.

I think there are many similarities between Gen X and the current generation (don't think it's Gen Z, but the kids currently going through elementary school). So, another 'whatever' generation growing up during COVID and the whole climate change crisis.

ruatrollorruserious , Pixabay Report

Final score:

218points

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#18

Telephone conversations. Like, calling up your friend and chatting for hours.

starksaredead Report

Final score:

214points

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#19

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Mixtapes. Actual cassette tapes recorded on a boom box from songs on the radio. Bonus for Ramones tunes as part of the mix.

stucon77 , Brian Pennington Report

Final score:

201points

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#20

Blockbuster on a friday night.

SuvenPan Report

Final score:

195points

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#21

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Pong, space invaders, being the last generation to have to walk across the room to change the tv channel, being able to fix the tv by pounding on it the right way, getting the brown box for the tv and there only being 3 stations.

Also being totally forgotten about by the other two generations. Like door mice.

Ok_Mycologist_5569 , Nick Ares Report

Final score:

193points

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#22

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Reality Bites and Singles. Record stores.

UnluckyChain1417 , Franz Jachim Report

Final score:

181points

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#23

The smoking section in a restaurant.

FastAndForgetful Report

Final score:

180points

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#24

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Staying out until the street lights came on, riding your bike with a playing card in the spokes. Staring at that sweet IROC-Z down the street. First-generation CD players. Cordless phones. Skate City. FINISH HIM!

jbaretta01 , Dmitriy Protsenko Report

Final score:

170points

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#25

Quiet quitting. We've been doing that since the '90s, but they just called it slacking back then.

melance Report

Final score:

154points

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#26

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Grunge music: Working with a handful of Gen-Xers and the only music they can consistently agree on is the Pearl Jam station.

coderedmountaindewd , Tammy Lo Report

Final score:

152points

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#27

The Crow... Movie and soundtrack.

Universe_Zen Report

Final score:

141points

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#28

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Beepers. It felt so important to have one, even cooler if you paid extra for the voicemail service.

nousername56789 , nara.getarchive Report

Final score:

141points

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#29

Garbage Pail Kids.

Raspberries-Are-Evil Report

Final score:

122points

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#30

Breakdancing.

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Final score:

116points

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#31

Sun-In for hair. Feathered bangs. Blue eyeliner. Loves Baby Soft. Jellies.

star-67 Report

Final score:

38points

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#32

Trapper keepers.

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Final score:

28points

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#33

Watching mtv headbangers ball Saturday morning, ready to rec on the vhs when my favourite bands came on.

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Final score:

28points

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#34

MapQuest printouts for road trips.

anon Report

Final score:

28points

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#35

Using a payphonett to make a collect call with the intent of the call being declined. It's a messaging system that notifies your ride that you're ready to be picked up from the movies where you watched back to the future. Or from the arcade where you just blew a roll of quarters on super Mario bros.

sumpnrather Report

Final score:

26points

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#36

Blowing inside Nintendo cartridges.

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Final score:

25points

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#37

Oregon Trail.

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Final score:

23points

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#38

Columbia house collect notices.

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22points

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#39

Valley Girl culture and talk.

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Final score:

21points

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#40

Bartles & Jaymes. The original White Claw.

Tacosweaty Report

Final score:

15points

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#41

Someone Asks "What Is The Most Gen X Thing?" And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane Members Only jackets!

abeeyore , wikipedia Report

Final score:

14points

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

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What do you think ?

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Melissa Mayhem 1 year ago

"Leaded or Unleaded?"

40points

Chucky Cheezburger 1 year ago

And not being able to pay at the pump.

21points

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Miss Frankfurter 1 year ago

When somebody came out and pumped your gas for you, checked the oil and washed your windows.

7points

Tree P 1 year ago

My first car, a 1972 Chevelle, took leaded gas. I got nervous when they fazed it out, until my step Dad explained it could run on unleaded.

1point

Jessica Bertram 1 year ago (edited)

latchkey kid here. played alone or with my brother on afternoons. Another thing i think defined our generation: we were the first to really acknowledge our mental health, as a nomal thing to work on. Gen X also wasn't *nearly* as progressive as we made ourselves out to be. i suppose all generations are more progressive than their predecessors. it makes sense.

19points

similarly 1 year ago

I can remember us kids, the oldest being 10, left alone literally all day.

8points

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Malditos Bares 1 year ago

Being an individual and not an insectional box-ticker in order to define yourself and your identity.

