20 Things The Older Generation Used To Do That The Younger Ones Can't Relate To
How do you do, fellow kids?
Some everyday freedoms disappeared so quietly that younger people barely notice they are gone. That is exactly what makes this Reddit thread so fun, because older users started listing the little things they could once do without a second thought.
The answers range from border crossings and payphones to cheap candy bars, unsupervised errands, and a lot less digital surveillance. It is a mix of nostalgia, humor, and a few reminders that modern life comes with plenty of trade-offs.
By the end, one answer lands harder than the rest, and it says a lot about how much the world has changed.
Here's the time-machine of a question that brought us down this spiral:
any-mystic1. Crossing the Canadian and Mexican border without a passport or ID
ObrazXIt was like driving from one town to the next, not from one country to another.
stupidlyugly
2. The prize games under soda caps and other product packaging
TRIGMILLION
They still exist, but you have to jump through a lot of hoops to claim your prize.
stupidlyugly
3. Doing stupid things without it being immortalized on the internet and potentially ruining your future
wiscosherm
Lying about the stupid things used to be easier too, but now there's photo and video evidence.
Brillo_Box
4. Air travel used to be so lax that pilots felt safe enough to allow you inside the cockpit.
Eirezona
5. Hanging up on someone used to be more satisfying.
regularcoffee27
6. Parents allowing their toddlers to go to the corner store unsupervised.
19snow16
They still do this in Japan, FYI.
vizthex
7. Remembering multiple phone numbers (Google payphones).
Mitchie-San
8. Getting into a stranger's car (Uber) and staying in one job.
BlueCatLaughing
Remember how “stupid” got no internet receipts, like these historical moments that look unreal in the raw photos.
Maybe this is why they look down on us for jumping from one job to another until we find one that values our labor.
jhermit
9. Less surveillance.
Bellsar_Ringing
This will get you into juvie now.
[deleted]
10. Cheaper candy bars.
RDCAIA
A core memory is unwrapping them without breaking the foil.
AzureBluet
11. No notifications from work the moment you clock out.
HMouse65
12. Going to the airport close to your flight schedule without worry.
ShinjukuAce
13. Underage children buying cigarettes and alcohol for their parents.
killerkebab1499
14. Skipping school used to be easier.
Looter629
A designated smoking area on campus!
hbgbz
15. No robotic voice to answer your calls, press 1.
moinatx
It's a good bet that if you're calling, you need an actual person to address your concerns.
iceunelle
16. Doing absolutely nothing and being okay with it.
AlleywayGum
17. I still haven't seen fireflies!
Urtaallthetime
Where can we go where there's no light pollution?
AndrewFurg
18. Waking up early on a Saturday morning so you don't miss an episode of your favorite cartoon! (Running to the kitchen to get snacks during commercials.)
mrmarsh25
When they end, you have to go out and play, stay inside to read, or just be a kid.
Gorf_the_Magnificent
19. Prank calling people without getting recognized.
Affectionate_Pea_811
20. Saving enough money so that you can actually afford to buy one!
keltoy1549
The last one hit too close to home, but it's the sad reality of our generation. We may have smartphones, high-speed internet, and everything we need with one click, yet we will never experience what our parents and grandparents have been through.
The only way we can relate to their stories is to listen to them and live through their memories. This is a sign to talk to your mom, dad, or grandparents and ask them about their good old days.
Want proof your grandparents were built different, browse these vintage photos of grandparents living like safety was optional.
