Whether you want it or not, the world is in constant motion. New inventions, changing generations, social norms, nature, climate change. It all plays a role, and nothing really stays the same. Some things that we are accustomed to might soon phase out, and we might not even know it yet.
Someone on Reddit asked, “What is something that is basically on life support and we don’t realize it yet?” It sparked a thoughtful conversation about outdated gadgets, old-fashioned tendencies and behaviors, and a few fun observations that rarely get the attention they deserve. Grab your favorite snack and see which submissions make you reminisce about how things used to be.
#21
Attention span.
My students are all adults and post-covid continuing education passing rates are the worst I've ever seen in our program.
My students are all adults and post-covid continuing education passing rates are the worst I've ever seen in our program.
10points
The success of the human race likely stems from its outstanding resourcefulness and ability to adapt. So don’t fear change. We’re likely to adapt and overcome it. That’s what we’re made for!
What’s the toughest change you’ve faced? Do you miss an older way of doing things? How have you adapted to an ever-changing world? Share your wisdom in the comments! Someone might need it more than you realize.
#22
Access to clean water.
Courts have already ruled in the US that clean water is not a human right. We’re in some very dangerous territory imo.
Courts have already ruled in the US that clean water is not a human right. We’re in some very dangerous territory imo.
Report
10points
#23
Communities. And I’m not talking about simple small towns. I mean those places where your neighbors were like family, and people genuinely cared about one another.
Those places where raising a kid was basically a shared responsibility and there was always that guy that helped you with the right tools.
Those places where raising a kid was basically a shared responsibility and there was always that guy that helped you with the right tools.
9points
#24
Civic groups, be it church/faith groups, unions, working man’s clubs, women’s institutes, etc. Gordon Brown covers it in his new book and explains how it’s led to isolation in society.
Report
9points
#25
Our national forests, national parks, national monuments if we don't act.
9points
#27
Teaching, schools and colleges, museums, libraries, archives, all the arts and humanities, anything that has no immediate ability to be converted to money. For the record in the early 70s Steve Jobs was an English major and didn't own a phone.
Report
9points
#28
Our jobs, which is connected to many other features of our life.
9points
#29
Handmade anything - woodworking, embroidery, music, paintings, etc etc. I get the love of CNC machines and AI for shortcuts, but people, we still need the HUMAN HANDS to do these things.
mikeyfireman:
The problem is the they have made the world so expensive to just survive that no one has time to be a craftsman. On top of that, people don’t have enough extra money to pay for hand crafted items.
mikeyfireman:
The problem is the they have made the world so expensive to just survive that no one has time to be a craftsman. On top of that, people don’t have enough extra money to pay for hand crafted items.
8points
#30
Maybe not life-support exactly but air travel feels about as strained as I can remember it ever being in 20-odd years of traveling frequently for work. This year in particular I think I have had more delays (with weirder causes) than any year I can remember and at the same time it feels like every piece of the system is understaffed and overworked in a way that makes problems spiral more easily. All while it has gotten significantly more expensive besides. Not to mention it's also all the cottage industries that exist around air travel that seem similarly strained. Hotels and transport and the likes also seem hanging on threads.
8points
#31
Modern Society. We ignore clear threats to us that we have caused, and we don't care cause of money. It will do us in, our time is limited.
8points
#32
Single seniors in the US. I know so many who don’t own their own home and who’s monthly Social Security amount is $1,700~ before the $200~ Medicare premium is deducted. They either don’t have or don’t have enough in their 401K, and their children can’t afford to help. It’s sad watching them unable to afford basic rent, food, medical needs, utilities and transportation.
8points
#33
United States Air Traffic Control system. Nearly 60% of the workforce is eligible for retirement in the next decade and certification cannot keep up with the losses. Pay is not competitive enough to entice high level candidates.
Report
8points
#34
Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security, both of which are forecasted to become insolvent within 10 years, potentially by the first year of the next president's term.
Report
8points
#35
Las Vegas as a destination, or at least casinos there.
-People have no money.
-You can gamble anywhere including an app on your phone 24/7
-"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" not true in social media / constant video culture. Don't party too hard or you'll end up on a stranger's Tik-Tok being laughed at by a million people!
-People have no money.
-You can gamble anywhere including an app on your phone 24/7
-"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" not true in social media / constant video culture. Don't party too hard or you'll end up on a stranger's Tik-Tok being laughed at by a million people!
Report
8points
#36
Physical media. Regardless of how you choose to consume entertainment, whether it be movie's, videogames, or music, people like the novelty of owning a physical copy of it. In the case of videogames, people like owning collectors editions that come with books, figurines, and other memorabilia.
Tomorrow's gamers might not know the joy of having a poster or shelf decor they got from a Physical copy of a game.
Tomorrow's gamers might not know the joy of having a poster or shelf decor they got from a Physical copy of a game.
Report
8points
#37
Cognitive labor.
JZMoose:
I doubt it. I work in a niche consulting area and AI will never replace the human component.
JZMoose:
I doubt it. I work in a niche consulting area and AI will never replace the human component.
7points
#38
Our freedoms in the US. Despite our constitutionally protected rights the SCOTUS has carved out so many exceptions that government has practically carte blanche to trample over any rights it decides to.
Report
7points
#39
Global topsoil, our population is too big and greedy.
6points
#40
About 40% to 50% of Universities in America. Gone are the days of a University on every street corner or in every medium-sized city. We are going back to the large cities and major state-supported schools, existing, not the smaller local ones.
Report
6points