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Most of us, at some point, have experienced some form of nostalgia, which can wash over us for a wide plethora of reasons. One of the more common forms of nostalgia is that for a certain point in time of our lives, which is filled with many smaller things that bring us joy or otherwise make us feel like a time in which we belong.
The '90s, for a lot of people, is certainly such a time, and there is definitely a lot to miss. Although it was a time that was not even that long ago, it belonged to a different world compared to that which we live in today. And though some things remain similar, or the same, back in the day we weren’t as interconnected globally as we are now, and that is just one of a few differences. The article that follows is based upon a Reddit post, which asked people to share things people miss the most from the '90s. The post collected 9.3k upvotes and 6.4k comments. Scroll down to see the whole post, consider upvoting the entries that made you feel the most nostalgic, and leave a comment!
More info: Reddit
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Nostalgia is a set of sentiments for the past and a form of attachment to it. It is a powerful feeling that allows for not only reminiscence, but hope and strength to move forward. Even though arguably it is a sensation that most people associate with living in the past, it really doesn't have to be only that. After all, recollecting something that seems to make the world a better place to be in can remind us of the fact that the present is no worse. That doesn't change the fact, however, that it can indeed be blissful to rewind a little and remind oneself that some moments in the past were very heartwarming.
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#2
Software that you buy one time and own. Looking at you adobe.
#3
Book stores. Just browsing all the aisles and discovering new books and new authors
#4
Video games that were offline, that you could play the whole thing with just the purchase price of the game.
Arguably one of the biggest changes we've experienced since the '90s is the level of interconnectedness in the world. Since numerous small online forums started being replaced by social media giants, we have become increasingly reliant on them to communicate or simply pass the time. Nowadays, we can be pretty much reached by everyone at any moment's notice, and there is little escape from that unless we want to be slightly left out of the intense loop we live in today.
#5
People NOT recording every aspect of their lives. People NOT faking s**t for the all important internet clout.
I guess the lack of social media in general I miss.
Johnny Rodriguez 2 years ago
Smartphones at concerts! You will NEVER EVER look at the video again..
#6
News that was only on for 30 minutes 3 times a day. Hit me with the facts, leave out the 24 hour commentary.
Jef Bateman 2 years ago (edited)
Maybe, but then you are relying on a handful of companies to decide what you need to know. I realize that tailored newsfeeds are bringing us back to the days where you are only going to see what they want you to see, but there are advantages to having news available from numerous sources. (That being said, I agree with the spirit of this post. I am burnt out on news right now.)
#7
Not being able to be reached 24/7
Remember when the only people who had cell phones or pagers were doctors and high end business professionals that NEEDED to be reached at a moments notice. Now, everyone is expected to be available at any time. And if you elect to stand your ground and establish a separation between work/personal life you're considered "rude" or "difficult to communicate with".
Jef Bateman 2 years ago
I think the future of cell phone etiquette is going to be turning the thing off for 12 hours a day. It might take a while to become ubiquitous, but I know people who do that now.
#8
My 18 year old body. Oh how I wish I appreciated what I had.
Fabian Meresse 2 years ago
Not me...was overweight, ugly styled, ugly Wear, ugly glasses, ugly hairstyle, addicted, sad, and an a.....e. I feel I'm so much a better person today at 41
Tactility, at least when it comes to technology, is another big change. Back in the day, everything had dials, switches, buttons etc. and was very tangible. Since then, most tech devices have been replaced with screens, or minimalist packages of various sorts. The novelty of screens is arguably wearing off, though, as there are multiple companies out there today that aim to bring back more tangible products for lifestyle, entertainment and creativity.
#9
Being able to own things without having to take out a subscription
#10
Being able to take an airplane flight that didn't feel like you were a convict being processed for prison.
Kookamunga 2 years ago
It was awesome to show up at the airport 1/2 hour before the flight and just get on board the plane. Now it's 4 hours before flight time and a big delay because someone is trying to get their emotional support Komodo dragon on the plane and they wore lace-up boots.
#11
I lived in a one bedroom apartment in San Diego in the nineties to the tune of $400 a month. I'd like that back, please.
Edit: I looked up the specific place I lived. That one bedroom runs $1,650 now.
#12
Anonymity when online. I remember when we were told to never give out any personal info online ever. Then Facebook came around and suddenly it was cool to put your whole life online
All in all, the 90s seems to be a very nostalgic time period for a lot of people. Whether it's technology, or lack of thereof, entertainment, or a general sense of feel-good, it is a period of time in the past that still brings people joy today, at least in the form of memories.
