A recent online forum discussion drew attention to the things that have gradually disappeared in America without anyone taking much notice. Believe it or not, America has been slowly saying goodbye to these countless little things we once held dear. Here are 11 everyday things that have been out of our lives for quite some time now.
1. Record Stores
Remember the time when local music stores selling records, tapes, or CDs were a common sight? Those have almost disappeared, thanks to digital and streaming services. If you drove around in the ’80s or ’90s, you’d probably often spot an unraveled tape from a cassette strewn on the highway or tangled on a bush, a clear sign of a music lover’s mishap.
2. Dollar Menus
For millions, fast-food dollar menus served as a beautiful respite from being forced to pay full price for low-quality food. However, dollar menus have all but disappeared over the years, as chains like McDonald’s and Wendy’s have replaced them with standard “value” menus where there isn’t an item that costs less than $2!
3. Smog
Thanks to stricter air quality standards, smog has been essentially eliminated in major U.S. cities recently. Places like Los Angeles and Houston have struggled with smog problems for decades. Modern emission standards for cars and trucks have helped reduce the hazardous level of smog in America to the point where many argue it’s no longer a problem.
4. Enjoyable Air Travel
Seemingly overnight, traveling by plane in the United States has become one of the most unenjoyable experiences a person can sign up for. As it turns out, we can only blame ourselves. “Consumers have collectively asked for the part of the experience the airline runs to be as terrible as possible,” explains one experienced flyer. “The public made it clear that they value the lowest price above all, and airlines are more or less competing only on price these days. The side effects of that are the airline trims any expense they can and upsells everything they can.”
5. Small Cars
As American drivers move towards more oversized and less-efficient vehicles, the small car is now a relic from a not-so-distant past. Unlike in Europe, where small cars are all the rage, Americans couldn’t care less about the sedan segment. Legacy automobile manufacturers are taking note — Ford recently ceased production of the last remaining sedan in their lineup!
6. In-Store Photo Printing
Due to the advent of the internet and the mind-boggling number of photos an average person takes weekly, in-store photo printing services have dwindled in recent years. In 2023, amateur photographers would rather show off their skills in online photo albums than print out their photos and frame them in their homes.
7. Public Pay Phones
Often found on nearly every street corner in every major city, pay phones are nearly extinct. Of course, one massive technological advancement is to blame for pay phones disappearing over the years. “The widespread use of public payphones in America has gradually disappeared over the years with the rise of mobile phones,” explains one woman. “Their disappearance has gone largely unnoticed as people rely more on cellphones for communication.”
8. Small Bookstores
Due to the overwhelming popularity of Amazon and other online retailers, small mom-and-pop bookstores have gradually disappeared. Let’s face it; purchasing a book from the comfort of your home is far easier than traveling to a physical location and wandering around aimlessly!
9. Job Morale
Unsurprisingly, few people are happy with their jobs as everything continuously gets more expensive. It’s a vicious cycle. One glum person puts it all in perspective. “It’s a pretty ubiquitous change that people are basically miserable working now,” he laments. “Not all of them. But certainly most. I hate my job. Hate. I despise every second of it. But I hate being broke, hungry, and homeless way more.”
10. Hubcaps
Until recently, hubcaps existed for car buyers who didn’t want to spend money on fancy wheels. Today, I must hand it to modern automobile manufacturers: They’ve rendered hubcaps obsolete by equipping even their base model vehicles with good-looking wheels! I can’t remember the last time I saw a hubcap in the wild.
11. The Typical American Mall
For many teenagers who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, going to the mall with their friends and killing time for a few hours was a rite of passage. Unfortunately, malls are quickly becoming extinct. “COVID was the final nail in the coffin for typical American malls,” reports one shopper. “Ours here in Florida has lost a lot of stores over the past four years, and every year there are fewer. It’s a little eerie walking around there, noting which stores have left. The day the food court and GameStop pack up is the day the music dies.”
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