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Generation X refers to people born between 1965 and 1980, which means they grew up during a pretty eventful few decades. They saw Star Wars in theaters and watched the first Space Shuttle launch on TV. They listened to Led Zeppelin and Madonna on the radio. They rocked bell-bottoms before swapping them for acid-wash jeans, and embraced some seriously huge hair along the way.

It’s no wonder Gen Xers feel so nostalgic about those years. So, to bring back a few memories, we’ve rounded up some posts shared on the “Real Generation X” subreddit. Scroll down to check them out and see which ones hit especially close to home.

#1

So True 👍

Gen X meme listing famous walks with tired punchline on black background

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Auntriarch
Community Member
1 week ago

You need boots made for walking, that's the problem

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    #2

    Generation X Learned So Much From These Amazing People

    Collage of iconic figures promoting kindness and reading for Gen X nostalgia

    welding_guy_from_LI Report

    Googoo Gaga
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Kindness and empathy have disappeared from this world and it is frightening.

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    #3

    Did You Ever Go To A Keg Party?

    Old beer keg in trash bin with quote about life without smartphones

    GracefulViays_421 Report

    Linda Lee
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Did anybody else ever make Trashcan Punch? Loads of chopped up fruit in a brand new, freshly washed, trashcan covered in Vodka and ice and whatever else that made it so palatable.

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    #4

    Can You Remember This Smell?

    Vintage school test sheet and students covering faces in classroom

    ManuteBol_Rocks Report

    Laszlo Larthlanc
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Ah, denatured alcohol!

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    #5

    Life Before Google

    Old library card catalog original search engine symbolizing Gen X childhood

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Colleen Glim
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    And the smell. It’s hard to describe but unmistakable

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    #6

    Coolest Toy Ever

    Atari Video Computer System with joystick and manual, classic Gen X gaming

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    This was the gateway drúg to my entire childhood/lifetime spent playing video games XD

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    #7

    Oh Yeah 😉

    Vintage General Foods International Coffees instant coffee cans from childhood memories

    GodBlessTexas713 Report

    Starbug
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    They were quite nice as well, and a real treat as it was really expensive (it was imported!)

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    #8

    Do You Remember These?

    Retro childrens Fisher Price record player toy with colorful plastic discs

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    James016
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Yes. You can still buy this as well.

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    #9

    Do You Remember These?

    Old-fashioned credit card imprinter machine nostalgic for Gen X childhood

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    Ka-CHUNK!

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    #10

    Did You Put The Fries In The Top?

    McDonald's Big Mac box humor meme about childhood nostalgia

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Salttypepper
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    For some reason they seem to taste better when they came like that , all their burgers did !!!! And they need to bring back the McDLT those were the shitt

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    #11

    Does This Ring A Bell?

    Cartoon of child holding Tootsie Roll Pop near owl on tree branch nostalgic childhood snack

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    "how many licks ..."

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    #12

    Did You Ever Do This?

    Peeling dried glue skin from hand showing old school liquid glue

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    I had a whole little hidden workshop inside my desk, where I squeezed white glue into the moulded-in storage recesses, let it get semi-dry with occasional mixing, and then formed it into tiny animal figurines as if it were clay. And again, I somehow made it through school without ever being assessed for ADHD or autism. Being a "high-functioning" girl in the 80s was like having a magic cloak of neurodivergent invisibiity.

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    #13

    Did You Like This Ice Cream

    Classic ice cream cup with wooden spoon nostalgic childhood treat

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Mark Stewart
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Oddly my abiding memory of these is the taste of the wooden spoon :)

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    #14

    I Would Say It’s A Fact

    Funny meme of an aggressive animal labeled emotional support for Gen X

    Illustrious-Coat3532 Report

    Joran Quinten
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Gen x don't care

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    #15

    Do You Remember?

    Freshen-up gum in peppermint cinnamon spearmint for nostalgic Gen X flavors

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Googoo Gaga
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Today, squirt is not a great word. I am NOT going to explain it. 😬

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    Did You Ever Eat Your Cereal Right Out Of The Box?

    Pouring milk into a nostalgic cereal box representing childhood tastes for Gen X

    LexalDrone Report

    Googoo Gaga
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Leaked.

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    #17

    McDonald's Ashtrays

    Vintage McDonalds pie tin representing childhood tastes nostalgia for Gen X

    Jack_PorkChopExpress Report

    my name
    Community Member
    6 days ago

    But, they used to be glass. You're not that old!

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    #18

    Did You Have Any Of These?

    Tinkertoy construction set vintage building toy for creative kids

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    And Lincoln Logs

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    #19

    Fragile Rock

    Fraggle Rock puppets representing nostalgic childhood characters for Gen X

    welding_guy_from_LI Report

    Laszlo Larthlanc
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Or even Fraggle Rock.

