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If you're worried about your embarrassing photos that might one day crawl out of your hard drive and spread over the Internet, don't be. We all are. In fact, there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for why the person staring back at you looks so very unfamiliar, even though that person is you. The answer to why you hate seeing photos of yourself is mirrors. The explanation given in a TED talk by photographer Duncan Davidson, for example, explains how "perception, mirrors, and the uncanny valley make us hate photos of ourselves."

I Looked 70 When I Was 13

Final score:

209points

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Dani 5 years ago

This is hilarious!!

29points

Back in 1977, in a study titled "Reversed Facial Images and the Mere-Exposure Hypothesis," psychologists Theodore H. Mita, Marshall Dermer, and Jeffrey Knight concluded that "individuals will prefer a facial photograph that corresponds to their mirror image rather than to their true image." As the title of the study suggests, everything has to do with something called the mere-exposure effect.

I Looked Like A Middle Aged Man When I Was A Child

Final score:

202points

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Samantha Robinson 5 years ago (edited)

This kid earned his belly through good old Root Beer.

6points

The mere-exposure effect was first proposed in the 1960s by Stanford psychologist, Robert Zajonc. According to Gizmodo, "In its simplest terms, the mere-exposure effect is a psychological phenomenon whereby a person develops a preference for a stimulus based solely on his or her repeated exposure to (and subsequent familiarity with) it. The effect has been demonstrated with an array of stimuli (words, paintings, sounds) and across cultures. It's even been observed in other species."

When It’s Your First Day Of Kindergarten And Also Your First Day As Head Of The PTA

Final score:

202points

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Restless 5 years ago

The things we do to our kids

57points

So the truth is, if photograph-you looked like mirror-image you, in a way, everyone else would think you look bizarre. The same researchers, who showed a person is more likely to prefer a facial photograph that corresponds to their mirror image rather than their true image, also demonstrated that the opposite was true when the images were shown to the person's friends. So, again, don't worry about it. Photograph-you looks great.

When You Look Over 40 But You're Actually 12

Final score:

192points

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The Dutches 5 years ago

My daughter was 11 when she started experimenting with makeup. So for her 12th birthday I organized a makeup party with a beautician. Great fun. Of course we made pictures. When she saw them, she was shocked to see herself as a 25 year old. After that she hasn't touched makeup till she was finished in collage, and only sparsely.

13points

Yeah, So I Heard My Best Friend Was Made Into A Meme Called The 60-Year-Old Girl

Final score:

180points

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Harleen 5 years ago

Looks just like grandma Yetta on The Nanny!!

40points

My Wife Was A 40-Year-Old Receptionist In 4th Grade

Final score:

173points

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tuzdayschild 5 years ago

Christina Farley?

6points

Give Me The Sassy Grandma Look

Final score:

172points

POST

Harleen 5 years ago

Betty White - age 5

123points

This Is Why I Never Had A Girlfriend In High School. I Looked 35 When I Was 14

Final score:

170points

POST

Molly Block 5 years ago

*Never gets carded...

34points

#10

I Looked Like An Old Jewish Man In 9th Grade

Final score:

169points

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Dani 5 years ago

Yes, yes you did.

52points

#11

The Blunder Brothers, Circa 1994. I'm In Purple

Final score:

161points

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Restless 5 years ago

Is this what they mean when people tell you to "pull up your pants"?

63points

#12

Glamour Shot Blunder (7-Years-Old)

Final score:

160points

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Koalamonster 5 years ago

She's looking like an overly invested pageant mom

121points

#13

6th Grade Going On 60

Final score:

158points

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Rowlie 5 years ago (edited)

Are these seatbelts?

41points

#14

My Friend's Yearbook Picture From 2nd Grade. Apparently She Used To Be A Lesbian Art Teacher

Final score:

157points

POST

Betsy Knox 5 years ago

She looks like a gentle hippie soul

84points

#15

That Time I Went To My High School Prom And Looked Like A 45-Year-Old Woman

Final score:

151points

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Hello it Smee 5 years ago

She look like a school recetionist instead of a student.

