Nine Things I Miss About the Nineties

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If you clicked on this article expecting to hear about Dunkaroos, Pokemon Cards, Y2K Doomsdayers, and Boy Bands — well, this is a bit of a different slant.

Just yesterday, I woke up to a really interesting article that my mother sent me over Facebook — because of course, moms love Facebook 😉

But it was really interesting — it was titled, “10 Things Our Parents Did that Parents Today Should Bring Back.” And it was filled with traditional, common sense parenting tips that somehow have gone by the wayside in our nanny cam’d, “woke” society.

But as I was reading through this list of classic – yet simple – things like: making kids play outside, and family dinners — I realized that I miss how things use to be in the Nineties — the pace of life, the simplicity, the unplugged existence.

My two besties and me — circa 1997 — sans smart phones, in the woods

So here are a few things I wish we, as a society, could bring back as 2020 is on the horizon.

1. Eye Contact

Now, this may seem like a head scratcher — however, I feel like eye contact is a lost art in the world of smart phones. Have you noticed that, even when you’re hanging out with loved ones — eyeballs are hard to find anymore? There’s always a screen either in our hand, or on our wrist clamoring for our attention. And sadly, this staple action of conversation and connection is getting lost.

2. Phone Calls

Now, hear me out — yes, texting is convenient and efficient, and snap chatting may be fun — but both are so impersonal. There’s something about actually hearing a person’s voice on the other end of a phone, and picking up on their inflection, and tone of voice — you just can’t replace that. Not to mention, our reliance on texting has been detrimental to our ability to hold a conversation. Let’s pick up the phone and talk to someone!

3. TV Shows that weren’t…garbage

OK – this one will be controversial, because yes — we’re living in arguably the “best” era of creative content, thanks to the digital streaming wars. BUT — in the battle for viewership, TV programs are all about how far they can push the envelope — especially when it comes to kids and teens’ programming.

Remember the TV show, Bug Juice? Or Lizzie McGuire? Their plot lines revolved around hobbies, friendship, and crushes, and there was a feel-good lesson that you walked away with. Today, kids watch 13 Reasons Why — which romanticizes suicide, and Euphoria, which glorifies drugs and sex. Why are we rushing their loss of innocence??

4. An Unplugged Existence

Now here me out — I love Instagram just as much as the next basic girl. I live for a photogenic background and a Mayfair filter. However, I’ve noticed — at least in my own life — that Instagram is really interrupting my life and my experiences. I’m constantly documenting or thinking about sharing my experiences online, and it’s effecting how I’m interacting with the people I’m actually with!! How freeing to just hang out with people and not worry about documenting it. The nineties had it right — disposable cameras for the win.

#accurate

5. Being Social — IRL, not through our Phones

Ah, remember the days where you’d just show up at someone’s house to hang out? Or *gasp* invite a friend over for your family dinner?? Relationships involved real face time – (In Real Life). There’s a connection you build with someone in the flesh that just can’t be replicated through a smart phone, sorry Apple.

6. Tolerance

Now this one may seem a little counterintuitive, given the fact that we’re living in an era where people bend over backwards to be as “woke” as possible. But I’m talking about tolerance of beliefs.

Today, there is a caustic divide in our culture — republican/democrat, liberal/conservative, believer/nonbeliever. The hostility between many extreme people is just mind boggling. Relationships can be shattered, simply because two people fall on different ends of the thought spectrum. Whatever happened to respect? To seeking common ground? Being quick to listen, and trying to understand? The anonymity of being able to spew hatred from behind a screen, has turned many of us into bullies, and armchair executioners.

This attack-dog existence over politics and schools of thought — it’s literally tearing our country apart at the seams, and it needs to stop.

7. PrimeTime TV (AKA — communal watching!)

Why do I love The Bachelor so much? Because it is one of the only shows on TV that still has a communal, nineties-style watching style. It’s on at a specific time every week, people watch the show in the specific time slot, and then talk about it with their friends the next day.

There’s none of this binge-watching, spoiler-culture, which — to be fair, is awesome and I love it. But I also love having TV shows that bring people together and provide a real-time shared experience that you can then theorize and talk about the next day. It’s fun, it’s exciting, it brings people together, and I love it.

