23 Once-Valued Baby Boomer Behaviors That Are Now Mocked
Back in the Baby Boomer heyday, friends might have called each other on a landline to meet up at the record store, then gathered later to watch their favorite prime time show on a large black-and-white console television set.
Today, teenagers and young adults are more likely to text each other (and perhaps never meet in person), while streaming their own music and TV shows whenever they please. Trends and technology certainly have changed over the past few decades.
Here’s a look at some of the things Baby Boomers once did that are now considered old school.
Using a Physical Map
Remember the foldable road maps? They were a road trip essential for Baby Boomers, guiding families through unfamiliar highways. With GPS and digital maps dominating today’s travel, fumbling through a large, paper map is unnecessary.
Balancing a Checkbook
In an age where financial apps track every penny, manually balancing a checkbook seems like a tedious task from a bygone era. Baby Boomers would carefully record each transaction, ensuring their accounts were perfectly balanced.
Landline Phones
Back in the day, a ringing landline was a central fixture in every household, with family members vying for their turn. This practice was not just about communication but a social ritual. With the advent of smartphones and texting, the idea of waiting by a phone that’s physically attached to a wall seems almost absurd.
Film Photography
Capturing moments with film required patience and skill, as Baby Boomers waited days to see their photos developed. The process was an art form, involving careful composition and limited shots.
Dressed Up for Flights
Flying was once a glamorous affair, with Baby Boomers dressing in their finest attire to board a plane. The experience was almost like a special event, requiring suits, dresses, and polished shoes. Today, comfort takes precedence, and the sight of travelers in pajamas or sweats is far from unusual.
Catalog Shopping
Before the internet, catalogs were the ultimate shopping guide, offering everything from clothing to gadgets. Baby Boomers would spend hours flipping through glossy pages, circling items to order by phone. Now, with online shopping available at our fingertips, browsing through a catalog feels like an ancient ritual.
Live TV
Television schedules once dictated the rhythm of the evening, with Baby Boomers planning their nights around their favorite shows. Missing an episode meant waiting for a rerun or simply going without. In contrast, today’s streaming services have made the idea of live TV seem antiquated.
Using Cash
Carrying cash was once essential, as Baby Boomers made every purchase with bills and coins. Credit cards were reserved for special occasions, and budgeting meant counting out exact change.
Writing Phone Numbers
Before smartphones stored every contact, Baby Boomers memorized or wrote down phone numbers in small address books. Remembering numbers was a mental exercise, and losing an address book could be a minor catastrophe. Today, the very concept of not having instant access to every contact is hard to fathom.
Reading a Newspaper
A cup of coffee and a newspaper were once inseparable for Baby Boomers, who started their day with the rustle of newsprint. The habit of reading the daily news in print was a ritual that offered a tangible connection to the world.
Developing Film
The anticipation of seeing how photos turned out was a common experience for Baby Boomers. After capturing a special moment, there was the inevitable wait for film to be developed, hoping the shots came out well.
Manual Car Windows
Rolling down a car window used to be a workout, requiring a crank to be turned by hand. For Baby Boomers, this was the only way to get some fresh air while driving. Today’s drivers might never encounter hand-crank windows.
Mail-Order Deliveries
Ordering something from a mail-order catalog meant weeks of anticipation, as Baby Boomers waited for their packages to arrive. Tracking was non-existent, and the excitement of finally receiving the order was worth the wait. Nowadays, with next-day delivery and real-time tracking, the idea of waiting weeks for a package seems absurd.
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias were the go-to source of knowledge for Baby Boomers, who relied on them for school projects and general information. The multi-volume sets were a staple in many homes, providing a wealth of knowledge within arm’s reach.
Postcards
Sending a postcard from a vacation spot was a common practice for Baby Boomers, a way to share their travels with loved ones. The small space on the card meant choosing words carefully, and the anticipation of the recipient’s reaction was part of the charm. Today, the instant nature of social media has replaced this once-beloved tradition, making it seem quaint and unnecessary.
Pocket Calendar
For Baby Boomers, staying organized meant carrying a pocket calendar, where every appointment and event was meticulously noted. The act of physically writing down dates and flipping through pages to check availability was a daily routine.
Typewriters
Typewriters were the workhorses of Baby Boomers’ professional and creative lives, demanding precision and patience. Each keystroke was permanent, and mistakes meant starting over or using correction tape.
Sending Faxes
The fax machine was once a revolutionary tool, allowing Baby Boomers to send documents instantly across distances. It required careful placement of the paper and the hope that the receiving machine would print it clearly.
Public Payphones
Public payphones were once a lifeline for Baby Boomers, who relied on them to make calls when away from home. The hunt for a working payphone and the right amount of change was part of daily life.
Winding Watches
Baby Boomers often wore wristwatches that required daily winding, a small ritual that kept them running on time. The delicate mechanism inside a manual watch was a marvel of engineering, appreciated by those who wore them.
Vinyl Records
Listening to music on vinyl records was an experience, as Baby Boomers carefully placed the needle on the groove and waited for the sound to fill the room. The occasional crackle and pop added character to the listening experience.
Handwritten Letters
There was a time when people communicated with the elegance of handwritten letters, a practice now nearly obsolete. Baby Boomers cherished the personal touch of ink on paper, expressing sentiments that emails can never capture.
Rotary Phones
Dialing a number on a rotary phone was a deliberate act, requiring patience as the dial spun back to its starting position. For Baby Boomers, this was the norm, and each call felt like an event. The rotary phone’s slow, methodical process contrasts sharply with today’s rapid-fire texting.
Joe Frankel
Joe Frankel is a seasoned writer with a degree in Philosophy who enjoys covering entertainment and money topics. He's a coffee aficionado who enjoys roasting his own beans and making cold brew at home.