Life | Pop Culture | 90s

16 Things We All Did In The '90s That You Would Never Get Away With Today

20th Century Fox / YouTube

It's hard not to miss the '90s. Not only was it the decade of our youth, but it gave us just so many incredible gifts that keep on giving. But time stops for no one, and it's getting harder and harder to ignore just how much time has passed since we've been able to party like it's 1999.

Ok maybe it only feels like it's been 84 years.Paramount Pictures

While it seems like just about everything from the '90s has been making a comeback recently, there are some things that seemed perfectly reasonable back then that would never fly today.

1. Kids running around unsupervised

So many of us were "latchkey kids," and our parents made it clear that they didn't want us just hanging around the house until dinner time. Now people are calling the authorities over kids playing unsupervised in their own backyards.

Honestly, yes.20th Century Fox

2. Smoking

Everyone in the '90s, basically.New Line Cinema

While people were starting to acknowledge that smoking everywhere, all the time probably wasn't the best idea, society hadn't really started cracking down on it yet.

Pretty much how everyone felt about smoking in the '90s.20th Century Fox

3. Being unreachable

The face we all make after four unanswered texts and three calls that go to voicemail.Know Your Meme

Back when the only real phone option was a landline, if someone didn't answer your calls then you just figured they were out of the house and went on with your life. Now, between cell phones, texting, and messaging apps, if no one can get a hold of you, you're either being super suspicious or probably dead.

This would probably lead to a missing person's report now.NBC

4. Just showing up at someone's house

Oh good, you are home.Warner Bros.

Showing up at someone's house completely unannounced used to seem totally reasonable, it was the most direct way to see if they were home and what they were up to. Not only is it considered super rude now, but if you don't call ahead they probably won't even answer the door.

How I answer the door if you just show up at my house.20th Century Fox

5. Dangerous toys

Getting slapped in the face by one was basically lethal.Galoob

When it came to our toys, safety was just something that would ruin the fun. Today if you gave a kid half the toys we loved you'd probably get arrested for child endangerment.

Encouraging kids to punch the crap out of each other are what toys are supposed to do, right?Big Time Toys

6. Throwing/pushing people into pools

So hilarious...YouTube

Don't get me wrong, it was always kind of a dick move, but now that pretty much everyone has an $800+ computer in their pocket this harmless "prank" just became really expensive.

The aftermath isn't nearly as funnyWe Live Inspired

7. Assuming that plans you made days ago are still happening

Why do I even bother anymore?

Before cellphones let us get in touch with literally anyone in seconds, cancelling last minute was super inconvenient for everyone involved. Now if you plan something more than a day in advance, you'd better send a quick text the day-of to make sure nobody's changed their minds again.

When that one friend cancels on you one time too many.Columbia Pictures

8. Offensive humor and jokes

That moment you realize 90% of 'Friends' is just gay jokes about Chandler.NBC

There are a lot of things we used to say or joke about that now you just....can't.

We still laugh, we just immediately make this face after.Imgur

9. Leaving your kid in the car when you're running errands

What could be better than a quick nap in a hot car?Mommy Shorts

If our parents just had to grab something real quick, they didn't have a problem with just leaving us chilling in the car until they came back. If we were really lucky, they'd even leave a window cracked.

But now we all know better, so maybe just don't.Know Your Meme

10. Using AOL

Not pictured: that ear-splitting "pshhhkkkkkkrrrrkakingkakingkakingtshchchch" sound.YouTube

We all have that one family member that still only uses an AOL email and we all judge them a little for it. It's been almost 20 years, Carol, it's time for an update.

"Almost 20 years" is also about how long it takes for AOL to load.YouTube

11. Calling someone "just to chat"

Now this would all be happening in a group chat that you'd inevitably turn off the notifications for.Paramount Pictures

While we used to spend literal hours on the phone just talking about whatever with our friends, it seems like now the only times people will call is if they're trying to sell you something, or if something terrible has happened.

We would spend so long on the phone we actually had to find other ways to entertain ourselves.Tumblr

12. Memorizing phone numbers

We couldn't just select a "Contact" and have it dial for us.Nickelodeon

Unless you had someone on speed dial, you had to either know their number off the top of your head, or have it written down someplace. Now somedays I have a hard time remembering my own phone number.

Having to flip through one of these was honestly a bit of a nightmare.Gizmodo

13. Being able to go right up to the airport gates, even if you weren't flying

Little did Tom Hanks know that he was about to meet his stalker...I mean future wife....TriStar Pictures

Many rom-coms end with one of the characters dramatically running through an airport to stop their love from leaving, but if they tried that in our post-9/11 world they'd only be able to get to the gate if they had a) a ticket and b) gone through security.

They'll arrive at the gate just in time to stop them from....shit.YouTube

14. Going out of town without telling anyone

Though hopefully all your vacations will go better than the Griswolds'.Warner Bros

Unless you needed someone to check up on your house/pets, there wasn't really a need to tell the world if you were sneaking away for a few days. Trying that now not only means missing out on showing off to everyone on your social media, but chances are someone will report you missing or something.

But not until I've posted about it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.New Line Cinema

15. Applying for a job in person

Though apparently being super extra about it might work.Today

Handing out resumes like candy used to be the best strategy for job hunting, but trying to apply anywhere in person now will have people looking at you like you're crazy. Do employers even look at the resumes anymore, or do they just look you up on LinkedIn?

When someone asks how the job hunt is going.NBC

16. Wearing a helmet being totally optional

"Step 1: Don't wear your helmet, just have it casually tucked under your arm."Imgur

Sure, we knew why wearing a helmet was important, we were just more worried about not looking like a dork than about cracking our heads open.

If the bee sting hadn't got him, then the inevitable bike crash probably would have.Columbia Pictures

The times may have changed, but hey, at least we survived.

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