8. Respect for Christian Values

I’m not going to harp on this, but the climate in today’s secular media all but demonizes traditional morality. Christian beliefs and values are made out to be close-minded, buffoonish, antiquated, oppressive, and bigoted.

And with such a rabid “Cancel Culture,” most people that do hold those beliefs have taken them underground, so we’re left with vanilla complacency, while the “woke train” keeps barreling full steam ahead, taking society further and further into the extreme.

The nineties had it right: families played an incredibly important role in the tone and direction of society. Respect was a staple in the fabric of society. And our culture at the very least, still acknowledged that God exists.

9. Rom Coms

Oh, to have a nineties-style chick flick resurgence! My Best Friend’s Wedding, 10 Things I Hate About You, You’ve Got Mail, Clueless — I’m sorry but if I see another superhero movie, or lame attempt at a remake, I’m going to scream! Thank goodness for the Hallmark Channel, that’s all I’m saying. At least there’s one source out there that still respects a classic, boy-meets-girl-and-falls-in-love-amid-some-silly-hijinks-along-the-way type of feel-good storyline!

So there we go, I hope you had some fun reminiscing about the nineties! There was a beautiful simplicity about growing up where you played in the woods, and didn’t have a cell phone, that really speaks to me.

We’re as technologically connected as we’ve ever been, and yet somehow, more personally disconnected than ever before.

Let’s bring back personal relationship skills. And interacting with people, rather than screens. And for heavens sake, let’s take it easy with our technology addiction!

That’s all for now!

“Bye, bye, bye!“

What are some things YOU miss about the Nineties?

“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5

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206 thoughts on “Nine Things I Miss About the Nineties”

  2. Every generation thinks there generation is the best. I of course agree with the majority of this post. I certainly do with number 6. Tolerance and communication, and the ability to agree to disagree without throwing darts at each other is paramount. Today’s polarized climate is dividing this country and causing unrest when we should be embracing diversity and learning from our different cultures and backgrounds. Unity not division should be what we promote. This is far healthier. I have my thoughts on “christian values” however I will defer my thoughts to my next post.

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    1. Hahah gosh – that is the decade I think i was supposed to be born in! Thanks Rollie for stopping by! Hugs and love xox

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  5. I miss the nineties fashions. But for sure, the years I remember with fondness are the mid 70s and the 1980s, as I was a teen in the 1980s, and we all remember our teens very well. 🙂 Great post! Maybe I’ll write one on the ’70 and/or ’80s. 🙂

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  7. Your piece was sweet. The past can always be romanticized. Number by Number or point by point.

    1. Yes eye contact is less now, but the more fear in the society the more introversion the less eye contact. Most of us even without cells are either distracted by the task at hand or focused on it so as to avoid eye-contact. (the 1960s, 70s and early 80s seemed to have more eye contact) When I go to the market I try to make eye-contact.

    2. Phone calls – agreed. I have a cell – its a dumb phone.

    3. I didn’t have a television in most of the 80s and 90s. So no comment.

    4. Unplugged. YES! Disposable cameras no – on an ecological basis – at least not sure of the recycle-ability. I was a film photographer even had a show, but the chemicals involves very toxic and NOT recyclable. Good thing digital photography arrived on the scene.

    5. Being social – Right Arm!

    6. Tolerance – yes we were more tolerant. Part of the divisiveness is a cultivated thing by main stream media see https://washingtonspectator.org/taibbi-10rulesofhate/?fbclid=IwAR3bWAroWyCISarFuD8uuNX-JN_P3ScZMSH8bV7myFJNNIbAdTzziT96LAw

    7. no opinion

    8. Respect for almost all values – yes.

    9. Rom Coms yes – Superhero movies well… I’ve liked a few. Where are the Superhero Elders movies? lol

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    1. Thank you Kai!! You’re right about that — hooray for tolerance! I look forward to reading that article! Thanks for passing it along! Superhero Elders hahaha love it. Now THERES a franchise opportunity! So glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox

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  9. Oh – to be around you when the next superhero movie comes out! 🤣
    Actually, I think the current superhero craze may embody the same things that made romcoms great – fun, banter, innocence. Only with more, you know, throwing people through buildings 😉

    I love what you have to say here!

