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Times change and so do the generations of people. Things that everyone would take for granted are long gone. Like the days when passengers would casually smoke on flights, and when driving drunk was nothing to surprise anyone.

Similarly, people lose interest in things that were once a quintessential part of their lives. Like, television. Today, however, much of it has turned online, for better or worse.

This Ask Reddit thread is shedding light on things from the past that have lost their respect over time and now are a mere shadow of what they used to be. “What was once highly respected that is now a complete joke?” someone asked and the illuminating responses starting rolling in one by one.

Below we wrapped up the most interesting ones, so let us know in the comments if you agree or not!

#1

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Hobbies. I am a hobbyist musician, and will never try to make money off of my music. I simply enjoy creating it with zero expectations.


Hustle culture ruined a lot of that because now every time I share my music with people, it turns into a conversation about monetization or how I’m wasting my time on something. It’s hard to even find likeminded people who want to collaborate without it turning into some big thing.


Time enjoyed is not time wasted.

Puzzleheaded_Pie_454 , Priscilla Du Preez Report

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Ann-Marie Bentley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love painting but I'm never going to be able to sell any off it (I wouldn't want the pressure even if I could paint) but I enjoy it even if it ends up looking like a 4 yo threw up after eating paint. Sometimes we do things just to enjoy it.

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#2

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Working in the educational system. Being a teacher still sounds worthy of respect, but working as one is a joke. Kids are free to do whatever they want, you're barely allowed to punish bad behaviour in any way, school politics stop from changing anything, parents always blame you etc.

AlecsThorne , Julia M Cameron Report

#3

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now The American Flag, as an U.S. citizen. I know this will ring different to different people, but when I used to come across the flag it was usually displayed to show respect and pride. Now when I see it out in public, it's usually tied to some slobbish a*****e who has it attached to their truck bed, or slaps offensive bumper stickers that mix the flag with some s****y slogan. I feel like most the times I come across the flag now, it's being used by an a*****e to express F**k You.

TSiQ1618 , Brett Sayles Report

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While there are many things that have lost their popularity throughout the years and there may be countless different reasons why, experts notice the broader tendency of people losing their loyalty to many brands, services, and products. Apparently, it’s becoming harder and harder for companies to keep their clients and customers tied to them.

Ask any CEO, and they will confirm that customer loyalty is an important factor in the success of any business. By cultivating customer loyalty, businesses can ensure that customers are satisfied and come back for more.

#4

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now The Supreme Court.

Tomegunn1 Report

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Lynne Hammar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was going to add this! Their credibility has plummeted, and they earned it.

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#6

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Healthcare! I've been in it 20 years it's changed so much. It's a joke. I'm in USA so....it's just gotten more corporate.

queenofwants , National Cancer Institute Report

The key to creating customer loyalty lies in providing exceptional service and value for money. This means that customers must be given what they want, when they want it, and at a fair price. Many businesses reward customers for their loyalty, whether through discounts or other incentives.

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Another way to build customer loyalty is to be available to answer customers' questions and provide assistance when needed. This could include providing customer service over the phone, online chat, or in person. As well, businesses should be open and honest about their products and services.

Creating a sense of community and belonging in acquiring long-term customer loyalty is also key. This is often done through social media platforms, newsletters, or customer feedback programs.

#7

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Elon Musk

terrificallytom Report

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Mia Hamsa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was known he was an idiotic clown brat with inherited fortune to a lot of people in the bay area. It was (and is) painful and aggravating to hear and read people idolising him thinking he invented Tesla. Glad things are coming up now, albeit possibly too late.

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#8

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now The Guinness Book of World Records

Once a well-established and professional collection of every impressive human feat, now a quick ego boost for rich kids that have barely enough talent to balance an egg on their forehead for 15 seconds on a July Afternoon at exactly 11:55 AM while wearing a Hello Kitty onesie

peterpingston , guinnessworldrecords Report

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Chris D'Asta
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That time and date specification of the Hello Kitty onesie: Straight up gold. You rock.

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#9

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Dr. Martens‘ Boots.

A British institution, you bought a pair, they lasted for years. Alas, „private equity“ got involved, manufacturing was sent offshore, and the quality went down like a submarine.

You are better off buying a pair of boots from the company that used to make them for DM, than a „genuine“ pair of DMs nowadays, their quality is a shadow of what it once was.