16points

D20 Games 1 year ago

Preach

2points

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similarly 1 year ago

Nobody mentioned parachute pants. I'm so disappointed. I had a windbreaker in junior high that I thought was the coolest jacket. Black with a white stripe down each sleeve. I'd give just about anything to get one like it.

15points

debster 1 year ago

I was high end of poor. I had parachute pants and I loved them. I’m sure they were knock offs. Made sounds while I walked in them. So many pockets!!!!

3points

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V-rabbit 1 year ago

Remember folding jeans and rolling them up? Stir up pants? B.u.m equipment clothing

1point

Tina Richell 1 year ago

My brother wore them all the time! He would wear them now if he could find a pair.

0points

Agnes Jekyll 1 year ago

Did you guys have Au Coton? They had fuzzy parachute pants with a draw string. Heaven.

0points

Alexandra Comeau 1 year ago

I feel like this is all me but I am Gen Y...

13points

My O My 1 year ago

Same here. But I think I'm on the verge so that may be the reason.

2points

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Bill Evs 1 year ago

For me as a Gen X-er the best part is the whole not caring thing. Yes I'm generalising and yes it does come across at times like lack of ambition or passion and can potentially be detrimental. However we did/do have a way of looking at and/ or coping with the world with a kind of stoicism that creates a solid foundation for dealing with times when the sh*t properly hits the fan.

11points

Frankthetank 1 year ago

Babysitting kids for hours or all night at 11 years old! Babysitter's club books!! Oh yeah, my favorite: never getting in trouble with cops- they would just pour it out and make us "go home"

10points

badger 1 year ago

Gen-X is the coolest, just because X is the coolest letter.

8points

Chris Winchester 1 year ago (edited)

And the coolest band

2points

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debster 1 year ago

Parents that let us watch in the 70s SNL, PBS (after dark was Benny Hill, Monty Python, The Goodies, etc.).

8points

Katherine Dobias 1 year ago

Eating free food samples at costco like nanaimo bars. Never bought them. We only ever ate them there for free. Back when Sears existed, my brother and I would sit on the couch and watch tv at the store while my parents spent all day shopping or rather examining each item and learning from the salesman how to use them so they wouldn't have to read the instructions manual. When my parents couldn't find us, we'd get paged by annoyed cashierists. And when we got there, the cashierists would have to page our parents cause they didn't stick around long enough for us to come.

6points

Matthew Schilken 1 year ago

#31 the lengths we went to to buy weed

6points

Marissa J Bradshaw 1 year ago

45s, concert tix for 7$, actual ticket stubs, Aqua Net Super Hold (white can), records with lyrics, pictures and concepts on the sleeve. Smoking and talking for hours in coffee shops. Dancing at Skoochies. Grunge not being 'grunge', but just our Seattle sound. The Frontier Room, The Vogue and The Off Ramp. Cheap vintage clothes.

5points

Tree P 1 year ago

Yes! 45s! And that little yellow thing you put in the center to play it! You know what I mean!

0points

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I love the 80’s 1 year ago

Benetton, Multiples, Norma Kamaili, Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, Service Merchandise, Interview magazine, Turtles, Coconuts, and Record Bar.

4points

Skylar Jaxx 1 year ago

It's 10 o'clock do you know where your kids are??? Quote on the local news every night.

3points

D20 Games 1 year ago

Cool article. I'm gen x. The basics of our generation are as follows; "don't care, whatever, latchkey kids, slackers", and my personal favorite, "respect is EARNED, not GIVEN."

3points

Katherine Dobias 1 year ago

Waiting after school wondering if your mom will show up to pick you up or if you have to do the 40min walk back home. You just never knew. Coming home after your 40min walk to find that your mom's not home and must've gone to pick you up and then having to find an unlocked window to climb through. It was always either the basement window or kitchen window. Calling 911 for being home alone and feeling scared that one time even though I was 13. My brother did it too when he was 11. We were always home alone and it usually never bothered us except for those one offs. Letting salesmen into our home who had a suitcase of stuff they were selling, clothes, chocolate, gadgets, vaccuum etc. Chewing on dandelion stems in the field. Throwing rocks at a pine tree to dislodge the cones and later hitting them with rocks against the ground to get the pine nuts out and eat them during recess. Tipping men who would from time to time go up 5 flights of stairs carrying refilled gas tank for our stove.

