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The early 2000s was a magical time. Trapped between the old and the new, it was a short period of pure bliss and carefree experiences. Bright-eyed teens with low-rise jeans spent the afternoons listening to mix CDs full of the freshest hits on the radio. Kids whiled away the days watching MTV, learning Britney's dance routines, and playing Snake while waiting for a text on their Nokia 3310. The new millennium felt like entering the future, and, yes, flying cars and anti-gravity hoverboards were just around the corner.

The world moves quickly, and many things have obviously changed over the past 20 years. So to reminisce on the good old days, one Reddit user recently asked: "What was normal in 2002 but not 2022?" Fellow community members must have been feeling nostalgic as the thread immediately became a hit!

Get ready for a trip down memory lane because we at Bored Panda have gathered some of the best responses from the thread. We hope you can get a kick out of these amusing examples from the dark ages, aka the life you likely lived in 2002. Be sure to upvote the replies you find most relatable or that take you back in time, and then feel free to share your own recollections with us in the comments!

#1

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Thinking George W. Bush was the worst president ever.

ragnarkar , Wikipedia Report

#3

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Going out without a phone or any other kind of remote communication device. Imagine driving a back road without anyway to get a hold of someone if you break down.

devildunkard , https://www.pexels.com/photo/iphone-on-table-1156684/ Report

#4

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Burning CDs, then writing the names of each song with the number track on the front of the CD

floatingaway919 , cottonbro Report

#6

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples A comedian making an edgy joke and not have their career nuked

ptapobane , Wikipedia Report

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Upstaged75
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can you clarify? You mean like Kevin Spacey getting cancelled when it was discovered that he had sexually abused some young men? Because I'm all in favor of someone getting cancelled for being a bigot, a racist, or a rapist!

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Ted Bay
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This guy is not a good example. He deserved cancellation and it wasnt because of a joke, unless you think him pulling his junk out in front of unsuspecting women somehow funny. (Louis C.K.)

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UpQuarkDownQuark
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And literally barring the door while he did so. Several women quit comedy specifically because of his behavior.

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Messy Jessy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't think it was his comedy that got him "temporarily canceled" but him getting his jollies off in front of unsuspecting women.

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Eric Schultz Saindon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cancel culture doesn't actually exist. We have "sometimes consequences for actions" culture, but even that doesn't really have a lot of actual consequences. Folks who are "canceled" usually become more famous.

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Tina B
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beating off in front of unconsenting women is a joke?

confred78 avatar
Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depending on his size... could be? ;-) Edit: NO, it is not. It never is. I'm just trying to make a joke out of this guy.

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Patrick Linnen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a difference between 'punching up' and 'punching down' in comedy.

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Creature Cargeaux
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Louis CK was cancelled cause he jerked off in front of women who didn't want him to... he sexually assaulted people. I agree that policing comedy is fucken stupid. But can we not like... act like people who do f****d up things shouldn't be cancelled? If you hurt people. If you're a predator. If you're a racist & incite violence... if you use your platform to hurt others or further your beliefs that strip others of rights.... you deserve to be cancelled. If you make an edgy joke & ppl don't like it.... & you're cancelled... all of those people doing the cancelling should leave the internet. lol. But there's a difference. It's becoming blurred these days. But using Louis CKs photo in this one is why these lines are blurred. He did do something wrong that did hurt people. & before you say "he didn't rape them" .... what would you do if a strange dude came up to you & whipped out his d**k & jerked off on you or in your direction? You'd be like he didn't rape me! So it's cool! No u wouldn't

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ravn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jokes are one thing, actual predatory behavior is another.

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Jean Jacket
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay sure, but also CK in the pic exposed himself to numerous women whom he was supposed to be mentoring and proceeded to jack off in front of them when they did not want that. Not a great example. He needs to go back to his cum-covered hole and die there with his miserable d**k in hand.

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Kevin Hickey
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cry me a river. If I whipped out my junk and waved it around at work my career would be nuked too. There are plenty of other jobs they can do.