55points

#16

I Was Born In 1981, But Turned 55 In 1992

Final score:

151points

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Withnail 5 years ago

11 years old and already tired of your sh!t.

76points

#17

First Day Of High School, I Was Apparently Going For The 70-Year-Old Man Look

Final score:

148points

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Mark 5 years ago

Young Elton John.

43points

#18

At Age 10 I Looked Like I Was Ready To Give Up And Change My Name To Linda

Final score:

144points

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Douglas Campbell 5 years ago

That gal's got sass & moxi in spades!

4points

#19

I Too Was Born In 1981. I Present To You, The Butch Soccer Mom (I'm A Guy)

Final score:

137points

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Catherine Hankinson 5 years ago

Did you want to speak to a manager about an expired coupon?

65points

#20

A Friend Of Mine Gave Me Permission To Post This Gem. Circa Early 90s

Final score:

137points

POST

Slinkman 5 years ago

1. Take a pan 2. Put it on your head 3. Ask your mum to cut your hair around die edges of it 4. BAM!! INSTANT FASHION

26points

#21

After The Seventh Child My Mom Decided It’s Just Easier To Dress Me In Her Own Clothes

Final score:

137points

POST

Slinkman 5 years ago

Looks like that annoying aunt from Pipi Longstokking

22points

#22

Blundering Through 2nd Grade

Final score:

134points

POST

Danish Dynomummy 5 years ago

That Hair though...

50points

#23

I Was Dwight Schrute When I Was 15

Final score:

129points

POST

Slinkman 5 years ago

No looks like a European Kim Jung Un

73points

#24

1981. I Thought I Was The **** In My Band Uniform And Permed Hair, And Weighing All Of 90 Pounds (With The Cymbals)

Final score:

129points

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Rabbit Carrot 5 years ago

Napoleon Dynamite

61points

#25

A Friend's 6th Grade Picture. Not Her Grandmother

Final score:

125points

POST

Siana Ananta Dayo 5 years ago

She is so nervous... <3

32points

#26

My Friend Looked Like Elton John When He Was Younger

Final score:

118points

POST

Slinkman 5 years ago

Elton Young

31points

#27

I Was In 2nd Grade. I Look Like I Am 50

Final score:

117points

POST

Harleen 5 years ago

Female mullets NEVER should've been a thing

57points

#28

No Front Teeth, Mom As A Stylist

Final score:

105points

Marielle Hasselblad

POST

Giorgio Prodoti 5 years ago

Mom, please stahp.

31points

#29

My Sister's Glamour Shot: Age 4

Final score:

104points

POST

Withnail 5 years ago

For a moment I thought she was wearing an ushanka...

51points

#30

Band Geek, 1987

Final score:

100points

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Hello it Smee 5 years ago

This one time at band camp....

48points

John Montgomery 5 years ago

It does look like she plays the flute.

7points

Rabbit Carrot 5 years ago

Justice for Barb!

17points

RitaGG 5 years ago

I literally laughed out loud and scared my dog.

2points

Sho Sho 5 years ago

Aww, She looks like Barbara Holland from "Stranger Things" <3

5points

BusLady 5 years ago

I thought this was a boy until I scrolled down and saw the skirt and petticoat.

4points

Donna O 5 years ago

Same! Until I scrolled far enough to see the skirt, I was sure this was a guy.

1point

ktdidit 5 years ago

Poster child for gym teachers of America

2points

Ryo Bakura 5 years ago

So this is where Jehovah's Witnesses got their dress sense from.

2points

Catlady6000 5 years ago

I was thinking she's come to tell us the good news about band! (Im one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Loved your comment, although I like to think most of us have better fashion sense than this:)

1point

Devan Mansfield 5 years ago

Looks like Barb from Stranger Things...

