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Original poster

Bad things about the 90s?

140 replies

Sittinbythetree · 15/02/2021 07:39

In my mind the early - mid 90s were pretty good, I don’t mean personally, but generally, just largely positive and a feeling that things were improving and the world was moving forward to a better future for most.
I’ve been listening to repeats of old comedy programs and the satire from the 90s seems so innocent and gentle. All about how boring John major was (little did we know about edwina) and late trains. And there were no phones or social media (sorry mn!)
What (lighthearted) reasons are there for not wanting to time travel back to the 90s?

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 15/02/2021 08:34

Hearing Loss
Forgetfulness
Arthritis
Incontinence
Reduced Mobility
Forgetfulness
Hypertension
Dementia
Forgetfulness
Misunderstanding things

Mycatismadeofstringcheese · 15/02/2021 08:38

Laddette culture was cringe.

I loved the 90s, especially the late 90s. But I do wonder if that was thrill of being young and independent. Will my daughter look back in the 2020s with the same fondness?

One thing I miss is that (pre-COVID) you don’t see as many people out and about. In the 90s the streets were busier in my town at night. People going out, people coming home. We live in a student town so there were always young people walking about.

I wonder if it is the introduction of dating apps and student loans that means there’s less incentive to go out to meet other people and the streets are noticeably quieter because of it. I miss it.

Original poster
Sittinbythetree · 15/02/2021 08:42

Frida - it seemed fun at the time though! I hadn’t considered that we’d been manipulated into that behaviour by the media. 90s definitely seeming less appealing now!

OP posts:
Mycatismadeofstringcheese · 15/02/2021 08:42

Bad things were men reading Nuts and Zoo and saying it was in an ironic way. But it wasn’t.

peak2021 · 15/02/2021 08:44

15% interest rates and negative equity.

Original poster
Sittinbythetree · 15/02/2021 08:44

What about the impression that the future was likely to be better? I feel like that has gone?

OP posts:
mum2jakie · 15/02/2021 08:46

Terrorism. We had the Manchester bombing in 1995. Just people walking around the shopping centre.

ichundich · 15/02/2021 08:50

The music.

CheshireLife · 15/02/2021 08:51

@RosesAndHellebores I remember the emergence of the Spice Girls, and the absurd smugness of the United fans, as if they were actually playing for the team. Good shouts.

Babymamamama · 15/02/2021 08:52

What was bad? All of the flashing and men casually following women. Worse in other European cities than London actually. But I would still go back in a heart beat. Friendly clubbing and great music. None of the gangland undertones and aggression that seem to be out there now.

User133847 · 15/02/2021 08:54

@Sittinbythetree

What about the impression that the future was likely to be better? I feel like that has gone?
Ever since 9/11 (or certainly the 07/08 financial crash) that's disappeared. The 90s was the last time there was that sense of a better future as we looked to the new century.

The worst thing about the decade was Blair and Clinton turned out to be wolves in sheep's clothing. That was the chance to change things for the better.

AledsiPad · 15/02/2021 08:55

I would take every single bit of the 90s over this absolute shit show decade.

Loaded? Absolutely nothing compared to TRAs.
Recession? Ha! The aftermath of Covid lockdowns will make it look nonexistent.
Groping never stopped?
Racism/Sexism/Homophobia - sorry, do you actually think these are better now?

No. The 90s remain infinitely better than this.

Mazzatron · 15/02/2021 08:55

@Sittinbythetree I completely agree with you - there was such a different general sense of optimism and an 'anything is possible' vibe. Now the general collective vibe is doom and gloom and 'isn't everything crap' with endless memes almost glorifying being a loser because there is little point aspiring to much. Mental health is bad, then someone invents the term 'virtue signalling' so when people do something good and want to share it to encourage others, that's wrong too.
I really hope things will change again.
I do think social media has a LOT to answer for.

RJnomore1 · 15/02/2021 08:56

Matt Lucas in a baby grow is enough to cancel the whole decade but yes overall there was an optimism that is lacking now, even pre covid.

Having to order vinyl on spec as there was no way to hear A specific song Unless John peel played it as you were listening was with daft or fun depending how much of a gambler you were mind you

User133847 · 15/02/2021 08:56

The death of Diana and then the insanity of the hysterical reaction from the British public.