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Radoslava Vasileva
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that's not quite true or you confuse internet outrage on twitter because of an opinion with getting cancelled for doing something harmful. the example you picked is such a miss, that it's funny on its own

brightbunny avatar
Nicki
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This comedian (Louie C.K.) did not make an edgy joke, he literally would whip his junk out and pleasure himself in front of unsuspecting women who would come looking for advice about getting into stand-up comedy. He even admitted all the stories about him were true. He earned his cancellation tenfold. I was a pretty big fan of his and even paid to see one of his performances with the hubs (not cheap). Edgy is one thing, but indecent exposure is a whole other ball game.

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Kel_how
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think Louis C.K. is a bad example of this. He sexually harassed many people who worked for/with him and is a bit of a sexual deviant. I don't even care about his jokes, but his behavior is atrocious and concerning.

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TheEndIsNigh🇨🇦and🇬🇧in🇺🇲
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't Louis CK get canceled because of sexual misconduct & not because of an "edgy joke?" Unless you think that inappropriate touching or comments are an "edgy joke." The thing is...I agree that some of these "cancellations" are...ridiculous. BUT at the same time many of these celebrities are being canceled after getting away with rape & sexual harassment for years. Nope, sorry. If you have been drugging & having sex with young men or women, making lewd comments that make the recipient feel demeaned, touching someone without consent for years (decades in the case if Kevin Spacey), you should not be able sweep that under the rug and keep being a celebrity. This is just my opinion, and I hope I expressed it well.

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Jill Pulcifer
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the case of Louis C.K it was more the indecent exposure that did him in I think.

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Madre_Dr4gnZFly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember George Carlin doing a list of words you weren't allowed to say on tv(at the time). I never knew there were so many different names for men and womens "private parts".

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Emily Kerkstra
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

he wasn't cancelled for edgy jokes, he was cancelled for jacking off in front of young women who did not consent to that at all.

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Katya Davidson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of comedians make edgy jokes. His career was nuked because of sexual assault, just to clarify

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Sue
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awwww, all the Edgelords are having a sad. Does it go too far sometimes? Yes. But when everyone can see your rude axx saying racist & sexist things, guess what? A lot of people won't watch you any more.

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censorshipsucks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've noticed that comedy is usually at the expense of others. So I've decided that only satire - which makes fun of those in power - is acceptable. Any other comedy is not.

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Dynein
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, there are plenty of comedians who mostly make fun of *themselves*, or distribute their jokes at the expense of others so evenly that truly everyone gets a democratic ribbing. So, personally, I've decided that worthwhile comedians are recognized by *not* just dishing it out at a favorite population group and simply ignore every so-called "comedian" who can't meet that standard. But you miss out on a lot of humor if you dismiss comedy altogether.

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Michael Vickery
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Louis CK was "cancelled" if you want to call it that, not for any jokes he told, but for what he did to another female comedian. Most of the people who have had problems are because of things they did, not things they said.

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crazydogmama
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's so not why his career was nuked, even just temporarily.

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Daniel Aaron
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Louis C.K. was never "cancelled" for an "edgy" joke. He lost work because he used used to expose himself to women he worked with & tell them to blow him. Even after admitting this he's still doing stand-up tours, making recordings & even winning awards. How's that for so called "cancel culture"??

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Jean McCutchan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was cancelled for masturbating in front of woman who did not ask for it or want it. He is a slease

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Claudette Austin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a difference between being edgy and racist or misogynistic.

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Nathan Sowell
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Louis C.K. didnt get cancelled for an edgy joke. He didn't even get cancelled. Dude still tours all of the place and sells out shows. What HE DID do was assault multiple young comedians, an offense that should be more than enough to no longer get the priviledge of being in the public eye...

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Elio
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well if you consider being an actual sex offender the same as making an edgy joke then sure...

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DrBronxx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except that's not what happened with this comedian. Poor example.

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InvincibleRodent
Community Member
1 year ago

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Pamela Blue
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SO true! The funniest jokes are the ones we tell about human foibles. Now if a comedian mentions another human being in their joke, they're cancelled. Pretty soon there will be legislation against laughing, because someone will be offended by it.

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#7

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Smoking cigarettes everywhere. Cars had ashtrays and restaurants had Smoking sections.

ATXKLIPHURD , Masha Raymers Report

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#8

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Dial up internet access.

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#9

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Spinning a tape cassette with a pen

redther , E M Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pressing play and record one second too late and the cool song had already started and you had to sit by the radio and wait until they played it again :D

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#10

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Describing men as 'metrosexual' because they took care of themselves.

