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Do you know why we love to be nostalgic about the past so much? Well, as you know, everything used to be much better, bigger and more interesting. There used to be Tetris, slot machines and Internet Explorer, and now... now there is only a light sadness for those wonderful times when we were younger.

And we will be taking just this fascinating journey into the good old days with you, thanks to Bored Panda and this collection of absolutely wonderful vintage memes, lovingly collected by a dedicated Instagram account. So fasten your seatbelts, put your favorite cassette into that old Sony Walkman, here we go!

More info: Instagram

#1

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Amberlie Mikelsen
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was about 6 when I opened my Angel Tree present and received the AUTHENTIC Crayola 256 Box Set (I knew how much it cost, something like $25) and not 1, not 2, not even 5, but 10 whole coloring books all for just me! My parents swear they thought I had won the lottery!

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    #2

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    Mad Dragon
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These are still around! Last Christmas I bought one for my husband and one for my daughter (and one for myself).

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    The most interesting thing is how our perception of "good old days" changes over time. As someone whose teen years were in the 90s, I remember very well how the adults resented these newfangled Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls, comparing them to the great rock classics - certainly not in favor of the youth. And now, nearly thirty years later, we're shedding tears watching the reunited Spice Girls on YouTube, and this time their hits are in our hearts somewhere between Stairway To Heaven and Under Pressure. So tell me what you want, what you really, really want... and I'll tell you, we want to go back to our childhood again.

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    #4

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    Trash Panda 🦝
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And wherever they're all at, I guarantee most of them still work

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    #5

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    Thegoodboi
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why are you doing this to us?

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    Psychologist Alan R. Hirsch in his report, “Nostalgia: A Neuropsychiatric Understanding,” defines nostalgia as a yearning for an idealized past - “a longing for a sanitized impression of the past, what in psychoanalysis is referred to as a screen memory - not a true recreation of the past, but rather a combination of many different memories, all integrated together, and in the process all negative emotions filtered out."

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    And indeed, the more we live in this world, the more value we attach to things and phenomena from our youth. Often downplaying what we have now. Although, you know, I personally would probably sell my soul if I had my current smartphone somewhere in the late nineties!

    #8

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    FabulousMari
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't know if I can throw mine away. It's like saying good bye to a faithful friend. When Spotify is down or my music is so obsolete that it doesn't exist in digital form, my faithful compact disc's will always be there to sing to me. Now, I just don't know what to play them on...

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    #9

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    Em
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My favorite movie growing up!

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    And, of course, the Internet and social networks come into play, literally fixing every step of any more or less famous person. For example, would we be so categorical in adoring Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time if we were guided not only by old VHS tapes of his games and Space Jam? Or would we vehemently discuss each of his missed shots and failed interviews like we do with LeBron James? Okay, okay, the second Space Jam really wasn't even half as good as the first one! Or is this where nostalgia kicks in again?

    #10

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    Carole G.
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I remember listening to conversations on a party-line, 😆

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    #11

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    Haru
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had this scratch and sniff one that I was really proud of

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    #12

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    Haru
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And there were these extra curricular teachers that would hand them out if you did good or smth like that

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    Be that as it may, memes are a great excuse to take a little trip back in time, recharge with the energy of our youth, and return again to the crazy, fast contemporary world that has become so incredibly small with the development of all these technologies. Okay, let's digress for a couple more minutes - just scroll this list to the very end, point out the memes you like best and just share your own viewpoint on whether nostalgia is really that cool.

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    #13

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    Vermonta
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    of blurry pictures. Remember flash cubes?

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    #16

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    Val!
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i can hear the sound of the plastic UUGHHHH

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    #17

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    Mad Dragon
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had the clear phone in my room, and the ringer was LOUD! I would turn off the ringer and it would still light up when it rang, so my friends could call me late at night and not wake up my parents (I had my own phone line in my room paid for by my babysitting money).

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    #18

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    A girl
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And peeling your legs off the pleather seats.

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    #20

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    #21

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    Carole G.
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah, Tales From The Crypt, one of the good ones.

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    #22

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    It's just me
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm 43 years old and I take my metal "Yellow Submarine" lunch box to work every day 😁

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    #24

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    Andy Resh
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah. Well. Have you ever had one slip out of your grasp only to give you a minor knuckle fracture?!!!!!

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    #25

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    Mad Dragon
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They are easy to throw and catch, and the sound they make when you catch one is the same as their name (Koosh!),

    Becca Kuehn
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They were our version of the fidget spinner.

    Vermonta
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    because other kids had them

    Zoey Rayne
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because they are squishy and delightful and not a lot of sensory toys were popular back then. But don't make the mistake I made when I was three and assume the nettles on the small potted cactus in the house are equally squishy and squeeze it like a koosh ball; it took about a half an hour with tweezers for my mom to remove all those nettles from my hand...

