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Nostalgia is a powerful substance. And everyone carries it within themselves. It can take us to a distant time and place in a heartbeat. All we need is the right trigger. Luckily, the subreddit of the same name has plenty of them.

Whether we're talking about multicolored pens, Tamagotchis, or having to manually turn off your computer, this online community shares pictures that make you feel old and hit right in the feels.

We at Bored Panda have already covered r/Nostalgia in our older publications here and here, but with 1 million members, its collection of sentimental gems keeps expanding really fast, so we thought we'd release an update to send you down memory lane once more. Safe travels!

#2

Remember The Visualizer In Windows Media Player? I'd Spend Hours Staring At It

Remember The Visualizer In Windows Media Player? I'd Spend Hours Staring At It

ZaPandaz Report

Even though we all feel nostalgia, it's not entirely clear what psychological purpose it serves. Is this longing feeling for the past good or bad?

Krystine Batcho, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at LeMoyne College, said the word was coined or invented a long time ago, over 300 years ago, and originally designated homesickness. 

"Semantic drift over the centuries has broadened that to the notion of longing for or missing aspects of a person's personal lived past," Batcho explained.

#3

In The 2000's Everyone Had A Cd Case In Their Car Half Full Of Burned Cds, And It Was Better Than What We Have Now

In The 2000's Everyone Had A Cd Case In Their Car Half Full Of Burned Cds, And It Was Better Than What We Have Now

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#4

Old Stereo Cabinets

Old Stereo Cabinets

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#5

Remember When You Didn’t Have To Enter Your Personal Info Online To Win A Soda?

Remember When You Didn’t Have To Enter Your Personal Info Online To Win A Soda?

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"Most of the research available today including my research argues that nostalgia serves a number of functions," Batcho said. "The thing that ties them all together is that nostalgia is an emotional experience that unifies."

In other words, it helps to unite our self, our sense of who we are, and our identity over time. This can be valuable because over time we change in incredible ways.

"We're not anywhere near the same as we were when we were three years old, for example," Batcho added. "Nostalgia by motivating us to remember the past in our own life helps to unite us to that authentic self and remind us of who we have been and then compare that to who we feel we are today." This also gives us an image of who we want to be in the future. 

#8

Having To Manually Roll Down/Up Your Car's Windows

Having To Manually Roll Down/Up Your Car's Windows

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sofacushionfort
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the US, the average new car is $47K, average annual income $53K. We wouldn’t mind manually rolling down the windows in affordable vehicles.

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#9

Is It Me Or Did You Guys Have Those Temporary Trailers Attached To You're School That Were Only Meant To Stay Up For Like 3 Years But Ended Up Staying For Like 30?

Is It Me Or Did You Guys Have Those Temporary Trailers Attached To You're School That Were Only Meant To Stay Up For Like 3 Years But Ended Up Staying For Like 30?

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Nostalgia also serves an essential psychological function in that it's a highly social emotion. It connects us to other people.

"In the beginning, when we're very young, it's part of what bonds us to the most important people in our life, our parents, our siblings, our friends. As we go through life, it can broaden out and extend to a wider sphere of the people we interact with. It's a social connectedness phenomenon and nostalgia is in that sense a very healthy pro-social emotion."

#10

Before Cell Phones… Here’s How You Found Your Friends

Before Cell Phones… Here’s How You Found Your Friends

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#11

Solitaire Card Backs

Solitaire Card Backs

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Who Panda 420
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know if you choose the one at the end sometimes an ace would shoot out of his sleeve. And if you choose the one with the castle the bats will move and the one with the robot some of the dials would move

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#12

The Art On The Back Of The Little Golden Book Series

The Art On The Back Of The Little Golden Book Series

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Jp@nda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stop i know right, does anyone remember the series of pickle books that i remember smelling like pickles, or am i just crazy??

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

Ernie stole the cool pose from Robin Williams

Nimues Child
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, what? Little Golden Books are gone? Kids today cannot have what we had apparently.

