Back in the day, many behaviors were as common as playing outside until the streetlights came on, but some of them have aged rather poorly, to say the least.
In a now-viral Reddit thread, people shared behaviors that were perfectly normal in their youth but are now considered rude or downright offensive. Get ready for a trip down memory lane.
“Scolding someone else’s child,” a Reddit user wrote.
Embed from Getty ImagesOnce upon a time, telling off a misbehaving kid wasn’t out of line — it was a community thing. Now? Try it, and you’ll likely get a side-eye from the parent, followed by a very awkward conversation about boundaries.
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“Stopping in at a friend’s house unannounced,” another shared.
Embed from Getty ImagesNowadays, a surprise visit is the fastest way to make your friend panic-clean their house while frantically texting you, “Why didn’t you warn me?!”
“Smoking indoors,” someone else pointed out.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn today’s day and age, lighting up inside would get you a ticket, a health lecture, and probably a ban from whatever space you’re in. Progress!
“Sexual harassment at work,” another person recalled.
Embed from Getty ImagesBelieve it or not, sexual harassment in the workplace used to be a normalized and regular occurrence that was brushed off as harmless banter. Thankfully, times have changed (mostly).
“The big paddle that one of the teachers would possess,” a commenter shared.
Embed from Getty ImagesCan you imagine corporal punishment in schools today? It would be a fast track to lawsuits and outrage, not to mention a quick end to that teacher’s career.
“Calling someone the R-word,” a Reddit user said.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile this word used to be thrown around quite a lot, fortunately, nowadays, using the R-word is considered a derogatory and cancelable offense.
“Strangers coming up to new mothers and saying, ‘What a cute baby! May I hold them?'” someone recounted.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn today’s world, the idea of a random stranger asking to hold your newborn in a grocery store is enough to make any mom clutch her stroller a little tighter and walk away — quickly.
“Describing everyone by race, ethnicity, or gender,” another penned.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat used to be a normal part of the conversation now feels tone-deaf. Today, we know that a person’s identity goes way beyond their appearance, and conversations have thankfully evolved to reflect that.
“Women were told to wear dresses or skirts to work,” shared another.
Embed from Getty Images“I worked as a temp a lot during the ’90s. There were many offices that specified that women were to wear dresses or skirts only; not pants,” they added. Telling someone now that pants aren’t acceptable for women at work would spark a Twitter storm and a swift HR meeting.
“Touching a pregnant woman’s belly,” a Reddit user added.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat one always seemed invasive to me even then,” they continued. Can we all agree that pregnant women aren’t public property? This is one social norm that’s slowly fading as more people realize boundaries apply to baby bumps, too.
“Asking where someone was ‘originally’ from,” recalled another commenter.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s a question that can come off as offensive and othering. Today, people are (thankfully) more aware that this isn’t the small talk starter they once thought it was.
“Playing cowboys and Indians on the playground,” someone remembered.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat used to be a common kids’ game and Halloween costume is now recognized as deeply problematic and racist, perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
“Making kids hug that creepy relative,” one person shared.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat was once practically mandatory at family gatherings is now considered a breach of autonomy. Nowadays, we’re much more aware of how important it is for kids to set boundaries, even if it means skipping that awkward hug.
“The Avon lady stopping by every other week with orders and samples,” another commented.
Embed from Getty ImagesAvon sales representatives were basically the beauty influencers of their time, except they showed up directly to your home unannounced. What a time to be alive!
