is the generation that grew up analog but ended up fully digital as adults. They’re known for being independent and resourceful, mostly because many were left to figure things out on their own. Working parents were common, helicopter parenting wasn’t a thing yet, and no one was tracking their location. Gen X kids spent their days riding bikes without phones, staying outside for hours, and knowing it was time to go home when the streetlights came on. It’s a time they still miss. So it’s no surprise that Gen Xers have made their way to Reddit to reminisce, sharing what they think is the most Gen X thing ever. Here’s what they had to say.
- “Whatever”
- “Video arcade. Before Gen-X, graphics weren’t good enough, and after Gen X, you’d play the games on your own home console. No other generation claimed them like we did.”
- “Watching MTV Headbangers Ball Saturday morning, ready to record on the VHS when my favourite bands came on.”
- “Massive CD collections neatly stored in binders for easy access.”
- “Being the last unreachable generation. There were hours where no one knew where we were and our parents had zero way to contact us.”
- “Checking your answering machine messages to see if the video store called to say the movie you wanted was in.”
- “I loved my Trapper Keeper. Everything fit in there, didn’t need a bookbag.”
- “Swatch Guard, to keep you from telling time on the face with no numbers, of course. Yes, I had both at 14 in 1985.”
- “Calling your out-of-town friend collect from a payphone to another payphone to avoid long-distance charges. Successfully did this with an overseas boyfriend, too.”
- “I spent months making a tape that had ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston on repeat (both sides) and gave it to my stepsister as a gift. She listened to the whole thing, hoping for a different song. Cause she hated that one.”
