Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down Which Things Were Actually Better In The Past

People Break Down Which Things Were Actually Better In The Past
Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

Wise people tend to glorify the past for good reason. Simpler times seemed to indicate just that. Less life drama.


While many technical advances have also made our current life easier, it certainly has come with its share of complications that never existed prior to another time.

Curious to hear from strangers online, one Redditor asked:

"What was actually better in the past?"

People found traveling, particularly flying, was less dramatic back in the day.

Travel Scene

"Airports."

– Ron_deBeaulieu

"This is true. We used to go to the airport to go to the cafe within the airport, watch the planes take off, people watch."

– Botryoid2000

Comfort In The Skies

"Flying in general."

"More seat space, meals included (and a choice of meals), actual metal utensils, luggage included, no need to get to the airport 2 hours before your flight..."

– cinemascifi

A Proper Send-Off

"And you could say goodbye to your friends at the gate. Get there early before the flight and grab a leisurely meal with them. Man, airports used to be fun."

– Ron_deBeaulieu

TSA Efficiency

"In the 90s airport security took half as long."

– oarngebean

Many Redditors believe living in the present is a huge economical inconvenience.

Income Injustice

"Prices vs earnings."

– Jimbruno55

Parenthood Crisis

"Psh. Try childcare. Our childcare cost for two children is more than our mortgage. When I was the same age, it cost my parents about $50/week. Today that would be roughly $135/week per kid. We’re paying $500/wk and still don’t have full time care for both kids. Sh*t’s crazy."

– JsDaFax

Criminals seemed to have a field day once upon a time.

Untraceable

"Being a criminal. If there was a security camera, it was too low resolution to make your face very identifiable."

– Delica

Before CSI

"also DNA analysis and fingerprinting wasn't as good, no Internet to track you."

– ScorpionX-123

Leaving The Country Undetected

"It used to be that it was possible for someone to commit a serious crime, move across the country, and never be caught. As communications technology has improved, that’s no longer feasible."

– RealHumanFromEarth

How people occupied their time in the past seemed to be more favorable.

The Life-Line Device

"Smart phones too, Reddit is the only social media I use and still I stare at this f'king thing 5 hours a day. I know I’m addicted to it and I’d love to punt it but unfortunately it’s also my phone, my map, my camera, my tape measure, my dictaphone, my Walkman etc. etc."

– tarkuspig

Product Efficiency

"RainX washer fluid. I used to put a gallon in my car and it would last forever. Never had to use the wipers because rain, snow, road grime, and salt would all bead right off. Then one day it seemed like it never worked the same. Not sure if it was done for their bottom line purposes or environmental reasons(because there's no way even the new stuff is good for the environment) but it worked better in the past for sure."

– wrbasher

Aging Drawbacks

"my knees/ankles/back..."

– bbpr120

Nostalgic Magic

"Christmas…. I don’t know how to explain it. We didn’t have much money so it wasn’t because of the presents. We actually used to wrap our own toys and give them to each other for Christmas. But there was always just this feeling that I can’t explain. Sometimes when I watch the 90’s Christmas movies I can feel it again for a moment, but then it’s gone. It’s just the happiest, most peaceful feeling. It just felt like magic."

– Ridiculous48

Less-Stressed Pet Owners

"Certain dog breeds. Imagine, pugs used to have a nose they could breath through and eyes that didn't get infected every time they almost bulged out of their heads... Same with shitzu's. And imagine English bulldogs that didn't collapse in exhaustion by even hearing the word walkies."

– Shoddy-Day7300

Now What?

" Weird to say, but inconvenience and boredom. I kinda miss being like, 'whelp, there’s nothing on TV, I’m gonna go walk the neighborhood and knock on my friends doors.'"

"I primarily text and talk to friends on the phone now, it seems like an event to actually meet up. Even friends who are less than a mile away."

– ThinkIGotHacked

The sentiment that the past was better stems largely from nostalgia.

Aside from accessing our Gameboys and Tamagochis, my friends and I would ride our bikes or skateboard out in the cul-de-sac.

We would scrape our knees from falling, get knocked to the ground playing freeze tag, and come home with dried mud on our clothes from a day of roughhousing.

It was some of the best times of my childhood, and I feel for today's youth who still have the option of playing outside but choose to live on their iPads and iPhones instead.

They don't know what they're missing, TBH. Maybe it's just me.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Michael Fishman
@reelmfishman/Instagram

'Roseanne' Star Urges 'Compassion' With Wake-Up Call Video About Who Actually Uses SNAP Benefits

Michael Fishman, the 44-year-old actor, writer, producer, and director who started playing the character of DJ Connor on the 1980s sitcom Roseanne at just 6 years old, took to his social media recently to counter the narrative being pushed by conservative talking heads like Matt Walsh about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Drawing on his own on-screen and real life experiences, Fishman called for compassion instead of judgment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Zohran Mamdani; Screenshot of Elon Musk
Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images; The Joe Rogan Experience

Elon Musk Roasted For His Sputtering Explanation For Why Zohran Mamdani Is A 'Swindler'

Billionaire Elon Musk was widely mocked after he couldn't explain why he believes New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is a "charismatic swindler" and struggled to form a coherent sentence during an appearance on conservative pundit Joe Rogan's podcast.

Musk appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience just before Tuesday's election result, which saw Mamdani, a democratic socialist, beat back the establishment despite months of racist and Islamophobic attacks from the right-wing.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tomi Lahren
Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Tomi Lahren Just Warned Democrats Not To Flee To 'Great Red Cities'—And Everyone Had The Same Question

People are raising their eyebrows after conservative influencer Tomi Lahren went viral with a warning for Democrats not to flee to "our great red cities."

Lahren's post came in response to the significant losses Republicans faced around the country following Tuesday's elections.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Explain What Happened To Significant Others Who Cheated And Then Dated Their Affair Partner

Whether we've been cheated on before, most of us hold pretty strong opinions about the people of the world who choose to cheat instead of simply ending the relationship.

But there's a particular ring of treachery reserved for the people who not only get caught having an affair, but who then choose their affair partner over the person they committed to.

Keep ReadingShow less