AskReddit

“Normal” Stuff From The ‘80s And ‘90s That Wouldn’t Fly Today (20 Stories)

11. 

“My BFF’s mom explained that teen pregnancy was so prevalent in her community in the 80s, that the girls who wanted to earn their diploma would bring their babies and toddlers to high school. Classrooms had a couple of cradles, and the school had several ladies that would hang out in hallways and act as ‘soothers’ for crying babies. The community was too poor to provide alternative school or daycare.” — fireflyfly3

12. 

“Just showing up to someone’s house. Now that kind of thing seems unacceptable because of how easy it is to communicate.” — Free_Hat_McCullough

13. 

“Halloween is coming. Some guys in my high school dressed as KKK members with their black friend as a slave in chains. A picture of them was in the yearbook. I shit you not.” — blageur

14. 

“Allowing your kids 8-12 years old to go play in the woods by themselves and just ringing a dinner bell when you need them home.” — xanthanahtnax

15. 

“Answering the phone with no idea who’s calling.” — Idahotato21

16. 

“No seatbelts! I remember being a young kid sitting on my knees in the front seat because I couldn’t see out of the window, no seatbelt. But I remember when my parents started using the seatbelt and having me always wear one. I’m very conscious of wearing a seatbelt and following the recommendations for car/booster seats for my kid. But I do think it’s sad she’ll never have the front seat experience I did.” — dazzling_penguin

17. 

Free Range parenting. From about the age of 8-13, my parents had no idea where I was unless it was school. The only requirement was to not be late for dinner, and to return home when the street lights came on. I would be off on Tom Sawyer adventures with my friends. We would ride our bikes straight out of town sometimes. Sometimes we would find a bike or walking trail through the woods and just follow it to see where it went. Finding a new creek, pond, bmx bike trail, treehouse, or pornstash in the woods was like finding money. School buses were a lot less common in the 80’s. Most kids just walked home. You’d see kids as young as 6 or 7 walking by themselves home from school. It’s just crazy to think about. Now, society isn’t trusted to allow a 10 or 12 year old to walk by themselves home. School buses are everywhere.” — diot-prodigy

18. 

“Gay jokes on TV. Implying a character was gay was a constant joke for years.” — bobofogochi

19. 

“Getting a job right out of high school. Manufacturing industry used to be one of the better career options: Job security and growth, union wages, trained on the job, etc.” — sobeskinator71

20. 

“Sexual assault used as slapstick comedy in movies.” — Clintman 

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Patricia Grisafi

Patricia Grisafi, PhD, is a freelance writer and educator. Her work has appeared in Salon, Vice, Bitch, Bustle, Broadly, The Establishment, and elsewhere. She is passionate about pit bull rescue, cursed objects, and designer sunglasses.