One could think that there is “nothing new under the sun”, referring to some important things that stay the same or change very slowly, yet it would be a mistake to underestimate the effect various, even seemingly minor, alterations have in shaping the human world. These people have demonstrated that a single person lives long enough to witness some quite significant changes by answering one Redditor’s question: “What existed when you were a child that doesn’t exist now?”
Do you remember something from your childhood years that no longer exists or is now rare? Please, share your thoughts in the comments!
More info: Reddit
#1
Freedom.
Starting around age 10 to around age 14, when I got back from school, nobody knew where I was until dinner, and nobody cared. The only rule was be home before dinner which was about 7:00 PM.
I would just hit my bike, join up with the knot hole gang in the neighborhood, and we would just ride all over the place and go where we wanted and do what we wanted.
Basically, we were the kids from Stranger Things, albeit with a lot less paranormal activity.
No cell phones, not even any pagers.
I'm 46 so this was some 35 years ago.
Seems like it could be 350 years ago now.
Now you almost never see a kid riding anywhere on his bike, and nobody knows their neighbors.
210points
#2
The freedom to be a kid without being influenced by the internet and having your worst moments immortalised on it.
189points
#4
A paper TV Guide that you used to find out when TV shows were going to be aired. Usually it came in the Sunday newspaper. Also newspapers.
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156points
#5
Taking pictures with film cameras and waiting for them to get developed until you could see how bad you looked lol
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147points
#6
9 planets
The solar system used to have 9 planets, but now only has 8. <...> Pluto was just reclassified as a dwarf planet, and we always had dozens of dwarf planets like Ceres and Make-Make.
Iampepeu said:
I know it's silly, but we all sort of collectively love and care for Pluto.
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144points
#7
Phone books. Every once in a while one would just show up at our front door.
140points
#8
Card catalogs at the library.
BillowPillow8, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mamsy/4175783446/in/photolist-7mZYWj-7wg69-282Bm-mt5MxP-25s4c-bt176W-89MABx-89MAJk-eHvGLL-8zCriS-9mu9NL-adzJh-5gkCwq-buRWNf-bHLJ46-XHA7X-cztX7J-8zANkJ-7mWggP-kgvgT-iZUB1c-282Bk-RVmuc4-cer5yd-ZjZsWb-dtqwdo-airPt9-5H1H7P-ZjZsfG-XHzX8-7CofDz-dA9V-duo23s-quiyqg-ZjZsFG-282Bj-4feSzQ-bHLGr2-buRX3L-25s4d-6CC3M4-4cvXym-GqAhfN-qVGuFT-4EdbwX-89MAEB-Q3QM34-4Eda3K-7Cs7Eu-83cYgY
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#10
Playing outdoors without supervision and just returning home once the sun sets
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130points
#12
An expectation of being unreachable sometimes. I went to school, and my mom couldn't reach me all the time. She lived. I didn't feel like picking up the phone, no one cared.
No 'Read' messages unanswered causing drama.
Being able to be 'Unplugged' and not getting s**t for it.
Being able to read a physical map and navigate that way.
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124points
#14
A phone number you could call that just told you the time and weather.
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111points
#16
Privacy. Back in the day, the only way someone could know what I was up to was if they physically followed me. Now, my smartphone does that for them
95points
#17
Getting off the phone so someone can use the internet. Haha
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94points
