Home » Lifestyle » 12 Things People Under 23 Will Never Understand

12 Things People Under 23 Will Never Understand

We’re so used to any bit of information being readily available at our fingertips at a moment’s notice. It’s easy for people who were around before many of these modern conveniences to remember what it was like. But younger people may never be able to fully grasp the details of simpler times before the internet and iPhones. These glimpses into the past, as told by real message board users, will bring back memories for some and give younger folks an idea of what it was really like.

TV Guide

Kongsvinger, Norway 25 august 2023: Updated VG newspaper magazine article with TV guide information for diverse channels in newsstand store shop in Norwegian jourmalism and context
Photo credit: SiljeAO // Shutterstock.com

“Looking forward to Monday’s newspaper having that week’s TV guide so you could see what movies were on that week,” said one commenter. Before the days of Netflix, Hulu and cable tv menus, everyone had to wait for the guide in the snail mail!

The Future

Woman in futuristic costume. Female in modern VR glasses interacting with network while having virtual reality experience. Augmented reality game, future technology, AI concept. VR. Neon blue light.
Photo credit: KDdesignphoto // Shutterstock.com

Before the year 2000, the sound of that date just sounded so futuristic to everyone. It was even referred to as ‘the millennium’. One user said, “The year 2000 seemed like some year way off in the future. Now I have lived more than half my life in the 21st century. Heck, we had a technology show called ‘Beyond 2000’.”

Manual Checkout

senor man pensioner buying banana in grocery
Photo credit: Caftor // Shutterstock.com

One commenter shared, “70’s kid here. Checkout ladies in supermarkets (yes, it was mostly a ladies job) used to manually type in the prices of every item purchased. (Every item had a price tag stuck on it by another member of staff). Their fingers could really fly around a numerical keyboard. It used to fascinate me as a kid.”

The Early Internet

Retro interior office desk in dark room with simulator object.
Photo credit: Nonchanon // Shutterstock.com

“What you can’t simulate is what the Internet used to be… there was no “good” search engine and your bookmark field had an actual purpose. Wikipedia didn’t exist, the closest you got to something like that was a list of links at some random website: Want to know about ants? Here’s a link to a site with pictures in wildly different resolution and a background made to mimic old parchment. You couldn’t use the internet to listen to music, you could barely use it to look at low res pictures and you’d be lucky if even half the features of anything functioned,” said one commenter.

Dial-Up Internet

Female hand holding retro home telephone receiver and dialing number.
Photo credit: JC_STOCKER // Shutterstock.com

Anyone who was around for dial-up internet days knows that screeching sound of trying to log on. One user said, “I tried to explain to my nieces that you used to get the internet through your phone. They were all like ‘yeah, duh’. Then I had to explain that the phone line had to be connected to a special box which had to be connected to a computer that you could only connect to the internet if no one else was using the phone.”

No Social Media

Group of four friends having a coffee together. Two women and two men at cafe talking laughing and enjoying their time using digital tablet.
Photo credit: adriaticfoto // Shutterstock.com

“People just went away, and you never saw them again or had any idea what they were doing with their lives. Without social media, everyone but your closest friends or family disappeared from your life forever, and you had no clue what they were doing (remember you can’t google them either). Ex boyfriend? I heard a rumor from an old hs buddy I ran into at the mall that he moved to New Jersey. Camp buddy? Randomly ran into him two decades later, and he was totally different. It’s why kids don’t understand the point of stuff like [high school] reunions,” recalled one commenter.

No Googling

Chisinau, Moldova - March 2019: Encyclopedia Britannica - Complete stack of "Enciclopedia Universală Britanica" composed of 16 volumes in romanian language.
Photo credit: ProximaCentauri1 // Shutterstock.com

“If you wanted to know something your family or friends didn’t know, and you couldn’t find it in the library, you were unlikely to find out the answer. This applied to all sorts of things all of the time. I doubt younger people today can really imagine the difference immediate information availability makes in our daily lives,” said another user.

Appointment Television

Old analogue television on wood table with white cut out screen.
Photo credit: trekandshoot // Shutterstock.com

“Missing the new episode on TV, having no way to see it again, and be completely clueless when it was all anyone at school or work talked about,” said a commenter. Before streaming services, tivo, or DVRs, there wasn’t an easy way to catch shows if you missed the original airdate. You’d have to wait months or even years for a re-run!

