The world might be changing each second, but there are some things from the past that young people have no clue about. Here are 25 things we have no trouble with while they’ll never understand them. We’re not trying to point fingers, it’s just a little slice of life from times gone by.
Fancy Handwriting
Remember when everyone had to learn cursive writing? It wasn’t something just for show because schools had us practice loops and curves until our fingers ached. It was our standard for anything official or personal. Yes, it was difficult, but you can’t deny that it looks a lot nicer than any computer font you’ll find.
Listening to Radio Serials
Before the days of podcasts, we’d get our fix of storytelling from radio serials. Everyone would get together in the living room to catch the latest episode of a new adventure or drama series. You had to use your imagination to actually picture what they were saying, creating a shared experience like no other.
Who Needs Contacts?
Back then, if you didn’t know your friend’s number by heart, then you weren’t really friends, and most of us still remember our childhood phone numbers. You’d dial it so often that it just stuck in your mind. And honestly? Those numbers are lodged in our minds better than any password today.
Check, Please!
Forget swiping or tapping because paying with a check was the norm, and it felt like we were signing an important document each time. It helped us keep track of our spending and actually think about what we were doing. Balancing a checkbook kept us sharp since we couldn’t just use an app. Even though we’re using them less, America uses checks more than any other country.
Fix It, Don’t Ditch It
We understand there’s no point in buying new when you can fix what’s broken. After all, we had toolboxes and weren’t afraid to use them. There was a fix for everything in our house, which we learned from watching our parents or figuring it out on our own. We couldn’t exactly watch a YouTube video about it.
Scheduled TV Time
If you missed your favorite TV show back then, that was just too bad because you had to wait for the rerun. There was no click and play. This taught us to be on time and schedule our evenings around those special broadcasts without pausing or rewinding. You watched it live with everyone else.
Reading the TV Guide
Similarly, owning the TV Guide was an absolute must. Every week, you’d get a new edition in the mailbox, and you’d study it to find out what was worth watching this week. It listed every show on every channel, which you’d make sure to circle so you’d remember when to turn it on. But scheduling it so everyone in your home could watch what they wanted? That was a different story.
The Magic of Film Cameras
Taking a photo actually meant something because you actually had to think about what you were doing, not just snap away. You’d drop off your film and wait for what felt like forever for it to be developed. And that moment when you finally got to see your pictures? It felt like Christmas all over again.
Developing in a Darkroom
Speaking of film, if you were lucky enough to have access to a darkroom, then you knew what true magic felt like. There was nothing like developing your own film, with the smell of the chemical and the anticipation as you’d wait for the image to appear. Yes, it meant you had to be patient and careful, but it was definitely worth it.
Keeping Things Private
We understand that not everything is meant to be shared with the world, unlike most young people today who feel like they need to share every moment. If something big happens, we would call our closest friends or family, not post it online. Our personal moments stayed personal, and this made them all the more special.
The Waiting Game
Most young people have a short attention span, but not us. Our days of living in the past taught us patience and the joy of waiting, which is something Gen Z could learn from. It didn’t matter if you were waiting for the postman to bring news from a friend or if you were waiting in line at a store because we know that patience is a virtue.
Community Bulletin Boards
Long before social media or community apps, you’d find your local news on bulletin boards. They were usually set up in grocery stores or libraries, and you’d pin up your flyer while checking out what was new. Yes, it wasn’t exactly up-to-date, but it was still a pretty unique way of finding out about your neighborhood.
Morning Newspapers
Kicking off the day with a newspaper in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other was the norm. Each morning gave us a new set of stories to pore over during our breakfast, and it’d prepare us for the day ahead. Unfortunately, most younger generations just get their updates from social media or new apps, which can’t compare to the smell of fresh print.
Enjoying the Quiet
There’s something so special about enjoying a quiet moment. Back before our pockets were buzzing with notifications, we had real quiet, which meant no distractions, just our thoughts and the world around us. It gave us time to think and just breathe. In today’s always-connected world, these moments have become pretty rare.
Sunday Drives
Sunday was for driving without a plan, and it meant just cruising along wherever the road took us. We’d have the windows down and the radio playing as we explored the roads. Sometimes, the best places were the ones we found by accident, and we’d stop off whenever something caught our eye.
Hard Work Pays Off
Putting in a good day’s work was something to be proud of, not resistant to, as we could spend a few hours tidying up the garden or putting in extra hours at the office. The satisfaction came from seeing the results of our hard work. It didn’t matter how much time it took because we knew it would all be worth it.
VHS Rituals
We had shelves of VHS tapes, and we remember the days when watching a movie meant manually rewinding them to the start. If you forgot, you’d have to wait or face that “Be Kind, Rewind” sticker from Blockbusters. Today’s streaming skips all that, but there was something so rewarding about actually handling our entertainment.
Phone Books and Directories
Back in the day, we didn’t have smartphones or Google to find a number, but a huge phone book instead. Every home had one, and you couldn’t call anyone without out, whether it was the local plumber or your friend’s new house phone. It was a workout just trying to flip through all of those pages.
Long-Distance Calls
Making a long-distance call used to be a pretty big deal. You’d buy these calling cards and punch in a string of numbers just to talk for a few minutes without breaking the bank. Nowadays, we’ve got FaceTime and WhatsApp to talk for hours for free with people across the world. Forget calling because we can even video chat with them now.
Milk Delivery
Many of us woke up in the morning to fresh milk delivered right to our doorstep. And no, this wasn’t through DoorDash. You’d leave the empty bottles outside, and, like magic, they’d be replaced with full ones in the morning. Yes, you can get pretty much anything delivered with the press of a button today, but it doesn’t have the same personal touch.
Full-Service Gas Stations
We remember a time when pulling into a gas station didn’t just mean you were filling up. Attendants would pump your gas and check your oil without you even having to step out of the car. It was full service with a smile, which is pretty rare today. That’s not just because most places are self-service but also because you’re lucky if the air machine works.
Walking to School
In the past, we’d walk to school every day, no matter the weather. It was our daily exercise, and we didn’t have a choice but to walk, even if it was raining buckets. We’d meet with our friends along the way to have catch-up sessions before we’d even set foot in school. It was a simpler time when parents didn’t worry about our every step.
Using Carbon Paper for Copies
If you needed a copy, you had to use carbon paper because there were no such things as photocopiers or scanners. You’d sandwich this thin sheet between two pieces of paper, then press really hard when you were writing. If you didn’t, the copy would come out looking awful. It seemed like magic back then.
Learning to Sew and Knit
We learned how to sew and knit from our grandparents, and many of us still remember how to do it. These skills taught us how to whip up a scarf or fix a tear in some fabric for dirty cheap. Yes, it saved us money, but it also meant each gift we gave to someone had a personal touch to it that you just couldn’t get from buying them.
Using a Compass and Protractor
Geometry class has always been difficult, but we remember a time when it was more challenging than today. You’d have to use a compass and protractor to understand angles and circles in a way that really was hands-on. We didn’t have any of these digital tools that work everything out for you, just our own hands and brains.
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