#14
Surebegrandlike11 said:
The cost of living…..
musicalrssnroulette replied:
This
I remember seeing people with like fast food jobs and stuff not having as much as more skilled workers but they still OWNED their house and OWNED their cars, they didn’t have as nice of things but they still owned property and a house and could still afford to buy a car and food and healthcare
It’s absolutely mind bending that anyone would wish someone would starve to death and have their family suffer because they aren’t ceo of a company, and just working there
K Witmer 2 years ago
My mom worked for a supermarket in the 90s it was new. She trained people in different departments. Her bring home pay was 1400$ a week to start abs she got 3000$ bonuses every 3 months. Had full benefits and a company car in case she needed to travel to another store w a per diem. They closed slowly after 9/11. They cut her hours bc they didn't want to pay people anymore. Things got progressively worse. She never made that kind of money again.
#16
I miss going to video stores and browsing.
Nathaniel 2 years ago
None of the films you want to watch are on Netflix, or Amazon or anything other platform. You waste so much time looking. You could have got a pizza ordered, gone to Blockbuster, found some films, picked up the pizza and be at home stuffing your face in the time you have spent searching online for stuff you want to watch.
#17
This is probably more late 90s/early 00s than the 90s as a whole, but a social media-less internet.
It felt like an escape from real life, as opposed to an extension of it.
#18
That sense of relief we felt between the end of the Cold War and 9/11.
#19
Reasonable commercial lengths.. Now Espn has 5 minute commercial breaks...
#20
Nokia cellphones.
#21
Honestly, I kind of don’t want this damn smartphone anymore.
Bill Evs 2 years ago
I wonder if there's a market for a stripped down smartphone (akin to a Nokia 3310) that can retain some of the more useful features of a smartphone (certain apps, internet connectivity, maps, photo and video, etc) but do away with unnecessary stuff like social media apps etc? As in keep the useful features of a smartphone but restrict the ability to add battery draining "fluff".
#22
The hope that I'll live a fulfilling adult life with a reasonable amount of dreams being achieved
K Witmer 2 years ago
The hope is what I miss too. I read my old journals from the 90s and I was so happy and excited for the future. My daughter gets a kick out of them bc of all the things I did every day. Sure there were some sad or hard times but it was infrequent it didn't pile on to where you feel life is so mundane but also scary.
#23
Maybe not 'outdated' per se, but I'd really like to have my hair and waistline I had during the 90s.
#25
Indoor malls. So many have been replaced with “lifestyle centers” where everything is accessed from outside. I miss being able to go shopping on a cold/ugly day without being cold and getting wet. And yes, I know they still exist, but they seem fewer and farther between.
Martha Meyer 2 years ago
Is it a US thing? I don't think I've ever seen what they mean by "lifestyle centers".
#27
LucasArts adventure games. They were my favorites. The Monkey Island series can’t be beat.
ETA: Sam & Max, Full Throttle were amazing, but no one has yet to mention Grim Fandango, Maniac Mansion’s 2 games, Zak McKraken or Loom.
Second ETA: I forgot Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis!
#29
Electronic stores where you can just buy something right when you need it instead of going on Amazon
#30
Wish I could play my Gameboy for the first time again.
What do you think ?
K Witmer 2 years ago
I miss the traveling, how inexpensive everything was, feeling like we were all on the same side, the excitement for the future, the trust, no one was as angry and believed in science, masses of people weren't brainwashed or at the very least you couldn't spread your lunacy in 2 seconds and have a major following of lunatics 24 hrs later. And the clubbing it was a fantastic decade to go dancing and for music in general.
GoddessOdd 2 years ago
I miss a lot of things, but I think kids being able to hang out on their own is a big one for me. It used to be, at 5 or 6 every evening, front doors would open and moms or dads would yell "Ricky! Dave! Dinner!" Now only teenagers have the freedom to be running the streets, and even most of them are very restricted compared to the 70s-90s.
K Witmer 2 years ago
I miss the traveling, how inexpensive everything was, feeling like we were all on the same side, the excitement for the future, the trust, no one was as angry and believed in science, masses of people weren't brainwashed or at the very least you couldn't spread your lunacy in 2 seconds and have a major following of lunatics 24 hrs later. And the clubbing it was a fantastic decade to go dancing and for music in general.
GoddessOdd 2 years ago
I miss a lot of things, but I think kids being able to hang out on their own is a big one for me. It used to be, at 5 or 6 every evening, front doors would open and moms or dads would yell "Ricky! Dave! Dinner!" Now only teenagers have the freedom to be running the streets, and even most of them are very restricted compared to the 70s-90s.
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