They won’t say it out loud, but Gen X has a soft spot for some things that disappeared without warning. Sure, they’ve moved on, thanks to technology, but there are still moments, late at night or in a random thrift store, when they have that special memory again. Here are 17 things Gen X secretly misses. Just don’t ask them to admit it.
The Quiet of a Disconnected Weekend
It was fun being gone for a couple of days, with no check-ins and no unread messages piling up. Gen X had weekends where nobody could find them unless they physically showed up. They’d tell one friend where you were going and that was it, since nobody expected constant updates. Being able to disappear for a bit, then show back up on Monday like nothing happened was completely normal, and not rare like it is today.
That Burned-Coffee Smell in Old Malls
It wasn’t good coffee, but that smell was everywhere, especially in the malls, where you’d get a weird combination of stale beans and carpet cleaner. Gen X didn’t even drink coffee yet. It smelled like freedom and boredom at the same time, with this generation having very fond memories of leaning on the shelves while their mom browsed sweaters. That smell stuck to their clothes a little, along with whatever cologne sample you were sprayed with near the escalator.
That Late-Night Radio DJ Voice
Gen X remembers lying in bed with the lights off and the volume low…then hearing that voice. It was smooth and slow, almost like a whisper. The DJ would spin some moody track and just talk between songs like they knew you personally. Gen X fell asleep to those voices long before podcasts made late-night talking a trend, and it didn’t matter what song they played because it was simply background noise to most Gen Xers.
The Odd Silence After a TV Station Signed Off
Back in the day, the TV didn’t always run 24/7, and there’d be a flag followed by the anthem, and then nothing. It was just static or colored bars. Gen X knew that this meant it was officially time to go to bed, especially since there was no autoplay or questions like, “Are you still watching?” It was quiet in a way TV hasn’t been since.
Renting a Video Game and Having It for the Weekend
You had 48 hours to beat a video game, or you’d have to start all over next time, so Gen X would spend their whole weekend glued to the screen. They’d try their hardest to get past one impossible level before the game went back to Blockbuster. Worst of all, there were no online walkthroughs, so you had to rely on advice from any friends who had rented the game before. And if you actually beat the game in two days, it gave you bragging rights for the whole month.
When Fast Food Tasted Like Grease, Not Strategy
There was a time when ordering fast food didn’t come with choices about plant-based this or gluten-free that, and you just got what they served. It was usually crispy and salty, wrapped in paper that left a mark on your jeans. Gen X would never say this out loud, but that kind of food hit different. The fries tasted like actual fryer oil. Best of all, you didn’t take photos of your food, but simply opened the bag in the car and ate half of it before getting home.
Getting Lost in the Sears Wish Book
Every December, that thick Sears catalog landed in mailboxes, and Gen X kids flipped through it obsessively. They’d circle everything from race car sets to off-brand Barbie furniture, even though half of it never showed up under the tree. But the ritual was the fun part. Of course, they don’t talk about it anymore, yet taking the time to do that yearly flip-through was much more exciting than simply clicking “add to cart.”
Cutting Up Magazines for Locker Collages
You couldn’t walk past a Gen X locker without seeing magazine clippings taped inside, which were more like personality walls than mood boards. For example, if they liked a band, they’d cut out their face, and if they loved a quote, it went up. Some people were rather chaotic with theirs and included lots of overlapping layers, while others made theirs look neat. Even though they’d deny it now, these locker collages meant something back then.
Not Having to Perform in Public Every Time They Were Out
Likewise, Gen X could go to the grocery store or eat lunch alone without worrying someone would record them, since you just couldn’t do that. There was no pressure to be funny or polished all the time, as you were just living. These days, it feels like everyone’s watching everything all the time. Gen X might laugh it off, but they remember what it was like to exist without an audience and without being expected to own their awkwardness.
Buying One Thing and That Being Enough
After you managed to buy the cool jacket or save up for that one tape, you were set. That was it. Nobody asked what else you had or told you to complete a set, as you just used what you had until it broke. Having less stuff actually felt kind of good since you didn’t need a color variation or the upgraded version next year. You got the thing, and you quite literally wore it out.
Watching Movies with Zero Commentary or Analysis
Nobody paused the VCR to break down plot holes, and if you didn’t like a movie, you just forgot about it, and if you did, you told your friends. Then, maybe you watched it again. That was the end of the conversation, since there were no trending takes or endless threads about what a scene really meant. You weren’t expected to rank it or explain your opinion, but either you liked it or didn’t.
Slower Summers That Felt Like They’d Never End
Summers were long, although they weren’t exactly busy or productive. They were just long. You got bored and found something to do, which could be sitting in a hot room with a fan or riding bikes to nowhere. Gen X won’t say it, but they miss having entire weeks where nothing happened, where days blurred together, and that was fine. They didn’t document it and simply lived it, minute by minute, until the next day started the same way.
When Bosses Didn’t Try to Be Inspirational
Work used to be direct, where you had a boss who told you what to do, and that was the arrangement. Nobody sent out motivational emails or asked about your goals. While Gen X might not say it out loud, they miss when jobs didn’t try to be emotional support groups, but rather, they just did the tasks they were assigned. There were no team-building vision boards or wellness challenges.
Choosing Privacy Without Explaining Why
Gen X didn’t have to clarify why they didn’t text back or skipped something because if they didn’t answer the phone, it was no big deal. If they stayed home and didn’t say why, that was their business. But these days, silence makes people nervous, and they want updates all the time, while also expecting read receipts. Gen X still craves that old kind of privacy, even if they know it’s harder to pull off now. It was just part of how life worked.
Watching Music Shows That Didn’t Care About Your Opinion
The playlists were already made, and the show came on when it came on, without any comments or voting. Gen X watched whatever MTV or VH1 decided to play that hour, which meant they ended up liking stuff they wouldn’t have picked on their own. That kind of “take it or leave it” format was part of what made those shows feel good, since you couldn’t scroll past a song. You let it play, even if you hated it, which meant it grew on you by the second chorus.
The Feeling of Being Out Without a Phone
Being out meant that you were out, so you didn’t check in unless something happened. Gen X remembers going to the store and walking to a friend’s house, then riding the bus without holding a device. Sometimes, they didn’t even have change for a pay phone, and they just made it work. They miss that kind of freedom, even though they’re not going to explain it to anyone under 30.
15 Things Gen X Did in the Past That Would Get Gen Z Cancelled Today
From awful jokes to ridiculous parenting expectations, Gen X did things that just won’t cut it in today’s “online forever” climate. If Gen Z attempted even half of this, they’d get roasted, ratioed, and hashtag-cancelled before the TikTok even finished loading.
15 Things Gen X Did in the Past That Would Get Gen Z Cancelled Today
19 Things Boomers Did in the Workplace That Would Get You Fired Today
If you’ve ever heard a boomer tell some pretty shocking stories about their workdays back in the ’60s or ’70s, you might think they’re exaggerating. They’re not. Many of the things they did in the workplace would get you fired today, and we’re going to look at 19 of these.
19 Things Boomers Did in the Workplace That Would Get You Fired Today