1point

Beth Arriaga 5 years ago

Omg I forgot about those denim skirts with the eyelet peeking out ... Also those ruffled shirts were the bomb to go with it! Gunne Sax forever!!!!!!

0points

Gaya Knust 5 years ago

So Barb had a sister we didn't know about...

0points

Alex K 5 years ago

barb

0points

Just Barbora 5 years ago

But she is really cute

0points

Godspeed 5 years ago

If it weren't for the skirt, I could not tell if it was a male or female. :P

0points

Slinkman 5 years ago

She looks shrunk

0points

#31

Uggs On The Beach, Check. Size 60 Khaki Dickies With Matching 2XL Khaki Shirt, Also Check. I Was The King Of 7th Grade

Final score:

42points

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tuzdayschild 5 years ago

He looks like a Far Side drawing come to life.

3points

#32

This Is My Wife, The 60-Year-Old-Girl, One Year Before The Original Photo

Final score:

40points

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Danish Dynomummy 5 years ago

At least she looks like a very sweet grandma

8points

#33

Titanic, Western, Newscaster Glamour Shots: 1998 In A Nutshell

Final score:

39points

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comboplush 5 years ago

She looks like she is successfully selling her own line of healing gems and angel tarot cards on QVC.

16points

#34

I Wanted To Share My Shame With You

Final score:

38points

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Slinkman 5 years ago

'Now i shall gets u a bunny from out of me hat!'

5points

#35

Another Gem I Found Of My Sister -In-Law. I Will Call Her Razz Ma-Tazz With The Upside Down Baller Shades

Final score:

37points

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Dani 5 years ago

Diane is a twice-divorced real estate agent with a passion for cats and shag carpet.

6points

#36

Time Was Not On My Side

Time Was *Not* On My Side

Final score:

37points

Carla Rhodes

POST

Donna O 5 years ago

The haircut isn't amazing, but the curls are really nice!

0points

#37

I've Been Told I Have An Old Soul. I Guess It's Because I Was 40 At 4

Final score:

36points

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Harleen 5 years ago

It's just the glasses. She's actually super cute in my opinion!

13points

#38

In The 90's I Was A 12-Year-Old Rizzo

Final score:

36points

POST

Sarcastic Cow 5 years ago

Natalia Tena!

0points

#39

My Wife Looked Like A 60-Year-Old Woman As A Child

Final score:

36points

POST

#40

First Day Of School, Grade 6, Circa 1988

Final score:

35points

POST

Rowlie 5 years ago

was the school a golden age university?

3points

#41

I Looked Like Macaulay Culkin Wearing A Cosby Sweater

Final score:

35points

POST

Hello it Smee 5 years ago

He looks like Fuller from the Home Alone movies

10points

#42

When Your Mom Wanted A Poodle But Settled For Your Hair Instead

Final score:

35points

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Harleen 5 years ago

Well, if it isn't Little Orphan Annie!

17points

#43

I Give You The Mentally Challenged Lunch Lady, Circa 1988. Junior High Was Not Kind To Me

Final score:

34points

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Elina Kuusisto 5 years ago

Junior High is kind to NO ONE

19points

#44

I Looked Like A Lesbian Librarian When I Was Younger

Final score:

34points

POST

Hello it Smee 5 years ago

Looks like every female gym teacher I had growing up.

16points

#45

My Grandmom Loved To Put Those Little Foam Curlers In My Hair Before Church

Final score:

32points

POST

Samantha Robinson 5 years ago

Did the grandma also love to take a bite out of the hair?

17points

#46

7 Going On 70

Final score:

32points

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Rowlie 5 years ago

You look great, ma'am

6points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#47

And My Friend Looked Like An Old Man When He Was A Child

Final score:

31points

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Susanne Carvin 5 years ago

Winston Churchill!