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  11. I love it when young people reminisce about “The good ole days”. Your look back on the 90s made me realize that I entered the 90s older than you are today. My childhood had black & white TVs in most houses where announcements were being made on some shows, “Now in LIVING COLOR!” (Not in our house).
    All phones had two cords: one to the wall and the other from the receiver to the big ugly ten pound rotary dial box that rang louder than a fire-house alarm.
    A computer was something you saw on science fiction or police movies that did amazing things that you knew never happened in real life. It was also the size of the Epcot Center and probably cost as much to build.
    Christian values were a given and were taught at home and enforced by not only your parents but your friend’s parents with assumed permission. The school, while they had lost the Constitutional right to allow prayer, didn’t listen and continued to any way.
    This was life in the 60s and 70s. Granted, there are people older than I am who still think I’m just a kid. They may be right.
    Keep up the great work, Caralyn.

    Love and Blessings,
    Jim

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    1. Thanks Jim for sharing your nostalgia!! What a time to be alive. It’s incredible how far computers have come! They’re now on our watches!!! Have a great day! Hugs and love xox

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  12. I agree with the person who stated that every generation thinks they lived the best. I was born in 1968. My teenage years were in the 1980s. I do remember having ONE TV and 2 phones that were connected to a wall. I used rotary phones and the TV was black and white. Eventually, the TV was color. And, there was no remote. My parents were in charge of the TV and everything else in the house.
    We were taught values and beliefs and went to church where we learned even more. We had rules and chores and had to stick to them or there was punishment.
    Supper was all of us around the table. Dad started working shift work at some point and was not always there for supper, but we had the meal together without him. When my brother and I were older, we waited for Dad to come home to eat ❤
    There were family times and family TV times. MASH and Happy Days and Little House were the types of shows we were allowed to watch. I still love these shows 😀
    Anyhow…times change. That doesn't mean people need to change everything to make society happy. I prefer eating supper with my husband and relaxing with him watching the news or something of value. Yes, we watch silly things too! No romantic comedies. He doesn't like them.
    Olay, I have gone on and on enough 😀
    I pray for a simpler life. I agree with everything on your list 🙂

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    1. Thanks for sharing your nostalgia!! I miss those family suppers 🙂 Happy days! Oh my gosh The Fonz!!!! Thank you for your kind words! Hugs and love xox

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  13. “Ah, remember the days where you’d just show up at someone’s house to hang out?”
    I was just going on about this last week and as a result killed my FB page… Until I got the flu and was home for three days.
    I miss having real face to face time with friends.
    Oh, and I miss when MTV actually played music. 😁

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  16. Yeah I remember calling girls and was a bit nervous in case I would get the father on the phone :), haaa those were the days. I try as well to cut off the phone when I am at the restaurant or hanging with friends, even sometimes during a train or bus trip, just to remember how it felt like. On a side note, I am a christian myself and it sure is getting worse as time goes by so that is a sad thing but we need to remain strong :).

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  17. My nostalgia for things I miss goes back much farther than the 90s but the list wouldn’t be much different than yours. There’s a genuine sincerity that comes through your posts which I assume comes from your character. It’s admirable.

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  18. Let’s see, if I may. . . the 90’s would be the 60’s for me. So we are talking the space race — we beat the Russians to the Moon. Yea! A Sting-Ray high handle bar bike (the kind you have to pedal yourself) with a banana seat and a high back — great for clamping cards to so they flap as the spokes hit them. Little League baseball. Walking a mile to school. Putting up with your sister’s friends around the house. Board games. Fishing — lots! Birds with an anger problem was because you disturbed their nest — oops. The Beatles. (The 90’s were good also.) -Jeff

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    1. Hey Jeff! Oh wow what an exciting to be alive!!! I love that – so much authentic fun 🙂 thanks for sharing those special memories. hugs xo

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  20. Many of those on your list were true in the 80’s, 70’s, 60’s…… It was somewhere past WWII when people started worshiping the greenback over God and we have continuously sank into the cesspool of “progression” since. Then, in the early 70’s it became important to keep up with the neighbors and get whatever they had. The 80’s brought a further slip away from God, and every decade since many have determined God is cliche. I personally miss the days when there was no rating scheme on TV because ALL shows on TV were family oriented and anything the least bit risque was on after the children went to bed. Sorry, got a little passionate about that.