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    #20

    Every Kitchen Had One

    Vintage Osterizer blender with cycle blend controls from the 70s

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Ours was more of a 70s yellow than 70s green, but yes, we did. I assume my parents got it as a wedding gift.

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    #21

    Could You See The Pictures?

    Magic Eye II 3D illusions book cover with colorful stereogram

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Giraffe Sitter
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    I could never get these. I still can’t.

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    #22

    It Was Like Watching For The Winning Lottery Numbers

    Child watching TV snow day school closings on screen, Gen X childhood memory

    StoneDread Report

    Julie S
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    Was the local radio station when I was young.

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    #23

    Here’s My Early Childhood Colliding With My Teenage Years…

    Man wearing Freddy Krueger sweater with claws in nostalgic childhood meme

    LifeTunedToCSharp Report

    #24

    You Think You're Old? I'm Old!!

    Vintage S&H Green Stamps saver book and stamps from Gen X childhood savings

    woesy8480 Report

    Giraffe Sitter
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    I grew up Los Angeles in the late ‘70s. Our grocery stores didn’t give green stamps, they gave Disneyland A/B/C tickets.

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    #25

    Sanford King Size Markers… Ah That Smell

    Old Sanford Deluxe permanent markers with color swatches on paper

    ManuteBol_Rocks Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    And the sound! Squeeeeeeaaaaakkk~

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    #26

    Star Trek: First Contact

    Futuristic cyborg characters from Gen X era sci-fi movie scene

    CarloCarrasco Report

    Laszlo Larthlanc
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Alice Krige did such a good job in this role.

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    #27

    We Used To Have To Work For A Cold Drink

    Metal ice cube tray and glass cold drink on marble surface

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Brian Droste
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited)

    I remember this and I am a boomer. This was long before Gen X generation.

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    #28

    Did You Have One Of These In Your Kitchen?

    Vintage General Electric electric can opener on wood surface

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Still do. Not a GE model, and mine also has a knife sharpener on the back - a pair of grinding wheels that spin when the lever's pressed down.

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    #29

    Jerry Lewis Telethon

    Host speaking at Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, popular in Gen X childhood

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    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    The bow tie is undone ... must be in the 20th hour

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    #30

    Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

    Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure movie poster iconic Gen X childhood film

    welding_guy_from_LI Report

    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    “Be excellent to each other”

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    #31

    How Many Know It? High School Flashback

    Fox jumping over a lying dog in nature

    Raynet11 Report

    Maudelin
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    It was first or second grade, not high school.

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    #32

    Did You Ever Play With One Of These?

    Vintage farm animal sound toy with spinning farmer figure for Gen X childhood memory

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Colleen Glim
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Had one for my children. They were terrified. It got donated shortly after

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    #33

    Remembering The Best Flavor From A Gum That Would Last 60 Seconds

    Patterned striped retro candy pieces colorful childhood treat

    EdwardBliss Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    I was weirdly heartbroken to learn that Fruit Stripe gum was discontinued in 2024 :( I wish I'd had a chance to buy one last packet and be disappointed one last time in the flavor that lasted all of 1.5 seconds.

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    #34

    A True American Hero

    Alfred E Neuman What Me Worry campaign button nostalgic Gen X childhood

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    Toothless Feline
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    I’d vote for him right now over any Republican.

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    #35

    Spuds Mckenzie The Original Party Animal

    Poster of a dog surfing with Bud Light branding referencing Gen X childhood

    welding_guy_from_LI Report

    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Shouldn't that be hang 18 ...

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    #36

    Lunch Is Served

    Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwich showing nostalgic childhood tastes

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    Julie S
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    Jif was a cleaning product in the UK.

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    #37

    Do You Know What This Is?

    Classic red and grey Optimus Prime toy truck from nostalgic childhood

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Toothless Feline
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Not what. Who.

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    #38

    In The 70s You Could Go To A Concert For 10 Bucks

    Collection of vintage concert tickets featuring iconic rock bands

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    K M
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    You can still overpay to see Ted Nugent for $10

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    #39

    Did You Listen To This?

    Black and white photo of a radio host revealing the mystery voice in radio

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    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    🎶 Clap for the Wolfman - He gonna rate your record high 🎶

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    #40

    It Was So Much Fun To Go There

    McDonalds Playland playground with kids from the 1980s Gen X childhood memories

    SigmaMale1975 Report

    VisuallyChallengedPew
    Community Member
    4 days ago

    I once said to my nieces and nephew, "Yeah, we would climb into a giant, plastic cheeseburger and pretend we were in jail."

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    #41

    Some Of You Are Here Today Because Of The Hard Work Of These 2 Hero's

    Two elderly men collecting donations for children with vintage vests

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    We do not use the R-word any more. It is now considered an offensive slur and is no longer a proper, accepted term for people with intellectual disabilities. That being said, it WAS an accepted term to refer to those with intellectual disabilities back in the day, and we should not judge the past by our modern sensibilities in that regard.

