Little things that have just faded away...

Scootch · #1 09-23-2014, 02:32 AM

At the risk of creating another grumpy old fart thread, What are some minutiae that have quietly faded away over the years?

-I was thinking about matches, remember when everyone gave away matches? That was when you could smoke in a restaurant, still. (Thank God those days are over). We collected them and tossed the in a gigantic snifter. What got me thinking about them is they are all now so old I went thru several packs trying to get one to light, they are so stale. Lots old business names on them of places long gone. Also, those strike anywhere matches, gone.

-Another one having to do with restaurants was that bowl of unwrapped mints t the door. I read something once that they tended to have quite a bit of fecal and urine matter on them due to dirtbags that don't wash hands jamming their paws in them. Shortly after I read that, they seemed to die out. I guess other people read that too. Some places still have mints wrapped in plastic, but not too many places.

-When I write a check today, I don't get any hassle, but I sure feel old fashioned. I had to write a few lately when both my Credit Unions got hacked and cancelled my cards.

-what else? Little little stuff.

Roselynne · #2 09-23-2014, 02:50 AM

One of my uncles never smoked, but he had a matchbook collection. Kept 'em in a sort of scrapbook.

-- The sound of a mechanical, metal (and, often, intricately molded) cash register. "Chk-chk-chk-ching. Chk-chk-chk-ching-CHING!"

-- Telephones that didn't do anything but, like, phone-type stuff. For long-distance, they did said stuff badly. Still, a telephone could last you for decades. On the same theme ...

-- Pay phones! With an intact phone book handing from a chain!

-- New releases. On vinyl.

-- Elevator operators. (Sooooo glad I never had to pull that gig.)

LeftArm · #3 09-23-2014, 05:00 AM

-- Bells There used to be alarm bells, bells on emergency vehicles, bells on telephones, door bells.

fazool · #4 09-23-2014, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scootch

...I read something once that they tended to have quite a bit of fecal and urine matter on them due to dirtbags that don't wash hands jamming their paws in them. Shortly after I read that, they seemed to die out. I guess other people read that too. ...

That's just another urban legend and doesn't even make plausible sense.

duff beer · #5 09-23-2014, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazool

That's just another urban legend and doesn't even make plausible sense.

How is that not plausible? People go to the bathroom before leaving a restaurant, don't wash their hand, and grab mints on the way out.

EighthAveLocal · #6 09-23-2014, 05:44 AM

- Balancing check books. I'm 24 so I never had to due to online checking but it just seems like it is something that is rarely done now.

- In Atlantic city, machines no longer pay out in quarters so the "Cha ching ching" sound is gone. It's all paper vouchers now which is kind of sad.

Quote:

-- New releases. On vinyl.

These are still alive and well thank goodness.

LouieAtienza · #7 09-23-2014, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftArm

-- Bells There used to be alarm bells, bells on emergency vehicles, bells on telephones, door bells.

Well, there are "bells," just not the mechanical or electrical ones there used to be.

How about Members Only jackets, cassette tapes, Goldschlager...

LeftArm · #8 09-23-2014, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouieAtienza

Well, there are "bells," just not the mechanical or electrical ones there used to be.

If it's not mechanical it is not a bell.

fazool · #9 09-23-2014, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duff beer

How is that not plausible? People go to the bathroom before leaving a restaurant, don't wash their hand, and grab mints on the way out.

"quite a bit of fecal matter and urine"

Of course it happens. The issue is typical Internet and urban legend exaggeration and drama-mongering.

If you did a forensic analysis you will find trace amounts.

ifret · #10 09-23-2014, 06:29 AM

Common Sense and Respect for Others

I wonder every day where these two things have gone! Wish I'd see much more of both.

#11 09-23-2014, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftArm

-- Bells There used to be alarm bells, bells on emergency vehicles,

Bring back the bells. I used to work as an EMT in the seventies and I learned fast that people cannot tell where the electronic siren is coming from. The old style mechanical sirens were directional. I don't know the physics of this but I do know its dangerous.

TaoMaas · #12 09-23-2014, 06:34 AM

Full service gas stations...where they'd check the air in your tires for you and you didn't have to pay a quarter for air if they needed to be topped off.

Fatstrat · #13 09-23-2014, 06:36 AM

Places to air up car tires. Every service station had them 24/7 back in the day. Now only a few do.

Gunny · #14 09-23-2014, 06:51 AM

Handwriting. I have a few fountain pens and wrote some letters to friends. A couple of them thought I was "weird", but admitted it was rather nice.

RedJoker · #15 09-23-2014, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaoMaas

Full service gas stations...where they'd check the air in your tires for you and you didn't have to pay a quarter for air if they needed to be topped off.

There's one near me. Of course, it's more expensive but they have to pay the attendant so it's expected. Some will pay the extra, some (like me) won't.

Another thing going away is cashiers and tellers. Given the choice, I always self-checkout or use an ATM.