Journey into the past with these 10 classic items, once everyday essentials, now destined for museum displays. As technology leaps forward, today's kids might only encounter these relics behind glass. From rotary phones to floppy disks, each tells a story of a rapidly changing world. AUTHOR: Chris Phelan
Table of Contents
- 1. Printing Out Paper Maps and Directions
- 2. Mentorship
- 3. Using a Pay Phone
- 4. Sharing the Internet With the Phone Line
- 5. Writing in Cursive
- 6. Entertainment That Isn't On-Demand
- 7. Interacting Civilly With People Who Don't Share Your Views
- 8. Life Without the Constant Assault of Information
- 9. How To Be Truly Bored
- 10. How Hard Previous Generations Worked
- Top 10 Best Tasting Fish
- 10 Things Old People Miss The Most
- 12 Dollar Store Kitchen Items That Are Worth Every Cent
- 12 British Foods That People From Other Countries Find Gross
- 12 Poverty Meals That Taste Like A Million Dollars
1. Printing Out Paper Maps and Directions
People today have no idea how difficult it was getting from one place to another before Google Maps and other services became ubiquitous. When going on a road trip, you and your friends had two options: print out turn-by-turn directions or bring along a road map. Voice-guided navigation was only a pipe dream back in the day.
2. Mentorship
Although it's depressing to think about, many people are correct in their assessment that mentorship has fallen by the wayside with each passing generation. "I think that's just the world we live in," laments one woman. "I'm probably one of the youngest people on the team at my current job, and when I ask someone if they could mentor or show me how to do something, the response every time is, 'I'll send you a document, PDF, or YouTube video that explains it.'"
3. Using a Pay Phone
Cell phones are arguably the most convenient invention ever, enabling people to become officially untethered from landline phones. The next generations will never understand the inconvenience of tracking down and using a public pay phone (which costs money!) to call someone's house. Looking back, we all had it pretty rough!
4. Sharing the Internet With the Phone Line
Speaking of phones, long before broadband internet became an essential household utility, internet access was shared between the home's phone line. Looking back, this was an incredibly bizarre situation. "They'll never understand the struggle of Internet dial-up noise and the angst of being kicked off the Internet because someone in the house picked up the phone," explains one man.
5. Writing in Cursive
It's official: learning to write in cursive is a lost art. Back in the day, handwriting classes were standard in elementary school, a stark contrast to schools today. Thanks to computers, learning to write in cursive has become irrelevant. It's a shame; the handwriting skills of certain people were nothing short of beautiful.
6. Entertainment That Isn't On-Demand
Generations ago, watching a movie and listening to music was more challenging than it is today. Unfortunately, massive technological advancements mean video rental stores and record stores have nearly gone extinct. Future generations will never understand the pain of standing in a Blockbuster with your family and spending hours picking out the perfect movie.
Unfortunately, we're all too well-versed in engaging in vicious arguments with strangers on the internet. However, it wasn't always this way. "How to interact with people who have different beliefs or views than you is a lost art," explains one man. "Strict school policies and extreme internet censorship have made a lot of people unable to be civil with people they don't agree with."
8. Life Without the Constant Assault of Information
In 2023, unplugging from the constant information onslaught seems borderline impossible. Future generations will never know the simple joy of living without constant information overload. "There is an actual world outside of your own home (mostly the living room), but compared to my own childhood growing up in the late '70s and early '80s, you rarely see the same amount of kids being outdoors on a regular basis," declares one woman.
9. How To Be Truly Bored
Before the advent of the internet, cell phones, and nonstop streaming entertainment, kids in previous generations were bored – a lot. However, we made the best of it. By doing so, we taught ourselves how to be happy, productive, and creative when bored, a skill future generations will sadly not have. I bet kids today would panic if they found themselves genuinely bored.
10. How Hard Previous Generations Worked
Let's be honest with ourselves; each generation works less hard than the last. Influencer culture has permeated the current generation, and I can only assume things will worsen from here on out. Fewer people know the value of a hard day's work with each passing year.
Source: Reddit.
Top 10 Best Tasting Fish
For those who appreciate the subtle nuances and rich tastes that different fish can bring to the table, here's a list of the top 10 best tasting fish from around the world.
Click Here For Top 10 Best Tasting Fish
10 Things Old People Miss The Most
Once upon a time, things were simpler. Here’s a nod to the good old days, counting down 10 things that our elders often wish were still around.
Click Here For 10 Things Old People Miss The Most
12 Dollar Store Kitchen Items That Are Worth Every Cent
Imagine whipping up your favorite dishes without spending a ton of cash on tools. That's where the local dollar store comes in handy.
Click Here For 12 Dollar Store Kitchen Items That Are Worth Every Cent
12 British Foods That People From Other Countries Find Gross
Discover the bizarre side of British food with this list of 12 dishes! Beloved in Britain but eyebrow-raising elsewhere.
Click Here For 12 British Foods That People From Other Countries Find Gross
12 Poverty Meals That Taste Like A Million Dollars
This list is all about delicious eats that cost very little. They're the kind of meals that remind you how good simple food can be when you make it with a little love.
Click Here For 12 Poverty Meals That Taste Like A Million Dollars
Cursive wasn't just about WRITING it. It was also about READING it. A lot of our historical documents are written in cursive. In a couple of generations, those documents might as well be written in hieroglyphics. Nobody will be able to read any of them.