Chriscl000 , Kilian Seiler Report

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OmBoyGanesh
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here’s the original company still making the original quality boots. They’re now branded under their own name rather than the now Hot Topic quality DM. - https://us.nps-solovair.com/collections/boots

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This new study conducted byTechSee, however, showed that difficult times have come for many companies in terms of keeping their customers tied to their brands. It has to do with the fact that the pandemic created a new economic situation for most industries, with many sectors and niches struggling to keep their sales high.

#10

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Journalists, and no this isn't some right wing fake news thing. Consumerism has turned hard-hitting journalism into clickbait b******t because that's the only way they can turn a profit anymore. There's still real journalists out there but no new ones are being born, very sad.

Josiah55 , The Climate Reality Project Report

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EmBree
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our local newspaper hired two young inexperienced journalists and put them in the outback part of the region. The part that other journalists don't bother to cover. They are amazing! They have uncovered corruption and criminality. Their interviews hit the nail, while the experienced journalists fumble. Their topics are interesting, even if it's stories that are not relevant to us. It is a joy to see that young journalists have the skills.

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#11

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now "We are a family here" said by anyone who isnt your family.

Merlinshighcousin , MART PRODUCTION Report

#12

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Staying at a job out of loyalty.

YourManagerOnDuty , Magnet.me Report

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Uncanny
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Loyalty is a two way street. If an employee shows loyalty and it’s reciprocated by the employer, then it’s advantageous for everyone.

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In fact, consumer loyalty towards brands has declined ever since the pandemic, and that is resulting in higher rates of churn with numerous consumers switching to competitor brands with all things having been considered and taken into account.

43% of the consumers who participated in this survey stated that they canceled subscriptions or switched to different products primarily because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up giving them better customer service. Additionally, 39% of consumers stated that they switched brands after being approached by a competitor.

#13

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now The food pyramid

Backpack_Bob , RossHelen Report

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Nor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a bunch of bulldust!!! Eat what you want to eat, BUT IN MODERATION!!!! And to ALWAYS up the green veggies. Why do we always have to complicate sh!t????

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#14

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Most celebrities tbh

happylittleballerina Report

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Hawkmoon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks to social networks, we realize how disconnected from reality and fundamentally stupid they are. Not all of them, of course, but a lot nonetheless.

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#15

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now The US Postal Service. A decades long campaign to smear their reputation coupled with legislation designed to cripple the service has turned them from the reason Santa Claus isn't institutionalized in *Miracle and 34th Street* to a comedians punching bag. And yeah, last time I went to the post office the service was terribly slow, but they had one window open in a building with five windows. Seemed kind of understaffed.

dieinafirenazi Report

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Paul Neff
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So much this. They have been sabotaged by politics, funded by political donations from less capable competitors interested in pushing us to use their overpriced alternatives.

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#16

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now People are going to reflexively deny its initial popularity, but Facebook. It even used its exclusivity as its primary marketing tool during its initial launch only for colleges.

throwtempertantrum , Dawid Sokołowski Report

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Corvus
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I enjoyed it during the early years... nowadays I check it once every few months and even that feels like a chore.

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#17

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now McAfee antivirus

The_Athavulf , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McAfee Report

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Cyber Returns
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still gets bundled pre-installed on new computers and laptops. It's the first thing I uninstall

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#18

The three branches of US Govt.

Also, accountability and leadership

_JustAnAIRobot Report

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The Darkest Timeline
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the government is “of the people, by the people, for the people” who is failing who?

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#19

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Levi's blue jeans.

They used to last forever, now I'm lucky to get a year out of them. They always fail in the same spot too. No idea why but I'm not alone online about this.

I bought a pair of Lucky jeans on a deal. Never had a pair of them before. Now they just might be my new favorite.

Lincoln_Park_Pirate , Varun Gaba Report

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Stephanie Did It
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Levi's still have a 2 year warranty against manufacturing and fabric defects and a 6 month return policy. Levis used to be guaranteed for life. Still, If you turn in a worn out pair or jacket they will give you a gift card equal to the value of the traded in item, which can be used to purchase new merchandise at a Levi's store or on their website.

