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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

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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.

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#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

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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.

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#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

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Marcellus II
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's Eris' fault. Her discoverers pushed for her to be a planet "Just like Pluto" because she's larger; so that made everybody take a step back and realize Pluto is just one in a whole class of between 10 and 150 "large asteroids", now gathered as the TNOs (further-than-Neptune-objects).

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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My!
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The new definition of a planet is that it has to be spherical (sorry, flat-earthers) and a clear orbit. Pluto was demoted for being too small to ride the big planet roller coaster. BUT Pluto has four moons. Heck, Earth only has one! Pluto has been hanging out with his buds, orbiting the star he can barely see or feel, just minding his own business for all these millions or billions of years. I say that if he's been doing it all this time, he counts as a planet. He hasn't fallen off the roller coaster, so let him ride!

UpQuarkDownQuark (he/hey you)
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It wasn’t demoted, it was reclassified. Peter Dinklage is a dwarf, and he and Pluto have one other thing in common: they’re both still f*cking awesome.

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The Darkest Timeline
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What possible difference could it make to your life if Pluto is a planet or not? The obsession some people have with inconsequential stuff is mind-numbing.

BrownTabby
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The extent of people’s hatred of change is a little disturbing and the fact that people are framing it as some kind of gesture of kindness is even more so.

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Tucker Cahooter
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets". Now how are we supposed to remember them?

Zaphod
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disney's famous cartoon dog was named after the planet, not the other way around. The planet was named after the Roman God, at a young girl's suggestion to Percival Lowell

Definitely a Human
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Incorrect. I couldn't care less that Pluto is classified differently. That's just how science works. Deal with it.

BrownTabby
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same. I’ve been called too sensitive in my life but I never got offended by scientists reclassifying a celestial body based on scientific criteria.

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Noyfb noyfb
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many, many people’s understanding of science is JUST like the beliefs they started forming in Sunday school — fixed, dogmatic, unchangeable, dearly held as the final word. Those old “science” beliefs came from parents, teachers or fictional works, and when the student moved on in life, her brain remained frozen in the old timeless truths. Pluto as a planet, Neanderthals as brutish cave men, extraterrestrials as secretive abductors, etc etc etc. Too bad they didn’t also learn early on that scientific knowledge is so powerful because it’s always subject to revision, even major revision. Guess they weren’t hearing that in Sunday school either.

BrownTabby
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fact that people who agree with the OP are overwhelmingly being upvoted on such an anti-religion website confirms everything I have said about how we atheists are guilty of all the same character flaws as the religious.

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Nimitz
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just stop it. The plan was to call the new class Plutoids and forever immortalize Pluto, but instead people wouldn't shut up about it and it derailed the entire initiative.

Melissa Robinson
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's c**p. It's like all of a sudden saying Dopey be can't be a dwarf anymore because he doesn't have a beard........

UpQuarkDownQuark (he/hey you)
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In 1801 Ceres was discovered and declared a planet. In 1851, it was reclassified as an asteroid. When Pluto was discovered in 1930, it was assumed to be at least as large as the inner rocky planets, and to have a more standard orbit. If Pluto was discovered today, it would never have been called a planet in the first place. You’ve all heard it before, but I’ll say it again—we either have 20+ planets, or we have 8. It’s fine to disagree with the International Astronomers Union specific criteria, but the “it was a planet when I learned it in elementary school!” argument is childish. There were all kinds of things that I learned in 1976 that simply don’t apply today, and Pluto’s planethood is just one of them.

Michael Largey
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm surprised that there isn't a conspiracy theory connected to this. "Biden made Pluto disappear because that's where Hunter's laptop is hidden!"

RAM31280
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't forget about Nibiru or Planet X, or planet 9 as some people are calling it these days

Ozymandias73
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pluto will always be a planet in my book. LONG LIVE PLUTO!!

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#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

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#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

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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.

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#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

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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.

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#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

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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.

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#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

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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.

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#18

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

Ellsworth_Chewie , historicair Report

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#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

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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.

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#23

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

MyNameIsMulva , McDonald's Report

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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.

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#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

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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.

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#28

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

zoesweetbaby , Clem Onojeghuo Report

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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. '

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#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

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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...

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#30

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

eatingaclitkat , Mse7201 Report

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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'.

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#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

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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.

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#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

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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...

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#41

Leaded gasoline.

MBAdk Report

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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.

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#42

Touching Grass.

TouchGrass02 Report