Pre-9/11 Flying

Amsterdam, Netherlands - September 5th, 2022: Different Airplanes at Schiphol airport.
Editorial credit: Pim Kraster / Shutterstock.com

“Flying solo at 8 and having my parents meeting me at the gate! Quickly getting on flights (most cases). It was great!” recalled one user. Before the tragedy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, security at airports was fairly non-existent– no metal detectors, no removing shoes, no ticket needed to get to the gate.

Memorizing Phone Numbers

Rolodex file organizer sitting open on a colorful plain background with copy space.
Photo credit: Brett Hondow // Shutterstock.com

Before cell phones, everyone had landlines, and that meant no computer memory to store phone numbers. You’d either have an address book or Rolodex, or you’d just have to remember it by heart. Everyone knew at least a dozen numbers by heart.

Smoking

Lifestyle, beauty and fashion, people emotions concept. Reluctant and disgusted asian woman tell to stay away from her, step back and raising hands up defensive, grimacing from aversion and dislike
Photo credit: Mix and Match Studio // Shutterstock.com

“Smoking was not illegal anywhere. You could smoke on airplanes. Restaurants, in the mall, in the stores. School parking lot,” said one commenter. As the risk of second-hand smoke became more evident, the prevalence of available places to smoke dwindled. It started by separating smoking sections, to moving it outside, to moving it several feet away from a building.

Landlines

Photo portrait of woman talking on landline phone isolated on vivid yellow colored background
Editorial credit: Roman Samborskyi / Shutterstock.com

There was a time when everyone had to share the same phone number and the phone was stuck in your house. One user remembers, “One phone for the entire family and you could only go as far as the cord would stretch.”

Source: Reddit

10 Things People Miss the Most About the ’90s

BLINK 182 at the 2004 Teen Choice Awards at Universal Studios, Hollywood. August 8, 2004
Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

The ’90s was a decade filled with iconic fashion, music, and pop culture. It was also a simpler time, where people could enjoy life without the constant distractions of technology and social media. Recently on an online platform, people were asked what they missed most about the ’90s, and their responses were both nostalgic and heartfelt. From the accessories and music to the freedom and innocence, here are some of the things people missed most about the ’90s.

Read more: 10 Things People Miss the Most About the ’90s

10 Things People Miss Most About The 80s

Father with son in 80s vintage sport suits on yellow background
Photo credit: SimonVera // Shutterstock.com

From the exhilarating arcade culture and the simplicity of mixtapes to the undeniable charm of classic movies and fashion trends, here are 10 things that transport us back to the unforgettable essence of the 80s.

Read more: 10 Things People Miss Most About The 80s

12 Greatest Fashion Trends Women Wish Would Make a Comeback

Photo credit: Canva.com
Photo credit: Canva.com

Have you ever daydreamed about an old fashion trend, hoping it would return to widespread circulation? Someone asked, “What is something you wish would make a comeback?” Twelve individuals shared their favorite ‘out-of-date’ trends on an online platform.

Read more: 12 Greatest Fashion Trends Women Wish Would Make a Comeback

11 Fashion Trends Women Thought Were Cool But Now Make Them Cringe

LA COURNEUVE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 16, 2011 : Canadian singer Avril Lavigne at the concert of Fete de l'hummanite at la Courneuve in France near Paris.
Editorial credit: Frederic Legrand – COMEO / Shutterstock.com

From butterfly hair clips to low-rise jeans with whale tail thongs, get ready to cringe and laugh at the fashion disasters these women once fell into.

Read more: 11 Fashion Trends Women Thought Were Cool But Now Make Them Cringe

The Best Travel Clothes for Women: The Ultimate Guide for 2024

tourism, vacation and people concept - happy smiling young woman wearing hat with travel bag pack standing by the airplane and ready to departure.
Photo credit: Andrii Medvediuk // Shutterstock.com

Searching for the best travel clothes for women? Look no further! From stylish travel jackets to comfortable hiking shirts, this post has it all.

Read more: The Best Travel Clothes for Women: The Ultimate Guide for 2024

Is FWRD Legit? My Honest FWRD Review (With Photos & Video)

Shopping, fashion and woman with a sale, boutique and discount items with retail, client and luxury. Female person, customer and shopper with price tag, store and outfit choice with clothes selection
Photo credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A // Shutterstock.com

Are you wondering if FWRD is legit? This post is my honest FWRD review after spending thousands of dollars with this online retailer. If you are wondering whether FWRD is selling fake designer items, what their shipping and return policy is, and whether or not I recommend shopping on FWRD… this is the post for you.

Read more: Is FWRD Legit? My Honest FWRD Review (With Photos & Video)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.