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!

[Fireflygal]

@Libertaire, I came on to say flying. Heathrow was lovely. Departures were on one level and air side you could see the planes. Departures announced on the large ticker board as you sat on leather seats.

Other areas were park outside and walk in to fly. None of the security and crowds. Food served even on short flights - loved the cream teas

[Exhausteddog]

- CDs - I love Spotify but honestly feel sorry for kids not experiencing the thrill of buying a new cd and immediately looking through the booklet; checking out the artwork/photos, having the joy of having all the lyrics (or the disgust when there weren’t any included!) and memorising the credits for each song...

I was only talking about this the other day with DD. (15)
And waiting for Sunday to hear all the songs in the charts - not being able to listen on demandunless you made your own mix tape

[gofg]

Delayed gratification. There was much more to wait for. Phone calls, meet ups, favourite TV shows etc. Everything is on demand now, which means you lose those delicious moments of anticipation.

I totally agree with you on that. Looking forward to something was a big part of the joy of it.

[Purplewithred]

My tits.

[Titsywoo]

@HeidiHaus

KerPlunk
Teaching
Music

Yes Kerplunk is shit now

[Exhausteddog]

I always remember going in with my dad on a Saturday when my mum was working all day and the weather was crap and picking a couple of videos and snacks, then my mums freaking out on the Monday morning: “DON’T FORGET TO TAKE THEM VIDEOS BACK!”

And remembering to rewind it in case you got a fine!

[Sloth66]

I miss having quieter roads and less crowded streets. It was a slower pace of life.
And yes, the Christmas Radio Times, planning what to watch.

[LadyMonicaBaddingham]

Selection boxes
Christmas tins of chocolates
Saturday night TV
TV full stop, in fact
Children's clothes
Magazines. All of them.

[Fizbosshoes]

Buying concert tickets. Begging my dad to drive us to the box office at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning, to buy actual paper tickets (I think you were limited to 6) instead of being in a virtual queue behind 10000 other people buying online.

[christmaspavlova]

Safety. My mam and dad thought nothing of letting us run wild down laneways, crossing the road etc

[Cutelittlesquizzer]

The quality of electrical appliances before built-in obsolescence became a thing. The original hoover my parents had was going strong for 30 years. Electrics that were faulty were taken to be repaired. You wouldn’t dream of getting another iron or a kettle because yours had broken without trying to get it mended. My DF was an electrician and fixed hairdryers, irons, kettles, food mixers, TVs etc, washing machines and fridges. There would be people phoning his shop chasing up their repairs as they were struggling without their kettle or iron or whatever.

[evilharpy]

[quote Fireflygal]@Libertaire, I came on to say flying. Heathrow was lovely. Departures were on one level and air side you could see the planes. Departures announced on the large ticker board as you sat on leather seats.

Other areas were park outside and walk in to fly. None of the security and crowds. Food served even on short flights - loved the cream teas[/quote]
The first flight I ever took was when I was 9 in the late 80s. It was British Airways, BFS to LHR so a very short flight, but everyone got a meal as standard, all children got an activity pack with colouring book and crayons, the cabin crew handed out boiled sweets before takeoff, and it was just generally a lovely experience. Not long after, my cousin flew the same route with British Midlands (remember them?) and complained that all he was given was a coke and a kit kat, and was disappointed that he didn't get to visit the cockpit this time as on previous flights he always had. He used to fly fairly frequently on his own at the age of 9 or 10 to visit family in Ireland and would be accompanied by his dad, I seem to remember, right up to the boarding gate and placed in the hands of a stewardess until he was safely delivered to an auntie or uncle waiting at baggage claim on the other side.

Different world back then. Flying is now just a complete ballache.

[Crayfishforyou]

Ribena
Irn bru
Lucozade when poorly
My face
Dairy milk
My little pony
Sindy
Magazines
Top of the Pops

[MamDancer]

Reading this great thread, I'm inspired to have myself a proper old fashioned Christmas. I spend it alone (by choice) so I will be seeking out old TV pantos and variety shows on YouTube, like it was TV. Fabulous that we can use modern tech to be old fashioned! a simple Christmas dinner, pud and custard, mince pies and a box of chocolates while I view.

Perfection!

[DelphiniumBlue]

@Fizbosshoes

Buying concert tickets. Begging my dad to drive us to the box office at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning, to buy actual paper tickets (I think you were limited to 6) instead of being in a virtual queue behind 10000 other people buying online.

OMG that brings back memories of hanging around outside the Rainbow waiting for box office to open!

[evilharpy]

@MamDancer

Reading this great thread, I'm inspired to have myself a proper old fashioned Christmas. I spend it alone (by choice) so I will be seeking out old TV pantos and variety shows on YouTube, like it was TV. Fabulous that we can use modern tech to be old fashioned! a simple Christmas dinner, pud and custard, mince pies and a box of chocolates while I view.

Perfection!

Sign up for a 30 day trial of Britbox. We've just got it and there are absolutely tons of old Christmas specials of everything from Coronation Street to Chas & Dave we're really enjoying all the nostalgia.

[BobLemon]

Abso-fucking-lootly everything according to my DAunt. Every generation after her is shit. Wishes we were still at war, racism was acceptable and wimin stayed home to raise the children.

Also, chocolate.

[Imicola]

Receiving emails!

[MamDancer]

Awww thank you evilharpy, sounds just the thing! glad you're wallowing in nostalgia and enjoying it!

[bravotango]

McDonald's

[ellyanna]

Going out to eat used to be so much more fun and so much easier. We would go to one of a few local pubs for a special occasion and enjoy lovely homemade food in a friendly, cosy atmosphere. Now, eating out seems so commonplace you have to stand and wait if you don't book in advance, the food is always gastro pub fare and no one ever seems to be able to agree on where to go. It just seems so much more stressful these days.

[Moonflower12]

@Finknottlesnewt

Are you in Warwickshire?

[Wisper1]

People's attitudes.

[beguilingeyes]

@gukvguk

Concerts. Able to watch the band without everyone filming it on their phone in front of you instead of enjoying the moment. In my day you were not allowed to take a camera in!

So much this. I've just posted a Facebook rant about this very thing. We saw Stereophonics at Shepherds Bush Empire last night. Fantastic gig in a small (for them) venue. (Really tall) people at the front filming the whole bloody gig, not even just the odd song. Selfish wankers making sure that no-one behind them can see a bloody thing. Even photos on mobiles are annoying...watch the bloody band!
Not only was University free back then...they paid you to go... although not everyone went and you could get really good jobs with just O/A levels.

[RiverSkater]

The old style distance shopping was catalogues! I loved Argos, Next Directory and Littlewoods.

I had a Lands End one come through the door today and really enjoyed looking through it.

Argus was immediate ratification but with others you always had to allow 28 days for delivery. Can you imagine that now. 😱