3points

Brindle Nutter 1 year ago

The last generation where your grandma wrote a note to the local 7-11 giving permission for a couple or 8 year olds to buy wine coolers and a pack of Marlboros for grandma.

3points

Bina Wei 1 year ago

Nah. Am older gen Z. My mother did this. Sent me off with lists too.

0points

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Vanessa S 1 year ago

Technically a millennial but barely I am stuck between I remember most of this the only one I didn't have to deal with getting up to change the channel

3points

Helena R 1 year ago

I'm a millennial, but I had older parents/grandparents so I am still familiar with a lot of these. My grandmothers tv - someone had to get up to change the channel until a relative finally bought her a new one

3points

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John Schindler 1 year ago

I loved Punk and Alternative music, still do, nobody believes me when I tell them I remember Chumbawamba as an 80s Anarchist Punk band, to most people, their just a one hit wonder.🤣

2points

Kelly c 1 year ago

The world feeling when the wall fell. That feeling of being a kid old enough to get all the hope and joy that had just manifested into our lives for our future, a more peaceful future. The feeling being ripped away and then some when the towers fell.

2points

Alias Fakaname 1 year ago

Kurt Cobain (RIP)

2points

Beck 1 year ago

Yall need to watch the goldbergs. 100% 80s!

2points

l bee 1 year ago

For the boomer one, that stings. My 11-year-old nephew called me a boomer not long ago and I'm like, "Uh, that's gramma and grampa." He said, and I quote, "Close enough." The audacity of that statement.

1point

Runs with scissors 1 year ago

1. No school shootings, no active shooter drills. 2. Hair metal bands 3. I was healthy and fit.(I know, that's a personal one.) 4. We had hope for a good future because our folks told us that if we worked hard and stayed loyal to our employers we would move up in the company and have a good retirement fund. (Life was much simpler then.) 5. Gas was 0.83 cents per gallon. 6. Fashion, hair, and makeup were colorful, interesting, and attainable for almost everyone. 7. Skipping school and hanging with friends, playing poker and eating junk food all day. 8. Sneaking out at night and not getting hassled by the cops. No curfew. 9. Candy bars 11 for $1.00 10. Original Coke-a-Cola

1point

T Ri 1 year ago

We were Lord of the Flies Fabulous during the summer in my neighborhood. Not an adult to be seen or heard from. And nobody cared.

1point

Mari Mar Pinta 1 year ago

Thank You for the trip down memory lane!

1point

Katherine Dobias 1 year ago

Burning songs from limewire on cds and watching it download slowly for several hours during the day. Having to pay library fines and rogers vhs video and block buster video fines. We were always late to return stuff. Never kept track of date returns. Watching commercial channel and calling in to buy the latest vaccuum on sale that turned out to be c**p. We could never get a good vaccuum. Back when youtube first came out 2006 or 2007, I would wait several hours during the day for the video to load and watch a few mins at a time. I was lucky if I was ever able to finish watching a video. In the 90s, I played disney computer games burned on cds. We had a generator for when the electricity went out. We had a water heater we had to turn on a day before wanting to shower. Not being able to use the internet because someone's on the phone. The phone bill being so high that one random month because someone left the phone off the receiver and forgot to hang up.

1point

Daaaaaaaaaaa 1 year ago

Excellent article.

1point

Sorcha Dugan-Wolf 1 year ago

Today we hit 20 degrees and while I was letting the dogs out I was singing "Tropical Heatwave", like Walter Matthua from Grumpy Old Men. I loved those movies when I was younger and still do.

1point

Amy Ferguson-Shannon 1 year ago

That's funny I associate "tropical heatwave" with the movie White Christmas. I'm sure it's in lots of movies

1point

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Maple Porkly 1 year ago

I grew up at the start of the millennial generation. I remember all these things. My husband being a few years younger, however, doesn't. Our approach to parenting can be quite different sometimes. I'll let our kid stay outside after dark unsupervised (no phone to reach her). My husband, on the other hand, will be calling her in as soon as it's starting to get a little dark (she'll be in the front yard). She's eight, not a toddler.

1point

Synsepalum 1 year ago

Has anyone else read the Douglas Copeland book "Gen-X"?

1point

debster 1 year ago

Do you recommend?

0points

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I'mNotARoboat 1 year ago

A bunch of this also applies to a big chunk of millennials.

0points

T. Schranck 1 year ago

Thinking Reagan was a good President is very Gen-X thing to do.

