19 Childhood Things Millennials Never Ever Shut Up About, 'Cause It Makes Them Happy
"You don't understand the struggle that was having to switch the Titanic tapes" —Millennials now and in 30 years
1. Disney clamshell VHS tape cases
Why millennials won't shut up about it: In the pre-streaming era, we basically watched the same movies over and over, 'cause they were the only ones we owned and had immediate access too. Plus, there was something about the feel and smell of those clamshell cases that were very much part of the experience of watching those Disney movies.
2. HitClips
Why millennials won't shut up about it: Sure, it only played 30 seconds of one song, but it felt like the future having something so small play music that fit discretely in your pocket And any '90s kid who carried around a portable CD player knows those things were fragile and never fit in your pocket.
3. Beanie Babies
Why millennials won't shut up about it: Honestly, half the thrill was collecting them (especially rare ones) and the other half was thinking that you'd be rich off them one day. We're still resentful that they were basically junk stock.
4. Blockbuster Video
Why millennials won't shut up about it: Yes, you can get any movie you want today in seconds. But back then, there was a whole routine about going to Blockbuster and aimlessly wandering around and looking at the VHS tape covers and seeing what caught your eye — then rolling the dice in renting it and finding out if it you liked it or not. And if nothing caught your eye, then you always had a mental list of backup films you knew to rent.
5. AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
Why millennials won't shut up about it: We didn't have FaceTime. Hell, we didn't even have texting, we had the phone (not even cellphones) and that was it. AIM was like a technological marvel, you could chat with your friends or multiple friends at once — through the internet! It invented chat groups and never wanting to talk on the phone again.
6. Gushers
Why millennials won't shut up about it: The commercials were nightmare fuel that left us traumatized to this day.
7. The cake scene from Matilda
Why millennials won't shut up about it: Like the Gushers commercial, this scene left us very traumatized. You want to see a millennial break out into a cold sweat? Give them a giant slice of chocolate cake and bring up this scene.
8. Orange Nickelodeon VHS tapes
Why millennials won't shut up about it: Like Disney's clamshell cases, there was something about those bright orange tapes that were part of the ritual of watching a Nick video. Also, anytime you put one in, you knew you were in for some lit TV watching.
9. Aggro Crag from Guts
Why millennials won't shut up about it: This was sorta our Mount Everest. Also, watching kids climb it on Guts would give us so much stress (even though we all low-key thought we could conquer it).
10. Dunkaroos
Why millennials won't shut up about it: Because TASTE.
11. Titanic double VHS tapes
Why millennials won't shut up about it: This has a lot to do with two things: 1) Associating it with the complete Titanic mania of the late '90s. 2) It really was a struggle to have to get up and have to change the tape mid-movie. Like, you knew it was coming and you hated each time you had to get up and switch it.
12. Tamagotchis
Why millennials won't shut up about it: It was probably the first true interactive video game–ish thing we ever played. Every millennial has stressful memories of constantly checking their Tamagotchi to make sure it was happy and alive.
13. Goosebumps books
Why millennials won't shut up about it: Everyone read them, and some of the stories (especially the creepier ones) really stuck with you. Plus, it was a series you always looked forward to a new release from.
14. Boy Meets World
Why millennials won't shut up about it: It boiled down to Mr. Feeny (a person we all wished we had in our lives) and being so invested in Cory and Topanga's relationship — goals.
15. Furby
Why millennials won't shut up about it: It was truly a status symbol toy, and if you owned one, you probably have bad memories of waking up to it talking to itself in the middle of the night.
16. Skip-It
Why millennials won't shut up about it: The commercial's jingle lives rent-free in our heads and it'll play in and out of nowhere.
17. Meredith from The Parent Trap
Why millennials won't shut up about it: Because we spent most of our childhood HATING her, and then we all got old and realized she WASN'T the villain. Honestly, we need a spinoff series for her...get on it, Disney!
18. Mr. Sketch Scented Markers
Why millennials won't shut up about it: I think it's safe to say that 90% of millennials owned this exact marker set, and I bet all 90% of them can't remember ever using it. Seriously, it was all about pulling them out and sniffing that sweet, sweet synthetic scent (that you can still smell in your head to this day).
19. And lastly, Lunchables
Why millennials won't shut up about it: This was the ultimate status lunch in elementary school! They def don't taste as good as we remember, but tbh, that's not what it was about. It was all about pulling one of these out of your lunchbox in the cafeteria, feeling cool, and having your friends be a little jealous you were eating it — and millennials are still trying to chase that feeling 20-plus years later.