ADVERTISEMENT

The early 2000s was a magical time. Trapped between the old and the new, it was a short period of pure bliss and carefree experiences. Bright-eyed teens with low-rise jeans spent the afternoons listening to mix CDs full of the freshest hits on the radio. Kids whiled away the days watching MTV, learning Britney's dance routines, and playing Snake while waiting for a text on their Nokia 3310. The new millennium felt like entering the future, and, yes, flying cars and anti-gravity hoverboards were just around the corner.

The world moves quickly, and many things have obviously changed over the past 20 years. So to reminisce on the good old days, one Reddit user recently asked: "What was normal in 2002 but not 2022?" Fellow community members must have been feeling nostalgic as the thread immediately became a hit!

Get ready for a trip down memory lane because we at Bored Panda have gathered some of the best responses from the thread. We hope you can get a kick out of these amusing examples from the dark ages, aka the life you likely lived in 2002. Be sure to upvote the replies you find most relatable or that take you back in time, and then feel free to share your own recollections with us in the comments!

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Thinking George W. Bush was the worst president ever.

ragnarkar , Wikipedia Report

Final score:
363points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Living being affordable

Rangestalker , Jean van der Meulen Report

Final score:
200points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Going out without a phone or any other kind of remote communication device. Imagine driving a back road without anyway to get a hold of someone if you break down.

devildunkard , https://www.pexels.com/photo/iphone-on-table-1156684/ Report

Final score:
196points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#4

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Burning CDs, then writing the names of each song with the number track on the front of the CD

floatingaway919 , cottonbro Report

Final score:
181points
Add photo comments
POST
rondanewschannel avatar
Ronda News Channel
Ronda News Channel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back in time.I did the same. But I recorded it from radio station using a cassette.

Vote comment up
91
91points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples MTV, VH-1

ChevExpressMan Report

Final score:
156points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples A comedian making an edgy joke and not have their career nuked

ptapobane , Wikipedia Report

Final score:
156points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#7

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Smoking cigarettes everywhere. Cars had ashtrays and restaurants had Smoking sections.

ATXKLIPHURD , Masha Raymers Report

Final score:
151points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Dial up internet access.

ChimpyChompies Report

Final score:
149points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Spinning a tape cassette with a pen

redther , E M Report

Final score:
134points
Add photo comments
POST
carolyngerbrands avatar
Caro Caro
Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pressing play and record one second too late and the cool song had already started and you had to sit by the radio and wait until they played it again :D

Vote comment up
52
52points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Describing men as 'metrosexual' because they took care of themselves.

RougeEmber , Monstera Report

Final score:
131points
Add photo comments
POST
petemccann avatar
DrBronxx
DrBronxx
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Big Bang Theory does not have many good qualities, but I thought Raj's explanation of what a metrosexual is to be the clearest to me. If it's actually wrong, please tell me. Anyway, what he said was "It means I like women, as well as their skincare products."

Vote comment up
10
10points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Fat-shaming and body-shaming. I say this after watching all the compilations of America’s Next Top Model. Those judges have a special place in hell.

MyCatsLandlord Report

Final score:
130points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Using a phone book.

BenjaminMStocks , Waldemar Brandt Report

Final score:
126points
Add photo comments
POST
idrow1 avatar
idrow1
idrow1
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Last time I got laid off, my mother said, "Better start looking in the yellow pages". I inwardly laughed and said, "That's not how it works anymore."

Vote comment up
4
4points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#13

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Going to blockbuster and hanging out at the mall

PossibilitySimilar28 , Wikipedia Report

Final score:
122points
Add photo comments
POST
atkinsdan avatar
Daniel Atkins
Daniel Atkins
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I miss renting video games. Not going to pay full price for a game that once I beat it I'll never play again.

Vote comment up
22
22points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Floppy disks. I work at my school as a program they offer and I saw an old 2000 PC with a floppy disk.

Rezokar_ , S J Report

Final score:
102points
Add photo comments
POST
svenbokhorst avatar
Sven Bokhorst
Sven Bokhorst
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are diskettes. Floppy disks were much larger and actually floppy.

Vote comment up
69
69points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Home phones

Agamemnon66 , Caden Bern Report

Final score:
99points
Add photo comments
POST
tsquiff avatar
Squiff
Squiff
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have a home phone. My kids call it the Nannyline as my mother is the only person who calls it.

Vote comment up
62
62points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples VHS tapes. I was 6 in 2002. They were at the end of their life, but most of what I watched up until then was on VHS.