Nicely
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't worry they're still going, I buy them regularly for my daughter. She's got a ton of the marvel ones

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David Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandmother bought me every single golden book that was available back then.

Spleens the cat fan
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have at least five thousand of these Edit: the lion was my favorite character

June’s Very Own
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have a whole collection of these books. My elderly neighbours have them to me almost 8 years ago

Brian Stanton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

F*****s stole the Elephant Never Forgets idea from my illustrator mother!!!

TheoneandOri1
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually have some of these books on my bookshelf. Always kept them for the memories, and I'm not even 20

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

When cartoons were cartoons, and not a parade of agressive testosterone pumped world destroying superheroes who pulverize each other faces with atomic guns just for sake of fun

Chelle Snail
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yes! My favourite part was the train at the bottom right, the blue windows. I used to imagine looking into them or getting into that carriage and looking through them and wished so much for one of these trains like that as a large toy :D

Robyn Marsden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i had a dresser drawer full of those that i used to teach my sister how to read

Lea S.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Little Golden books are still being made and sold. One of my little friends has the Encanto one and this same art is on the back.

Cydney Golden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They still make them...I had them, my daughter had them, now my granddaughter has them.

Sue Sanders
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My auntie gave them to me on holidays. A little older than this one, but still . . .

Mel Schmidt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My precious Grandmother, a school teacher too, had the entire set of these. My most favorite pastime was to read these. I so miss them days.

Kris “ADHD_Carrier” Dudoich
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have all of my Little Golden books from childhood! Fun fact - you can actually tell the age of them but whether or not they have a barcode on the back cover

Laura Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have a collection of antique Little Golden Books and the ones my daughters had when they were growing up.

Richard Campbell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Little golden books! Dang. Brings back some great memories learning to read

Gaming Elementalist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My MIL actually found a bunch of these to keep at her house for all of her grandkids.

David Pierce
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved Little Golden Books as a child and I shared that love with my kids. I remember my wife dragging me out of the Little Golden Bookstore at Citywalk at Universal Studios Hollywood.

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

Mann I had a huge collection of these up till I lost my storage units to non payment 😭

Huddo's sister
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought I wasn't a fan of Golden Books, but when my mum was moving house I kept the ones I liked and it ended up being about 15 or 20. The Pokey Little Puppy was probably my favourite. I didn't like the one or two my mum had kept from her childhood- both prayer books I think, with creepy looking characters.

Nicole Tomme
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read golden books to my child now. I saved as many as I could.

Breanna Ardrey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have started collecting these for my little ones now! LOVE THEM. No questions

Linda Powder
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Son had the hugest and sweetest collection of children's books you can imagine. Kept them for 20 years, then finally donated them all in brand new condition. I wish I took pictures of them.

Michael Mccollum
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At universal orlando..Orlando... cat in the hat ride smells like and old library with really old books

Dean Garner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh wow. If I close my eyes I can almost hear my Mother reading me The Taxi that Hurried. Also loved the one with the firefighters. Excellent art.

Karen Jolicoeur
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were always a quality book in story and in durability, memories are great

Michele Wintzloff
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My favourite was a Grover (sesame st) one called "the monster at the end of this book"

Kristen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the metallic binding - brings back such great childhood memories.

Anna Kiss
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read them as a child and now I read them to my daughter 😊

Ugh_What_Now
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the fact that if you had a bully bigger sibling that these books were always accessible, had a sturdy corner, and with a quick whack to the center of their back gave you just a split second to dodge their grasp and run to safety... 😬 #YoungerSisterTrauma

Victoria Anderson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG. I have a **** ton of these. Enough to stuff an entire shelf of a bookcase.

Gemma Cadd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can go and find a bunch of these that my grandma saved at her house

Arnavet
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband and I found some of these at a yard sale/consignment event today. I kind of regret not getting some for future kidlets.

