Many young people today glorify the ’70s. It was a fun decade full of disco, glitter, and freedom.
However, it was much tougher than many realize, and today’s generations would probably not get around as easily as they think.
For many, the ’70s lifestyle, rules, and norms would be very confusing, to say the least.
Every decade comes with its pros and cons, and here are some of the tricky things from the ’70s that would probably give younger generations a lot of headaches.
1. Finding Your Way with Paper Maps and a Lot of Luck
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If you needed to go to a place that you’ve never been before, you had to follow an old paper map… and your gut feeling. No GPS, no Google maps, just pure luck.
It was common to stop many times, asking random people for directions, and even then, it was not guaranteed that they would tell you the right way.
However, this taught you patience and trust, but it did come with a lot of confusion and headaches. Today, we are lucky to have navigation anywhere we go, and we do not need to ask anyone for directions, but where is the fun in that?
2. Living Without Phones in Your Pocket (Or Pockets That Fit Them)
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Back in the ’70s, you did have phones, but they were stationed in your hallway, for the whole family to use.
You would have to wait in line to use it and hope the person you were trying to reach was available.
No caller IDs, no touch screen, just the rotary phone you would use when you were home. Outside, you were not available to anyone, so there was no space to change plans last minute; a deal was a deal.
3. Watching Whatever Was On – Because You Had No Other Choice
Today, we can watch whatever we feel like; from different genres to different TV shows, it is all a click away.
However, in the ’70s, you would watch what was on at the moment, and that was it. If you missed the beginning of a movie you loved, there was no way to rewind and watch from the beginning.
Today, when we can watch anything we want with just a click, this practice would make many impatient and anxious. Also, renting movies became popular, but you only got to keep them for a day or two (and you hoped they had movies you wanted to see that weekend)
4. Riding in Cars Without Seatbelts, Car Seats, or Caution
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People were truly careless and free back in the ’70s. If you were going for a drive, you would not even care about seatbelts or safety; you would just go.
Car seats were not mandatory, and people smoked inside their cars all the time. This was a norm, and many people today would not be able to deal with it.
Also, DUIs were much more common, as many people did not take taxis when going out to a bar. It was considered pretty normal, and the police did not care that much.
5. Breathing in a Cloud of Secondhand Smoke Everywhere You Went
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Just like in cars, smoking was permitted everywhere: in your office, inside restaurants, and even inside planes.
There was not a lot of research conducted about how harmful secondhand smoke was, so many people did not mind it. It was normal to smoke around children as well, which was definitely not the best habit.
Today, smoking is forbidden in many places, so this 70s habit would cause many people to not like this era.
6. Drinking Milk That Was Just…Milk (No Almond, Oat, or “Barista Blend”)
Raw milk was the norm back in the ’70s, and saying you were lactose intolerant was seen as being ‘weak and spoiled’.
Saying that you want almond milk instead of the regular one was weird, and you could barely find any on the shelves. Regular cheese was also normal, and you would have to look hard to find lactose-free or vegan options.
Today’s healthy lifestyle movement would clash with what people ate in the ’70s (it also included a lot of sugar).
7. Surviving Boredom Without Wi-Fi, Tablets, or TikTok
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Back in the day, when you were bored…you were simply bored. You did not have many things to do if you were home alone.
TV was an option, but if it was news time, you would be pretty bored. Many people resorted to their hobbies, such as drawing, embroidery, building things, and simply being creative.
Today, social media and all the streaming services do feel like our imagination and creativity are being pushed aside.
