Millennials and Gen X are talking on Reddit about the things from THEIR childhood that Gen Z never got to experience, like the simple excitement of AOL Instant Messenger, and “you’ve got mail!”
Every generation has nostalgia that the newer generations are totally missing out on, and will never fully understand. Like how Boomers would walk 10 miles to school, in two feet of snow, barefoot, uphill both ways, with hot potatoes in their pocket to keep them warm.
Millennials & Gen X Say Gen Z Is Missing Out!
There’s a thread on social media where Millennials and Gen X are talking about the things from THEIR childhood that Gen Z never got to experience. Many said it was nice when all of their bad fashion choices, relationships, and screw ups didn’t end up on the social net. AMEN!
And remember when you would go to a concert and WATCH it? Seeing your favorite band, without millions of phones in the air blocking your view. One person mentioned specifically, “Someone saying something idiotic to someone and getting punched in the face for it, and not hiding behind a keyboard.”
Parents letting their kids run free, all day. Stranger Things was actually a pretty accurate depiction of how much freedom kids had. Riding your bike wherever and being back when the streetlights came on. Playing outside ,constantly, every day, and just making sure you got home for dinner. Not many obligations, maybe practice a few times a week for basketball, or baseball, or whatever.
Handwritten letters, mix tapes, feeling safe at school, and being able to move out on your own, because it was still relatively affordable. You went to events and actually talked to people, instead of TikTok being more important, than what was actually taking place in front of you.
And of course, I have to mention it – porn. If you wanted porn you literally had to go on an expedition to find old porno mags in the woods. Or under your friend’s dad’s bed. But I digress…
Scroll down to see what we are talking about right from the mouths of Millennials And Gen Xer’s:
1. The excitement of getting back developed film
Getting those pictures – and negatives – back was one of the greatest, and simplest pleasures in all of life! Seemed like it took forever to get them, but once you did, everyone had to get together to look at them. Now it just takes forever to find that ONE picture you’re looking for on your phone.
2. Browsing the video rental store
You spent a good amount of time just looking for something to watch on Friday night. Especially if all five copies of “Back to the Future” were already gone.
3. Checking, and reading, the 'TV Guide"
The TV Guide was an actual small magazine. We’d get all excited about a show or movie that would be on later in the week, and it made the whole week more bearable! Having everything on-demand has ruined that excitement – forever.
4. Musical involvement.
Spotify, Pandora, etc. have made everything so available that it’s destroyed a sense of connection to music. When you were only buying a few albums, cassettes, or CDs every year, you got to know those albums inside and out.
5. Mix tapes
If you really liked someone you took a whole lot of time to make them a custom mix tape, that represented every facet of your relationship! It wasn’t easy, but you did it, because only YOU could put those songs on one tape!
6. Handwritten letters
There was really no other way. You wrote letters to family, friends – often even if they lived just lived across town! To this day if I get a handwritten letter, I am absolutely blown away at the fact that someone took that time. Then, of course, I feel obligated to write them one…
7. Being uncontactable
If no one was able to contact you for a weekend, it wasn’t a big deal. Now people take it more personally if you don’t respond immediately.
8. Politics
Politics was something you heard about occasionally, and rarely invaded your life. Now it’s 24/7 with every issue being politicized.
9. Going to the movies
Going to the movies without having to mortgage your house was an actual thing. Oh – and a mortgage. That used to be a fun thing, too…
10. Longer attention spans
Teachers say that middle and high schoolers can barely sit still through a movie in class. Yikes!