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#20

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Air travel

player007456 , Simon Maage Report

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NickTheDuck
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

now its just Premium and extra Premium (thx for telling me how to spell it)

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#21

Quora before it turned into the new Yahoo! Answers

notchandlerbing Report

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Mia Hamsa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is up with that?! I hadn't logged in in a few years and was taken aback by the amount of paid propaganda answers and just nothingness. Really sad, it was a great platform.

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#22

OSHA. Not even their fault either. There's been so much lobbying against them that the red tape is so insane that they can't effectively regulate workers exposure to toxic chemicals.

cration678 Report

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RafCo (he/him)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The supreme court is about to make regulation of any industry neigh impossible. The Republicans are pushing a legal theory that Congress cannot pass off the ability to regulate to executive agencies, that any and all regulatory action must be a direct act of Congress. Which is an institution which is totally incapable of being reactive, and can take years to pass any legislation at all. This would effectively destroy all regulatory bodies in the US. No more FDA, SEC, OSHA, FTC, etc. Should be interesting to see what companies start selling as food when there is zero regulation.

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#23

30 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They're Seen As A Joke Now Blizzard, the video game company.

cartoon_violence Report

#24

Craftsman Tools

megavikingman Report

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Falcon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True, my co-worker had clippers that he had for 15 years, they finally broke, he bought the exact same company ones again (for a hefty price) and those only lasted 2 years.

Chris D'Asta
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lifetime warranty. Replacements right at your local Sears. Craftsman rocked, Sears is dead.

Spocks's Mom
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oof. I really miss Sears. Want cloths? Sears. Want toys, tools, or appliances? Sears. Heck. You used to be able to order houses from Sears. Husband and I got our first flat screen tv off layaway from Sears. 💔☹️

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David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. Sad. With that lifetime warranty they used to be the poor mans Snapon.

Steve Robert
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fisch's Axiom: When a reliable and trustworthy company sells itself to a conglomerate, the product or service will never get better, it will always get worse.

Rachel Reynolds
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad still buys Craftsman like he's sponsored by them, but he complains all the time about the quality. I tried to get him to switch, but no, It has to be Craftsman. (If he buys me tools, I quietly return them and go get Husky or Milwaukee)

SAF saf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh.....they were supposedly going to try manufacturing the sockets and wrenches in Ft. Worth Texas but that's yet to happen. I believe some of the stuff is made in India now. Just another low quality garbage tool in an already saturated market. .

GEPowers
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Before 1970 they were great - overpriced - but great. On the other hand A 1964 Craftsman Circular saw costs $1200 in today's money.

Andy Frobig
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Compared to Mac or Snap-On, they were a bargain for comparable quality. And the warranty wasn't for life, it was FOREVER. You could walk into any Sears and get a replacement on the spot, no questions asked. When Sears brought out fully polished wrenches, it seemed like there was one S-K wrench in every set; I don't think it was an accident. I'm glad I got most of my Craftsman stuff 30+ years ago.

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Elchinero
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Craftsman" is all I have or buy ... since God was a little boy.

Andy Frobig
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it's from before 2000, you've got good stuff. After that, good luck using pliers with your fingers crossed

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#25

Sears.

Jephistopholes Report

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Chris D'Asta
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed. Above is mention of Craftsman tools. A number of us on here are old enough to remember the giant Sears catalog that we pored over all year to figure what we wanted for Christmas. Sears-Roebuck literally sold houses in their catalog.

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#26

Bank managers. They used to have serious power in local communities. Now they have to be glorified customer service reps a lot of the time

Glass_Houses_ Report

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David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think a lot of the power and prestige suffered from dilution. Go back in time and a town might have one or two banks. Also credit cards were not common. I can recall going into a bank for a $300 loan for parts so I could overhaul my car. Now I'd just toss that on my credit card. So if you pissed off the bank manager it mattered. Now there are umpteen banks in each town and each bank has multiple locations. Someone can be a lot lower in the food chain and still make manager and their powers are mainly their own local branch. My bank manager has been quite helpful a coupe of times and I like him but if I didn't I'd just go to a different branch.

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#28

Wells Fargo

mrbbrj Report

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JoJo Anisko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They've been slime bags at least fifty years, I know from personal experience.

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#29

Netflix originals

TheDankRocketMan Report

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RafCo (he/him)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like a lot of these shows. Particularly the ones from Germany, France, and Brazil.

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#30

Blackberry (RIM)

Userna-mey Report