1point

#48

America Was Always Great

Final score:

31points

POST

Elina Kuusisto 5 years ago

Yass

6points

#49

I Was A 40-Year-Old Woman At 13

Final score:

31points

POST

Lucas 5 years ago

You do have lovely hair though!

6points

#50

The Most Embarrassing Photo I Could Find

Final score:

30points

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Rowlie 5 years ago

The rose is a very nice touch

4points

#51

Just Found My Glamour Shot From 1995. I Was A Sassy 45-Year-Old In 7th Grade, Apparently

Final score:

30points

POST

Harleen 5 years ago

I mean, the cheetah print is overdone, but I think this is really nice

6points

#52

Third Grade Granny

Final score:

30points

POST

#53

Fifth Grade Me Climbing The Social Ladder

Final score:

30points

POST

#54

I Peaked At 14 When I Was 45-Years-Old

Final score:

29points

POST

Rowlie 5 years ago

That look of evil satisfaction

2points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

See Also on Bored Panda

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#55

Turns Out My Mother Also Looked Like A 60-Year-Old Woman When She Was Younger. She's Going To Kill Me If She Sees This

Final score:

29points

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Gizem Uzunoglu 5 years ago

I bet she looks younger now.

6points

#56

I Love The Big Shoulder Pads And Teased Hair. I Doubt 90's Fashion Will Make A Comeback Anytime Soon

Final score:

29points

Michelle Lee

POST

Hello it Smee 5 years ago

Why were wicker chairs so popular back in the day?

3points

#57

Recently, My Mother Found This Senior Photo Of Me From 1994. I Looked Like Nathan From South Park

Final score:

28points

POST

Harleen 5 years ago

Mistah J, come quick! I found Penguin's senior pictures!!

5points

#58

My Stepsister Was A Kindergarten Teacher In Kindergarten

Final score:

27points

POST

#59

My Wife: Pilgrim, Futurist, Fabulous (1987)

Final score:

27points

POST

Rowlie 5 years ago

it does look like it was taken in a galaxy far far away

5points

#60

Went Into 7th Grade Ready For Retirement

Final score:

27points

POST

Link 5 years ago

Aren't we all?

1point

#61

When I Was 7-Year-Old Aspiring Nun/Librarian

Final score:

24points

POST

KEBI Photography 5 years ago

ahh...velma when she was younger.

3points

#62

My BF Took This On His Nintendo DS When He Was 13

Final score:

23points

POST

Ryo Bakura 5 years ago

I'm sorry, but I'm just not interested in buying a secondhand Volkswagen Polo from you. No, I don't care that everything you own was bought with "secondhand car money".

2points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

See Also on Bored Panda

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#63

I Was 4 Going On 60

Final score:

22points

POST

#64

I Woke Up And Decided My Hair Was Gonna Be Yuuuuuuge

Final score:

22points

POST

Sheanna Caban 5 years ago

3 cans of Aquanet

1point

#65

Why Mom, Why

Final score:

22points

POST

LaDonna Hulcy 5 years ago

Adorable!!

3points

#66

She’s Beauty. She’s Grace. My 7th Grade Winter Formal

Final score:

22points

POST

Rabbit Carrot 5 years ago

Kind of blends into the doormat, almost like she’s on a stand.

4points

#67

Bless You, Puberty

Final score:

22points

POST

Brivid 5 years ago

Puberty didn't do me any favors either.

2points

#68

Styled Like A Soccer Mom At 13

Final score:

21points

POST

Nikki D 5 years ago

That thing looks dangerous! Is it a lawn dart?

1point

#69

7-Year-Old Going On 70 (Circa 1994)

Final score:

21points

POST

Nikki D 5 years ago

I remember those sweatshirts with the absurdly large arms! Why?

