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The 1990s can be arguably split into two parts: Pre-internet and post-internet. By 1995, American Online had become the de facto internet service in the United States, ushering in the Internet age for good. However, some people long to go back to the period before the internet came into our lives. Recently, Gen X and millennials met in an online discussion to reveal why they’d love to go back in time.
There Was a Less-Vicious News Cycle
Let’s be honest: Nobody likes the constant news cycle prevalent in 2023 that consists of nothing but bad news. It’s exhausting to keep up with — and that’s why countless Gen-Xers and millennials would love to be back in simpler times. In the 80s and 90s, the news was straightforward and not thrown in our faces constantly!
No Social Media
According to many, people would do anything to escape the current social media landscape. From Facebook to influencers to Instagram and internet prank shows, there’s not much to love about social media. Going back in time to the early 90s means people wouldn’t be as obsessed with these services because, well, they wouldn’t exist yet!
Writing Letters Was Special
Writing someone a letter is a lost art. Today, emailing and texting have replaced writing letters, and many people miss the feeling of sending and receiving letters regularly. I feel bad for the pen pal businesses that disappeared off the face of the Earth once texting became ubiquitous.
They Miss Funny Answer Machine Messages
Leaving someone a voicemail message is straightforward but uninspiring. Recording an outgoing voicemail message is a waste of time. Conversely, back in the early 90s, crafting the perfect outgoing answering machine message was when you could unleash your full creativity in an unsuspecting world. When Seinfeld made an entire joke from an outgoing answering machine message, everyone realized it was a big part of 90s culture.
Some Arguments Couldn’t Be Won
Many people clamor for the days when arguments were fluid and usually never resolved. “I miss someone asking a question and people just giving their best random guess and endlessly debating who is right, and then you move on, never knowing the actual answer,” explains one Gen-Xer. “I’m not even being sarcastic; I kind of miss that!”
Being Insufferable Wasn’t a Personality Trait
To be internet famous in 2023 means shining a light on the worst parts of your personality. Many people want to live in a period when this wasn’t so common. “I just want people to stop thinking that being an insufferable jerk should be their main personality trait,” admits one woman. “Even social media wasn’t that bad in its early stages, but now it’s all terrible.”
There Was No Phone-Related Distractions
Whether watching television, attending sporting events, or even having a face-to-face conversation, it’s not shocking to witness someone distracted by their phone. It’s horrible etiquette and didn’t exist in the pre-internet age. Back then, you were trapped in an awkward conversation whether you liked it or not!
You Had to Be on Time for Everything
Imagine a world where everyone agreed to meet at a set time and place (say, for dinner) and arrived on time! That was one of the best parts of the pre-internet age, as nobody always had a phone on them to let people know they’d be running late. (Back then, you’d automatically assume the worst if someone was late to a restaurant.)
Cars Were Simpler
Night and day differences exist between cars made today and cars built before the internet was introduced into our lives. Vehicles were simpler back then, and many people argue that technology has ruined the design of contemporary cars and trucks.
These car fanatics would love nothing more than go back and time and drive vehicles that were simpler, more efficient, and arguably more fun — safety regulations be damned!
They Miss the Freedom
Unsurprisingly, many people are hung up on the lifestyle they had back in the early 90s. They’d do anything to get those days back. “I was one of the last generations of total freedom, a freedom we will never have again,” laments one man. “Now we are chained, connected, addicted, and imprisoned to the instant and the constant. The possibilities have spoiled us, expanded our minds, and destroyed our souls. Interwoven with a connection that drives up further apart.” Wow, somebody get this guy a beer.
They Miss Simple Video Games
Video games are far more advanced than in the pre-internet days, and many gamers would love to go back and play some of their favorites for the first time. After all, weren’t we all happier playing Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros. than playing today’s current hit games like Call of Duty?
They Were More Active Back Then
Whether riding their bikes more, playing outside until it got dark out, or playing sports every day, many millennials and Gen-Xers admit they were much more active before the internet came about. The internet age invites people to endlessly scroll their phones while sitting on their couches – it’s not ideal!
Source: Reddit.
Generational Shift: 18 Classic Cars Loved by Boomers, Snubbed by Millennials
In the world of automobiles, some cars are timeless, forever etched in the minds and hearts of those who drove them. But generational shifts in taste and values can lead to once-beloved vehicles being relegated to the shadows. Let’s revisit 18 classic cars adored by Baby Boomers but often overlooked by Millennials.
Generational Shift: 18 Classic Cars Loved by Boomers, Snubbed by Millennials
