In each generation, there are some traditions and habits that we all think are going to last forever. But, of course, they don’t, and they leave the next few generations feeling pretty confused. Here are 25 things that older generations do that younger people just can’t wrap their heads around.
Managing Without Smartphones
Can you imagine heading out without your phone? For many of us who remember the good old days, being unreachable once you left your house was just part of life. Young people today would probably freak out at just the thought of them not being a text away from their friends. They really couldn’t deal with it.
Cooking From Scratch
Back in the day, whipping up dinner from whatever was left in the pantry was just a regular Tuesday, and we didn’t rely on meal kits or digital recipes. There’s a certain magic to tasting your food and knowing exactly what it needs, which you just can’t get from someone else’s instructions. It seems like a lot of young chefs today don’t have that intuition.
Going to Drive-In Theaters
Anyone over 50 will remember drive-in theaters and the feeling of parking your car and tuning the radio for sounds. Yes, you can still watch a movie under the stars today, but it doesn’t have the same feeling. A lot of young people have only ever seen stuff like this in the movies, but for us, it was part of our routine.
Understanding TV Antennas
Playing with the TV antenna to get the picture just right was pretty difficult, but that didn’t stop everyone from trying to do it. Today, everything’s digital, meaning the fuzz and static screens are things of the past. Younger generations don’t understand the struggles of trying to get the antenna right and that feeling of absolute joy when you manage to do it.
Manual Transmission
Most older drivers can handle a stick shift without a second thought because that was pretty much the only way to drive back in the day. But fast-forward to now, and it seems like you can only ever find an automatic. We can’t deny that it’s a lot easier, but most younger drivers don’t know the thrill of using a stick shift.
Sewing and Mending
In the past, if your button came off, it really wasn’t a big deal because we’d just sew it back on. But with so many fast fashion companies around these days, it’s often a lot easier for younger generations to just buy new stuff. They don’t really understand the power of these handy skills nor how they can save you a trip to the store.
Understanding Morse Code
Today, morse code just sounds like secret agent stuff to most young people, but it wasn’t always that way. Before, it was the best way to send messages, and, in some jobs, knowing Morse code was just part of the gig. Sadly, it’s more of a cool party trick than an actual skill people need today, thanks to things like end-to-end encryption.
Making Mistakes
Making a mixtape for someone is way more personal than just slapping together a digital playlist. You had to really think about the flow and the message you were trying to send. Yes, you can swap playlists with the press of a button, but the love that went into a hand-made mixtape? That’s hard to beat.
Knowing Local Plant and Animal Life
Lots of people in the older generations can recognize local flora and fauna without ever needing to Google it or take a picture. It’s something that young people, particularly in the city, have almost no hope of doing. Older people can connect with the environment in ways that modern life just doesn’t.
Catalog Shopping
Back in the day, we’d get so excited about those huge catalogs that used to come in the mail. We’d spend hours flipping through them, and then we filled out that order form, which felt like we were sending a wish list to Santa. Yes, it took forever to get, but there was no greater joy than seeing the mailman bring it to your door.
Being Patient With TV Commercials
American TV has always had a bunch of commercials, but it really felt like there were way more in the past. You had to sit through a ton of ads just to see how your favorite show turned out, which really helped us to develop a sense of patience. Now, with streaming, if you blink too long, you might just miss a whole episode.
Riding Bikes Without Helmets
Cruising down the street with the wind in our hair and no helmet was just how we rolled. Of course, today, you wouldn’t dream of letting your kids out without a helmet and safety kid, along with a GPS tracker for good measure. Times have definitely changed, and for the better, but you can’t deny that those were some carefree days.
Waiting Days for the News
If something big happened in the past, you had to wait until the 6 o’clock news or even tomorrow’s paper. Sounds crazy, right? It was everyday life before the internet came along and turned us all into instant news junkies. Waiting for the news was normal, and honestly, it made the headlines feel a bit more dramatic.
