For many of us, the 1990s feels like it was only yesterday, but looking back, it’s clear that life was a little… different. Everything from technology to fashion and social norms has evolved so much that what seemed normal at the time is now completely outdated, or just downright bizarre. Here are a few things that were totally acceptable in the ’90s but seem much stranger today.
Calling People and Hoping They Were Home
Before cell phones, reaching someone meant calling their landline and crossing your fingers they’d pick up. If they weren’t home, you either left a message on the answering machine or just tried again later. There was no way to track someone down instantly, and waiting for a callback could take hours or even days.
Renting Movies from Blockbuster
A trip to Blockbuster on a Friday night was the highlight of the week for many families. Rows of VHS tapes (and later DVDs) lined the shelves, and getting your hands on a new release felt like winning the lottery. But if you forgot to rewind or returned the movie late, you could rack up some serious late fees.
Burning CDs for Friends
In the ‘90s, creating the perfect mix CD was an art form. You’d spend hours selecting songs, downloading them (sometimes questionably), and burning them onto a blank disc.
Handing someone a personalized mix was a heartfelt gesture, but with streaming platforms and playlists now just a click away, burning CDs feels like a long-forgotten ritual.
Memorizing Phone Numbers
Everyone in the ‘90s had at least a handful of phone numbers memorized. Whether it was your best friend’s house, your crush’s number, or even a pizza place, you didn’t have the luxury of scrolling through contacts. Now, most people can barely remember their own phone number, let alone anyone else’s.
Watching TV Shows in Real Time
If you missed your favorite TV show when it aired, that was it: you had to wait for a rerun. There were no DVRs, no on-demand options, and certainly no binge-watching entire seasons in one weekend.
Printing Out MapQuest Directions
Before smartphones and GPS apps, road trips required some serious preparation. People printed out step-by-step directions from MapQuest, hoping not to miss a turn along the way. If you took a wrong exit, there was no recalculating – just frantic attempts to figure things out using landmarks or asking for directions at a gas station.
Blowing on Nintendo Cartridges to Make Them Work
When a video game stopped working, the go-to fix was to take out the cartridge, blow into it, and pop it back in. Somehow, this “scientific” method seemed to do the trick, even if it wasn’t exactly the most effective solution.
These days, with digital downloads and cloud gaming, the idea of physically fixing a game by blowing into it feels more like a childhood myth.
Dial-Up Internet (and That Horrible Sound)
Getting online in the ‘90s meant listening to the screeching, grinding sound of dial-up internet. It took forever to connect, and if someone picked up the phone while you were browsing, you’d get disconnected instantly.
Bringing a Disposable Camera Everywhere
Every big event, vacation, or school dance was captured on a disposable camera. You’d carefully wind the film and take pictures without knowing how they’d turn out until you got them developed. Sometimes the whole roll would be blurry, but that was part of the gamble – and the fun!
Using Encyclopedias for Research
When a school project required research, there was no Google, just heavy encyclopedias. Flipping through pages and manually searching for facts seems painstaking compared to the convenience of online searches now.
Collecting Pogs and Trading Cards
In the ‘90s, playgrounds were ruled by Pogs and trading cards. Kids would spend hours playing, trading, and showing off their collections. Entire afternoons revolved around winning the best slammer or rare card. Although collectibles still exist, the craze over simple cardboard circles feels distant from today’s tech-driven trends.
Taping Songs Off the Radio
Creating the ultimate mixtape often involved sitting by the radio with a blank cassette, waiting for your favorite song to play. You had to hit “record” at just the right moment, hoping the DJ wouldn’t talk over the intro.
Calling Time and Temperature Hotlines
Need to know the time or weather? In the ‘90s, you could call a dedicated hotline to get the current time and temperature. It was an oddly specific service, but for many, it was the fastest way to check. That’s not the case now, as a single glance at your phone does the job in seconds, making those hotlines a distant memory.
Using AOL Chat Rooms
America Online (AOL) chat rooms were the social hubs of the ‘90s. People used screen names to chat with strangers or friends in themed rooms, often typing “A/S/L?” (age/sex/location) to break the ice.
While social media and messaging apps dominate now, the thrill of connecting with people in anonymous chat rooms feels like a relic of the past.
Flipping Through TV Guide for Listings
Finding out what was on TV required flipping through a physical TV Guide or checking the channel guide on-screen. If you missed it, you had to wait for it to scroll back around. The instant access to streaming libraries today makes the idea of manually searching for listings seem hilariously outdated.
Renting Video Game Consoles from Blockbuster
Can’t afford the latest console? In the ‘90s, you could rent one from Blockbuster, complete with controllers and a few games. It felt like bringing the arcade home for the weekend. Today, with gaming subscriptions and streaming services, renting physical consoles seems unnecessary.
Writing Notes in Class (and Folding Them Just Right)
Passing notes in class was practically an art form back in the good ol’ days. The note had to be folded just right too – into a triangle or square, perfectly designed for a stealthy delivery. Today’s students just text under their desks, making the carefully crafted handwritten note a nostalgic thing of the past.