My husband was listening to his favourite radio show, Dave and Chuck the Freak when they did a segment based on a survey conducted to find out what kind of retro activities and habits Americans used to participate in, concluding that you had to have been of a certain age if you did any of these activities (guilty!)
Well you don't necessarily have to be American to have done any of the following even once in your lifetime. But true if you did more than one of them, you probably are of a 'certain age!'
I've done pretty much all of them although I've never used a pager (I have sent a message to one though) and neither have I sent a telegram (although my parents did receive them on a couple of occasions - and I'm shocked to hear that telegrams are still being sent. So were Dave and Chuck the Freak!)
So which of the following have you done at some point in your lifetime:
Hung up a wall calendar to keep track of events
Bought a newspaper
Listened to music on cassette
Used a printer in your own home
Sent a postcard
Used a non-disposal camera that takes film
Written with a fountain pen
Used the Yellow Pages to find a number
Made a call from a public payphone
Listened to music on vinyl
Used a floppy disk
Used a road map
Made a call using a rotary phone
Owned or at least watched something on a black and white TV set
Written a cheque
Used internet dial-up connection
Owned an encyclopaedia
Typed using a typewriter
Sent a fax
Written to a penpal
Used a pager
Had a Myspace account
Sent or received a telegram
While there was a calender on the wall, I think it was really my mom who put that up there so don't know if that counts. I guess I bought postcards but don't remember ever sending any. I haven't used a pager or black and white TV. And I don't think I've ever written with a fountain pen either.
We didn't actually have a printer at home when I was growing up so that's the only thing on the list that I haven't done. Oh, we did get telegrams but I personally have never sent one out myself.
As far as I can remember I think that sending a postcard, using a rotary phone, watching a black and white TV, using a typewriter, writing to a penfriend, and sending a telegram are things I have never done.
OKay, I'm another one who's going to say that I've never sent or received a telegram. Not sure if I even saw one coming to the house when I still lived at home.
But I also never wrote with a fountain pen. They may have looked dead nice but I saw so many people with leaky pens that made a right mess so I avoided them like anything! I just used to use those Berol pens in school.
All of them! Haha! Although the telegram - which seems to be mentioned here A LOT - was more a family thing rather than me personally sending/receiving one!
I haven't done the following: 13
14
21
23
Did all except number 23! 😁
All of them! I may well be the first person here who has actually sent a telegram, although I haven't done so for decades! Good grief, decades, now I do sound as old as I feel! 😂
Done everything except send and receive a telegram. In fact judging by the replies, I'm not alone here!
Yes - although never to keep track of events. It was because it was a calendar for a pop or movie star.
Yes
Of course!
Yes
A few times
Yes
All the time at school!
Yes - it was Google back then!
Had to - I grew up in the time before mobile phones took off
Yes
Many times!
Yes
Yes
Didn't own a B&W telly though my parents did. But yes I have used one a few times.
Yep - more times than I care to remember!
Yes
Yes - Google again!
Not properly, no
Yes
No
No
No
No
So the general consensus, so far at least, is that we've all pretty much never sent a telegram or owned a black and white TV set but had or done pretty much everything else.
I for those who have said they've never used a rotary phone, your age is very telling! 😁 #welljel
Like a lot of you have said, I'm also someone who never sent or received a telegram. Didn't really write to penpals though I knew plenty who did, and while we never owned a black and white TV set, I'm pretty sure I've watched a show or two on one.
Oh and I've never used a typewriter either!
Good golly this is taking me back quite a bit! I'm in my early fifties so I think it's fair to say that I've done a fair amount of these! LOL!
We DID have a black and white telly in one of the bedrooms - I think it were my brothers. I HAVE used a typewriter and I can tell you now that it is NOT as easy as it looks. I DID have a pager and for many years we had a rotary phone at home. But I don't think we called it a 'rotary' phone. Is that American?
Though I have to say that I have NEVER sent a telegram although I have received one. That's probably the only thing on the list I've not done.
But just reading through this list it's amazing the things we don't do anymore or the things we once took for granted and lose to extinction now!
Wonder what the next 30 years will look like.
Things I haven't done:
Used a rotary phone
Owned a black and white TV
Used a typewriter
Used a pager
Sent/Received a telegram
But I absolutely loved my MySpace account! I can't believe how much time I spent on that and now it's pretty much forgotten about.
Hmm, I don't think I personally played any vinyls. Cassettes and CDs were more my time. I don't even remember us having a record player although my parents did have some vinyls. I did too - New Kids ones but I never played them. Just bought them cos it was New Kids! Hehe! Never used a pager. Never sent or recieved a telegram. Or used a B&W telly. But everything else - yeah!
I might have bashed away at one but I don't think I ever properly typed away on a typewriter. We didn't have one in our house, and all I've ever known were PC's and the devices we have now. And I didn't have an official penfriend either. I wrote to family in Ireland for all of five minutes but that was the only letter writing I ever did!
Done pretty much all of them. While I have used a wall calendar, it's mainly because I liked whatever pop star it was and not to keep track of events! 😁 I haven't sent or received a telegram although my mum may have. And I'm sure that when I was very, very young we may have had a black and white telly but I can't swear to it. Definitely not when I was at an age where I was old enough to remember though.
I've never sent a telegram, used a typewriter or had a black and white TV. But otherwise I have done everything else that is on this list.
Gee, I'm old! 😂