Reading an Almanac
Almanacs were our go-to source for absolutely anything we wanted to know about in the world. Need to know what the best day was to plant tomatoes or when to catch the biggest fish? Your almanac had your back. Today, you’d probably just Google it, but that doesn’t have any of the harm of flipping through those pages each year.
Watching Slide Shows
We remember the days when looking at the family photos meant setting up a slide projector and watching them on a big screen in the living room. It was a whole event, with popcorn and everything. These days, you can just swipe through the photos on a phone, which is definitely quick but nowhere near as memorable.
Changing TV Channels With a Dial
Young people might not believe it, but changing the channel used to mean getting up and turning a dial on the TV. Yes, really. There were no remotes, which meant you had to use that old-fashioned knob that clicked with every turn. On the plus side, sometimes you’d force yourself to like what was on the screen because you couldn’t be bothered to change it again.
Listening to AM Radio
Before FM and DAB, AM radio was where it was at. You’d get everything when you tuned in, including the news and weather, each one with that distinct static-filled sound. It’s mostly talk radio now with a few songs, but it used to be the soundtrack to our mornings. And when you’d get home from work, you could continue.
Using Cash Registers With Manual Buttons
Modern cash registers are all digital and touchscreen, but they used to have chunky buttons that you had to punch down on hard. Young people will probably recognize the “ka-ching” sound today, although they might not have any idea where it came from. If it was a busy day, you’d need quite a bit of muscle to use them.
Collecting Stamps or Coins
We used to collect stamps and coins because they’d teach us about history and geography. It’s not something you hear about much nowadays because every collector’s either gone digital or just got NFTs instead. But flicking through those albums was truly exciting as you looked at each piece of the world in your hands.
Reading Comics in the Newspaper
Today, we’ve got webcomics, which you can read pretty much anywhere, but not in the past. No, we had to look at the newspaper to get our daily fill of comic strips, and it was a treat to follow our favorite characters. Sunday mornings weren’t complete without flipping to the comic section first thing, as long as you could get your hands on it.
Playing Outdoor Games Until Dark
It’s crazy to think that the rule used to be “I’ll be home when the streetlights come on,” and kids would play outside until dusk. It was that kind of unscheduled and wild kind of fun that’s pretty rare these days. Everyone knew everyone in the neighborhood, which meant you’d all keep each other safe.
Waiting for the Mailman
There used to be real magic to snail mail that we’ve lost today, thanks to emails and instant notifications. In the past, you knew your mailman by name, and a quick chat at the mailbox was completely normal. Just hearing them coming up to your mailbox was enough to make an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.
Rolling Up Window Cranks
Yes, there are still cars with window cranks, but they’re pretty much extinct now. If you wanted some fresh air, you’d be winding it down yourself. Most young people won’t know the intense workout you’d get from cranking down that window since they’re used to just using a button instead.
Using a Lint Brush
Before every home had a dryer with a lint trap, you had to have a good lint brush if you wanted to keep your clothes looking fresh. No matter where you went, you’d give your outfit a quick brush-down to catch any pet hair or lint. It was one of those little things that showed just how important we thought it was to look smart.
Carrying a Physical Address Book
In today’s world, address books exist only on our phones, but we remember a time when you had to carry a physical one wherever you went. You’d scribble down your new contacts and cross out the old ones, usually filling the pages until they fell out. And you’d ring in the new year by transferring all the important ones from an old one to a new one.
19 Grim Realities of Dating After 50 That Are Often Overlooked
19 Grim Realities of Dating After 50 That Are Often Overlooked
26 Things That Will Be Extinct Because Millennials Refuse to Buy Them
26 Things That Will Be Extinct Because Millennials Refuse to Buy Them
24 Outdated Slang Terms You Absolutely Shouldn’t Be Using Anymore
24 Outdated Slang Terms You Absolutely Shouldn’t Be Using Anymore
25 Hardest Parts About Getting Older That No One Ever Talks About
25 Hardest Parts About Getting Older That No One Ever Talks About