0points

V-rabbit 1 year ago

Toys in cereal boxes

0points

All's Gravy 1 year ago

Gen Xers died with Thatcher's, Reagan's & Gordon Gekko's "Greed is good", neoliberalism.

0points

Tana Arthur 1 year ago

❤

0points

Nolgoth 1 year ago

As an older millennial i remember like 90% of these things

0points

Crystal Ruiz 1 year ago

I lived through a this....and I'm a millenial

0points

Amy Ferguson-Shannon 1 year ago

The defining moment for gen x is supposed to be remembering the challenger explosion. That happened in 1986. I was in the 4th grade. I remember we watched it on TV and the teachers bawling.

3points

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Katherine Dobias 1 year ago

Playing with marbles, racket ball, and stray cats after school. Using a plastic bag to slide down a snow covered hill. Using a basket tied from balcony to roll up groceries to 5th floor apartment complex that didn't have an elevator. Using a long wiper to wipe water on the floor onto the drain instead of a mop and bucket for cleaning. Eating snow and making slushies. Using a stove pipe to roast chestnuts. Falling asleep near the stove pipe in winter because we didn't have heating. Using weighted blankets. Leaving a bowl of milk outside the door for stray cats. Spitting on cars from the balcony and bridge. Playing with bubbles on the balcony. Playing sandman at the playground as a teenager. Sitting with friends just to talk on slides, swings, monkey bars etc as a teenager. Stealing candy from 711. Getting 5 different slushie flavors and reading our zodiac and advice columns at 711. Tooney tuesdays at kfc during a 75 min recess, and a tooney for a pizza slice

0points

Tunk 1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Bina Wei 1 year ago

Im an older Gen Z but not only were my parents older. Growing up as a kid before 14 or so, so was my town. The only internet came from the desktop for me for many years. My first phone was a dinosaur nokia and I loved it so much. Anyway point is, despite my generation i relate to many of these posts. I spend half my childhood without internet or a cellphone, had the same Be back before dark rule, etc. I guess its the same for many small towns in the early 2000s to 2010. My town is now a semi big one now but its weird to remember how some of it started. Despite being quite young. For example I remember a highway that didn't used to be there about 20 years agoz and the memories that came from us being 5 and pretending the bus was a rollercoaster when it went over the railway. And what an old building used to be 10 years ago, etc. So yeah, most here is specific to Generations but I also think small not quite developed towns make some of that universal. Older parents and early 2000s tim

0points

Tinderella 1 year ago

This doesn’t count though. It’s still not universal no matter how old your parents are or how small the town. Because it didn’t happen in the 80s and 90s.

2points

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POST

Melissa Mayhem 1 year ago

"Leaded or Unleaded?"

40points

Chucky Cheezburger 1 year ago

And not being able to pay at the pump.

21points

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Miss Frankfurter 1 year ago

When somebody came out and pumped your gas for you, checked the oil and washed your windows.

7points

Tree P 1 year ago

My first car, a 1972 Chevelle, took leaded gas. I got nervous when they fazed it out, until my step Dad explained it could run on unleaded.

1point

Jessica Bertram 1 year ago (edited)

19points

similarly 1 year ago

I can remember us kids, the oldest being 10, left alone literally all day.

8points

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Malditos Bares 1 year ago

Being an individual and not an insectional box-ticker in order to define yourself and your identity.

16points

D20 Games 1 year ago

Preach

2points

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similarly 1 year ago

15points

debster 1 year ago

I was high end of poor. I had parachute pants and I loved them. I’m sure they were knock offs. Made sounds while I walked in them. So many pockets!!!!

3points

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V-rabbit 1 year ago

Remember folding jeans and rolling them up? Stir up pants? B.u.m equipment clothing

1point

Tina Richell 1 year ago

My brother wore them all the time! He would wear them now if he could find a pair.

0points

Agnes Jekyll 1 year ago

Did you guys have Au Coton? They had fuzzy parachute pants with a draw string. Heaven.

0points

Alexandra Comeau 1 year ago

I feel like this is all me but I am Gen Y...

13points

My O My 1 year ago

Same here. But I think I'm on the verge so that may be the reason.

2points

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Bill Evs 1 year ago

11points

Frankthetank 1 year ago

Babysitting kids for hours or all night at 11 years old! Babysitter's club books!! Oh yeah, my favorite: never getting in trouble with cops- they would just pour it out and make us "go home"

10points

badger 1 year ago

Gen-X is the coolest, just because X is the coolest letter.

