Summary

The article reflects on the author's experiences of fun and entertainment in the 1980s and 1990s, contrasting them with current times and expressing a desire to rekindle some of the past activities.

Abstract

The author, reminiscing about the pre-social media era, emphasizes the importance of personal interactions and activities such as bike riding, waiting for cable TV shows, and the novelty of dial-up internet as key elements of 90s entertainment. They highlight the joy of anticipation, the sense of community, and the simplicity of pastimes like reading physical books without the distraction of blue light. The article suggests that while technology has brought convenience, it has also introduced a level of invasiveness that was absent in the past. The author cherishes the memories of these simpler times and invites readers to share their own.

Opinions

The author values the direct socialization and physical activities of the past, such as knocking on friends' doors for slumber parties.
Bicycles are remembered fondly as both a cool status symbol and a means of trouble, with the risk of losing one if lent out.
Cable TV in the 90s tested patience but made the eventual viewing of a favorite show more rewarding.
The introduction of dial-up internet was exciting but limited, requiring exclusive use of the phone line and leading to the anticipation of cell phone availability.
Reading physical books is seen as a more immersive and focused experience compared to today's eBooks and audiobooks, which are convenient but potentially less engaging.
The author expresses a longing for the less invasive nature of past entertainment technologies compared to today's social media.
There is a sense of nostalgia for the simplicity of pastimes like playing Solitaire on the computer, which was a mild form of electronic addiction compared to modern distractions.
The author acknowledges that today's generation can still enjoy traditional activities but notes that the experience is inherently different due to the per

How Did I Have Fun In the 90s?

Back then we didn’t have social media, but we definitely had something — and I want it back

Comedian Kev On Stage responded to a girl who asked: “Without social media, how the heck did you 80s and 90s kids have fun?” He responded: “We actually socialized and got together with friends.”

This is not to say Gen Zers do not hang out and party. It’s just that lately I have been reflecting on how I had fun in the 90s or what constituted as entertainment back then. Even as someone who was severely shy, I remember knocking on friends’ doors and having slumber parties, etc.

I want to take us back down memory lane briefly to show how I grew up in the 90s and what I did for fun, and why I want to bring some of that back.

Bikes were fun, healthy modes of transportation

They still are.

However, I do not see many children just happily riding bikes these days, in fact I see older people, or those in my support group, happily riding their bikes.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, having a bike was super cool and real important as a child. It was a way to get to and from each others’ homes or ride together as a group to the local “corner store” for some snacks.

I wanted a bike badly when I was 10 or 11 years old — and until this day, I still recall dad training me to ride the little blue and white bike I had, down the sidewalk — I fell sooooo many times! But one day, with fierce determination, I rode a little of the way. Then a little more. And a little bit more.

Finally, I was riding.

Having a bike got us into trouble too sometimes because the kids who did not have one, may ask to ride your bike, and all of us who grew up in that time will tell you, if you DARE let someone ride your bike, one of two things may happen: You may never see it again, or you were grounded or got a whooping. Period.

Cable TV tested our patience

Today, we can certainly DVR our favorite shows and movies; there is even a handy TV guide built right into our apps or television now. Who needs the physical TV Guide anymore, right?

However, back in the day, us Millennials had to wait for our favorite movie to come back on, like a week later, or the following month! For example, I loved Gremlins. It came on HBO and I would wait for it to come on again and would flip anxiously through the TV Guide to see when it would come on. Sometimes the guide was right and sometimes it was wrong.

Yet, as impatient as I was, it was the anticipation that made the results that much sweeter…

The introduction of the slow dial up internet

In my household, dad had the Compaq PC and it stayed in the main living room area. This was around the mid 90s, or 1995 or so. It greatly helped with research and homework because sometimes I did not want to stay after school.

It was also fun venturing into chat rooms I had no business in😶

Today, we can easily get connected to the Wi-Fi in our homes.

Well back in the day, you had to use the connection to the phone line, which means you better hope no one has to use the landline phone, because the internet “tied” it up.

Each day I was out of school, or on weekends, I would bug dad: “Hey dad, you need to use the phone?”

I was so glad when the cell phone was introduced around the late 90s because then, he could just talk on that while I grew addicted to blogs about boy bands and get into trouble in chat rooms.

Reading was immersive without so much blue light

I will fully admit that audible books and eBooks are super convenient and is a giant WIN for us bookworms.

However, with these new technologies, I have not set foot into a library in a long time(I did last weekend to donate books though). Even libraries have apps now where you can read eBooks on loan. Apps like Freading and Libby are game changers in that aspect.

Lately, I have been reflecting on how I read today versus how I read in days past.

These days, because we have the backing of blue light and highlight features, we play around in our books besides just sitting and reading and becoming one with the story(I’ll dive into this further in another essay). We skim read so much on the web that we apply that same reading “style” to our books.

Back in the day, which wasn’t so long ago, I was happy to buy a cute booklight from Barnes and Noble. I miss the purple one I had in the mid 2000s.

I don’t want you to think that today’s generation cannot ride bikes, or enjoy malls, or books and TV guides. It is just a bit different now that social media is more invasive than before.

Back in the day we certainly had simple blogs and websites, but not anything that stole our attention. My sister was addicted to playing Solitaire on the computer, but I think that was as far as the electronic addiction went for many of us.

Do you have any Memory Lane stories to share too? Place them in the comment section. I’d love to hear from you!

Thank you for reading!