#UnacceptableToday #Normal20YearsAgo #SocialChange #Evolution #CulturalShift
Have you ever stopped to think about how much our values and norms have changed over the years? What might have been perfectly acceptable 20 years ago can now be seen as completely unacceptable in today’s world. This evolution in societal standards can leave many of us feeling conflicted or confused about what is considered right or wrong. Let’s delve deeper into this fascinating topic and explore some areas where the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior has shifted drastically.
From Smoking Indoors to Vaping Outdoors
Do you remember when smoking indoors was a common occurrence? It wasn’t that long ago that people could light up a cigarette in restaurants, offices, and even on airplanes without anyone batting an eye. Fast forward to the present day, and smoking indoors is now considered a major health hazard and social faux pas. With the rise of vaping as an alternative to smoking, even smoking outdoors in public spaces has become a contentious issue. The shift away from smoking indoors reflects a growing awareness of the health risks associated with tobacco use and the importance of creating smoke-free environments for everyone.
Solutions:
1. Be mindful of where you smoke and make an effort to respect non-smokers by stepping outside to smoke.
2. Consider switching to vaping as a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes.
3. Support legislation that promotes smoke-free spaces and protects the health of all individuals.
Gender Equality and Workplace Diversity
In the past, it was not uncommon for workplaces to be male-dominated environments with limited opportunities for women and minorities. Gender inequality and lack of diversity were prevalent issues that went largely unaddressed. Today, there is a growing emphasis on gender equality and workplace diversity, with organizations striving to create inclusive and equitable environments for all employees. The push for diversity and inclusion is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage for companies looking to attract top talent and foster creativity and innovation.
Solutions:
1. Advocate for equal pay and opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in the workplace.
2. Support initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion within organizations.
3. Challenge biases and stereotypes that contribute to inequality and discrimination.
As we reflect on the changes that have taken place in our society over the past two decades, it becomes clear that what was once considered normal may no longer be acceptable. By being aware of these shifts and actively engaging in conversations about them, we can contribute to a more inclusive and progressive world for future generations. Let’s embrace this journey of growth and evolution together! 🌟🌍🌈
For the record, 20 years ago was 2004.
Kids in my high school(2011-2014) would drop the f-bomb casually, the slur, not fuck. Was a lot more common back then, these days people who drop that get dunked on.
Smoking indoors like you’re in a 90s sitcom.
Letting your kids run around the neighborhood with no supervision
Being out of reach and not expecting to contact/reach someone at any time of day
Politicians changing their opinion. Labeling John Kerry a flip flopper was exactly 20 years ago from this year.
256 megabyte thumb drives costing $50.
4 GB Ram
Using the word “gay” to describe things that are stupid or unpleasant.
Taking a bottle of water onto a plane.
Though it will soon be acceptable again! UK airports are introducing new security measures starting later this year, and taking containers of liquid up to 2 litres will be allowed.
ssmoking in public, spanking your kids and phone books
Being a fan of Jimmy Saville and Gary Glitter.
Smoking in the car with kids. It was already kind of not the best look but I remember driving around and there were adults smoking with their kids in the backseats.
Waiting at home for somebody to call you.
Riding in the back of a pickup truck
Your parents telling you to be home when the street lights come. Man those were the days!
Stopping by to someone’s house unannounced. Even back in 2004, cell phones were just starting to become ubiquitous but I still have memories around that time of my mom’s friends randomly coming over unannounced. My mom was consistent on keeping the house clean at all times and I have to wonder if it was because she simply never knew when a friend was going to come over
The smoking section in restaurants. It was usually separated from the non smoking area by a short wall that did absolutely nothing
The sheer volume of bodyshaming on every magazine cover. Bodyshaming still happens today to an extent, but I remember being a kid in line at the grocery store, perfectly eye level with at least 8 different magazines spewing headlines about how a celebrity “let herself go” by going from a size 0 to a size 2
Going to someone’s house without knowing if they are home.
Back in the day we’d be out doing stuff and say “Hey let’s go see if so-and-so is around.” and head to their house, knock on their door and have no idea if they were home.
Nowadays if you did that they’d either think someone died or was about to.
Pantsing other kids or adult friends. I remember seeing that on TV and in cartoons with everyone laughing and the person who got painted either miffed or laughing along. Now people would see that as close to sexual harassment. Especially since sometimes the person might have gone commando or just had the waist band of the underwear come down too.
Calling random girls “sweetheart”.
Midnight releases I guess. Everything is digital now and nobody does them anymore. I miss those
Paying my landline bill
Sending feet pics to Nickelodeon.
Wearing a red hat without having to explain your political affiliation.
A 40k salary being enough for an independent person to live comfortably.
Sleeping with coworkers. Today you hear things like “Your office is not your personal harem” or “Facebook is not a dating service.” on the extreme side.
On the more realistic side you have men who refuse to speak to women in the office outside of professional settings. Generally if an HR complaint is made, the company will consider it a “safe” option to “just not need you anymore” to both parties.
I have seen men get let go 2 weeks after the complaint was made and the woman was let go 2-3 months later. Almost always with detailed paperwork to back up her firing.
My phone ringing.
Relatively small age gaps in relationships are being increasingly scrutinized.
Mandatory disclaimer that there is such a thing as too big of an age gap, especially if one party is very young, and 30 yos (or even worse…) hitting on 16 yo high schoolers was always horrible. Not what I’m discussing here.
But nowadays it seems increasingly popular to pick apart small differences like a freshman and senior in college dating. People say stuff like “gross, she’s barely legal and he can legally drink, they can’t possibly have anything in common, what a creep”. That was definitely not the narrative 20 years ago; a 21 yo and 18 yo dating was not considered a large or abnormal age gap when I was growing up.
Waiting until the weekend to text your friend on a different carrier because that’s when texts and minutes were free
Leaving your kids at home for the day or night.
I work with some people who think 13 is too young for their kid to be home on their own.
Work drinks during the day and sales teams going on to strip clubs with clients. Seems wild now that that was a regular enough thing.
Cold call someone
puca shell necklaces
Putting a baby in a crib with blankets pillows bumpers and stuffies
Mid budget movies in cinemas
Now here and there a good mid budget movie ends up on the big screen but they mostly end up somewhere on Netflix, to be forgotten quickly. But back then your cinema had so many more movies playing that ranged from huge blockbusters like the first Spiderman movie to mid budget drama’s like Good Will Hunting
I was going to say smoking in a restaurant, but that was going way out of favor by 2004.
*Realizes in horror* Christ, 2004 was 20 years ago…
*cries in old person*
Leaving your kids in the car when you went grocery shopping
Ringtones
Back in the day people paid to get cute, quirky ringtones or use their favorite song as a ringtone.
Nowadays if I hear your phone ring, I automatically hate you. Turn that fucking thing off, it should be on silent in public. Nobody wants to hear your phone. Hell, mine is on silent even at home. A vibration is enough, I don’t need added sound.
Writing the date as 2004.
Being homophobic was super common back then.
My birth year was early in the 1980s. The entire trip home from the hospital, my mother hugged me. I don’t believe I was in a car seat until I was able to sit up by myself.
Completely typical, once in a while
A man old enough to buy alcohol dating a girl who doesn’t even have a learners permit. Statutory was really treated with as much severity as a speeding ticket.
Calling female celebrities in the healthy BMI range fat seemed pretty normalized in 2004.