Things change. Whoa, that’s a real shocker, I know, but bear with me! The fact of the matter is that even the things, places, and people we love most in the world change over time. It’s inevitable. However, while some things improve and mature like good wine set down to age in your fancy castle cellar, others… well, others age like cheap milk, left out on a sunny windowsill for far, far too long.
Redditor Open-Outcome-660 went on r/AskReddit with an intriguing query, asking others to share the things that they think used to be great but have become incredibly bad since then. The question instantly hooked internet users and the thread got over 3.4k responses.
It all came flooding out, from people sharing that MTV has steadily gone downhill over the years to folks pointing out that the internet is no longer as great as it was in the good old days. Have a read through some of the best responses to the thread and upvote the opinions you agree with, dear Pandas. Do you have any of your own examples about things that have become really bad over time? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Bored Panda had a friendly chat about nostalgia, change, and some of the things that actually went from bad to great with Open-Outcome-660, the original poster of the question. Be sure to scroll down for our in-depth interview with them!
#1
The history Channel. I used to watch it in the 2000s. Now it’s all swamp people and aliens
Image source: mrsbundleby, Erik Mclean
#2
Appliances. Used to be made to last. Now they’re just made to last the warranty.
Image source: RedBeardedMex
#3
Internet in general. I used to be able to search Google for a subject and then get a list of reliable websites to read from. Now it’s 99% crap infomercials/ad ridden sites that all want to sell me things I don’t need.
Image source: MissFunkyH, Towfiqu barbhuiya
#4
My knees
Image source: LifeIsDuff, Terry Shultz
#5
Patriotism. It used to feel like a good thing to be proud of my country, to be grateful for the blessings of living here, trusting that our government is at least trying to do the right thing. But now this has devolved into this nasty “My country first, best, and alone” crap, all others are bad, wrong, and are enemies. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Image source: ststeveg
#6
Cooking websites. Everyone knows the struggle of scrolling through 273 paragraphs of bulls**t before getting to the recipe, but now some actual antichrist websites are putting a 2nd page inside the first where after you get past the 273 paragraphs it’s like “now click here for the recipe”. Rage inducing.
Image source: dogbert730
#7
Flying. From the incredible shrinking seat, crazy people, covid, no food, baggage fees, carry on fees to questions about planes safety.
Image source: real_voiceofreason, https://unsplash.com/photos/_1REcmACJaQ
#8
MTV. It was so good back in the 90s. Actual music videos, shows that featured artists, MTV Unplugged, Daria, Beavis and Butthead, Aeon Flux, TRL, Celebrity Death Match… Then Pimp My Ride and Cribs were pretty fun though it was the start of reality tv style shows
Image source: Sure-Top-4676
#9
Streaming services online, Netflix was op back in the day, now you have to have 15 different services if you want to watch all your shows
Image source: Brandon74130, Glenn Carstens-Peters
#10
Image source: LowerCanary , Solen Feyissa
#11
Hollywood. They ran out of ideas.
Image source: Madpoka, Kushagra Kevat
#12
Thrifting. All the rich kids ruined it.
Image source: MWBPLH, Becca McHaffie
#13
How United States are perceived in europe
Image source: r_psy6
#14
Entering the workforce and saving up. Never was great in my lifetime, but I’ve heard stories of people buying their first house after like 2 years of saving. That’s just a fantasy these days.
Image source: Hrnghekth, Sharon McCutcheon
#15
Politics – it was never great, but there’s no room for two people with different views to actually talk. It’s not a sports team, why is everybody so entrenched and angry.
Image source: roberthart327
#16
Amazon. It’s slowly turning into Wish.
Image source: nicolioni, Super Straho
#17
I used to love a good conspiracy theory – UFO cover ups and so forth – but now its just these redneck crazies crowding into the most outlandish shit ones like microchips and lizard people.
Image source: GoodAndBluts
#18
The air. Literally breathing in pollutants.
Image source: NaturalBoonie, Christian Wiediger
#19
Not being busy. Not constantly “hustling” or trying to do it all. Not “living for the weekend.” Down time can be a good thing.
Image source: roegdgdfgdf, Steve Halama
#20
My mental health
Image source: MegaZombieMegaZombie
#21
The search to buy your first home used to be exciting and filled with choices. Now it’s “take it or leave it” overpriced homes you can’t afford, in a terrible neighborhood. Or continue paying your super high rent.
Image source: SloDancinInaBrningRm
#22
Being able to go outside. Maybe not so much in the cities, but in the suburbs there was all these open fields and forests to go into, you could stay out till the sun went down just riding your bike. Now those fields and forests are paved over and turned into a strip mall. Those big areas with playgrounds? Bulldozed for some shitty half-assed jungle gym.
Can’t go out on the streets anymore. Kids get the cops called on them constantly. So much more private property too.
And if you wanna go somewhere that isn’t outside, you better cough up some money. Every place charges you to be there now. And not for long.
Image source: Igothisway
#23
Top Gear
Image source: aodskeletor
#24
Youtube
Image source: sremcanin, NordWood Themes
#25
Rap
Image source: downtownbake2
#26
Living.
When I was young life was awesome. Friends, fun, adventure, meeting people, partying, sex, music.
Now it’s all work until you can’t work anymore, sleep, work some more.
Image source: Goof-Off-Corpse
#27
Etsy is all Chinese garbage now and you have to search forever to find something handmade.
Image source: Pinakolonopin
#28
Radio. Wth are they playing now?
Image source: BlueonBlack26, Alexandr Sadkov
#29
To be honest, quality of work in professional settings.
Image source: Last-Two-6780
#30
Cars. They used to be awesome. Affordable. And fixable. Now they’re the cheapest pieces of crap and highly overcharged. They’re faster than they used to be maybe but the cost isn’t worth the parts. And they fail so easily.
Image source: Hugebluestrapon
#31
Yahoo answers lol it’s dead now but it used to be fun kind of like reddit but then later on karens took over… couldn’t even ask a simple question about cooking or anything innocent without getting a lecture
Image source: princessmatcha0
#32
Disney I always loved dark gothic disney cartoons Now its just rubbery overproduced cheesy stuffs only.
Image source: Emotional-Two-9075, Stone Hood
#33
Action movies….too many CGI
Image source: B1gChuckDaddySr
#34
News media, not saying “great” but it used to function
Image source: DarkPasta
#35
Nickelodeon
Image source: Gryffindork1995
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