ADVERTISEMENT

One could think that there is “nothing new under the sun”, referring to some important things that stay the same or change very slowly, yet it would be a mistake to underestimate the effect various, even seemingly minor, alterations have in shaping the human world. These people have demonstrated that a single person lives long enough to witness some quite significant changes by answering one Redditor’s question: “What existed when you were a child that doesn’t exist now?”

Do you remember something from your childhood years that no longer exists or is now rare? Please, share your thoughts in the comments!

More info: Reddit

#1

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Freedom.

Starting around age 10 to around age 14, when I got back from school, nobody knew where I was until dinner, and nobody cared. The only rule was be home before dinner which was about 7:00 PM.

I would just hit my bike, join up with the knot hole gang in the neighborhood, and we would just ride all over the place and go where we wanted and do what we wanted.

Basically, we were the kids from Stranger Things, albeit with a lot less paranormal activity.

No cell phones, not even any pagers.

I'm 46 so this was some 35 years ago.

Seems like it could be 350 years ago now.

Now you almost never see a kid riding anywhere on his bike, and nobody knows their neighbors.

sick_economics , Say Thanks! Show some love to Alexander Nadrilyanski Report

#2

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online The freedom to be a kid without being influenced by the internet and having your worst moments immortalised on it.

PckMan , Lukas Report

Add photo comments
POST
PhaseWitFact
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having your worst moments immortalized on the Internet is horrible for kids. Worse yet is having an influencer for a parent.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#4

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online A paper TV Guide that you used to find out when TV shows were going to be aired. Usually it came in the Sunday newspaper. Also newspapers.

ClownfishSoup , Michiel1972 Report

#5

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Taking pictures with film cameras and waiting for them to get developed until you could see how bad you looked lol

cinnamonolivia , Pixabay Report

Add photo comments
POST
LizzieBoredom
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cost to develop 5 rolls of film left rolling around in the junk drawer since 1982: Priceless.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online 9 planets

The solar system used to have 9 planets, but now only has 8. <...> Pluto was just reclassified as a dwarf planet, and we always had dozens of dwarf planets like Ceres and Make-Make.

Iampepeu said:

I know it's silly, but we all sort of collectively love and care for Pluto.

KevinREdinger , ZCH Report

#7

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Phone books. Every once in a while one would just show up at our front door.

MauriceSNavarro , Cathy Stanley-Erickson Report

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Affordable housing

deep_space_rhyme , vu anh Report

#10

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Playing outdoors without supervision and just returning home once the sun sets

New_me_old_self , Katherine Hanlon Report

Add photo comments
POST
gijeff58
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

catching lightning bugs and putting them in a jar on my bedside table.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Saturday morning cartoons or weekly morning cartoons.

cqhmo , Vika Glitter Report

#12

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online An expectation of being unreachable sometimes. I went to school, and my mom couldn't reach me all the time. She lived. I didn't feel like picking up the phone, no one cared.

No 'Read' messages unanswered causing drama.

Being able to be 'Unplugged' and not getting s**t for it.

Being able to read a physical map and navigate that way.

freakytapir , Godisable Jacob Report

Add photo comments
POST
R.A. Haley
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to run deliveries around Northern CA. Had a large canvas shoulder bag with 70 AAA maps and 3 or 4 Thomas Bros Road Atlases(remember those?). Had to plot the whole route and deal with construction, road changes, closures, etc. Now I have Wayz.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#14

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online A phone number you could call that just told you the time and weather.

WrongWayCorrigan-361 , Bruno Cantuária Report

#15

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Phone booths

WasabiWorth1586 , Mike Bird Report

#16

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Privacy. Back in the day, the only way someone could know what I was up to was if they physically followed me. Now, my smartphone does that for them

Little_Addendum8926 , Shane Aldendorff Report

Add photo comments
POST
LizzieBoredom
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

George Orwell predicted Big Brother would surveille citizens 24/7. As it turns out, citizens surveille themselves 24/7.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Getting off the phone so someone can use the internet. Haha

GeorgeSAndersona , Jakob Owens Report

Add photo comments
POST
Queeqec
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Getting of the phone so they neighbor, in his own house, could make or receive a call. In the early 80s, way before Internet.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Yugoslavia

Ellsworth_Chewie , historicair Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#19

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Typewriters

Important_Metal_6784 , Min An Report

#20

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Blockbuster

SlavicScottie , Charleston's TheDigitel Report

#21

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online The high beam switch in your car was on the floor by your left foot.

