RANDOM SHIIET April 17, 2025

“Discover 32 Bizarre ’80s and ’90s Norms That Today’s Youth Can’t Fathom!”

Things that make up and shape our daily lives seem a natural part of it. And while these circumstances might seem to be changing faster nowadays, it is enough to hear about such experiences as “sitting by the radio and waiting for one’s new favorite song to come on, so one could record it on a cassette tape” or “being on the home phone when all of a sudden someone in the house picks up another phone and tells you to ‘get off’” from people who lived them and one might feel time slowing down, as if one has been transported back in time when certain things were and felt different. These people are sharing exactly these kinds of experiences from the recent past by answering one Redditor’s question: “What was a perfectly normal situation for you in the ’80s-’90s that the younger generations just can’t relate to?”

More info: Reddit

Children playing outside, capturing the essence of 1980s and 1990s childhood activities. Parents kicked you out of the house and telling you to be home when the lamp posts came on. They had no clue where we were or what we were doing. My brother and I would play on the train tracks and under a bridge. I think about my kids doing the same and it stresses me tf out.

Edit to add, Saturday morning cartoons. I’m sad for my kiddos to not have the experience of getting up early to not miss cartoons before getting kicked out of the house for the day.

Stardro , MI PHAM Report

Blockbuster storefront, representing '80s and '90s norms, with its iconic sign and entrance on a sunny day. Going with your parents to Blockbuster to rent a movie and hoping a copy (VHS tape) was still available and not completely rented out.

ItsNotMe_ItsU , Travis Wise Report

TV guide page from the ’80s and ’90s with program schedules for BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. Getting a new “TV Guide” each sunday with the newspaper and obsessing over it for hours highlighting what shows/movies you wanted to watch Calling the movie theater to get showtimes Shopping at Sears

L4rgo1229 , Scouse Smurf Report

Person sitting on a blue couch facing a vintage TV, reminiscent of the '80s and '90s aesthetic. Watching the news to see if your school scrolled across the bottom was cancelled because of inclement weather.

dahopppa , Juan Ordonez Report

A 1980s and 1990s-style gas station and store at sunset, capturing retro ambiance and nostalgia. Having to stop at a gas station and ask for directions and pay attention to what the clerk is saying.