Older Adults Are Sharing The Common "Back In The Day" Experiences That Are Now Obsolete And, As A Gen Z'er, I'm So Confused

It's always fascinating to think about how advanced the world has become and how it continues to evolve — but as an older Gen Z'er, it's always surprising to think about what life was like way before the social media and tech boom. So, when I asked the older adults of the BuzzFeed Community to share the uniquely common experiences from "back in the day" that would have younger folks shocked, they certainly delivered. Here are the everyday experiences and routines from the past that, depending on your age, will have you feeling nostalgic or perplexed:

1."In the '70s, when people flew on airplanes, everyone spoke to the person next to or around them. Since there were no cellphones, computers, or movies on planes at the time, we entertained each other."

2."I'd usually ride in the bed of our truck when I was a kid, even on highways and interstates. It wasn't considered a big deal back then. I can't remember the last time I saw anyone riding in a truck bed."

—chaoticemmes

3."Salesmen used to walk door-to-door selling encyclopedias. Also, movie theaters used to have intermissions, which are very much needed now for longer movies! You could run to the bathroom or refresh snacks and not miss any of the action."

4."You had to wait until the newspaper was delivered the next day to know the outcome of non-televised sporting events."

—Clay, 66, California

5."If you weren't waiting at the corner for the bus, the school bus driver would come to the door and check if you were going to school that day."

6."Back in the late '40s and early '50s, we still had a man delivering ice to homes with iceboxes. In the summer, he would chip off pieces of ice for us, and we'd wrap them in newspaper and suck on them to cool down."

—slychicken543

7."They taught a safety class for hunters at school, and students were required to bring a shotgun to practice with. I was in the archery club and regularly brought my bow and arrows on the bus. That would be unfathomable now."

8."When my older brother misbehaved in school, he was made to hold up one of those old wooden desks for 15 minutes as punishment. His teacher was a retired marine, and the school accepted this type of reprimand."

—Anonymous, 50

9."My elementary school closed at lunchtime, so all the kids had to go home for lunch. My friends and I would walk a mile to a pizza shop, have a slice, and then walk back to school...by ourselves...in first grade."

10."The amount of public trust and freedom kids had in the '60s and '70s was so great. Now, kids have zero freedom, and this shows in their mental outlook."

—shinycake11

11."Girls didn't wear pants or slacks to school until around the '70s."

12.Penny candy! In the '70s, if you had a quarter, you could get a full-size candy bar for a dime and still have enough to get a full bag of candy. A lot of penny candy were two for a penny."

—awkwardtrash923

13."In the '60s and '70s, our high school had a cigarette machine by the front entrance. Students could buy cigarettes for 35 cents, and teachers would hand them money to leave class and buy them cigarettes, too. The good ol' days."

14."Our junior high school gym class used to have a 'jock check.' We'd all line up, and our coach would have us drop our trunks to make sure we were wearing a jock!"

—Steve, 67, Utah

15."Our car was a big sedan with no seatbelts or booster seats. There were no headrests on the front seats, either. As little kids, we'd stand on the floor behind the front seats and look out the front windshield. It was so different back then."

16."During the summertime in my neighborhood, the local movie theater had a special on Wednesday afternoons. You could get in for a dime and buy all the candy you wanted and watch cartoons and fun kid movies for hours during the hottest part of the day. EVERYONE went, and it was a blast."

—geow1234

17."In the '60s, a truck with fresh bread and donuts would come, and my mom always bought dinner rolls and donuts. The milkman also had eggs, cheese, and ice cream!"

18."Around March every year, a sweet, white-haired 60-something man would come to our house. He was Mr. Stiles, THE FULLER BRUSH MAN. My mom was always giddy because that's when she would buy her yearly cleaning supplies. Once, she splurged and got a lampshade duster. She passed in 2001 at 76. I found the brush way back in the linen closet! Good times."

—Lynn, 75, Texas

19."My mom would send me, a 6-year-old, to the bank to withdraw money from her account. She just gave me a little handwritten note to give to the teller. That'd be unimaginable today!"

20."If you were a male and committed a misdemeanor, the judge would give you a choice: time in jail or join the army. Additionally, only girls were taught home economics in school because there was 'no reason' a male should learn any of those skills."

—Bob, 73, Illinois

21.Lastly: "When I was a young child in the 1970s, NO ONE knew where we were 90% of the time. There are memes about this, but it's true. My mother would say, 'Don't come into this house until the streetlamps come on!' and she'd be dead serious."

Oh, how I yearn for a truckful of fresh bread to come through my street every week. If you're an older adult, what are some commonly unique things from "back in the day" that would have younger folks utterly confused? Let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your response using this form!

Note: Some stories have been edited for length and/or clarity.