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I’m going to hold your hand when I say this: 2014 was ten years ago. Shocking, I know—it feels like it was just yesterday. But in the decade since, so much has changed, both in the world around us and in our own lives.

Recently, Redditor u/Ok-Squash8044 sparked an interesting conversation, asking others to share things that would have been unimaginable back then but are completely normal now. Many users chimed in, and the thread quickly filled with thought-provoking insights.

Read on for some of the best answers—and don’t forget to upvote your favorites!

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#1

A felon running for president.

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Corwin 02
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Correction a felon, insurrectionist and rapist is now the new president of the US

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#2

That in 2024 we would be fighting about the abortion issue.

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#3

Reading headlines about more women dying bc they were denied lifesaving healthcare when their pregnancies went wrong, because that procedure they needed is also a type of abortion.

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Gunnar Strandt
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah....all rights to the unborn and f..k every born life🤦‍♂️

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#4

A politician with free reign to say or do anything they want, with absolute impunity, and still have a legitimate number of votes to make it close or f*****g *win*.

In Clintons presidency, even ONE of these transgressions would endanger everything. The man fought tooth and nail to hide a blowie, and the nation reeled in the controversy.

Today, every day, an indictment worthy statement is shot across the news, and no harm no foul. Just keep rolling towards consignment to oblivion. All conditions normal at two minutes to midnight.

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#5

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal People being able to live a long life while being HIV positive.

JamesSmith1200 , Daniel Jøshua Report

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Bat cat in a hat
Bat cat in a hat
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's one of the great things that happened, science works!

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#6

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Subscriptions for damn near everything!

enrod713 , cottonbro studio Report

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elmortero
elmortero
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Including Bored Panda. Subscribe to Premium or we cluster-bomb you with ads SO intrusive they paralyze your browser

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#7

*gestures vaguely at the state of U.S. politics*.

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#8

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Diseases that have been dormant for decades coming back.

SituationalRambo , Polina Tankilevitch Report

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#9

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Computers making art, and people still doing mindless repetitive tasks. .

16bitgamer , Emiliano Vittoriosi Report

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CG
CG
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Computers vomiting out pictures that can loosely be adjacent to art, though mostly with stolen images, or pictures used with the consent of the original creators". Fixed it for you.

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#10

I think almost everything about current US politics was unimaginable 10 years ago. 10 years ago we thought our country and our constitution was strong. Now we know better.

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe it was s**t all along and we just didn’t hear about all the disturbing stuff. And I’m assuming that goes for most countries (apologies, not in the greatest of mindsets after Tuesday)

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#11

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Working remotely.

MbMinx , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

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#12

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal How much spying our electronics do on us and we're totally cool with it.

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Någon
Någon
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are free to spy on me, maybe they find something interesting in my life.

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#13

Going to the store to buy marijuana legally.

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We grow our own and occasionally buy for variety. One of my friends still whispers and uses code words to talk about it. I remind her it's legal now and she shrugs her shoulders. I think she misses the intrigue!

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Kathy L
Kathy L
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK--third thing on this list that's actually good. Things are looking up!

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

YES. I lived through the 60s/70s when it was pretty common but illegal. Then some decades of 'war on d***s' where it still existed of course but was less obvious. I remember in (2012?) buying a small bag of flower on the grand opening day of recreational marijuana in my state / a local store. I had medical the year before but to just be able to openly purchase it like a loaf of bread was nice. It does have medical uses and has helped me avoid other things I might take for pain / sometimes mood. And it is generally cheaper now even with the state taxes.

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K- THULU
K- THULU
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1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I freaking wish!! In Australia still have to act like a criminal, but can still go to the supermarket for a packet of smokes....

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Settled for Infamy
Settled for Infamy
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Move to QLD and get a script. They'll tell you what is wrong with you, in order to get those sweet buds/oil 😉

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Mason Kronol
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg it’s so fun! My husband, my mom and I went spontaneously after recreational was legalized. We had just planned on breakfast so when we got there hubby realized he didn’t bring his wallet so no ID no entry! So it’s just me and my 70 something mom with no clue what we’re doing, he’s the pothead, but they were so nice and we left wis some habanero pineapple gummies and some flower my husband was very happy with. We don’t partake often but it’s nice to get quality, not just random.

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#14

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Paying more than $10 for a fast food combo.

Historical-Fudge , Luis Rosero Report

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I stopped eating fast food in 2019 to lose weight and never went back. Only on VERY rare occasions like vacations will I eat it... after not getting fast food for years I was almost knocked out by the price!!! Like really???? And people eat this every day. Like how do you afford it... really?!?!?!?

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#15

A president who discusses the size of Arnold Palmer’s d**k.