    Kathryn Baylis
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I remember a Christmas party at work, back in the day, where all the Secret Santa gifts were handed out by the managers. This one girl got a Koosh Ball. She didn’t know what it was, and kept asking who in the hell got her a cat toy for Secret Santa?

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Rosie O'Donnell used to throw these at people on her talk show. :)

    Lacia Lew
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This still exists where I'm at. I love to throw and catch it; a good stress relief

    Highball
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Still do, I can see it from where I sit.

    Marsha Cain
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like rubber Tribbles to me!

    Glen Ellyn
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We used to goof around with them at work (overnight stock crew member). We also had a go at "Stretch Armstrong." 1D27490746...ng-toy.jpg 1D274907460659-stretch-armstrong-toy.jpg

    BOO
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i love these and can't stand it when my little brother breaks them

    Stonie Wellman
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also great for getting hair wrapped up in them!

    Stonie Wellman
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And they are great for picking up any hair

    Danny Malone
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They were handy for scaring friends while watching "Arachnophobia"!!!

    Nykky
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My brother and I never had one

    Omima mimi miki
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I guess thats the same as those pop-it shits today

    Marvin HoG
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I just spent all my time grabbing a pinch full and tugging on them then letting them go continuously until they started pulling off.

    Mickie Shea
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So much fun to throw around and "Squish".

    Amy Snider
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This was one of my favorite toys as a kid

    SkekVi
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they're fun that's why. best picking toy.

    Susan Thomas
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They were a sensory thing, too, when you ran your hand over the "hairs."

    Su Boddie
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they were also soothing. and cheaper than a pet...

    Justin Trouble
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My cat would fetch the mini ones.

    Heather Gray
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a bunch of the ones when they made them into animals

    ValdaDeDieu
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Somebody is a billionaire from selling s**t to kids. More than one family, I'd say.

    Sinnsyk Jakte
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Where can I get this where Bezos doesn't benefit...?

    Bryoney Blakley
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mine was purple! Managed to keep it thru HS

    Just Sayin
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a few and I think they were just to have for no purpose kinda like fidget spinners.

    Daiji
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think I actually didn't

    Gmaddles
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stress ball for kids, we just didn't know it!

    RedBadgerCan'tSwim
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was a kid they had this things called Kooshlings. They were koosh balls with a face and bendy arms and legs.

    JM
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The purpose was to throw at a sibling and not get into too much trouble.

    David
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A friend who was a dyslexia specialist used them in some exercises which improved balance. hard to explain here but there was a sequence and it worked.

    Walter Brameld
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I still have one. Still smells the same.

    Erik Newton
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I kicked mine around like a hacky sack

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Great sensory toy. My older brother had a couple attached to his wheelchair tray

    Amberlie Mikelsen
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They're a ball that you can throw and not cause injuries (although they still caused extensive damage to lamps and vases, but they wouldn't break a window or wall)

    DustTea
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have one rn writhin arms reach

    M. Stokes
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Used for the speaking cirlce. You couldn't talk unless you were the one holding it. Kept everyone on their best behavior

    Mother of Giants
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have one on my desk. It's my stress reliever when I'm talking too angry customers

    Michelle C
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why not? They were fun and they were stress balls!

    Moo
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My money brain loves the way these feel. I'm such a texture-based person, these were my happy fidget toya

    Trash Panda 🦝
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We'd throw them in the above ground pool my uncle had. The water would fly off in 100s of directions. We thought we discovered a secret way to play with them. Man... I hadn't thought about that in years

    Panda Bear
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My family had paddles that went with these, it was so fun

    NaMiMoore
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Used mine as a stress ball lol

    LazyStream
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Me too! It's my stress toy/ fidget toy

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    DaisyGirl
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They are back again and all the kids want them again. Now they are kick@a**e big and can get as a dog, cat, etc

    James016
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My sister and I had these. You can have a lot of fun with them.

    Itz-Nova
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because they had no purpose. I had so many of these things idek why

    My O My
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Had one on the zipper of my Eastpack

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    #31

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    Karen Krause
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This was after my time. We had cards on clothes pins.

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    #35

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    Betta Fish
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yooo my grandma had them and let us eat golden ghrams in front of the tv on saturday mornings, probably one of my favorite memories

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    #38

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    Glengoolie Blue
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Were all of those in your junk drawer at the same time?

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    #39

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    dean tirmizi
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This isn’t nostalgic, the first movies was 2010. The first iron man movie is older than this, wouldn’t call that nostalgic, and this pic is from the 2019 movie

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    #42

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    Quarkbeast
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ranch is obviously a serious business in Wisconsin.

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