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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Anyone Else Miss The 1990s?

128 replies

JediJim · 28/07/2019 23:16

With everything that’s been going on in the world and the UK over that last decade or so, did anyone else think that life seemed more simple two decades ago? I’m talking about the 1990s...
To me life seemed so much more simple. Lots of people still had just the four channels( well at least in the early 90s anyway) , no mobile phones, no internet as such, not until the late 90s anyway. I remember the kids tv programmes seemed good at the time, maybe down to the fact there was less choice, but the BBC used to make decent kids dramas, like Byker Grove and Grange Hill. I remember starting secondary school and being terrified of the older kids ( 16 year olds seemed old when you are 11).
People seemed to live within their means more and if you couldn’t afford it you didn’t get it. I remember the early 90s when interest rates were really high, people were hard up but rode it out. Politics didn’t seem to be on the news constantly, and Brexit was a word that hadn’t even been thought of yet. John Major was the PM, but I can’t think of anything of significance that he did. People on benefits seemed to get left alone, unlike the constant scrutiny they have now.
I remember people used to collect CDs and people smoking in shopping centres and restaurants. People still paid for things with cheque books, town centres seemed busier( probably down to no amazon back then).
Euro 96 seemed to bring the country together like nothing else I’ve ever seen in my lifetime, it really was a great time. Then Tony Blair came into power, promising to change the country from a tired Tory Government. The D:Ream song things can only get better was the anthem for Labour. It seemed a turning point for the decade.
The summer holidays seemed to go on forever with decent summer weather.
Life just seemed generally easier back then, to apply for a job you could hand in a cv to a real person.
Anyone else miss the 90s?

OP posts:
mindproject · 29/07/2019 00:01

I loved the 90s. I loved almost everything about it, so many good things seemed to happen all the time to me personally; plus I was young. I was 18 in 1990. l didn't really care about politics, people were happier, more hopeful and life was a lot more fun. I studied, travelled the world, lived in different parts of the country, went to festivals, raves and parties. I miss it a lot.

nowifi · 29/07/2019 00:03

@esto you have described it perfectly!

I miss the 90s as I had friends around me always, now they don't even live in the same country as me!

fancynancyclancy · 29/07/2019 00:03

My kids will never experience getting excited by auto reverse on the walkman, having to wait to use the phone if someone was on the net, waiting to get photographs printed, rushing to Blockbuster etc. I still sometimes am amazed how I can order something on my phone & have it arrive the same day or that Mcdonald’s can be delivered or I have loads of music at my fingertips. It’s the norm for them.

Pleaser256 · 29/07/2019 00:10

You used to have to record a program using the VCR, which seems really complicated by today’s technology

That reminds me of something. Went on a school trip to France in 1999. A guy on the trip from my school year asked me to take a group picture of him and his “squad” - it was one of the kodak film cameras and it was apparently the last photo left in the film. I don’t know what I pressed but I somehow didn’t take any photo, but sort of re-wound the whole film which subsequently wiped everything?? I still don’t know to this day what I should have done differently but god that guy took it so graciously that I wiped away all his memories ! I felt so guilty that when we got back to school, I bought him 5 rolls of film as a gift (like it would compensate! Confused)

Adreamaday · 29/07/2019 00:11

No, I hated my teenage years! Though the 90s is fashionable again. My teen dd dresses similar to what I did in 95-98.

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 29/07/2019 00:17

Now I spend it on my phone, as does my partner, and my family. Utterly depressing.

Um, just switch it off? It is possible you know, you do have a choice.

Evilmorty · 29/07/2019 00:33

Love everyone on here going on about how people don’t switch off their phones these days, why not just turn off from the world etc. We are all on our bloody phones right now, people Grin

JediJim · 29/07/2019 00:37

Find memories of Euro 96 and it ending on a penalty shootout. I refuse to believe that was 23 years ago!

OP posts:
JediJim · 29/07/2019 00:38

I meant fond memories of Euro 96!

OP posts:
BurningGubbins · 29/07/2019 01:08

I agree with all of the above, but I watched the first ever episode of Midsummer Murders last night (1997) and was amazed at the homophobic comments. Some stuff from the 90s was not great. The baggy trousers and the music were obviously awesome though.

Linnet · 29/07/2019 01:22

I miss the 90’s I was very thin and lived in a flat on my own. The music was great I liked the clothes, Euro 96 was great. I remember being at work one Friday night and realising that I had forgotten to set my vcr to tape Friends! I asked my boss if I could run home to set it, luckily I lived right round the corner and he let me 😁 nice guy. I usually have radio 90’s on in the car too but they changed something and it doesn’t always work now ☹️

There was no social media or internet or mobiles, well very few. I had to phone my friends to meet up for nights out on the landline. People actually talked in the pub rather than being on their phones.

