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
Make us preferred on Google

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

Trey Parker and Matt Stone; Donald Trump
Taylor Hill/WireImage; Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

'South Park' Hilariously Trolls Trump After Winning Emmy Award For Outstanding Animated Program

South Park had social media users cheering after trolling President Donald Trump for helping creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program at the Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday.

Trump has previously complained about not being accepted by the Hollywood elite and not winning major film and television awards. South Park leaned into this by sharing a graphic depicting a pantsless Trump holding an Emmy while the show's characters flank him, sharing in the victory.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ben Ray Luján; Donald Trump
Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

New Mexico Senator Rips Trump With Fiery Insult After Trump Threatens To Rename State 'New America'

Democratic Senator Ben Ray Luján called out President Donald Trump following Trump's threat to rename the state of New Mexico to "New America."

Luján's remark came after Trump already made headlines for claiming, amid a trade war with Canada, that the United States was considering "changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America in that we don't expect to [be] doing much business with Ontario any longer."

Keep ReadingShow less
Riley Gaines
Fox News

Riley Gaines Dragged After Complaining About WNBA Game In Minneapolis Filled With 'Disgruntled Lesbians'

On August 2, anti-trans activist and MAGA grifter Riley Gaines attended a WNBA game in Minneapolis between the Minnesota Lynx and the Indiana Fever. Gaines was there with the co-founder of an athletic brand that's entire marketing strategy is centered on transphobia.

Gaines is the spokesperson for the brand which has mounted several anti-trans publicity stunts at women's sporting events and a women-focused sports bar in Portland, Oregon. Their apparel was also recently sported by a school trustee and Moms for Liberty member during a Nevada school board meeting.

Keep ReadingShow less
Claire Stoermer and Zendaya
@claire_maree64/Instagram

Zendaya's Mom Just Revealed That Trolls Are Attacking Her With 'Horrible Comments' On Social Media—And Fans Are Livid

Actor and singer Zendaya turned 30 on September 1. Her mother, Claire Stoermer, marked the occasion on Instagram with a message and childhood photo of her only child.

Stoermer wrote:

Keep ReadingShow less
Elliot Page
Theo Wargo / Staff/Getty Images

Elliot Page Revealed That He's Had No Offers Following His Critically-Acclaimed Performance In 'The Odyssey'—And Fans Are Sounding Off

There can be little doubt that the cinematic hit of the summer was Christopher Nolan's bold new interpretation of Homer's classic The Odyssey, which has gone on to gross over $1.5 billion.

One of the most acclaimed performances among the film's high-profile cast came from Academy Award nominee Elliot Page in the role of Sinon, one of the key players behind the legendary Trojan Horse.

Keep ReadingShow less