What was absolutely, undisputedly better in The Old Days?

[Pickles89]

Back when you were young, or even before that?

I'm going to kick off with Beany Babies. The realistic style 90's ones were so much nicer than the massive eyed/sparkly/rainbow coloured monstrosities of today.

Your turn!

Wagon wheels

And fruit was seasonal so only peaches and strawberries in June. And not very often. Mum used to come home with a brown bag with peaches in. So exciting. We probably had 2 a year. Always so sweet and juicy

How is only having access to something in June better than having access to it all year round?

I mean I can see the anticipation/ excitement makes it special, but really? It's much better being able to get things when we want them at any time of year.

Sweet peanuts. They had salt and actual peanuts in them and now they're just sweet peanut-shaped cack.

Meals out - everyone was fully engaged, rather than staring at their phones.

People being present in the moment (instead of trying to get a good photo to post afterwards on SM)

Customer service - need to speak to someone? No problem, just ring up and get to speak to a human right away. No set of automated menu's to drive you insane.

Dating - men very happy to date a real woman, and no dating sites to see what else is available.

Porn - not readily available. What there was, was female friendly, not violent.

Children - they were frightened enough of the consequences of being naughty, because parents actually parented.

Turkey twizzlers. I found out they came out again recently, but they don’t taste at all the same.

Also some of the discontinued sweets. I feel like nobody else remembers Fruitangs. They were so nice! My Nan always got them for us.

I can't think of anything tbh. I like life now.

Oh yes I can - there was much much less snacking between meals, what there was wasn't in plastic wrapping, and therefore there was much less plastic litter. That's about it.

TV. Only 3 channels and eventually 4 but a lot of the programmes were high quality. Excellent documentaries, drama and political programmes. We have hundreds of channels now and I struggle to find anything worth watching. So many trashy reality shows.
I agree about Cadburys - so greasy and tasteless now.

@AlphabetAerobics

Sex. Was brilliant 30 years ago. Last few cocks I’ve encountered have made me wish I’d had a cup of Horlicks instead.

(I hate horlicks)

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Music

Connect 4 - made of solid plastic, not flimsy shit.

Fry's chocolate cream - the 5 centres one.

Fashion - bring back batwing jumpers!

M&S and Next - not cheap but decent quality stuff.

Cadbury’s chocolate.
Dr Who

Caramac

Movies / videos. I loved going to Block Buster on a Saturday afternoon to get a video to watch. Even better if we were allowed a take away too - which was once in a blue moon.

@AlphabetAerobics

Sex. Was brilliant 30 years ago. Last few cocks I’ve encountered have made me wish I’d had a cup of Horlicks instead.

(I hate horlicks)

Best reply yet

Christmas ! our extended family all lived within walking distance and we'd alternate houses each year for a party on xmas night . Proper Christmasses with loads of noisy kids , tinsel and fun .

Dairy milk
Double deckers
Bournvita: can’t even get it easily in England any longer

Packets of actual photos.

The High Street. With shoe shops like Freeman Hardy Willis, Dolcis, Saxone…

Actors. They used to be able to act and they all looked relatively different.

Now, they're all identikit looking with no personality or much talent. Scripts are often poor as well.

The weather! Warm, dry summers and cold, frosty, snowy winters. Now we get wet, mild, windy carp most of the year.

Mumsnet.

The weather. Actual seasons.

Cadburys since the Kraft takeover is foul.

I just think that life was better pre-smartphones, everything on demand and social media. I think it ruins everything. There's no privacy any more and people are boring and always on their bloody phones. Phones make people antisocial. Social media is toxic. I wish it had never been invented.

People reading the news on the radio and television were able to pronounce things properly.

I've lost count of the number of times I've heard 'Omni-cron' and 'Wellby-ing' just lately.