I miss the 90's ( Archived) (11)

I’m so very happy to have gone through college without cell phones and social media. You could feel free to party without worrying about every moment being documented and judged to the world. Meeting someone you liked was actually exciting and intriguing because you couldn’t search for them on social media or Google them. If you wanted to go out with friends, you talked ahead of time and made plans. Once you were out, no one was distracted by phones. Everyone was in the moment. It was great. If any of my wild nights were splattered all over my friends’ FB or SC or Instagram I would have become a recluse The only documenting of misdeeds I remember was the occasional polaroid camera. You either saw it live or heard about it, that's it.
No one thought about how many likes you had and feedback you got from your comments didnt' involve some stranger telling you were wrong and an idiot. It involved someone you knew and they generally less douchey in their reply.
I remember hanging out with people and no-one had a text, notification or photo to deal with. I’d forgotten that. It was warmer and real-er. Longer evenings with friends without smartphones. The inner calmness without the constant background noise by media and "social" networks.
Before the internet was a widespread source of information and entertainment, most people got their information from the same sources on the same schedule. The good part of that was a deeper sense of shared cultural experience. But there is something that ended in the 90’s, which was a sort of communal camaraderie that we were with our peers together seeing the same things
The joy of not being contactable 100% of the time.
Tower Records to look for new music. They had these kiosks in the middle of the store with headphones and an assortment of new cds that you could pick from to listen to. Found so much new music that way
Kids born after the 90's will never be able to appreciate how different life was without the internet in your pocket.
Need to look something up in an encyclopedia, you had to physically go to the library.
Want to order out, you had to look up phone numbers in the yellow pages and guess about the quality of the restaurant.
Want movie times? Look it up in the newspaper.
We used to go to concerts and hold lighter's up until our thumbs were burned. When we got together we had to look and talk to each other. Also the whole family shared a land line phone. Phone books had a purpose and you knew everyone's phone # off by heart.
Things were far more spontaneous- you drove around looking for adventure- went by ya' boy's house- maybe he was there/maybe he wasn't- Went to a bar/rave/ show (that was advertised in the paper) and see what the happens. Maybe you have the time of your life or maybe it's lame because no one had stupid internet reviews to read.
Ultimately, there was a sense of freedom and indeterminacy that our modern world doesn't have. Sure, many things are better in the digital world but I do miss the analog world sometimes
I miss how everyone actually talked to you face to face and how the internet didn't rule the world back then. I miss how it was harder to look things up but made it much more appreciated when you finally got all the info. I miss how more people actually did things for one another and were not as stuck up as they are now and I miss the landlines and payphones. I also miss how when I got bored I just simply went outside and found something to do. Extending that to the general case, not demanding instant gratification for everything all the time.
Smoking in clubs and bars. Sharing CDs. Making mix tapes and agonizing over it. Late night MTV. Not having a cell phone. Writing letters. Saving money to buy very little music. Listening to records over and over while reading liner notes, until you had both memorized.
Going to a VHS rental for a cool movie you choose just because of nice cover.

I don't miss the 90's
To many words in your blog for me to bother reading.
Bring back the swing era
Dancin slapper girls

The 90's were both good and not so good for me.
3 (out of 4) daughters were born in that decade. (Good)
I got in serious trouble with AG Janet Reno & the Clinton Administration (Not so good)

The decade ended on a financial high note though.
I was able to retire for the 2nd (out of 3) times in my life.

Cliff notes?

Did you like the 90's as much as the OP?

Much like you, the 90's had highs and lows. Both of my daughters were born. I went back to school with much success and joy. They were good to me financially... However, my marriage fell apart and I spent two years living on The Crow reservation in Montana. I might as well have lived in a black hole. Talk about a fish out of water... Ever see the show Northern Exposure?

Damn. Sounds as bad as Federal prison.

January 20, 1981–January 20, 1989, Reagan is president. Good years.

January 20, 1989–January 20, 1993, George Bush is president. Decline starts,

January 20, 1993–January 20, 2001, Bill Clinton is president. Corruption increases.

January 20, 2001–January 20, 2009, Lil George Bush is president. Corruption worsens.

January 20, 2009–January 20, 2017, Obama is president. Corruption is full-blown.

January 20, 2017-Present.

Trump is president. Patriotism, Liberty, freedom of speech, democracy, and justice make a comeback. Leftist enemies of the state are exposed as well as communist Hollywood. Tech giants and leftist media are obvious propaganda machines for globalists and traitors in congress. Patriots have a chance to save America... destiny is in your hands. COVID or no COVID the fight is not over... the war has just started and victory only comes with truth.

I'd say 2016 was the best year.