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Connie Wade
Connie Wade
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And we could have had a smart, articulate, accomplished, experienced woman for President. I am embarrassed to call myself an American at times like these.

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#16

Two very uk based ones:
1. Brexit - I was a final year politics student in 2014 and no one thought we would vote for Brexit, let alone a hard Brexit as that would be economic madness. 


2. The normalisation of the far right - UKIP were on the rise but very much a fringe minority. The Conservatives were dogmatic in austerity but socially they had legalised gay marriage, promoted the big society, and were at least performatively tolerant. Worlds away from the culture war nonsense now. .

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Gozer LeGozerian
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The amount of people that voted for brexit for funsies because they didn't actually think it would happen and then *surprise Pikachu face* when it actually did

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#17

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Leave a pizza order on someone's front porch without even knocking.

ExpertRegister1353 , Mike Jones Report

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is good if you opt for it. I prefer it, really, because I have pets - the delivery service I prefer has the option for "no contact delivery" - they text you a picture of the delivery once they drop it off. No need to put on clothes, look presentable, or rile up the pets.

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#18

The cost of living. 10 years ago it was possible to have disposable income, and save up for nice things. Now the entire pay cheque goes towards bills and other living costs, then the credit line has to cover the rest.

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#19

There’s been massive student-led protests in Thailand against the military junta throughout 2021 with the leaders being jailed yet barely a peep from western newspapers.

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

US just doesn't do that kind of stuff. They don't talk about other countries. They sure send A LOT of money over to other countries but don't talk about other countries.

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#20

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Kids having constant access to an AI that will effortlessly do all their homework for them.

Excellent-Bill-5124 , Ivan Samkov Report

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If homework or test or any other assignment can be done by AI, it is bad task, it should be updated with this consideration

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#21

People plastering presidential candidate flags and stickers all over their cars and houses like it was their favorite sports team. Even in a sports lens that would be seen as a mental illness.

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#22

A new Cure album.

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#23

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal It being 95 degrees in f****n October.


Edit: not unimaginable as in "didn't know it could happen." But unimaginable as in ***surely those at the levers of power will be reasonable and take decisive action to prevent it***


Despite the decades long screams of "do something" [emissions have only fallen a little](https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions). 


There are success stories like the [banning of CFCs](https://gml.noaa.gov/hats/publictn/elkins/cfcs.html) and the reduction of acid rain by lowering sulfur and NOx emissions. 2014 me thought that green house gas driven climate change would be another success like that that if not abated, would at least stabilize. There have been multiple international agreements since the 90s that haven't been ambitious enough or that were not signed by the US/pulled out of by the US. *Any progress is good* but its not enough. .

Adhbimbo , ArtHouse Studio Report

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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have to thank only one group of people for the denial just got reelected

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#24

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Maybe not 10 years ago (more like 20), but according to my grandma, everyone having tattoos. She said not a lot of people had them and even less would show them proudly, but now if you go to a waterpark or any place where lots of skin is exposed, you’ll see so many people with tattoos.

My grandma is very against tattoos, it’s so funny to hear her rant about them. I have a small one that I’ve been hiding from her for 2 years now lol.

sirona-ryan , Daniel Lazarov Report

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1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I at 57 both absolutely love and hate tattoos. Those that are done well and thoughtfully are true body art. Those with badly rendered skulls, demons, all over the face, swear words, Gangsta c**p are atrocious.

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#25

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Everything, including Walmart, being closed before midnight.

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#26

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal $17 pints.

thorpie88 , cottonbro studio Report

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Bernd Herbert
Bernd Herbert
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's criminal. Here, where I live in Germany, I consider 5€ for a large beer to be on the expensive side.

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#27

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal Just a reminder that 10 years ago was 2014. A lot of stuff on here was already well underway by then: Political division in the US really jumped into high gear after 9/11, your smart phone has been spying on you since at least 2010, etc.

MAHHockey , Lisa Fotios Report

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#28

Girls suddenly being not just 'okay with' but 'active facilitators in' distributing their own nudes and amateur porn for a quick buck.

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Ellinor
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1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they are consenting adults who wants to, what's the harm ? (genuinely asking)

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#29

Fear Factor guy interviews the game show dude and it's one of the post important political events ever.

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David
David
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I 'd completely forgotten about Fear Factor. A lot of what they showed on that show I would have paid them to do. I don't want to eat giant bugs but I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie and the "rush" stuff was appealing to me.

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#30

“A Felon Running For President”: 30 Things People Never Expected Would Be The New Normal The government no longer denying the existence of UFOs.

BigD4163 , Albert Antony Report

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Fembot
Fembot
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The U is crucial. Accepting there are ufo’s says absolutely nothing about the existence of extraterrestrial life.

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