Molly Block
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ernis is standing there like Robin Williams is, in the photo above...hahahah. Ernie must have been the inspiration behind his pose.

Mama Penguin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom still keeps some from when my brother and I were little.

Adan Adnan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter 13 and she knows all about these books. She would beg us to buy them for her.

Kelly Taylor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another non-obsolete item you just decided to put on this list for no reason. These still exist hence they are not obsolete

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#13

Who Else Remembers Cigarette Vending Machines That Had No Way To Check A Persons Age And Operated On The Honor System?

Who Else Remembers Cigarette Vending Machines That Had No Way To Check A Persons Age And Operated On The Honor System?

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Eagle Girl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

75 cents at the pizzeria. You had to run in quickly while the guy was busy or lie & say it was for your mom

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In itself, nostalgia is somewhat of a conflict because it is a bitter-sweet emotion. But that also has a hugely positive effect because it helps us to unify what otherwise would be felt or experienced by us as conflicts.

"The bitterness comes from the sense that we know for sure that we can never really regain them, they're gone forever. The irreversibility of time means that we absolutely cannot go back in time so it helps us to deal with the conflict of the bitter longing for what can never be again together with the sweetness of having experienced it and being able to revisit it and relive it again," Batcho said.

#15

Silly Erasers That Never Worked

Silly Erasers That Never Worked

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#17

Having To Manually Turn Off Your Computer

Having To Manually Turn Off Your Computer

1800generalkenobi Report

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Ranch Dressing
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha I had forgotten that. One thing I won't forget is the absolute paranoia my dad had about computer viruses in the 90s

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According to Batcho's research, nostalgia can be a stabilizing force and comfort us during times of transition.

"It's very difficult to grasp change, because in some sense, at a very deep psychic level, change threatens us," the psychologist explained. "It's a little frightening because we're not 100% sure that we can control it. One of the most important aspects of being a healthy human being is having a sense that you are in control of things. When things start to change, either very substantially, such as major events in a person's life, getting married or getting divorced, getting a new career, going back to school or graduating from school, it's comforting to have a nostalgic feeling for the past that reminds us that although we don't know what the future is going to bring, what we do know is that we know who we have been and who we really are."

#19

Teacher's Grade Book

Teacher's Grade Book

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#20

Magic Mitt For The 90s Kids Out There

Magic Mitt For The 90s Kids Out There

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Nostalgia brings things back. It stimulates memories of the times when we were accepted and loved and this phenomenon is very comforting. Knowing that at some point in life we didn't have to earn our love can be very powerful. Nostalgia helps us realize that our parents, our siblings, or our friends simply loved us unconditionally. And these thoughts can work miracles on us when we're undergoing turmoil in our personal lives.

#22

Magic Slate Paper Saver

Magic Slate Paper Saver

Jfonzy Report

#23

Family: Why Do You Love Pizza So Much? My TV As A Kid

Family: Why Do You Love Pizza So Much? My TV As A Kid

Grave_Warden Report

#24

Visiting Your School After Dark If You Were Attending A Performance Or Exhibit. The Eerie Type Of Feeling You'd Experience

Visiting Your School After Dark If You Were Attending A Performance Or Exhibit. The Eerie Type Of Feeling You'd Experience

DualCay0te Report

#25

Mr. Sketch. Our First “High”

Mr. Sketch. Our First “High”

Diva_Bot Report

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Batcho believes nostalgia might even have an element of infectiousness and wishes it was even bigger. To understand what she means by that, think of a group of people who have some shared experience.

"The best example of that is when a group of friends are reminiscing about their antics, the things they did as either teenagers or children or what have you. There it's a bonding experience. Another example of that is we know from current research that sports fans love to do that. They talk about the games that they enjoyed and when their team was victorious. When you have a common bond, it can be very infectious and it's like a domino one memory triggers another."

