15 people share 'the most Gen X thing' and it's a nostalgic trip to the past
The 80s and 90s saw some of the most radical changes in our society and way of living thanks to technological developments. It was the Gen X generation that lived to see the transition. We have seen Blockbuster video store make way for Netflix, the internet becoming a necessity, and phones, a calling device, turning into a 'smartphone.' While technology was the spark for change, the effects were felt across the world. Even the music we listened to changed drastically. In many, Gen X saw their childhood become 'extinct' during their own lifetime and not many generations can say that. Many still treasure memories of their childhood and some of them responded on a Reddit thread when u/Ruffffian asked, “What is THE most Gen-X thing?” Here are the 15 replies that took us back in time and made us nostalgic:
1. The last “unreachable” generation
Being the last unreachable generation. There were hours when no one knew where we were and our parents has zero way to contact us. u/nakedreader_ga
2. Lived through the times without the internet
Being old enough to remember (and appreciate) life before the Internet and cellphones but being young enough to transition into that world without a hitch. u/TikTokTinMan
3. Memorizing it all
Remembering phone numbers. u/lordph8
4. CD Collection for storing music and movies
Massive CD collections are neatly stored in binders for easy access. u/Suspicious-Sleep5227
5. Video gaming zones
Video arcade. Before Gen-X, graphics weren’t good enough, and after Gen-X, you’d play the games on your own home console. No other generation claimed them as we did. u/Masonsknob
6. The pencil was the savior
Always have a pencil in the car for the cassettes. u/SillyPuttyGizmo
7. The fashion statement like nobody else
Hair crimper, riding bikes with no helmets, and buying smokes for my dad at the shop. Putting baby oil on and sunbaking (cause we were literally baking ourselves haha) doing whatever I wanted for one to two hours after school by myself cause my parents were still working. Being allowed to roam the streets until almost dark. I forgot to add getting your hair permed curly. u/Master-Cricket9906
8. Television was the entertainer
being the last generation to have to walk across the room to change the tv channel, being able to fix the tv by pounding on it the right way, getting the brown box for the tv, and there only being 3 stations. Also being totally forgotten about by the other two generations. Like door mice. u/Ok_Mycologist_5569
9. The playground was the field partner during the evenings
Staying out until the street lights came on, riding your bike with a playing card in the spokes. Staring at that sweet IROC-Z down the street. First-generation CD players. Cordless phones. Skate City. FINISH HIM! u/jbaretta01
10. Worklife had its own style
Quiet quitting. We've been doing that since the '90s, but they just called it slacking back then. u/melance
11. Muses of the Music
Grunge music: Working with a handful of Gen-Xers and the only music they can consistently agree on is the Pearl Jam station. u/coderedmountaindewd
12. Those little beepers
Beepers. It felt so important to have one, even cooler if you paid extra for the voicemail service. u/ nousername56789
13. Making calls from a phonebooth
Calling your out-of-town friend to collect from a payphone to another payphone to avoid long-distance charges. Successfully did this with an overseas boyfriend too. u/advancedbullshit
14. Commercial Ads were loved
Hell yeah, the only thing missing was Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers and fruit roll-up commercials. u/aknightwhosaysnope
15. Not giving a damn
The most Gen-X thing is not f****ng talking about Gen-X things. Go back to arguing about Boomers or “kids these days” or whatever. Leave us out of it! u/MorrowPlotting