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21 Weird Things That Were Widely Acceptable 20 Years Ago, As Shared By People Online
Years go by, and things constantly change. Something that was acceptable decades ago is no longer considered normal, which means that the things we are doing now will probably be uncanny to our kids and grandchildren. Who knows what the future will be like – maybe we'll go back to the no technology times, or maybe those flying cars will finally show up and bless our ordinary lives. In this article, we'll be looking at Reddit users who were asked to share their opinions on weird things that were normal and widely acceptable 20 years ago.
The thread received almost 40K upvotes and 17.7K comments, alongside an engaging discussion where people occasionally reminded each other that 20 years ago is 2001 and not somewhere in the '80s.
Let us know in the comment section if there's something on your mind that you would like to add regarding the theme's question. And besides, what things that we're doing nowadays do you think will be viewed as strange by the future folks?
More info: Reddit
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#1
Being at home at your TV at a certain time to catch a show, and expecting everyone to leave you alone so you could watch it with no interruptions.
You could be out with friends and you'd look and say "oh it's 7:30 I got to get home to catch my show!" And nobody looked at you like a strange social outcast.
#2
Leaving your young kids unsupervised most of the time.
I remember at 5 years old sitting in the parking lot of the bowling alley in my dads car for 3 hours while he was inside bowling. Also, most of the time, my parents had zero clue as to where I was. I would leave the house in the morning on my bicycle and be home for dinner. Suited them just fine.
deathrose 2 years ago
I kinda feel bad for kids nowadays. My sister and I use to go into the woods with our neighborhood friends and just run around and play, ride our bikes around the neighborhood or to the corner store. Our pitbull would accompany us unleashed and everyone would just stop and pet him as they passed by.
#4
Going on road trips without a phone.
Kookamunga 2 years ago (edited)
Yup, had to use paper maps, too, no GPS....I remember stopping at gas stations so many times to get help with directions. And hoping they weren't sending me on a wild goose chase.
#5
Dial Up internet.
#6
Being able to take a look in the cockpit of a plane.
The stewardesses would activly ask some kids on the flight if they wanted to take a look in the cockpit. I remember when I stepped in the cockpit of a Boeing 747 I decided I wanted to become a pilot someday.
Robert T 2 years ago (edited)
When I was a kid, I used to have a little book that the pilot would sign on each flight and would usually get invited up to the cockpit to get it signed. You could only stand back behind the pilots seats, and not touch anything, but if you were lucky the pilot would show you some of the controls and instruments. Used to love it. Real shame that kids these days will never expeience that.
#7
Paying $1.29, so 9 seconds of a song played when your phone rang.
#8
People would go to carnivals and shove their face in the same water barrel to grab an apple with their mouth. Completely bonkers in 2021.
#9
That every computer on the planet was going to go nuts on New Year’s Day.
#10
My highschool had an area where we were allowed to smoke. A designated smoking area for kids under 18.
Kookamunga 2 years ago
You could smoke EVERYWHERE back in the day - malls, planes, hospitals, offices. What was weird then was being told you COULDN'T smoke somewhere.
#11
Not having airport security.
Fabian Meresse 2 years ago
Also : smoking both on the airport and the plane! It was 1997, a flight to Dakar
#12
People riding in cars without seatbelts plus four or five kids seated in the back.
#13
People spending thousands of dollars on Beanie Babies.
#17
Boots with the fur.
#18
Shutting down Napster.
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What do you think ?
Stoopham McFernybabes 2 years ago
Was discussing this with my husband today: trampolines with NO safety net, no buried in a pit so it’s ground level, no spring guards - nothing. Just an incredibly bouncy platform high off the ground that 12 kids between the ages of 1 and 27 would all go on at once.
Ross Warren 2 years ago
The neighbor kid and I would jump off his roof onto the trampoline. That's how I lost 3 of my baby teeth.
Load More Replies...
MyOpinionHasBeenServed 2 years ago
Getting the wrong number and then ending up having a delightful conversation with someone, or politely letting them go with a laugh.
Stoopham McFernybabes 2 years ago
Was discussing this with my husband today: trampolines with NO safety net, no buried in a pit so it’s ground level, no spring guards - nothing. Just an incredibly bouncy platform high off the ground that 12 kids between the ages of 1 and 27 would all go on at once.
Ross Warren 2 years ago
The neighbor kid and I would jump off his roof onto the trampoline. That's how I lost 3 of my baby teeth.
Load More Replies... MyOpinionHasBeenServed 2 years ago
Getting the wrong number and then ending up having a delightful conversation with someone, or politely letting them go with a laugh.
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