8points

Chris Winchester 1 year ago (edited)

And the coolest band

2points

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debster 1 year ago

Parents that let us watch in the 70s SNL, PBS (after dark was Benny Hill, Monty Python, The Goodies, etc.).

8points

Katherine Dobias 1 year ago

6points

Matthew Schilken 1 year ago

#31 the lengths we went to to buy weed

6points

Marissa J Bradshaw 1 year ago

5points

Tree P 1 year ago

Yes! 45s! And that little yellow thing you put in the center to play it! You know what I mean!

0points

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I love the 80’s 1 year ago

Benetton, Multiples, Norma Kamaili, Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, Service Merchandise, Interview magazine, Turtles, Coconuts, and Record Bar.

4points

Skylar Jaxx 1 year ago

It's 10 o'clock do you know where your kids are??? Quote on the local news every night.

3points

D20 Games 1 year ago

Cool article. I'm gen x. The basics of our generation are as follows; "don't care, whatever, latchkey kids, slackers", and my personal favorite, "respect is EARNED, not GIVEN."

3points

Katherine Dobias 1 year ago

3points

Brindle Nutter 1 year ago

The last generation where your grandma wrote a note to the local 7-11 giving permission for a couple or 8 year olds to buy wine coolers and a pack of Marlboros for grandma.

3points

Bina Wei 1 year ago

Nah. Am older gen Z. My mother did this. Sent me off with lists too.

0points

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Vanessa S 1 year ago

Technically a millennial but barely I am stuck between I remember most of this the only one I didn't have to deal with getting up to change the channel

3points

Helena R 1 year ago

3points

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John Schindler 1 year ago

I loved Punk and Alternative music, still do, nobody believes me when I tell them I remember Chumbawamba as an 80s Anarchist Punk band, to most people, their just a one hit wonder.🤣

2points

Kelly c 1 year ago

2points

Alias Fakaname 1 year ago

Kurt Cobain (RIP)

2points

Beck 1 year ago

Yall need to watch the goldbergs. 100% 80s!

2points

l bee 1 year ago

1point

Runs with scissors 1 year ago

1point

T Ri 1 year ago

We were Lord of the Flies Fabulous during the summer in my neighborhood. Not an adult to be seen or heard from. And nobody cared.

1point

Mari Mar Pinta 1 year ago

Thank You for the trip down memory lane!

1point

Katherine Dobias 1 year ago

1point

Daaaaaaaaaaa 1 year ago

Excellent article.

1point

Sorcha Dugan-Wolf 1 year ago

Today we hit 20 degrees and while I was letting the dogs out I was singing "Tropical Heatwave", like Walter Matthua from Grumpy Old Men. I loved those movies when I was younger and still do.

1point

Amy Ferguson-Shannon 1 year ago

That's funny I associate "tropical heatwave" with the movie White Christmas. I'm sure it's in lots of movies

1point

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Maple Porkly 1 year ago

1point

Synsepalum 1 year ago

Has anyone else read the Douglas Copeland book "Gen-X"?

1point

debster 1 year ago

Do you recommend?

0points

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I'mNotARoboat 1 year ago

A bunch of this also applies to a big chunk of millennials.

0points

T. Schranck 1 year ago

Thinking Reagan was a good President is very Gen-X thing to do.

0points

V-rabbit 1 year ago

Toys in cereal boxes

0points

All's Gravy 1 year ago

Gen Xers died with Thatcher's, Reagan's & Gordon Gekko's "Greed is good", neoliberalism.

0points

Tana Arthur 1 year ago

❤

0points

Nolgoth 1 year ago

As an older millennial i remember like 90% of these things

0points

Crystal Ruiz 1 year ago

I lived through a this....and I'm a millenial

0points

Amy Ferguson-Shannon 1 year ago

The defining moment for gen x is supposed to be remembering the challenger explosion. That happened in 1986. I was in the 4th grade. I remember we watched it on TV and the teachers bawling.

3points

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Katherine Dobias 1 year ago

0points

Tunk 1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Bina Wei 1 year ago

0points

Tinderella 1 year ago

This doesn’t count though. It’s still not universal no matter how old your parents are or how small the town. Because it didn’t happen in the 80s and 90s.

2points

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Someone Asks “What Is The Most Gen X Thing?” And 30 People Dive Deep Down Memory Lane

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