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Most of us, at some point, have experienced some form of nostalgia, which can wash over us for a wide plethora of reasons. One of the more common forms of nostalgia is that for a certain point in time of our lives, which is filled with many smaller things that bring us joy or otherwise make us feel like a time in which we belong.

The '90s, for a lot of people, is certainly such a time, and there is definitely a lot to miss. Although it was a time that was not even that long ago, it belonged to a different world compared to that which we live in today. And though some things remain similar, or the same, back in the day we weren’t as interconnected globally as we are now, and that is just one of a few differences. The article that follows is based upon a Reddit post, which asked people to share things people miss the most from the '90s. The post collected 9.3k upvotes and 6.4k comments. Scroll down to see the whole post, consider upvoting the entries that made you feel the most nostalgic, and leave a comment!

More info: Reddit

#1

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Not having to make an account for EVERYTHING

Dapper-Discipline-54 , Walter Rumsby Report

Nostalgia is a set of sentiments for the past and a form of attachment to it. It is a powerful feeling that allows for not only reminiscence, but hope and strength to move forward. Even though arguably it is a sensation that most people associate with living in the past, it really doesn't have to be only that. After all, recollecting something that seems to make the world a better place to be in can remind us of the fact that the present is no worse. That doesn't change the fact, however, that it can indeed be blissful to rewind a little and remind oneself that some moments in the past were very heartwarming.

#2

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Software that you buy one time and own. Looking at you adobe.

mtsai , David Wallace Report

#3

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Book stores. Just browsing all the aisles and discovering new books and new authors

bigfatquizzer , Rene Schwietzke Report

#4

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Video games that were offline, that you could play the whole thing with just the purchase price of the game.

imakenosensetopeople , Helena Cortés Report

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Nathaniel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just bought a console and some games! Plug and play! Nope. The console needs to spend all day on the internet downloading Encyclopaedia Britannica. The you have to install the games. And load THEIR 10 gigabyte updates.

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Arguably one of the biggest changes we've experienced since the '90s is the level of interconnectedness in the world. Since numerous small online forums started being replaced by social media giants, we have become increasingly reliant on them to communicate or simply pass the time. Nowadays, we can be pretty much reached by everyone at any moment's notice, and there is little escape from that unless we want to be slightly left out of the intense loop we live in today.

#5

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back People NOT recording every aspect of their lives. People NOT faking s**t for the all important internet clout.

I guess the lack of social media in general I miss.

ScrotusMahotus , ophir geffen Report

#6

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back News that was only on for 30 minutes 3 times a day. Hit me with the facts, leave out the 24 hour commentary.

SundaColugoToffee , Chris Report

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Jef Bateman
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe, but then you are relying on a handful of companies to decide what you need to know. I realize that tailored newsfeeds are bringing us back to the days where you are only going to see what they want you to see, but there are advantages to having news available from numerous sources. (That being said, I agree with the spirit of this post. I am burnt out on news right now.)

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#7

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Not being able to be reached 24/7

Remember when the only people who had cell phones or pagers were doctors and high end business professionals that NEEDED to be reached at a moments notice. Now, everyone is expected to be available at any time. And if you elect to stand your ground and establish a separation between work/personal life you're considered "rude" or "difficult to communicate with".

Luke5119 Report

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Jef Bateman
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the future of cell phone etiquette is going to be turning the thing off for 12 hours a day. It might take a while to become ubiquitous, but I know people who do that now.

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#8

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back My 18 year old body. Oh how I wish I appreciated what I had.

Elaquore1 , Florian Lehmuth Report

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Fabian Meresse
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not me...was overweight, ugly styled, ugly Wear, ugly glasses, ugly hairstyle, addicted, sad, and an a.....e. I feel I'm so much a better person today at 41

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Tactility, at least when it comes to technology, is another big change. Back in the day, everything had dials, switches, buttons etc. and was very tangible. Since then, most tech devices have been replaced with screens, or minimalist packages of various sorts. The novelty of screens is arguably wearing off, though, as there are multiple companies out there today that aim to bring back more tangible products for lifestyle, entertainment and creativity.

#9

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Being able to own things without having to take out a subscription

qzcl , Rex Sorgatz Report

#10

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Being able to take an airplane flight that didn't feel like you were a convict being processed for prison.

IBeTrippin , Ben Popken Report

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Kookamunga
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was awesome to show up at the airport 1/2 hour before the flight and just get on board the plane. Now it's 4 hours before flight time and a big delay because someone is trying to get their emotional support Komodo dragon on the plane and they wore lace-up boots.

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#11

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back I lived in a one bedroom apartment in San Diego in the nineties to the tune of $400 a month. I'd like that back, please.

Edit: I looked up the specific place I lived. That one bedroom runs $1,650 now.

stupidlyugly , Martin Cathrae Report

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#12

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Anonymity when online. I remember when we were told to never give out any personal info online ever. Then Facebook came around and suddenly it was cool to put your whole life online

eastherbunni , Anon Atlas Report

All in all, the 90s seems to be a very nostalgic time period for a lot of people. Whether it's technology, or lack of thereof, entertainment, or a general sense of feel-good, it is a period of time in the past that still brings people joy today, at least in the form of memories.