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    #42

    It's 10 P.m. Do You Know Where Your Children Are?

    Classic 1970s public service message Do you know where your children are at 10 PM

    Washburn_Ichabod Report

    Nik Odongray
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    Probably not. At least in the summer.

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    #43

    The Giant Strawberries In The Land Of The Lost

    Gen X childhood tastes nostalgic scene with kids and a cart of red fruit in forest

    ManuteBol_Rocks Report

    Joanne Earle
    Community Member
    1 day ago

    I met them a couple of years ago. They are awesome.

    #44

    Star Search With Ed Mcmahon .. Agt Of Our Time

    Host in tuxedo posing with Star Search show logo

    welding_guy_from_LI Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    My mom wanted my sister and I to go on this show SO badly. She was living her own "missed out on" dreams vicariously through the two us. It was kind of rough, tbh XD

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    #45

    If You Know This House , You Are Gen X

    Gen X childhood nostalgia image of a two-story suburban house with a bike on driveway

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    anacan
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Love and Marriage 🎶

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    #46

    Ready For A Car Ride

    Vintage baby in retro car seat evokes childhood nostalgia for Gen X

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    My guess is that wasn't to save the baby from harm in a crash, it was to stop her climbing around and getting in the way of the driver.

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    #47

    Remember This Movie?

    Electric Dreams movie scene with retro computer and sad face screen

    Late_Construction366 Report

    Divado
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Weird Science was better.

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    #48

    Noooooow Here's A Little Story I've Got To Tell

    Airplane tail with Beastie Boys and 3MTA3 logos

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    Nik Odongray
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    about 3 bad brothers you know so well…It started way back in history…

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    #49

    Where My Rivetheads At?

    Meme scene debating Metallica or Megadeth with Ministry answer

    Repulsive-Tea6974 Report

    Billo66
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    This is how voting works. If you keep the obvious winner (Pantera) out of the running, of course they won't win..

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    #50

    Iykyk

    Vintage photo of man in tuxedo and hat raising a toast with wine glasses

    VoteForGiantMeteor Report

    Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My!
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Where everybody knows your name.

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    #51

    My First Computer

    Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer 2, a vintage computer beloved by Gen X

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Brian Droste
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    My first computer was a Commodore 64.

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    #52

    Who Remembers This?

    Hand holding a can of Big Red soda popular in Gen X childhood

    Stormy1956 Report

    Ria C.
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    It still exists.

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    #53

    Did You Ever Drink This?

    Vintage Hi-C orange drink can with vitamin C label from childhood

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    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Pierce the top with a full travel, just barely pierce the other side. The ones we got were the large can though. That and Hawaiian Punch.

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    #54

    Did Any Of You Wear One Of These In The 80s?

    Braided rope bracelet on wrist representing Gen X childhood memories

    redrumham707 Report

    Rusty’scate
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    As an islander these were mandatory

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    #55

    Remember The 25 Cent Grab Bag?

    Vintage snack pack labeled Grab Bag from Gen X childhood memories

    pinche-borracho Report

    #56

    Christmas Catalog Dreaming.. What Was Yours?

    1980s radio control racers toy catalog for nostalgic Gen X childhood

    Raynet11 Report

    Colleen Glim
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    The Sears Christmas Wish catalogue. We would pore over it for ages

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    #57

    If This Was In Your House, Yep

    Vintage wooden fork and spoon wall decor in kitchen corner

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    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    Ours matched my mom's wooden salad serving things, which looked like claws and always terrified me XD I would pretend that the giant wooden spoon and fork on the wall were actually a dragon's eating utensils, though!

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    #58

    If You Know Who This Hat Belongs To

    Retro 70s hat meme symbolizing Gen X childhood memories

    MeNotYouDammit Report

    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Billy Jack ...

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    #59

    Who Remembers These Guys

    Original NFL Primetime hosts Chris Berman and Tom Jackson on set

    ZealousidealLemon791 Report

    Joanne Earle
    Community Member
    1 day ago

    COULD! GO! ALL! THE! WAY!

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    #60

    TV Shows And Movies In The 80s Had Some Memorable And Iconic Vehicles. It's Your Lucky Day, You Have Been Chosen To Use One Of These Vehicles For A Month

    Collage of iconic vehicles from 80s TV shows and movies for Gen X nostalgia

    RamenChicken8 Report

    Googoo Gaga
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    A very guy question. The General Lee was a character I watched occasionally, but I am really only interested in Tom Selleck's legs.

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    #61

    Kirby, Not Just A Vacuum It's An Adventure

    Retro Kirby Classic vacuum cleaner with many accessories

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Brian Droste
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    I still have a Kirby vacuum cleaner.

