Funny

30 Things That Were Normal in the 1990s That Are Completely Extinct Today

Roy R. Jan 20, 2024 05:00 AM EST

Normal in the 1990s

Ah, the '90s—a simpler time when the height of technological prowess was dial-up internet, and the only creatures we were desperately trying to keep alive were Tamagotchis. In this post, prepare for a nostalgic trip down memory lane as we unearth 30 relics of the past that were perfectly normal back then but have now been banished to the dusty annals of nostalgia. As a relic myself, navigating the perplexities of the digital present, these disappearing acts from the '90s feel like faint whispers of a bygone era, echoing through the cacophony of contemporary tech.

Join us on a whimsical journey through a virtual time capsule that's dustier than a VHS tape forgotten in the corner of a Blockbuster. Our meticulously curated collection features 30 relics from the '90s, each invoking a sense of sweet nostalgia. From the melodic hissing symphony of dial-up modems to the sheer joy of renting VHS tapes at Blockbuster, these images are a visual love letter to a simpler era—a time when the struggle was real, and the internet had the patience to dial in. The photographs dance with the ghosts of the past, capturing the essence of what once was and what now exists only in our fond memories, much like the distant hum of a modem connection.

What was normal in the 1990s but rare or non existent now? Hotlines for the weather report, current time, and movie show times. — Save

Normal in the 1990s Meeting people at the time and place you said you'd meet them when you mad plans days or even weeks ago. You used to say "hey, let's hang out on Tuesday at 7pm at downtown bar" and then without ever having to text or call again you'd both meet there. — Save

Normal in the 1990s Pressing play and record at the same time.And then the button pops out while trying to get the song on the radio. — Save

Normal in the 1990s Keeping a binder full of CDs in your car. I still have one in mine, all burned discs. Fun times! My car cds were stolen in 1998. I'm still pissed — Save

Normal in the 1990s "Hey what was the guy from that one thing?" "I don't know" "Me neither" "Oh well" — Save

Normal in the 1990s Talking to your friends mom to see if they were home. Calling a girl's house and having to ask her dad if you can speak to her. — Save

Normal in the 1990s Calling the movie theater or looking in the paper for movie times. — Save

Normal in the 1990s When picking someone up from the airport, you could wait for them at their gate. Meeting a friend for lunch at the airport when — Save

Telephone booths. Pay phones in general — Save

Landline home phones. And having to talk to your friends parents for a couple minutes while you waited for your friend to come to the phone. Yes, the the parents were always the gate keeper. I remember calling girls and hoping their dad didn't answer. — Save

Calling from a pay phone for a ride but calling collect and saying your name as "im here come get me" to save the quarter. — Save

I used to write 10 page letters to a girl I knew in Norway and she did the same for me back in the states. I'd get like one a month and it was so exciting to read them. People had to put so much thought into those letters before the internet. So probably that. — Save

Eavesdropping in on a telephone call, you had to cover the mouth piece to make sure they wouldn't hear you breathing and laughing. — Save

Surge. When the other kids in elementary school said Mt. Dew contained an artifical dye that shrank your penis, I didn't believe them. If they had said Surge did, I would have believed them. Certain gas stations carry it now. — Save

Being completely unreachable by anyone for an entire day or more with no one thinking that it was unusual or rude. — Save

Yellow Pages. I got a phone book in my mailbox the other day. First one in years. It was about the size of a Goosebumps book. — Save

So, dear reader, how was your stroll through the '90s wonderland? Did the sight of these relics trigger a cascade of memories, perhaps a chuckle at the absurdity of life before smartphones became an extension of our very souls? The user experience was a delightful blend of reminiscence and revelation, a nostalgic reminder that the '90s were a treasure trove of quirks that defined an era—a time when the struggle was real, but so was the sheer joy of rewinding VHS tapes.

Before you reluctantly bid farewell to the '90s nostalgia, why not embark on a journey through more corners of our digital archive? From vintage tech tales to retrospectives on pop culture phenomena, our collection holds myriad tributes to the ever-fading past. The '90s may be gone, but the stories linger—waiting for you to rediscover them, much like a forgotten stash of Pogs in the attic. So, grab your slap bracelet, adjust your mood ring, and dive deeper into the '90s tapestry of memories. The dial-up may be gone, but the connection to the past remains strong.

Who needs to see this?

Send it to the friend who’ll laugh the hardest, or post it for everyone.

Facebook Pinterest X Reddit

Posted by Roy R. About the author

Roy has been one of the internet's meme tastemakers for more than a decade. He and Phil started Thunder Dungeon in 2012 by posting the stuff they found funny, and it grew into viral photo and video creations, one of the largest meme community apps and one of the best sites for daily meme content. If you've spent any time online, you've probably laughed at one of his memes.