#13

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Technology with buttons and knobs.

Ashtar-the-Squid , claire rowland Report

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User# 6
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yes. Touchscreens with their endless menus are extremely annoying. I'll stick with my ancient tactile equipment.

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#14

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Surebegrandlike11 said:

The cost of living…..

musicalrssnroulette replied:

This

I remember seeing people with like fast food jobs and stuff not having as much as more skilled workers but they still OWNED their house and OWNED their cars, they didn’t have as nice of things but they still owned property and a house and could still afford to buy a car and food and healthcare

It’s absolutely mind bending that anyone would wish someone would starve to death and have their family suffer because they aren’t ceo of a company, and just working there

Surebegrandlike11 , Soon Report

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K Witmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom worked for a supermarket in the 90s it was new. She trained people in different departments. Her bring home pay was 1400$ a week to start abs she got 3000$ bonuses every 3 months. Had full benefits and a company car in case she needed to travel to another store w a per diem. They closed slowly after 9/11. They cut her hours bc they didn't want to pay people anymore. Things got progressively worse. She never made that kind of money again.

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#15

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back A sense of hope in the future.

ButtholeBanquets , pol sifter Report

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Ozacoter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Definetly. Millenials and Gen Z have no hope for their future. We know that things are bad and will likely get worse.

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Mitchell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you can access newspapers or reports from previous generations, it will make you feel better. Every era has held a sense of impending doom.

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am old, but very sad because I have no hope anymore... I think I lost a huge chunk of it when trump was elected, but just looking at the environmental news these days is enough to make me feel hopeless.

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Yvonne Riggs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please don't stop believing in an 11th hour save. But we all have to work for it

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Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh, this one hits close to home. I used to be full of big dreams and grand ambitions, but now it all feels so pointless.

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Anthony Roberts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely. We all know that the good old days are gone forever and that the future looks more and more bleak and hopeless.

johnbaker avatar
John Baker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Said every generation that ever existed. The only difference is that before you lot came along, they didn't blame their parents and grandparents for it.

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jamie1707
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have great hope for the future. I won't be in it long, but I have hope for a bright future for the youngins. When people my age start complaining about the younger gens, I want to punch them so g.d. hard. I hang out with younger people because I can't stand the doom and gloom coming from the folks in my gen.

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Londo Cotto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, i still have hope because despite everything we see, generally things are better. The problem is that "things are great" isnt newsworthy so all we hear is the bad.

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No you can't have my name
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of it is long term. The world will die in the next century if we as a species don't make radical changes in the next 10-20 years. But then there's also the "I'm 27 and I don't think I'll ever be able to meet the adulting milestones because older generations royally f****d up the economy like 5 times between my birth and now."

tootall89 avatar
Jeff Bunn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The question is, “WHAT ARE YOUR GENERATIONS GOING TO DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER?” Or are you just going to sit around and be all depressed and s**t because nobody gave you anything? I’m so sorry that your parents haven’t died yet so that you can move into their paid off house! What are you doing today about looking for a job? There’s only like 30 million of them out there!! But you want to sit around waiting for the next subsidy check?? If you work, you succeed!! Simple!! Keep working up!!

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LynzCatastrophe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm what they now refer to as an elder millennial (thanks internet). I had a discussion with my husband who was reading this article about expanding life expectancy and living longer and healthier. I just looked at him and said "the way this planet is going, I want to be dead by 80 at the latest, I have no desire to watch it go further into hell."

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Ueda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends how you look at it. If you look through the narrow keyhole that's you own personal situation, there can be hope, assuming you are selfish and well off (like some people commenting here). If you look at the big picture, we are pretty much f*cked yes. There are so many things that can go terribly wrong for humanity that it's just better to close the eyes at this point.

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Eat Dirt Crow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure the world was just as bad as it is now. We just didn't have access to most of it until the internet. I remember being a teenager in the 90's and shooting videos with my friends doing stupid stuff. I'm not sure if I had access to YouTube if I would have uploaded it or just kept it on a C-VHS that I have no idea where it exists today.

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Frankenfrog
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But it wasn't though. Look at climate change fx, it's too late to fix the catastrophe

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Jeri Woodrow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m so sick and tired of all the negativity and hopelessness. Those things never accomplished anything. I was hoping millennials and generation z would rise to the challenges we face with enthusiasm and motivation to make this world a better place. You didn’t see past generations throw up their hands and give up.

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Slim 864 GVG
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was definitely hope. The Cold War had ended and the threat of nuclear war that had loomed over our heads for so long, was gone. This is before the huge terrorism threat and it seemed like the world was heading towards peace and a positive direction, with a few exceptions. Clinton was in office, so much amazing music was being made, movies, art and technology were areas with so much intense creativity. It was an amazing time and I miss it terribly. Wish we could bring back that sense of hope and positive energy.