FeelThePower999 , Jeremy Bezanger Report

Final score:
95points
Add photo comments
POST
robert-thornburrow avatar
Robert T
Robert T
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember having to watch TV live as VHS was not an affordable option. It made quite a difference to our lives in being able to record something to watch later or repeatedly.

Vote comment up
16
16points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Using payphones.

Salt_Champion_8289 , cottonbro Report

Final score:
95points
Add photo comments
POST
robyn-denton-31 avatar
Robyn Denton
Robyn Denton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Australia still has payphones, except that now you don't have to pay to use them. https://exchange.telstra.com.au/why-were-making-payphones-free-for-calls-around-australia/

Vote comment up
24
24points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Limewire

Armed_Raven Report

Final score:
92points
Add photo comments
POST
kimvercauteren avatar
K4l1m3r0
K4l1m3r0
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remember that times when limewire could find everything you wanted, even with spelling mistakes.. weird thing was that every file was 1KB in size

Vote comment up
23
23points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#19

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Going home with your digital camera so you could upload the photos from your day to your computer and email them to your friends or upload to Friendster.

NotHappyTilUNotHappy , Lukas Hartmann Report

Final score:
88points
Add photo comments
POST
lilliemean avatar
LillieMean
LillieMean
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still use my digital SLR camera. No matter how great a phone is, it can't beat the camera.

Vote comment up
64
64points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Criss Angel.

epicredditdude1 Report

Final score:
88points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Saying "that's gay" as an insult

corasivy Report

Final score:
87points
Add photo comments
POST
nadineg_1 avatar
SCP-3998
SCP-3998
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea, hang out in any gaming community long enough and you'll hear it still being thrown around.

Vote comment up
45
45points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

A single paycheck buying everything I needed.

Sleestak714 Report

Final score:
85points
Add photo comments
POST
confred78 avatar
Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Everything I need"? I don'T think I ever had a paycheck that big...

Vote comment up
23
23points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Napster. For all you young farts, it was the original (as far as I know) platform to download music and make mix CDs. Y’all probably don’t know what CDs are anymore either. Hey are big in 02.

HangrySkeptic Report

Final score:
85points
Add photo comments
POST
jameskramer avatar
James016
James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used ratio FTP sites with Filehound and WinMX before Napster

Vote comment up
12
12points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#24

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Making plans. Back then your ‘Yes’ meant 'Yes' and you better show up on time to not miss everyone. Now, people be lazy and just text you when they’ll show up, two hours later.

Bout2Drop , cottonbro Report

Final score:
80points
Add photo comments
POST
kirstenkerkhof avatar
Kirsten Kerkhof
Kirsten Kerkhof
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People have always been flaky or punctual, that is nothing modern. The only thing I could think of is that in the past you had no way of letting others know so, if you cared, you turned up to make sure they didn't worry. Now it's easier to call and cancel last-minute. But my grandma was the flakiest person ever.

Vote comment up
34
34points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples flip phones

JustCallMePicklez Report

Final score:
69points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Being in chat rooms with people of all ages, like MSN chatrooms. It's a good thing that it isn't a thing anymore.

Big-Status-2071 Report

Final score:
69points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Frosted tips for guys and streaky highlights for women.

IndividualMagician60 Report

Final score:
59points
Add photo comments
POST
dannamarim avatar
InvincibleRodent
InvincibleRodent
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still see streaky highlights every now and again- I'm a bit conflicted about them, because while I don't particularly like the look, they do make their wearers' heads remind me of little hard candies. You know, the ones with the swirls? And that's just nice.

Vote comment up
28
28points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Smoking indoors even around kids
Dial up Internet was still common
Not having a mobile
Wearing jeans under a dress
Buying CDs/DVDs
Telephones attached to the wall
Not using a car seat from 4yrs+
Glitter hair mascara
Leaving your kid in the car while you go into a shop
Cheque books and using cheques to pay for things
Swiping cards no pin required just a signature
2 door cars (nightmare to climb into the back)
Food had even more junk inside of it and it wasn't really frowned upon if you fed your family that c**p all day everyday

Spiritual-Couple-456 Report

Final score:
54points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

Ringback tones

xxsoultonesxx Report

Final score:
51points
Add photo comments
POST
stevendenton avatar
nooneimportant
nooneimportant
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh man i wish this would have been bigger, i loved hearing a song when calling someone

Vote comment up
11
11points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Faux hawks — the mullet of the 2000s. But back then, they were called mohawks, which would not go down well today. I'm suddenly feeling like Grandpa Simpson. I guess Simpsons references too.

murderinthelast Report

Final score:
50points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 38 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!