Older Generations Are Revealing Their Useful Skills That Are Becoming Obsolete

Recently, a post on the popular Ask Reddit forum caught my attention and made me chuckle. A user named Head_Bag_4489 asked: "For people born before 1990, what useful skill do you have that no one seems to use anymore?" The responses were both humorous and nostalgic, reminding us of simpler times.

Some of the most interesting replies include:

• Covering school textbooks with brown paper grocery bags.
• Stopping the flashing 12:00 on a VCR clock.
• Making machines Y2K-compliant, a skill crucial at the turn of the millennium.
• Using shorthand, a method still practiced by a few.
• Programming a microwave clock after a power outage, a rare talent today.
• Expertise in troubleshooting Windows from the late '90s and early 2000s to run computer games.
• Rewinding cassette tapes using a pencil.
• Surviving digital challenges like dysentery in the classic game The Oregon Trail.
• Push-starting cars with a manual transmission.
• Removing a ball from a computer mouse efficiently.
• Printing photos in a darkroom as a first job.
• Exploring new areas by intentionally taking wrong turns to learn the road layout.
• Refolding paper maps perfectly.
• Using an index at the back of a book.
• Being able to spend time alone without needing music or devices.
• Reading cursive handwriting fluently.
• Backing up a vehicle without using a camera.
• Writing checks and addressing envelopes by hand.
• Knowing basic survival techniques for extreme situations, such as a nuclear blast.
• Illegally recording music from the radio onto cassettes with precise timing.

These responses highlight a time when skills we now consider obsolete were everyday necessities. Many of these talents are tied to activities and technologies that have largely disappeared, offering a glimpse into life before digital convenience dominated.

What skills from your own past do you remember that no one seems to use anymore? Share your experiences and keep the nostalgia alive.

Author: Sophia Brooks