RougeEmber , Monstera Report

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DrBronxx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Big Bang Theory does not have many good qualities, but I thought Raj's explanation of what a metrosexual is to be the clearest to me. If it's actually wrong, please tell me. Anyway, what he said was "It means I like women, as well as their skincare products."

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#11

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Fat-shaming and body-shaming. I say this after watching all the compilations of America’s Next Top Model. Those judges have a special place in hell.

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#13

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Going to blockbuster and hanging out at the mall

PossibilitySimilar28 , Wikipedia Report

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Daniel Atkins
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I miss renting video games. Not going to pay full price for a game that once I beat it I'll never play again.

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#14

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Floppy disks. I work at my school as a program they offer and I saw an old 2000 PC with a floppy disk.

Rezokar_ , S J Report

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#15

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Home phones

Agamemnon66 , Caden Bern Report

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Squiff
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have a home phone. My kids call it the Nannyline as my mother is the only person who calls it.

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#16

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples VHS tapes. I was 6 in 2002. They were at the end of their life, but most of what I watched up until then was on VHS.

FeelThePower999 , Jeremy Bezanger Report

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Robert T
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember having to watch TV live as VHS was not an affordable option. It made quite a difference to our lives in being able to record something to watch later or repeatedly.

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#17

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Using payphones.

Salt_Champion_8289 , cottonbro Report

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Robyn Denton
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Australia still has payphones, except that now you don't have to pay to use them. https://exchange.telstra.com.au/why-were-making-payphones-free-for-calls-around-australia/

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#18

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Limewire

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K4l1m3r0
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remember that times when limewire could find everything you wanted, even with spelling mistakes.. weird thing was that every file was 1KB in size

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#19

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Going home with your digital camera so you could upload the photos from your day to your computer and email them to your friends or upload to Friendster.

NotHappyTilUNotHappy , Lukas Hartmann Report

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LillieMean
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still use my digital SLR camera. No matter how great a phone is, it can't beat the camera.

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#21

Saying "that's gay" as an insult

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SCP-3998
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea, hang out in any gaming community long enough and you'll hear it still being thrown around.

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#22

A single paycheck buying everything I needed.

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#23

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Napster. For all you young farts, it was the original (as far as I know) platform to download music and make mix CDs. Y’all probably don’t know what CDs are anymore either. Hey are big in 02.

HangrySkeptic Report

#24

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Making plans. Back then your ‘Yes’ meant 'Yes' and you better show up on time to not miss everyone. Now, people be lazy and just text you when they’ll show up, two hours later.

Bout2Drop , cottonbro Report

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Kirsten Kerkhof
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People have always been flaky or punctual, that is nothing modern. The only thing I could think of is that in the past you had no way of letting others know so, if you cared, you turned up to make sure they didn't worry. Now it's easier to call and cancel last-minute. But my grandma was the flakiest person ever.

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#25

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples flip phones

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Mixed Reality Portal
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dunno about that ... Samsung's just dropped the latest version of its popular flip and fold phones...

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#26

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Being in chat rooms with people of all ages, like MSN chatrooms. It's a good thing that it isn't a thing anymore.

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#27

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Frosted tips for guys and streaky highlights for women.

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InvincibleRodent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still see streaky highlights every now and again- I'm a bit conflicted about them, because while I don't particularly like the look, they do make their wearers' heads remind me of little hard candies. You know, the ones with the swirls? And that's just nice.

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#28

Smoking indoors even around kids
Dial up Internet was still common
Not having a mobile
Wearing jeans under a dress
Buying CDs/DVDs
Telephones attached to the wall
Not using a car seat from 4yrs+
Glitter hair mascara
Leaving your kid in the car while you go into a shop
Cheque books and using cheques to pay for things
Swiping cards no pin required just a signature
2 door cars (nightmare to climb into the back)
Food had even more junk inside of it and it wasn't really frowned upon if you fed your family that c**p all day everyday

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#29

Ringback tones

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nooneimportant
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh man i wish this would have been bigger, i loved hearing a song when calling someone

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#30

Someone Asked "What Was Normal In 2002 But Not 2022?", And People Listed 30 Examples Faux hawks — the mullet of the 2000s. But back then, they were called mohawks, which would not go down well today. I'm suddenly feeling like Grandpa Simpson. I guess Simpsons references too.

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