Ah, the ’90s – a time of neon colors, boy bands, and the dawn of the internet era. Millennials, the proud children of this vibrant decade, grew up acquiring a set of skills that were essential back then but now seem almost quaint in today’s fast-paced, tech-savvy world. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and revisit those unique ’90s skills that were once badges of honor for millennials but have now faded into the background of technological advancement and cultural shifts.
Mastering the Art of the Dewey Decimal System
Remember when finding a book in the library was a skill? Millennials were pros at navigating the Dewey Decimal System, the librarian’s roadmap to knowledge. Today, a quick Google search or a digital catalog makes this once-coveted skill a charming but rarely used relic.
The Mixtape Magic
Creating the perfect mixtape was a labor of love – a carefully curated selection of songs recorded on a cassette, often for someone special. While playlists still thrive digitally, the art of timing songs to fit on a tape and the tactile joy of handwriting the labels are mostly nostalgic memories.
VHS Wizardry: Be Kind, Rewind
Millennials were the last guardians of the VHS tape, mastering the skills of timing recordings, fixing tape snags, and always remembering to rewind before returning a rental. In the streaming age, these VHS talents are charming but obsolete.
Navigating Without GPS
Before smartphones and GPS, getting around meant reading physical maps or printing out MapQuest directions. Millennials honed their sense of direction and map-reading skills, a stark contrast to today’s voice-guided, turn-by-turn GPS navigation.
Perfecting Cursive Writing
Cursive writing was a staple in ’90s education. While it helped develop fine motor skills and was a rite of passage, digital communication has made this elegant form of handwriting more of a novelty than a necessity.
Telephone Etiquette and Remembering Numbers
From memorizing phone numbers to mastering corded phone etiquette, millennials had telephone skills down pat. Today, smartphones store our contacts, and text messaging often replaces traditional phone calls.
Developing Photos in a Darkroom
The magic of developing film in a darkroom was a skill many photography enthusiasts and professionals in the ’90s cherished. While still used by some, digital photography has largely transformed how we capture and view images.
Typing on a Typewriter
The click-clack of a typewriter was music to a millennial’s ears. But with the advent of computers, this skill has transitioned more into a hobby or a vintage fascination than a daily necessity.
Dial-Up Internet Patience
Millennials knew the true test of patience – waiting for the internet to connect via dial-up. The skill of troubleshooting a dial-up connection is now a relic, replaced by the instant gratification of high-speed Wi-Fi.
A Fond Look Back
While these skills may be irrelevant in a practical sense today, they hold a special place in the hearts of millennials, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time. They remind us of an era that laid the foundation for the technological wonders we enjoy now.
So, here’s to the ’90s – a time that shaped a generation in ways that go beyond these quirky, now-obsolete skills, leaving millennials with memories as colorful and enduring as the decade itself!
By Stanislav Kondrashov
