Our world has changed immensely over the past few decades. The future is now!.. And that can be a thrilling yet frightening thought. With the spread of the internet, the rise of social media, more and more automation, and the oncoming tide of AI, it’s hard to make predictions about what even the near future might look like.
One Reddit user, u/HRJafael, fired up an interesting online discussion about the seemingly obsolete companies that folks were surprised to find (somehow) alive and kicking even in 2023. And it turns out that AOL and Xerox are two of them which took us completely by surprise. Scroll down to see what other businesses aren’t as forgotten as many might think.
Bored Panda wanted to learn about the features of thriving companies and how once-successful businesses can become relevant again. That's why we got in touch with Matt Johnson, Ph.D., a consumer psychology specialist, host of the human nature blog, and the author of ‘Branding that Means Business.' According to Johnson, some of the oldest companies in the world go all the way back to the 500s and they were focused on long-term thinking, a stable industry, and private ownership. You'll find our full interview with the expert as you read on.
#41
Atari is still around.
Granted, it *shouldnt* be still around and we'd be better off if it died. The Atari that exists now is basically a zombie that remains animated due to the legal system. As [one article put it](https://www.kotaku.com.au/2022/12/ataris-shambling-zombie-corpse-is-once-again-in-trouble/), Atari basically died in 1984; the Atari that exists now is a skin-suit that various other entities have tried and failed to wear over the years since then.
I beleive that there is nothing really *preventing* Atari from actually and genuinely making a comeback and getting involved in development and games publishing again. The entity still holds a great deal of IPs that many devs would salivate at the chance to renew, but the beancounter corpo-vampires in control don't understand videogames as a medium lack the creativity and vision to do this, so the brand just continues to lurch from bankruptcy to bankruptcy.
Im pretty sure its main business is patent trolling, developing a console that basically noone wants (Atari VCS) and getting involved in crypto b******t and *gaming hotels* of all things.
Report
66points
#44
The bulbs and battery store. Who is buying bulbs and batteries so much that I need a store just for it.
Report
60points
#45
Rentacenter. Seriously who rents a TV or a couch, I’ve never known anyone to go there lol.
Report
56points
#49
Radio Shack still exists in Guatemala lol. I thought they were gone gone
Report
46points
#50
Suez, the waste management company
A direct descendant of the Suez Canal Company, which finished building the Suez Canal in 1869
Report
40points
As we delve into the stories of businesses that have lasted the test of time, it's intriguing to note how language and companies alike can evolve or fade into obscurity. Just as certain words might fall out of use, some companies surprise us by remaining relevant despite changing times.
If you are fascinated by the way language evolves, you might want to explore the interesting discussion on outdated vocabulary that is no longer in use.