#26

A Complete Fisher-Price Medical Kit

A Complete Fisher-Price Medical Kit

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#28

Candy Powder Filled Fruit

Candy Powder Filled Fruit

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And the reason why she wishes it was more infectious is that this, let's call it, collective nostalgia can break down when you have a group of people who do not have shared experiences to be nostalgic about. Suddenly if you have one individual wanting to reminisce about their past but no one else in that group remembers those things or lived through those things, you might get things like a generation gap. Someone is talking about the 1950s and a teen says they can't even imagine it.

So when you think about it, r/Nostalgia is doing a beautiful public service. The subreddit is bringing together those who might not have anyone to daydream about the past with.

#30

Countertop Popcorn Machines

Countertop Popcorn Machines

endlive Report

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Justin M
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These still slap. If you like popcorn, do yourself a favor and go buy one. 1000x better than microwave

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#32

The Computer Section Of A Public Library In 2006

The Computer Section Of A Public Library In 2006

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#34

I Never Had A Pair Myself, But I Recall Quite A Few Childhood Friends Having The 80s Style Fisher Price Roller Skates…

I Never Had A Pair Myself, But I Recall Quite A Few Childhood Friends Having The 80s Style Fisher Price Roller Skates…

B34TBOXX5 Report

#35

Robinhood Men In Tights (1993)

Robinhood Men In Tights (1993)

Apprehensive-Mix2450 Report

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Jacki moore
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their once was a man from Nottingham who tried to cross a river. What a dope. He stepped on a rope now look at him shiver

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#37

My Daughter. Playing With Her New Tamagotchi

My Daughter. Playing With Her New Tamagotchi

RobertPaulsen39 Report

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Gini Sarver
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

😳 my granddaughter has that same flannel nightgown…. now i know 💯 i am old 😢

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#38

California Raisin, 1987, You Heard It From The Grapevine!

California Raisin, 1987, You Heard It From The Grapevine!

LizzySlaughter Report

#39

Kit Kat With Foil Wrapping

Kit Kat With Foil Wrapping

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#40

3D Pinball For Windows - Space Cadet Gif

3D Pinball For Windows - Space Cadet Gif

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#42

Limewire

Limewire

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Kayla J
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spending a few hours downloading a song only to find out its someone's cover or not what you were looking for, but I had a stack of CDs like in the other picture thanks to it.

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#43

Turn Off Computer

Turn Off Computer

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Powin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well we still do it as of today so as to allow fresh start of the computer

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#45

Mcdonald’s Burger Seats. I Can Still Feel Them - The Hardest Substance Known To Man

Mcdonald’s Burger Seats. I Can Still Feel Them - The Hardest Substance Known To Man

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#46

Bedding Sets From The 90s

Bedding Sets From The 90s

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Dee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't forget about the little mermaid and Pocahontas sets too with matching curtains.

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#47

The Old Comedy Central Logo. The 90s To Mid 2000s Were Peak Comedy Central

The Old Comedy Central Logo. The 90s To Mid 2000s Were Peak Comedy Central

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Mtg Wolfie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember turning it on and seeing actual stand up comics being funny. Not just sitcoms.

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#48

Celebrating A Merry Birthday In 1997

Celebrating A Merry Birthday In 1997

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Eagle Girl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww! I have a Merry Birthday Too! Only upside to one present is when your mom is struggling, sometimes you get something good like a Nintendo.

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#49

Ringtone Commercials

Ringtone Commercials

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Mr Halloumi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was Jamster in the UK with the Crazy Fog... still trying to forget that noise

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#50

Connecting With The World In Aol Chat Rooms

Connecting With The World In Aol Chat Rooms

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Who Panda 420
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then leaving the chat room when everyone notices a predator is in the chat ruining everyones conversations. Soon enough it was impossible to chat without people wanting to "talk dirty" maybe I just had bad experiences but I remember it being so cool at first

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Note: this post originally had 94 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.