NorthernH3misphere , PillzGotRekt Report

#22

Kmart Blue light specials. JC Pennies was upscale for us, and don't even talk about Macy's where the 1%ers shop.

For you youngin's, a blue light special was they'd roll a cart with a blue police light on a pole, then announce some that an item was on sale over the speakers. It was like a IRL pop up ad.

Those are some fond memories. And also all the racist joke books they'd happily sell an 8 year old. I was an adult before I realized the horrible stuff I read.

TwoStoryLife Report

Add photo comments
POST
R.A. Haley
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg, the racist jokes everywhere, and sexist ones too. I remember MAD magazine publishing an article titled "American jokes they tell in Poland". Pinup calendars in every repair garage.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#23

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online McDonald’s ashtrays

MyNameIsMulva , McDonald's Report

Add photo comments
POST
PhaseWitFact
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So gross. People used to smoke in restaurants. Some restaurants had smoking and non smoking sections. If you went to a buffet then the smoking section was closest to the food. 🤢 There were no good old days.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Woolworths

Note: I'm referring to the business in the UK that dissolved in 2008.

InviteAromatic6124 , wiki Report

#25

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online White Dog S**t

r3dc4r , Chuck D Report

#26

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online TVs with a fine tuning dial and were part of a huge wooden console.

Important_Wallaby376 , Expect Best Report

#27

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Cameras that had rolled up film which needed to be developed.

Important_Wallaby376 , Luriko Yamaguchi Report

Add photo comments
POST
Laura Williams
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I liked the negatives but I didn't like not knowing if the picture was a good one.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Restaurant smoking sections

zoesweetbaby , Clem Onojeghuo Report

Add photo comments
POST
Der Kommissar
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Airplane smoking section. You're out of luck if you were one row behind it and you didn't smoke. '

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online # Dialup Connection Screeching Intensifies

thisistheSnydercut , Markus Spiske Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sans Serif
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I miss the sound, the anticipation and the satisfaction when it went silent on connection...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Cigarette machines.

eatingaclitkat , Mse7201 Report

Add photo comments
POST
LizzieBoredom
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another name for this 'Cigerette Acquisition Appliance for Underage Reform School Applicants'.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#32

Party lines. Local five digit calling. Rotary phone service.

DeFiClark Report

#33

Indoor water fountains and indoor playground areas in malls.

lone_wolf1580 Report

#34

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online KB Toys

guyute2112 , deleted Report

Add photo comments
POST
Laura Williams
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was a Toy's R Us kid. A huge store with only toys. I didn't even care if I got a toy just looking was fun.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#38

Where do I start?

Typing/shorthand class

long distance charges

Fast food branded ashtrays

Adult free camping trips

29 cent hamburgers

Cigarette machines

endorrawitch Report

#39

30 Currently Non-Existent Things That Were Part Of Some People's Childhoods, As Shared Online Those coin-operated rides outside grocery stores and k-marts. They basically gave you a mild jostling for about a minute.

Edit: Glad to hear these are still teaching children the meaning of “anticlimactic” in various locations around the globe, though I never see them anymore in my corner of the US. My personal favorites were the ones at McDonald’s. I indistinctly remember one with a head shaped like a hamburger. Though I could be mixing these up with the McDonald Land characters that were various pieces of playground equipment when I was a kid.

JammyJacketPotato , Phillip Pessar Report

#40

POCKET CRITTERS & POLLY POCKETS

Mysterious-Line-9906 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sans Serif
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a dad with two girls, stray Polly Pockets were even worse than stepping on Lego pieces...

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#41

Leaded gasoline.

MBAdk Report

Add photo comments
POST
LizzieBoredom
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Turning in glass coke bottles because $.50 would buy enough gas for my VW Bug to make it to the beach and back.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

Touching Grass.

TouchGrass02 Report