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Frankenfrog
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh you mean back when we denied that climate change was going to roast us all alive?

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Naesil
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There probably is "hope" but we also have so much choice that it actually gets hard to decide anything, and then you start to lose hope if you choose wrong. It was easier to pursue some career when you had 3 choices in your city to choose from :D I am in my thirties and I still think what I would like to do when I grow up ^^ but I feel like I have lost passion for anything so I kinda stagnate because I have decent living as it is.

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Mark Karol-Chik
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

However- I trust the young to look to our mistakes and shun the manufactured fears, repair the mistakes, embrace one another for the differences and create a path of love and trust for the future.

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Peter Weir
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2 years ago

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useless snowflakes...life is not that hard, your generations have the world in your pocket, but like and share vice actually doing anything worthwhile....give up is the best hope that your poor mentally challenged brains can handle.....people have had it a hell of a lot worse that your pampered first world lives, but yet you still whine and complain about your mental state..useless the lot of you

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#16

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back I miss going to video stores and browsing.

sonic_tower , makelessnoise Report

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Nathaniel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

None of the films you want to watch are on Netflix, or Amazon or anything other platform. You waste so much time looking. You could have got a pizza ordered, gone to Blockbuster, found some films, picked up the pizza and be at home stuffing your face in the time you have spent searching online for stuff you want to watch.

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#17

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back This is probably more late 90s/early 00s than the 90s as a whole, but a social media-less internet.

It felt like an escape from real life, as opposed to an extension of it.

Spooginho , Adriel Hampton Report

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Eucritta
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There were bulletin boards, the Well, USENET. Mind, I get the point, and modern social media now dominate. But social media were there, and yes, they could get very poisonous too.

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#18

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back That sense of relief we felt between the end of the Cold War and 9/11.

TheRevKros , Steve Parker Report

#19

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Reasonable commercial lengths.. Now Espn has 5 minute commercial breaks...

coreynj2461 , Toshiyuki IMAI Report

#21

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Honestly, I kind of don’t want this damn smartphone anymore.

UpvotesPokemon , HS You Report

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Bill Evs
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if there's a market for a stripped down smartphone (akin to a Nokia 3310) that can retain some of the more useful features of a smartphone (certain apps, internet connectivity, maps, photo and video, etc) but do away with unnecessary stuff like social media apps etc? As in keep the useful features of a smartphone but restrict the ability to add battery draining "fluff".

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#22

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back The hope that I'll live a fulfilling adult life with a reasonable amount of dreams being achieved

YoMothaFlippin , Blondinrikard Fröberg Report

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K Witmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The hope is what I miss too. I read my old journals from the 90s and I was so happy and excited for the future. My daughter gets a kick out of them bc of all the things I did every day. Sure there were some sad or hard times but it was infrequent it didn't pile on to where you feel life is so mundane but also scary.

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#23

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Maybe not 'outdated' per se, but I'd really like to have my hair and waistline I had during the 90s.

HummingbirdSwarm , hairfreaky long hair Report

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K Witmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh lord I thought I was Pam Anderson in the 90s. Tan skin platinum hair breast implants the skimpy club clothes. Was so thin and petite. Then came the marriage kids aging. Oh well

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#25

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Indoor malls. So many have been replaced with “lifestyle centers” where everything is accessed from outside. I miss being able to go shopping on a cold/ugly day without being cold and getting wet. And yes, I know they still exist, but they seem fewer and farther between.

Quiet_Goat8086 , NewsMeBack Report

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Boo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I visited my old mall rat haunt back home, and they had torn down the majority of the existing mall and replaced the rest with an "open air" mall (in the Southern heat and humidity) with the same stores. 🤦‍♀️

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#27

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back LucasArts adventure games. They were my favorites. The Monkey Island series can’t be beat.

ETA: Sam & Max, Full Throttle were amazing, but no one has yet to mention Grim Fandango, Maniac Mansion’s 2 games, Zak McKraken or Loom.

Second ETA: I forgot Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis!

PirateyDawn , Manuel Gonzalez Noriega Report

#28

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Geocities web pages, made with heart, not for money.

RaminGold , howtogeek Report

#29

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Electronic stores where you can just buy something right when you need it instead of going on Amazon

CoolIceCreamCone , saturnism Report

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May
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We don't have Amazon in Denmark - they don't like how strong our unions are. We do have electronic stores - I wasn't aware that Amazon had made those go away elsewhere. Is this just in the US?

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#30

30 Things From The ’90s That Are No Longer Around Yet People In This Online Group Want Back Wish I could play my Gameboy for the first time again.

Reggae4Triceratops , BuggerOne Report

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Bill Evs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The best Christmas I had was opening my Sega Megadrive (or Genesis) with about three games, plugging it in and basically playing it straight away, non stop from 7 in the morning until about midnight. No downloading updates, no registering for an account. Just plug and play.

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