'AM transistor radios from Radio Shack': 25 Old things people miss from the pre-internet era

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jun 7, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

What do you miss most from the days before the internet's glowing screens took up all our time? It turns out that lots of people have things they're nostalgic for! As numerous Twitter users shared, starting with @ThatEricAlper's prompt tweet, people miss everything from getting catalogues in the mail to being harder to get in contact with. 

I still recall the days of having to travel to a library if I wanted to use a computer. We just didn't have a computer at our house at the time, and cell phones were still used just for calls and a bit of texting. If you had to write a book report, you had to check out books and photocopy the pages. It was so surreal compared with the screens-at-all-times lifestyle that's become the norm today.

People did used to be so offline, and yes, as some people noted, you did get bored pretty often! Today's kids may never know the feeling of boredom due to constant interactions with phones, iPads, and TVs. It was certainly a whole different world, and it's intriguing to hear what people reminisce about most fondly. 

Next up, this landlord has a staggering request to make of his tenant. 

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  • 01
    Organism - Eric Alper @That EricAlper. May 31 People old enough to remember life pre-Internet, what are some less obvious things you miss about that time?
    via @ThatEricAlper
  • 02
    Font - West Coast Lass @Liv_F Getting catalogues in the mail. I liked flipping through catalogues to see what was available, but, also, I really quite liked receiving big envelopes containing catalogues (the Wish Book, IKEA) in the mail. The whole paper catalogue experience.
    via @Liv_F
  • 03
    Font - OMI 01 SBB Ivan Klaric @ivanxd ... People used to show up on time. If you werent at the meeting spot on time, you would be left behind since no way to contact each other.
    via @ivanxd
  • 04
    Light - Joanna Maria St Cyr @JoAnneR85286786 : Safe days when children played outside...just playing. Just being kids. Making up games w/whatever was on hand while waiting for the Ice Cream truck and making plans for sleep-overs under the stars...
    via @JoAnneR85286786
  • 05
    Font - Elly @twisted words If you went out, people had to wait until you got home to call you.
    via @twisted_words
  • 06
    Font - 'Yac Blac @CognacBlack_ Since it predates digital music and streaming, I'll add: I miss signing up to get 20 FREE CDs just by agreeing to join a music club. Those anticipation- filled 6-8 weeks waiting for processing and shipping were >>>>
    via @CognacBlack_
  • 07
    Font - - Pete Trainor @petetrainor Going to gigs and not seeing hundreds of up-lit faces from hundreds of mobile phones. People used to just go and enjoy the show, not go and record it all.
    via @petetrainor
  • 08
    Font - Liz Rabban @LizRabban Snow days. Newspapers. Shouting over the collect call operator. Chingers. Albums. Road trips with maps. Winding cassettes with the eraser end of a pencil. Shoulder pads.
    via @LizRabban
  • 09
    Font - Josh Withers @JW_True Meet up spots, parks, basketball courts, arcades, malls, etc. you would just go there and see who showed up. These places still exist but lack the same level of serendipity.
    via @JW_True
  • 10
    Font - scomo @Mouls The anticipation leading up to the release of a major album. Then getting it home and playing it for the first time...that first note, first song. Of note: Back in the USSR, Gimme Shelter, Black Dog.
    via @Mouls
  • 11
    Font - EvilLaf @Jfc1Ranger People actually looked straight ahead & spoke w/each other! Now, everyone is constantly looking at their phones...in restaurants, in the gym, on dates! We're developing into a nation of individuals w/fewer connections & less dedication to each other...everyone alone in a crowd. # %1&
    via @Jfc1Ranger
  • 12
    Font - Sophia Bourne, Author @SophiaBourne4 The mystery of it all. . .life was a lot more mysterious.
    via @SophiaBourne4
  • 13
    Font - Tim Fancher @timfanchercomic To find out what was going on, you had to have a conversation with someone. A real, face-to-face conversation.
    via @timfanchercomic
  • 14
    Font - Per-Anders Edwards @per_anders The social nature of libraries (post boards with bands etc)..
    via @per_anders
  • 15
    Font - HBWildflower @HBWildflower69 Being unavailable was normal
    via @HBWildflower69
  • 16
    Photograph - Deb Lambert-Murphy @DebMurphy57 Newspapers! GIF ALT New York Ledger
    via @DebMurphy57
  • 17
    Font - Anfal @anfalaljlayil For me: It's the TV guide & appointment television, when takeout was a treat, knowing a good show is good by its tens of millions views, answering machines, reading long books and losing ourselves in them, BBC's "Pride & Prejudice" know anything you're in is worthwhile & enriching
    via @anfalaljlayil
  • 18
    Organism - CarolJude (an Idiot's tale) @caroljude ... ... -The ability to disconnect. We didn't wonder, all the time, what was going on at that moment, everywhere. -The excitement and glee at finding a bootleg vhs tape with rare video of your favorite band. -Knowing LESS about everything.
    via @caroljude
  • 19
    Font - Lianne Valle @liannevalle The literal feeling of genuinely missing someone. It's not really there anymore with social media.
    via @liannevalle
  • 20
    Sky - Julie Loofbourow @Julie Loofbourow AM Transistor radios from Radio Shack
    via @JulieLoofbourow
  • 21
    Sleeve - Chris Pequin @ChrisPequin Boredom
    via @ChrisPequin
  • 22
    Font - Scary Terry gmgn @ApeGeneral_ Just going to the park & playing basketball all afternoon
    via @ApeGeneral_
  • 23
    Font - Amy Benson @amy_martyn Clock radios, listening to my favorite classical AM station late at night, maps in the glove box, folding them out on the side of the road. I miss my longer attention span, and hours in the public library reference section.
    via @amy_martyn
  • 24
    Font - John Symons @johnfsymons Postcards
    via @johnfsymons
  • 25
    Property - Karen @TheDarkPages When going to Borders was a mini-event: visiting the cafe, watching people play chess, and spending at least an hour picking out books and DVDs. BORDERS
    via @TheDarkPages
  • 26
    Font - Superhariobros @museofmike Waiting in line predawn for concert tickets at an actual brick and mortar Ticketmaster. Going out for midnight coffee to socialize. Not having a clue about global politics. Waiting each week for a new episode of X-files. The smell of a book.
    via @museofmike

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childhood internet nostalgia nostalgic past technology friends Travel family Good Times
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