Popularity isn’t everything.
Just ask yourself where the popular kids from school are now, and you’ll see what we mean. Most are busy trying to relive their glory days.
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It goes to show that popularity gives some high-highs and some low-lows.
From the internet to beautiful destinations to TV shows, here are 19 things that were ruined by becoming popular.
Thrift stores
Once upon a time, you could walk into a thrift store and walk out with so many incredible deals. Now, it feels like you’re shopping at a regular store since everything is so overpriced.
Let’s also not forget that these stores were invented to help the low-income!
Any natural area, hiking trail, or national park that gains attention of tourists
“Most of these people show up for an Instagram post and to leave their trash. There is no respect given to these natural beauties and therefore I have no respect for the like-chasers that participate in the destruction of such serenity.” – u/marisolm9
Superhero-related media
As much as we love the MCU, it’s hard not to miss the good ole days where superhero films felt rare and unique.
Now, the genre has oversaturated the market, which makes it exhausting to try and keep up with every new show and movie.
A lot of internet horror stories and monsters like Slenderman
“Once memes and the unfortunate and inevitable r34 images come about, it’s just not scary anymore. The moment I heard someone call it ‘Slendy,’ it really just lost that creepy and mysterious charm.” – u/bottles1245
Local diners that are advertised as hidden gems
This is a kiss of death for restaurants. While it’s amazing for business, it’s not so great for the locals who love to frequent there. Now, they’re stuck waiting around for a table.
Souvenirs
“I remember the days when some unusual items were unique and locally made, now even the boomerangs and peace pipes are made in China. There used to be days when souvenirs were crafted and hand-painted by local families.” – u/Harry-D-Hipster
Hiking
Before the pandemic, many found hiking to be peaceful. But during the pandemic? It became so flooded with people who were looking to get outside and get active. Some would even ruin the experience by bringing their speakers with them.
The dreaded life cycle of a tourist spot
“In particular random ‘de facto’ tourist spots like the steps from Joker or Walter White’s house from Breaking Bad. Officially designated tourism spots/hubs will generally at least have some degree of management attempting to not ‘ruin’ the experience for people.” – u/iuytrefdgh436yujhe2
The internet
Similar to r/oldreddit, a lot of people miss the old internet. One wrote that it used to be a glorious playground for the technically- and scientifically-inclined. Now, it’s been completely transformed by marketing to manipulate people.
A pristine mountain lake
Can you hear that? The sound of the water, the fish swimming around, and the animals on land enjoying nature?
Sadly, this was all torn away to make room for large houses. Then, the water soon became polluted by large motorboats.
Video games
“With popularity, came corporatization, came greedy execs, came predatory monetization practices, came shitty working conditions for lower level employees. I miss the old days when the games industry was fueled by passion rather than payment models.” – u/HypotheticalIy
‘Game of Thrones’ book series.
Given how much George R. R. Martin has been dragging his feet to complete the book series, there’s a good chance that he’s never going to finish.
The massive cash flow and popularity of the show turned the writing into fan service.
Mount Everest
“Literal rivers of trash and [expletive] flow down the slope now. You now have to agree to bring down more trash than you produce in order to climb. Nature’s greatest sight and the ultimate physical challenge, ruined by commercialization.” – u/Bryant-Taylor
Buffalo wings
Did you know that chicken wings used to be used for stock and then thrown away by restaurants?
Knowing this information will make it sting even more that Buffalo wings used to be dirt cheap in the ’70s and ’80s, according to this Redditor. Now, they’ve overpriced and tiny.
Band shirts
“Back then I knew I had some things in common with people wearing Nirvana, Guns n Roses pf AC/DC shorts. Was always a good conversation starter. Now it’s just a weird trend among people not even knowing the band.” – u/Limp-Sundae5177
Farmhouse decorations
This Redditor used to decorate their house with items from their family farm before it became cool.
Now, it’s hard to escape the farmhouse trend in home design and on social media. It’s become the new “basic” thing.
Cosplay
“It used to be a few nerds holed up sewing, painting, maybe crying a little, for a few months to make a costume. Now people buy a spandex bodysuit, pose for a few pictures, and call it cosplay. If you didn’t make it, then it’s modeling, not cosplay.” – u/souperNova
RuPaul’s Drag Race
“Seriously it used to be so good and now it’s cringe. I haven’t even watched last season. I adore Ru and his positive messages but his popularity has absolutely ruined the show.” – u/MsMcSlothyFace
Podcasts
Oh, how we miss the days of listening to a good podcast! Once your favorite podcast got bought out by a major company, it was all over from there. A 35-minute podcast episode was suddenly filled with like 15 minutes of commercials. Next!