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    #62

    First Car ?

    Old red car parked outside a barn evoking nostalgic Gen X childhood vibes

    welding_guy_from_LI Report

    Boo
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    My first car in 1988 was a 1979 Chevette that topped out at 45mph.

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    #63

    Who Had One?

    Vintage Thunder Trail Huffy bike symbolizing childhood memories for Gen X

    Repulsive-Tea6974 Report

    Divado
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    I had a wooden skateboard. Still got pieces of gravel in both knees.

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    #64

    I Know Y’all Are Hearing This Theme Song Right Now

    Child holding vintage doll toy representing Gen X childhood memories

    darkcity_beacon Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    My buddy (my buddy) my buddy my buddy, wherever I go, HE goes! My buddy and meeee!

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    #65

    Wizard Magazine

    Retro comic book cover featuring Wolverine in a dynamic fight scene

    CarloCarrasco Report

    Tim Gibbs
    Community Member
    6 days ago

    See my baby jive 🤣🤣

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    #66

    Don't Forget The Gravy

    Cartoon cat, mouse, and dog characters with large gravy can

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    Mark Stewart
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    I can hear him saying "this time we didn't forget the graaavy".

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    #67

    Who Else Still Wears These Socks?

    Vintage striped tube socks popular in Gen X childhood fashion

    EdwardBliss Report

    VisuallyChallengedPew
    Community Member
    4 days ago

    Add polyester shorts with two snaps, a trucker hat, and a whistle and you got yourself a high school PE coach.

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    #68

    Did Your Vcr Remote Have A Cord?

    Retro Betamax video player vintage technology from Gen X childhood

    Euphoric-Cupcake4581 Report

    Divado
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Yes, I used it to change channels on the TV but it wasn't very long so it sat in the middle of the living room floor until I stood on it and broke it.

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    #69

    Franco American And The Mile Long Noodle In A Can

    Franco-American macaroni and cheese product label with cooked pasta image

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    Julie S
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    Looks more like spaghetti and cheese rather than macaroni.

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    #70

    No Difference That I Can See

    Meme of The Office comparing two images as identical with Gen X childhood humor

    Repulsive_Repeat_337 Report

    SCP 4666
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    KITT and KARR vs Data and Lore

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    #71

    I Am This Old

    Memorex CP universal remote control vintage packaging nostalgic tech

    WUSSIEBOY Report

    VisuallyChallengedPew
    Community Member
    4 days ago

    If I remember right, you needed a PhD to program and operate the thing.

    #72

    What’s The Oldest Music T-Shirt You Still Own?

    Red t-shirt with yellow star design linked to Gen X childhood nostalgia

    DieMensch-Maschine Report

    Scarlett O'Hara's Ghost
    Community Member
    6 days ago

    Metallica ride the lightening

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    #73

    It Was Either This Or A Zippo

    Vintage gold patterned lighter collectible representing Gen X childhood items

    EdwardBliss Report

    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    you only used these when you lit your clove cigarette

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    #74

    Ok Guys And Gals, Imagine It's Prom Time!🥂

    Collage of 80s teen dream prom dates evoking Gen X nostalgia

    RamenChicken8 Report

    Googoo Gaga
    Community Member
    1 week ago

    Phoebe Cates was a best selling poster dream from the bathing suit scene. Brooke Shields was a beautiful child, but she was irresponsibly marketed for someone her age (greedy mother syndrome). I suspect predatory adult men liked her more than teenage boys. Kelly Lebrock was too old to be a prom date and Molly Ringwald was marketed as nerdy. Jennifer Conolly is also very pretty but who remembers her at this age? (I think that's her, correct me if I am wrong). Was Alyssa Milano prom material? Cute, but teenage boy dreamy? Too young back then, imo. Christina Applegate had a slutty character so let's not go there, lol. The rest - meh. Just my opinion as an 80's girl. Don't shoot.

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    #75

    Uncanny X-Men #268

    Classic X-Men comic cover with iconic superheroes for Gen X nostalgia

    CarloCarrasco Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago

    The X-Men have always been my most beloved comic book heroes. I had such a huge crush on Gambit and would cut up mittens so I could have gloves that "matched" his XD I also had pet lizards named Rogue, Gambit, Wolverine, and Jubilee. I even pestered my dad to take me to Pizza Hut one time because they were having a special giveaway for an X-Men comic book you could only get at Pizza Hut. I still have that comic to this day! It has a hilarious ad for Stridex zit pads in the back, where Magneto helps some teenagers fight acne, for some reason XD

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    #76

    Perceptor

    Retro transforming robot toy from the 1980s nostalgic for Gen X childhood

    GenX_Leo Report

    VisuallyChallengedPew
    Community Member
    4 days ago

    The microscope actually worked! Well... kinda.

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