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18 Things That Were Once Great But Have Declined So Much, They’re Seen As A Joke Now
Article created by: Mantas Kačerauskas
Times change and so do the generations of people. Things that everyone would take for granted are long gone. Like the days when passengers would casually smoke on flights, and when driving drunk was nothing to surprise anyone.
Similarly, people lose interest in things that were once a quintessential part of their lives. Like, television. Today, however, much of it has turned online, for better or worse.
This Ask Reddit thread is shedding light on things from the past that have lost their respect over time and now are a mere shadow of what they used to be. “What was once highly respected that is now a complete joke?” someone asked and the illuminating responses starting rolling in one by one.
Below we wrapped up the most interesting ones, so let us know in the comments if you agree or not!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Hobbies. I am a hobbyist musician, and will never try to make money off of my music. I simply enjoy creating it with zero expectations.
Hustle culture ruined a lot of that because now every time I share my music with people, it turns into a conversation about monetization or how I’m wasting my time on something. It’s hard to even find likeminded people who want to collaborate without it turning into some big thing.
Time enjoyed is not time wasted.
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#2
Working in the educational system. Being a teacher still sounds worthy of respect, but working as one is a joke. Kids are free to do whatever they want, you're barely allowed to punish bad behaviour in any way, school politics stop from changing anything, parents always blame you etc.
#4
Healthcare! I've been in it 20 years it's changed so much. It's a joke. I'm in USA so....it's just gotten more corporate.
#8
The Guinness Book of World Records
Once a well-established and professional collection of every impressive human feat, now a quick ego boost for rich kids that have barely enough talent to balance an egg on their forehead for 15 seconds on a July Afternoon at exactly 11:55 AM while wearing a Hello Kitty onesie
#9
Dr. Martens‘ Boots.
A British institution, you bought a pair, they lasted for years. Alas, „private equity“ got involved, manufacturing was sent offshore, and the quality went down like a submarine.
You are better off buying a pair of boots from the company that used to make them for DM, than a „genuine“ pair of DMs nowadays, their quality is a shadow of what it once was.
#13
The US Postal Service. A decades long campaign to smear their reputation coupled with legislation designed to cripple the service has turned them from the reason Santa Claus isn't institutionalized in *Miracle and 34th Street* to a comedians punching bag. And yeah, last time I went to the post office the service was terribly slow, but they had one window open in a building with five windows. Seemed kind of understaffed.
#14
People are going to reflexively deny its initial popularity, but Facebook. It even used its exclusivity as its primary marketing tool during its initial launch only for colleges.
#16
Levi's blue jeans.
They used to last forever, now I'm lucky to get a year out of them. They always fail in the same spot too. No idea why but I'm not alone online about this.
I bought a pair of Lucky jeans on a deal. Never had a pair of them before. Now they just might be my new favorite.
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