It’s easy to look back at any particular time period and think, Oh it was better back then.

Most of the time, it’s not really true. It was different, but that doesn’t always mean better.

But I also think there are things we can learn from each decade. Things we can and should take with us into the future, or rather into the now, that might make life better.

And since the 90s had internet, but it wasn’t in our hands or pockets 24/7, I definitely think there are some aspects of those pre-social media days that could make our lives better right now. In no particular order:

• Land lines. For any young people, these are phones that plug into the wall and can’t go with you everywhere on planet earth. Can you imagine being unavailable sometimes? The horror. And the freedom.
• iPods/MP3 Players. Music without the internet access. Perfect.
• Movie rental places. You had to literally go to the store to pick out and rent a movie. It was an activity. And it was great.
• Radio. I know radio still exists, but most people have streaming music. And streaming music is good shit. But the radio would expose you to things you really wouldn’t hear otherwise.
• D.A.R.E. Just because it was fun.
• Computer labs. We used to walk down to the computer lab at school. No laptops in the classroom, just good old paper and pencil. Going to the computer lab was exciting.

Damn, I miss the 90s. Let’s logoff sometimes, shall we? I think we’d all be happier…