User133847 · 15/02/2021 08:59

[quote Mazzatron]@Sittinbythetree I completely agree with you - there was such a different general sense of optimism and an 'anything is possible' vibe. Now the general collective vibe is doom and gloom and 'isn't everything crap' with endless memes almost glorifying being a loser because there is little point aspiring to much. Mental health is bad, then someone invents the term 'virtue signalling' so when people do something good and want to share it to encourage others, that's wrong too.
I really hope things will change again.
I do think social media has a LOT to answer for.[/quote]
The list would be endless for the 2000's or 2010's (or just for the decade so far).

User133847 · 15/02/2021 09:01

@RJnomore1

Matt Lucas in a baby grow is enough to cancel the whole decade but yes overall there was an optimism that is lacking now, even pre covid.

Having to order vinyl on spec as there was no way to hear A specific song Unless John peel played it as you were listening was with daft or fun depending how much of a gambler you were mind you

I miss the joy of hearing the top 40 on the radio on a Sunday afternoon and having the tape recorder ready for the songs you like.

If I listened to the top 40 now, it'd be a miracle if I even liked any, even if they're all only a click away to listen to whenever I want.

Flapjak · 15/02/2021 09:05

Being young!!
Hedonistic fun, not being worried about offending someone, not feeling as though there was a correct way to think . Comedy that was actually funny, music that wasnt full of men with limp voices. Girls with natural faces .
Yes sexism and homophobia was rife, but cant say its any better now, its just that now its only sexism and homophobia committed by the left wing liberal types that is permitted 🤯

user1471565182 · 15/02/2021 09:06

Its a whole big question a lot of big brained bastards are now asking. We thought the west had won the Cold War and found the ultimate political model for progress. Turns out that was probably horseshit.

Yugoslavia was the warning sign for me. That was a microcosm of what was to come everywhere.

MammaMiaWallace · 15/02/2021 09:08

I absolutely love the 90’s - I was 18 in the year 2000 and had an extremely fun and wild teenage-hood - amazing music, no social media, no camera phones (or expensive to share pics extensively at least 😆), raving, free parties, drugs, parties and lots of sex.

I guess on the bad side there was the rise of cheesey, commercial, manufactured boy/girl bands which have now become the norm to the detriment of grassroots... but then also Eminem off-set those then. And they were outliers to be mocked and sat alongside bands like nirvana rather than being the main accepted route to music industry.

Agree above that Blair was a very bad thing, but this wasn’t apparent until the early 2000’s with Iraq etc. So the 90s remain untarnished.

Overall the 90s was bloody amazing and I’m so grateful my formative years were during that decade!

Greendoonan · 15/02/2021 09:09

Lack of internet. No phones or streaming tv. It was just so socially isolating and boring. If you didn’t happen to have friends who lived nearby then you couldn’t reach out and find any - you were just alone.

Diadora30 · 15/02/2021 09:12

Those checked babydoll dresses.

Diadora30 · 15/02/2021 09:13

Best bit - definitely Britpop. The nostalgia of being young and free when Oasis/Blur/Dodgy etc... come on the radio is amazing!

Motherdare · 15/02/2021 09:18

For me it’s lack of social media and phones. How awful to be a teenager now when you’re every (wrong) move is photographed and shared by your friends. I can’t imagine how tense they must feel on nights out.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 15/02/2021 09:20

Music was so expensive in the early 90s. I love being able to use Spotify now.
I was a student in 92 - 96. Walking to the phone box was a total pita, especially if the person I was calling, wasn't in. Our student house phone could only receive incoming calls. We lived quite a long walk from the supermarket, so lugging home shopping wasn't that great either - no delivery services back then.
Also didn't like having to walk to the university library, to find what I needed had already been taken out. My DC experience of university is that most of the books they need can be accessed online.

On the plus side, I had some fantastic nights out, felt free because I wasn't chained to my phone, I felt like a brilliant future was ahead of me and that all things were possible (maybe that's a youth thing more than a 90s thing), I didn't feel quite do consumerist - I had very little money but I didn't have the urge to constantly shop. If I had money for food and to go out I was content. And I loved my stripper shoes. Didn't care that they rubbed holes in my feet and made me bleed, they looked awesome!