    As Always,

    R.I.

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    1. Hi RI! Thanks so much for this thoughtful reflection. You’re so right about that – i miss family oriented TV shows! It’s crazy — these days shows on “ABC Family” are just as trashy as network and cable shows! it’s bonkers! I appreciate the passionate response! glad you stopped by! big big hugs xox

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  21. Yes, we’re all more connected, but the connections are superficial, so a lot of people feel more lonely and detached than ever. I am the last dinosaur without a cellphone, and I try to stay connected to nature instead. By the way, you have 44,161 followers, and I am not far behind with 45 followers (ha ha.) How do you get so many? Great article!

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    1. Hey John! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this! oh wow! I admire your holdout on the cell phone front! that is some willpower right there! haha thanks for stopping by and for your kind words! big hugs xox

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  23. I truly appreciate this countdown. I grew up in the 80s & 90s and know for certain that our attention spans, tolerance, and values have changed considerably. Now a days there are more emails and shorter text messages because people don’t care to listen or pay attention to what is being said. Millennials (not meaning to rant) and post-millennials are now in a rush to get their word in and get to the end of a sentence that they speak in a blur and are on to another point or topic well before the first one is truly resolved. I almost wish that we could go back in time like an Issac Asminov book (do you like that dated reference?) and warn our 90s cohorts what to expect in the 20 years to come and how to prevent it.

    Also, while Saved by The Bell was awesome, Zack Morris was trash! There is an entire Facebook account dedicated to why.

    Thanks for reading. I love your posts.

    May God bless you.

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    1. Thanks KMB! I’m so glad this resonated with you! Haha yeah I have seen that Zack Morris group – it definitely is pretty funny! Yeah – hindsight, right? So glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox

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  24. One day we will look back on these days as the “good ‘ ole days”. We don’t tend to realise what we have until it’s gone. I often look back to one Christmas we had with our house full of various eccentric old relatives. I now miss every single one.
    I was older than you but I still had a great time in the nineties. I had possibly an even better time in the eighties. I miss those innocent days, where we once had hours of fun throwing snowballs at each other over the roof of our American house.
    One day, we will likely miss these days and the people who are in our lives right now.
    I try to remember that each day.
    I miss my father and my grandmother every day, so most days I try to be a little more loving to the people who are left in my life.

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    1. i think you’re so right about that — it’s an important perspective to keep — time is something we cannot get back, so we’ve got to cherish every moment. hugs xo

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  25. I always think of the Bread/David Gates song ‘Everything I own”. People tend to see it as just another romantic song. It is not.
    David Gates wrote it to his father. It is about the yearning for one last conversation with his father. We often do not get the chance to have one last conversation.
    We need to have those conversations with our loved ones every day.

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  27. Being a Hopeless romantic, I’m with you about the RomComs. Yes.. I’m a guy, but I do like the occasional RomCom. “You’ve got mail” is a personal favorite. I’ve even seen the old film its based on with Jimmy Stewart called “Shop Around the Corner”.

    I’m also with you about numbers 5, 6 & 8… I am mostly disgusted about the hypocrisy of the liberal political system in which they speak about tolerance and publicly demonize anyone who doesn’t share their beliefs. Its so sad.

    This was a great article. It actually made me reminisce about my own 90s and even 80s related things that I miss. I miss the 80s tv shows. Haha.. Now I feel like a dinosaur.

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    1. oh You’ve Got Mail is a classic!! I’ll have to check out Stewart’s movie! thanks for stopping by! haha definitely not a dinosaur! 🙂

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  29. Good post. I remember the 80’s and 70’s as well. Each decade gets more corrupt and cold as time progresses. Sad, sad, sad. Although your reminiscence of the “good old days” is a different decade than my own, I totally agree with your thoughts about it.

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  30. I really miss going to the video stores and renting a movie. I really miss being in my 30s instead of being 56 years old. I really miss the TGIF television lineup on Friday evenings.

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  32. I miss the Disney Renaissance. Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin…those movies were made for families to enjoy together. The animation, stories, and songs were all top-notch quality. The 90′ also gave us “The Prince of Egypt”, an epic Biblical story that gives me goosebumps whenever I watch it.

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