1point

#70

The World's Youngest Grandmother

Final score:

21points

POST

Erin Casados 5 years ago

Pursed lips and everything

0points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

See Also on Bored Panda

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#71

Taken At A Mall Photo Center Circa 1993. I Loved Cats

Final score:

21points

POST

Rowlie 5 years ago

Reminded me of Edith from Grey Gardens somehow

1point

#72

1992 Was An Awkward Year For Me

Final score:

20points

POST

#73

I Was Once Too, A 60-Year-Old Girl

Final score:

20points

POST

#74

Double Trouble

Final score:

20points

POST

Rowlie 5 years ago

What's up with the huuuuge glasses ? Were kid-sized glasses not invented yet?

1point

#75

My Wife She Showed Me Her Old Yearbook Photo

Final score:

19points

POST

Erin Casados 5 years ago

She did not disappoint

0points

#76

Playing The Sax Worked For Bill Clinton, Right?

Final score:

17points

POST

Rowlie 5 years ago

Saxy

3points

#77

Final score:

0points

POST

Jayne Gilbert 9 months ago

This is one of the best photos ever! I can just imagine him sitting on a rocker on his front porch, watching the world go by. Absolutely adorable :-)

4points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

See Also on Bored Panda

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

Inga is a List Curator at Bored Panda. She is a Creative Industries graduate and has a Bachelor's degree in Communication. This panda's mission is to find and cover perfect topics which would satisfy our readers' curiosity, kill the boredom, or simply make them laugh. As the topics of her lists are so broad, so is Inga's personal preferences. She loves dogs but can't resist snuggling a cat, she likes creepy docuseries but also cute animated movies like Zootopia, her music taste varies from Indie Rock to Pop and Rave, she likes relaxing crafts, yet she usually spends her evenings dancing.

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

Hello it Smee 5 years ago (edited)

I would like to see what the kids look like as adults.

31points

Debrina Blackmoon 5 years ago

hopefully better

3points

Sunzilla 5 years ago

Conclusion: The 80's and early 90's didn't do anybody any fashion favours. Can we just pretend those two decades never happened? They were cruel.

14points

Julie Renee 5 years ago

Every decade has its stupid fashion trends. I cringe every time I pick up my kid from high school and see boys sporting skinny jeans with their butts hanging out.

18points

R.s. Potter 5 years ago

The 70s weren't much better. I really don't want to see any photos of me from back then. Except maybe a very short period in the late 70s/early 80s when clothes were actually kind of flattering. That was before the big hair and shoulder pads fad started.

3points

Carmine Espinoza 5 years ago

The music was top notch though.

2points

Featherking 9 months ago (edited)

No! I wear my pain proudly! I came by mental scars fairly and squarely! I’m one of the survivors and I’ll NEVER forget! Or forgive!

0points

Nia Loves Art 5 years ago

Why were kid glamour photos a thing? It’s such a weird concept to begin with.

9points

Harleen 5 years ago

I hope we do a thread like this again. I should turn myself in. My parents' wedding photo also needs a spot. They were married in the 80's but everyone who's seen it thinks it's a Victorian photo

8points

Hans 5 years ago

BP used to have many postings where the community could add. Having those back would be great, although I would not contribute with questionable photos. ;)

7points

charlotte berger 5 years ago

I laughed so hard at these!

5points

LaDonna Hulcy 5 years ago

Who does everyone think that if you are wearing glasses you automatically look old? yea most of them are hideous but they were in style at the time. so no most of these are just cute/silly old pictures of kids. a lot of them are really cute!

3points

Emmy 5 years ago

I think we should bring back the classic Glamour Shots. Gems.

3points

Krysta Pandoo 5 years ago

I blame a lot of these on the 80s trends. Clearly everyone was either blind or suicidal or hilariously off their faces on leftover 60s expired drugs when they dressed their kids.

2points

Anna Maria Łaska 5 years ago

The time when I was 47 years old chemistry teacher, haha :D ( I was 14!) 61068993_2...ee5053.jpg

1point

Trish Greene 5 years ago

I can relate to this pictures on so many levels!

