Growing up as a 90s kid had its unique charms because living in the pre-WiFi era was nothing if not quirky. It was our introduction to the Internet, and MSN chat was the staple of our initiation into the dating world. Kids of the 90s: we could each write a For Dummies book about how to find the love of your life on the Internet, because we are the founders of Internet dating. Tinder be damned.
Here are 11 quirky things about living in the 90s:
1. The sound of dial-up defined a generation
It all started with informing your entire family that they will not have access to the house phone for... hours. The next step was getting that phone cord, plugging it into your computer and listening to the sound in the YouTube link above. It rings like music to your ears because it signals your entry into the World Wide Web of endless wonder.
2. MSN.
You couldn't get enough of it, after-school...in the middle of the night...anytime was MSN time. You lie in wait for that one person you've had your eye to come online.
3. Online/offline tactics to get your crush's attention
You want to play it cool, so opening a conversation with your crush who just -- gasp -- showed up on your Online list is completely out of the question. Instead, you sign in and sign out repeatedly, because you know that means your name will pop up on the bottom left of his/her screen...many times. You know with absolute certainty that he/she is being reminded of your existence, and if he/she ever asks why your "MSN's going crazy" you chalk it up to your lousy dial up that "keeps disconnecting."
Us 90s kids are the kings and queens of subtlety.
4. BRB was your way of playing hard to get
While you LOL at your crush for believing your so-called BRB, he/she tells you to TYT. So, you FML all night long, wishing you could just tell your crush how you really feel.
Goodbye to those days...and hello to the age of FOMO and YOLO.
5. Talking to strangers was considered anything but creepy
Would you really have a talk with someone who just randomly texted you on Whatsapp? I fear not. The same did not apply to MIRC chatrooms.
6. Having a long conversation with your friends' mother before finally getting through to your friend
In age without cellphones, you called your friend's landline and 9 times out of 10, his/her mom picks. Oh, the anxiety...
7. Collecting, not catching, Pokemon was your hobby
Pokemon Go has taken our good friends and lovers away from us, let's face it. So we one can't help but feel nostalgic about the gold old Pokemon card collectibles. Remember when you could be really into a game and remain a functioning human being with stable relationships. We really do miss the 90s.
8. You waited for days for Captain Majid to score a goal
If there were some sort of test to determine whether or not you grew up in the Arab world of the 90s, it would test you on how much know about certain cartoons . Captain Majid tops that list for 90s kids. To us, he is the original Ronaldo or Messi.
9. Drinking Nido
Powdered milk made us gag, and frankly, we still can't understand why our moms made us drink it. Effective marketing, maybe?