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Original poster

what was a massive deal when you were growing up that isn't now?

240 replies

learthebear · 03/10/2023 00:28

or you thought was

OP posts:
BridgetJonesAsFuck · 03/10/2023 06:13

The Big Breakfast. Everyone used to say some phrase from it but I can't remember what it was because I never actually watched it myself.

HuntingoftheSnark · 03/10/2023 06:16

Effitall · 03/10/2023 03:49

Top of the pops Christmas number 1

Yes! And the Sunday top 40 on Radio 1.

camelfinger · 03/10/2023 06:16

Having things put on your School Record
Turning all the lights off and eating every scrap on your plate
Waiting for your dinner to go down
Buying new household items eg furniture
Selecting particular GCSE choices being a life changing decision
Wearing certain clothes to avoid catching a cold
Carrying handkerchiefs at all times
Hand washing the car being a big job

Fleetheart · 03/10/2023 06:16

The colorado beetle. Pictures of them in the post office, library etc. what happened to them?

User174085934 · 03/10/2023 06:24

Getting your car welded for the MOT and having to fiddle about with the choke in the winter, we had to hold ours out with a peg for a certain amount of the journey

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/10/2023 06:27

The Cold War.

I was convinced

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 03/10/2023 06:28

Bringing a LIDL bag in to carry your PE gear in.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/10/2023 06:28

The Cold War

I was convinced we were constantly 4 minutes from nuclear attack.

Effitall · 03/10/2023 06:39

Trying to tape films without the advert breaks

LittleBrownJug · 03/10/2023 06:40

I can tell some people my age are here! Yes to nuclear war - I thought it was about to happen throughout my entire childhood. My mum had the Raymond Briggs book When The Wind Blows - & I read it because it’s a cartoon. Why in the ever loving fuck just why - terrified me.

AIDS - don’t die of ignorance. I remember the leaflet with the iceberg on thumping onto the doormat.

MidnightOnceMore · 03/10/2023 06:44

HappenstanceMarmite · 03/10/2023 00:49

Spontaneous human combustion

I was going to say this!

cryinglaughing · 03/10/2023 06:44

No shops being open on a Sunday.

Justleaveitblankthen · 03/10/2023 06:52

PinkMoscatoLover · 03/10/2023 00:44

What’s with all the random threads asking random questions?😂

Lot's of Daily Mail Journo's this morning is my guess.
It's getting annoying now 🙄

sparklefresh · 03/10/2023 06:54

Toxic shock syndrome

Pandas

CFCs and the hole in the ozone layer

43ontherocksporfavor · 03/10/2023 06:55

Rabies
Being struck down by God

GoodVibesHere · 03/10/2023 06:55

BridgetJonesAsFuck · 03/10/2023 06:13

The Big Breakfast. Everyone used to say some phrase from it but I can't remember what it was because I never actually watched it myself.

Was it a little catchy tune 'egg on your face, egg on your face'? I used to watch it and remember that segment of the programme.

I remember lots of warning videos in school. The teacher would wheel out a TV for us to watch them
I was traumatised by one video about not climbing up electricity pylons.

theduchessofspork · 03/10/2023 07:00

Church

People having kids without being married

I didn’t have a very religious upbringing or anything, but in my middle class Home Counties 80s adolescence, there was a fair amount of pitching up at church, and someone having a kid outside of marriage was a bit shocking

Regular Quite Formal dinner parties

Women having careers - v few did. though parents did want and expect their daughters to. I was v much looking forward to being ‘a career girl’ 😁

theduchessofspork · 03/10/2023 07:02

Mix tapes

We were for ever making them for each other

Needapadlockonmyfridge · 03/10/2023 07:04

User174085934 · 03/10/2023 06:24

Getting your car welded for the MOT and having to fiddle about with the choke in the winter, we had to hold ours out with a peg for a certain amount of the journey

Edited

..and putting a blanket over the engine overnight in winter, and spraying the HT leads with WD-40.

BridgetJonesAsFuck · 03/10/2023 07:06

GoodVibesHere · 03/10/2023 06:55

Was it a little catchy tune 'egg on your face, egg on your face'? I used to watch it and remember that segment of the programme.

I remember lots of warning videos in school. The teacher would wheel out a TV for us to watch them
I was traumatised by one video about not climbing up electricity pylons.

Show quote history

No I think it was something about where are you Mark

Beaverbridge · 03/10/2023 07:06

Being pregnant before marriage. According to my Mother it brought shame on the family!!. Wtaf?

PatsWoggle · 03/10/2023 07:07

Chilblains. I either had them or was being warned I was going to get them.

deadassjackie · 03/10/2023 07:09

Nuclear war
Getting tetanus from a rusty nail

Cazzovuoi · 03/10/2023 07:11

Swallowing chewing gum.

I stopped having it for years because I was terrified of it. I didn’t want it stuck in my gut for decades if I accidentally swallowed it 😁 Now I enjoy chewing gum worry free

iloveeverykindofcat · 03/10/2023 07:11

The inevitable day some irresponsible scientist decided to bring back dinosaurs from frog DNA.

I had whole contingency plans drawn up for this.