In a tech world, it’s easy to forget how simple things were back in the 90s. We had no smartphones that allowed us to send instant messages. We didn’t cancel plans because…well, we couldn’t! Have we evolved for the better, or have we become lazy? We’ll let you decide with the following ’90s norms.
Making Plans Without a Phone
Before texting became a thing, you had to make actual verbal plans. You’d call someone’s landline, hope they were home, and if not, maybe leave a message on their answering machine. There were no backup plans, you just trusted that they’d show up. If they were late, you just waited. And waited.
Renting Movies From a Video Store
Friday nights at Blockbuster (or your local rental shop) were a weekly ritual. You’d roam the aisles for hours or hope that the latest releases were in. Getting them home and having to rewind was the biggest pain of all. No quick ways; we just patiently waited for two hours of film to go back to the start.
Recording Songs Off the Radio
Mixtapes were a real thing. Making them required patience, skill, and perfect timing. You’d sit by the stereo with a blank cassette, ready to pounce the second your favorite song came on. You stopped when the DJ was speaking and started up when the music kicked in. You’d curse the DJ if they talked over the intro.
Flipping Through the TV Guide Channel
Before streaming, Netflix, and Prime, you had to wait to see what was on TV. The scrolling guide felt like an eternity, especially if you missed your channel and had to sit through the whole list again. TV magazines were a Godsend. You could see what was coming and make a written reminder to watch!
Memorizing Phone Numbers
Back then, your brain was basically a built-in contact list. You knew your best friend’s number, your crush’s number, and probably your grandma’s long-distance code. Imagine doing that now? You don’t even need to know your own number, it’s stored on your phone! When someone asks for it, you have to scroll through and retrieve it!
Printing Out Directions from MapQuest
Long before SatNavs and GPS, road trips required a solid strategy. You’d print out turn-by-turn instructions and hope you didn’t miss an exit. Oftentimes, the map hadn’t been updated, so you got lost anyway. But that was part of the adventure. GPS was only for people with fancy car systems.
Passing Notes in Class
When you had to tell your classmate some gossip, there were no DMs, Snapchats, or texts. All you had were folded-up notes that passed through the hands of numerous classmates. There was something exciting about sneaking a message during algebra and hoping the teacher didn’t intercept it. “Pass it on,” was all you could hear in a whispered tone.
Having to Wait for Photos to Be Developed
Instant gratification didn’t exist in the ’90s. You took photos with your disposable camera and hoped at least a few turned out when you finally got them developed at the drugstore days (or weeks) later. Most of them were blurred or random shots of fingers and thumbs. Some of them were gems, though. The wait added to the excitement.
Watching Saturday Morning Cartoons
Cartoons had a time and a place: Saturday mornings. You’d wake up early, pour a bowl of cereal, and sit down in front of the TV screen. There was a block of shows like Rugrats, Animaniacs, and X-Men. You’d be there for hours. And if you missed it, too bad. There was no rewatch.
Using the Internet Meant No One Could Use the Phone
Dial-up internet required the patience of a saint. You couldn’t go online without tying up the house phone, and if someone picked up the receiver mid-chat, your connection crashed with a screeching modem sound. It took an eternity to kick in, and when it did, it always crashed several times. But it was a real novelty.
Carrying a Walkman or CD Player
Music wasn’t on an app, you had to carry around a chunky Walkman or Discman with CDs in your bag. God forbid you dropped it, your CD would skip or scratch, ruining the vibe and your whole afternoon. You did get to master the words to your favorite songs, though; skipping and scrolling was too much effort.
Using Paper for Everything
Maps, address books, calendars, reminders – it was all on paper. You had a physical planner, a wall calendar, a diary, and probably a drawer full of phone numbers scribbled on sticky notes. If you met someone you fancied on a night out, it was a scribbled note or downgraded to a scrawl on the back of your hand.
Calling Time and Temperature
If you needed to know the weather or the exact time and didn’t have access to a clock, watch, or temperature gauge (like, who did?), you didn’t get to ask Siri. You called a phone number that gave you a robotic voice reading the current time and temperature like it was a secret. Ancient.
TV Commercials You Had to Watch
It was the downside to 90s TV. There was no skipping the adverts. If you wanted to watch your show, you sat through the ads, maybe using them as an opportunity to run to the bathroom or grab a snack. But you had to move like dynamite. Commercials were just part of the package. You even knew all the songs by heart.
Knowing What Day It Was Based on TV Schedules
TV shows had strict time slots and governed your days. Missing Friends on Thursday night meant waiting for a rerun. Not an option. Your whole week was planned around TV lineups. You even had dinner at a set time to allow for the gradual transition to the sofa. It was serious stuff back then.
