17 Back In The Day Experiences That Are Now Obsolete

Buzz Feed

14-06-2025

Recently, older adults of the BuzzFeed Community shared the common but unique experiences from "back in the day" that are now practically obsolete, and as a Gen Z'er, I'm completely fascinated. Here are some once-common practices from the past that, depending on your age, will have you either feeling super nostalgic or incredibly perplexed:
"Not having disposable diapers. Cloth diapers were delivered by a diaper service, and they were washed and reused."
—Anonymous
"In the '50s, a man selling vegetables would drive his truck slowly through the neighborhood, calling out, 'Vegetables!' People would run out of their houses to see what he had, and he'd stop so they could buy."
"Cigarettes were in a vending machine, and kids would be sent to the store to buy them for our parents. Also, if you had a penny, you could buy a piece of candy!"
—Anonymous
"We freely walked on and off campus at our own school and other schools. There were no fences to keep kids inside or other people out. Former students would visit and chat with the principal, and students would walk home during lunch and come back. It wasn't a big deal back then."
"In the 1960s, cars didn't have seatbelts. My mom would take loads of neighborhood kids to the beach, and we'd all just hang out in the 'Way Back' (station wagon), talking, laughing, and sliding around."
—Anonymous
"I live in Kentucky. When we were kids, what we called 'spray planes' used to fly over us, releasing insecticide to kill all the mosquitoes. We'd run outside and wave at the man in the plane, all while the insecticide came raining down."
"Girls could not wear slacks to school during the '40s through '60s — dresses or skirts only. We had to kneel to prove our skirts touched the floor, and if they didn't, we were sent home to change clothes. Boys had to wear belts and have their shirts buttoned, except the very top button. Boys could wear jeans, but nothing ragged or torn."
—smartwitch66
"When I lived in Wisconsin in the late '60s and early '70s, the fire department would open the hydrants down the streets on hot and humid days to let the kids cool off. Good times!"
"Before photocopy machines, they used a device called a mimeograph in schools. A stencil was attached to the drum of the machine, and when the handle was turned, it would spit out a mirror image sheet of paper. The process used an alcohol-based ink. Many times, the teacher would walk out of the office, be gone for 10 minutes, then come back with freshly printed papers. The smell of that fresh ink was heavenly; half the class would huff their paper as it was handed to them. Then Xerox came along and spoiled it all."
—Kerry, 60
"In some places where I've lived, pregnant teenagers weren't allowed to attend regular schools because they were thought to be bad influences."
"In the '60s, my mom would have to ask the grocery store lady cashier for a Kotex belt, which was kept hidden under the conveyor cabinet."
—chillsinger56
"When the new car models came out, it was common to go window-shopping at the dealerships. Even though the salesperson knew you were too young to purchase a car, they'd still let you look around and take brochures home."
"Making long-distance phone calls used to cost you by the minute."
—Anonymous
"Up until the '80s and before cable was available, there was nothing broadcast on TV late at night. At 1 a.m., after late-night shows ended, the stations played an instrumental of 'God Bless America' with a video of a waving flag. Then, white fuzz would appear on the screen for several hours until the morning shows came on the following day."
"The number of people who'd smoke in hospitals. It was common in the '70s to see that smoking was allowed in the emergency department waiting area, the hospital cafeteria, and even in the patient rooms!"
—Anonymous
"Back in the late '60s, we wouldn't wear any shoes during the summer months. We'd walk around barefoot, even in San Francisco! No one even batted an eye."
Lastly: "Littering. In the '50s and '60s, eating in the car was a regular thing. Our dad taught us to throw our food wrappers out the window to 'keep the car tidy.' Now, if you litter, it's a pretty hefty fine."
—Anonymous, 70
If you're an older adult, what are some everyday experiences from "back in the day" that are now obsolete? If you want a chance to be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post, let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your story using the form below!