Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Explain Which Things Are Normal Today That Weren't 50 Years Ago

People Explain Which Things Are Normal Today That Weren't 50 Years Ago
person typing on silver MacBook
Photo by Burst on Unsplash
Make us preferred on Google

The world is an ever changing place.

In addition to continuing advancements in technology, human behavior also continues to evolve.

As a result, what might have seemed "normal" 50 years ago might seem far-fetched today, while things which we today consider "normal" might never have even crossed the mind of anyone back then.

Making everything we consider "normal" among the many things in this world that continues to evolve at a rapid pace.

Redditor Primary_Berry_3560 was curious to hear what "normal" everyday things were anything but normal fifty years ago, leading them to ask:

"What is normal now but wasn’t normal 50 years ago (1972)?"


We could just leave whenever we wanted to!

"Knowing where your kids are 100% of the time."- bradland

We're all wired up today!

"No one had a computer in their house in 1972."- tcharp01

Buckle up!

"Car seats for children."

"And most of the time we sat in the back seat with no seat belts available."- Rosemoorstreet

"Wearing seatbelts."

"There were no sensors- seatbelt were just shoved out of the way."

"Carding for cigarettes."

"Machines were everywhere for anyone to use."- factchecker8515

buckle up crash test dummies GIF by ADWEEKGiphy

In the old days, we had one chance!

"Watching an entire TV series at a time that's convenient for you."

"VCR's weren't even a thing 50 years ago, so if your favorite show was on Wednesday at 8PM, you were either at home to watch it or you missed out on it forever."- DeathSpiral321

Music on demand!

"Listening to the song you want to where you want to, rather than whatever is playing wherever you are."- jfincher42

Giphy

Being beholden to a landline!

"I am amazed to think about how disconnected we were."

"I could wake up on a Saturday morning and start calling friends."

"It was possible that not a single one picked up the phone and that was that."

"I would be on my own unless I waited a few hours and tried again."

"Also, in my area, the adults in the house almost always answered the phone so you had to get through them to your friends."

“'Hello, is Johnny home?'”

"'Hi this is his mother, what do you want?'”

“'I was wooooondering if he could come out to play'.”

“'Well he’s doing homework right now but I’ll tell him you called'.”

"As a kid, our times were divided between when we were 100% under adult control, which was when we were physically in their presence, and when we were free which was all other time."- Mrmidhoratio

"Asking 'Where are you?' when someone answers their phone."- brontosproximo

Shocked Phone Call GIFGiphy

No wonder they were all so tan...

"Regularly wearing sunscreen."- dixius99

It's amazing to see how much the world has changed in such a relatively short amount of time.

Leaving us to wonder what things will be "normal" 50 years from now, which today the very thought of would make us burst out laughing.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Hayden Panettiere and Jack Coleman
Vera Anderson/WireImage/Getty Images

Hayden Panettiere's Dad On 'Heroes' Slams Paparazzi For Constantly 'Hunting' Her In Emotional Tribute

It's been less than a week since the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, and touching tributes have continued to pour in, including today on what would have been her 37th birthday.

One of the most touching came from Panettiere's on-screen father in Heroes, Jack Coleman, who explored all the stages of grief in one Instagram post, paired with lovely photographs on and off set.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @mymixtapez' and @Outspoken_Sam's X videos
@mymixtapez/X; @Outspoken_Sam/X

Middle School Teacher Backs Up High School Teacher Who Broke Down In Tears After Realizing None Of His Senior Students Can Read Or Write

A high school teacher was brought to tears on the second day of teaching this year's seniors when he discovered that his students, despite being less than a year away from graduation, could not read and write.

They were unable to read basic instructions, and when he asked them to write down four words, most of them were unable to do it.

Keep ReadingShow less
Keke Palmer; Jesus
@goodhangwithamy/Instagram; Colors Hunter - Chasseur de Couleurs/Getty Images

Keke Palmer Just Tried To Claim That Jesus Must've Been A Virgo—And Her Reasoning Is Hilariously On Point

Keke Palmer is probably one of the "best hangs" in Hollywood, so it only makes sense that she has, in just days, become one of Amy Poehler's most iconic "Good Hang" guests.

Palmer stopped by Poehler's Good Hang podcast to talk about all sorts of stuff, but what really seems to have caught the internet's attention is her takes on astrology.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mychal Threets
Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Fans Rally Around 'Reading Rainbow' Host Mychal Threets After He Says He's Checking Himself Into Hospital: 'I Am Not Okay'

*The following article contains discussion of suicide/self-harm.

In October of 2025, Mychal Threets, known as Mychal the Librarian on social media where he became internet famous on TikTok and Instagram in 2023, was chosen as the new host of the popular children’s program Reading Rainbow when it relaunched on YouTube. The original program aired on PBS from from 1983 to 2006 with actor LeVar Burton at the helm.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Fox News discussing Zohran Mamdani's bike safety video
Fox News

Fox News Is Outraged Over A Video Of Mamdani Taking Bicycle Safety Seriously By Buying A Helmet—Because Of Course They Are

Fox News was widely mocked after running a segment criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for sharing a video of himself taking citizens' concern over his lack of a bicycle helmet seriously by promising to wear one.

Mamdani is a familiar sight cycling around New York City in his trademark suit and tie. But he has also been conspicuously missing a helmet, something constituents have complained about on social media.

Keep ReadingShow less