1point

Gonzalo Terán 5 years ago

Love the insane captions!

1point

Patricia Pelgrims 5 years ago

Creepy !

1point

Nadine 5 years ago

Bless them every one...hopefully we all get better with age!

1point

Bianca Sagana 5 years ago

Horrible fashion...Literally horrible.

1point

Susan Gardner 5 years ago

I was wondering same thing. I wish they could have posted then and now pics side by side

1point

Debrina Blackmoon 5 years ago (edited)

really i feel sorry for these kids...now i'm glad my "mom" got rid of all my pics(yeah she's a total b***h, but at least that was right tbh

1point

M Dream 5 years ago

hahahahahaha!!

1point

R.s. Potter 5 years ago

This brings back to me just how bad the hairstyles and clothes of the 80s through mid 90s were.

1point

Dawn Baik 5 years ago

whew! There are some unfortunate photos here..lmao!

1point

Jo Johannsen 5 years ago

I am SO GLAD none of my childhood pictutes still exist!! 😱

1point

Jenny Bryl 5 years ago

That's how things were then. Everything was much simpler. Flash was for fancy occasions. I'm not sure where the prairie dress look came from, we could've done without that.

0points

Carmen 5 years ago

A lot of these kiddos have great smiles!

0points

the Lemon Queen 5 years ago

I never looked old when I was younger. I did, however, look like a potato.

0points

Marlene 5 years ago

It's just how it was at that time!!!!! Hilarious to look back on it!!!!

0points

Jo Choto 5 years ago

(Parental) love is blind...

0points

Cristina Steele 5 years ago

Glamour Shots were a total rip off. My mom had me do those in the mall when I was a kid (mid to late 80s) and they always put me in “bordello red” lipstick. What mom wants to see their 7 year old looking like a hooker??

0points

Tamera Gardner 5 years ago

More!!!!!!

0points

Gemma Lees 5 years ago

Photo shoots apart from your yearly school photo or weddings aren't really a thing in the UK. This is why.

0points

Slune 5 years ago

A lot of decorated fatties with glasses, it couldn't get any worse

0points

Dima Kozharskiy 5 years ago

Chrck

0points

Dima Kozharskiy 5 years ago

Ffbb

0points

Vicky Stardust 5 years ago

Clothes, hairstyle, glasses. Change them and you will look your age.

0points

James Gallegos 5 years ago

I'm 47 but some people think I'm in my mid 30s! Thank God for being half Filipino!

-1point

Thalia Lovering 5 years ago

Parents hated their kids a lot!

-1point

Azure Adams 5 years ago

So many parents need to be reported for child abuse or shot or both... these poor damn kids!

-2points

POST

Hello it Smee 5 years ago (edited)

I would like to see what the kids look like as adults.

31points

Debrina Blackmoon 5 years ago

hopefully better

3points

Sunzilla 5 years ago

Conclusion: The 80's and early 90's didn't do anybody any fashion favours. Can we just pretend those two decades never happened? They were cruel.

14points

Julie Renee 5 years ago

Every decade has its stupid fashion trends. I cringe every time I pick up my kid from high school and see boys sporting skinny jeans with their butts hanging out.

18points

R.s. Potter 5 years ago

3points

Carmine Espinoza 5 years ago

The music was top notch though.

2points

Featherking 9 months ago (edited)

No! I wear my pain proudly! I came by mental scars fairly and squarely! I’m one of the survivors and I’ll NEVER forget! Or forgive!

0points

Nia Loves Art 5 years ago

Why were kid glamour photos a thing? It’s such a weird concept to begin with.

9points

Harleen 5 years ago

I hope we do a thread like this again. I should turn myself in. My parents' wedding photo also needs a spot. They were married in the 80's but everyone who's seen it thinks it's a Victorian photo

8points

Hans 5 years ago

BP used to have many postings where the community could add. Having those back would be great, although I would not contribute with questionable photos. ;)

7points