I like taking my girls into new look and pointing out all the long skirts and tops that I used to wear 😁

Thegreymethod · 29/07/2019 01:31

The 90's were just the best. Ahh the music the fashion..... everything!! OP I remember heartbreak high and California dreams. Loved them. If you haven't already, watch 'My mad fat diary' it made me so nostalgic about my teenage years I could almost close my eyes and be back there.

Polestar50 · 29/07/2019 01:51

I couldn't agree more. Was late teens/early 20s in the 90's and it was definitely a more optimistic time than now. Clothes were better too I reckon. Still can't get my head around skinny jeans!!

You might enjoy this Portlandia sketch - 'the dream of the 90's'

tryingtobebetterallthetime · 29/07/2019 01:57

Um, I had a microwave in the 1970s. Mind, you, it was big and clunky, and of course, fake woodgrain. I'm also sure we recorded things on our VCR in the 80s. This for the poster who said the 90s started without microwaves.

DifficultSituation19 · 29/07/2019 02:05

I find it really alarming that 90s fashion is now retro cool with the yoofs, because it seems like 5 minutes ago I was wearing that kind of stuff when I was a teenager. But back then the 70s were retro and cool, and it’s the same time gap which I just can’t get my head around!

But yes, I do miss the 90s a lot. It was the last age of any kind of innocence I think, because there was no internet. I did have a pager though! And a very basic mobile phone in my late teens. There were only 2 types of phone, the Orange one or the Vodaphone one Grin.

I used to hitch the 12 miles into town and that didn’t seem dodgy. We would get stoned and wonder about stuff, now no one has to wonder about anything because you can just google it. We’d spend hours trying to find free parties (raves) based on some very vague directions, because there was no sat nav, but that was half the fun. Sweaty grimy underground clubs where everyone was pilled off their faces and in that moment loved each other.

Yep I’d go back.

heath48 · 29/07/2019 02:08

No I don’t miss the 1990’s at all.

But I would love to go back to the 1960’s,what a decade that was.Lived in London,it was beyond a,azing.

Esto · 29/07/2019 07:21

I do agree we could put down our phones more but it's not the same. The expectations and infrastructure around us are set up now for the smartphone, expectations from employers, from those providing public services and entertainment. But yes, I'm going to try to cut down (I'm always trying to and failing tbh).

What I liked as well was that when I got home from school I was completely safe. School wasn't terrible but it had the usual ups and downs and scrapes to get into. When I was at home I didn't have to be the cool girl, the pretty girl, thin girl or whatever. There was no exposure to nastiness online, no risk of accessing online porn or trolls, or social media, nothing. I could switch off completely and be myself and enjoy my family and my life in a way I wanted to. I want that for my children when they are older.

Also yy to the Cranberries. Boyzone. Alanis Morissette.

JediJim · 29/07/2019 07:28

The fashion I remember; Ben Sherman shirts, Stone washed jeans, cream coloured chinos, cycling shorts, bright coloured puma and reebok t shirts. And doctor martens shoes.
You could buy a house for 60 k !!
My dad was a member of a working mans club, I remember going on a coach trip with my family and other members families to Margate. ( think a Jolly boys outing from only fools and horses).
I used to play in a school football team, the teacher would ask other parents to help with the transport, so the boys would just bundle into anyone’s car, who has room! Wouldn’t happen nowadays, and we’re only talking of 25 years ago!
Definitely more innocent back then.

OP posts:
UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 29/07/2019 07:35

Yes, miss the 90s a great deal

AnnaFiveTowns · 29/07/2019 07:39

I went to uni in the early 90s - no fees and a student grant. It's so sad to see how the country has moved so far to the right now, and how so many unthinkable things have become normalised.

Lovestonap · 29/07/2019 07:46

Yy to the summer holidays television! I used to love Sister Sister! And saved by the bell etc. It was definitely a great time to be a teenager, for me anyway (although, having said that I was never allowed much money for clothes and clothes were expensive then. I'm not sure of the ethics of fast fashion, but with that and ebay etc it's a lot easier for kids to dress fashionably now!).

ScreamingValenta · 29/07/2019 07:48

Actually, I miss the last millennium. Since the years started beginning with a 2, everything has gone downhill.

verystressedmum · 29/07/2019 07:55

I was 15 in 1990. All my major years were through the 90s, growing up in London.
However I don't really miss those years, some parts were great but my home life was shit and I had a crap boyfriend and no money trying to put myself through uni. I'm much happier now with my life.

verystressedmum · 29/07/2019 07:56

I met dh in 1998 so the 90s did get better towards the end Smile

Seashell80 · 29/07/2019 08:00

Every bloody day!