It's pretty ironic to think just how short-lived YOLO was.
So many aspects of popular culture are mere flashes in the pan.
We buy things for way too much to wear them for a summer. We learn particular dances before Homecoming to make sure we're not out of the loop.
We even become passionate about particular philosophies for only a hot second.
It can be valuable to take a moment to reflect on those bizarre trends that we took to like a youth cult. It's humbling to reflect on how impressionable and dumb we all used to be.
GyapaetusWeed asked, "What is a weird trend that existed that everyone forgot about?"
Easy Storage
"That period in the late 90's and early 00's where neon inflatable furniture was popular." -- smcsleazy
"Two dudes in my dorm got a bunch of those things, stuck Velcro on the bottom and on the ceiling, and had easy chairs that stashed completely out of the way when they weren't in use. F***ing brilliant." -- dustyrags
Artistic Process
"That era during the 2000s/early 2010s when every popular song got an Alvin and the chipmunks cover. Still can't believe we survived that." -- Teerevolve
"That's on a 30 year cycle. 1950's: original chipmunks have albums and puppet appearances."
"1980's: Saturday morning cartoon (actually pretty good) done by the original guys son."
"2000's also the son's property, but I think he licensed it instead of doing it himself."
"Keep an eye out for a revival on whatever people are into in 2030 or so." -- mike_d85
A Good Year for Dads
"The weird obsession with mustaches in 2013 or whatever year it was" -- antictrash
"Don't forget bacon, the default subs were all mustaches and bacon back then" -- KargonBloodrich
"My son was born that year and his uncle bought him a binky with a mustache on it at Spencer's. He looked hilarious." -- jebzz12
The Single Best Trend for Core Training
"Planking. That trend where people would post pictures lying down in odd places." -- PlayerObscured
"My favorite example of this was one of someone lying across the humps on a McDonalds sign." -- BlueManedHawk
"I still remember when our high school history teacher would be doing the latest trend pose when we came into class."
"As we'd walk in, he'd be planking or Tebowing on his desk. Sounds cringey, but we all had a good laugh." -- Heruuna
A Blast From the Past About a Blast From the Past
"When swing music and swing dancing was really popular for like 6 months in 1998." -- Clintman
"That damn gap commercial with Jump Jive and Wail caused me to buy a $95 pair of khakis that I didn't need" -- krezgobop
"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing..." -- ACorania
Viral Promises
"KONY 2012" -- wanderingtraveler3
"What a fever dream. Wow." -- shadow_upvoter
"You know, I was sold on their campaign. I even guest wrote on my friend's blog defending it and how people should just shut up if they have nothing nice to say."
"And then the dude who started it ran around naked and that was the end of that." -- Fishwhocantswim
Worldwide Beehive
"The vuvuzela. Everyone had one of those 10 years ago." -- crayul
"Yep. During World Cup in 2010." -- BigBucs731
"We had a girl in University we called Vuvuzela because she was excessively loud and extremely annoying." -- Deswizard
Too Big Too Fast
"Those creepy clowns showing up everywhere in 2016" -- PMME_ur_lovely_boobs
"A simpler time" -- tRonHD
"They soon stopped when people started beating them up and running them over en mass." -- Adrasos
"The heroes we need today" -- AmadouShabag
Worth the Occasional Snag on a Locker
"In middle school, guys would wear extra long belts and it would dangle off to the side." -- NotThisNonsense
"Popped collars and Abercrombie and Fitch. That phase of high school was interesting. At least 3-6 Mafia gave us a a song about it." -- xcelllz
Laying in Wait
"As a Goodwill employee I can assure you that none of these trends are really gone, they're just $2.99 on a back shelf" -- FolkloreAndVillains
"I find it very reassuring that I can go to Goodwill and find something that cheaply to remind me of yesteryear." -- CrustyBatchOfNature
