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The year itself sucked ass, of course. but I always argue that 2004 was the year we fully and totally switched over from Gen X to Millennial mass culture and became fully submerged in millennial zeitgeist as the default. Highlights include:
-Mean Girls and Napoleon Dynamite (Mean girls for Boys) come out, forever ousting the Road Trip/American Pie Gen X comedy dynamic -The Simpsons and South Park fading as Adult Swim style anti-comedy comes into focus -George Bush reelected, solidifying millennial callousness towards most federal institutions
I guess the "rec" is just paying attention to these kinds of longer-term tidal changes in culture. It makes me feel like a wise man of the mountain when I tell 20 year olds about shit from before they were born
-Mean Girls and Napoleon Dynamite (Mean girls for Boys) come out, forever ousting the Road Trip/American Pie Gen X comedy dynamic -The Simpsons and South Park fading as Adult Swim style anti-comedy comes into focus -George Bush reelected, solidifying millennial callousness towards most federal institutions
I guess the "rec" is just paying attention to these kinds of longer-term tidal changes in culture. It makes me feel like a wise man of the mountain when I tell 20 year olds about shit from before they were born
Aug 7, 2024
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😃i am (early?) gen z so i was very much a child during this period
with that said, don’t be fooled by youtube drum and bass playlists or weepy-eyed disney channel retrospectives - much of the mainstream culture of this era was insanely bad. that is obviously still true today, but the difference is that the monoculture was still alive in the 2000s, so your ability to opt-out and find subcultural niches that had cool stuff going on was significantly curtailed compared to today. you basically *had* to be literally anorexic to be conventionally attractive, there was no political “left” to speak of (not that it mattered to me when i was a literal child but still), and as others have mentioned, insane 9/11 hysteria lasted well into the obama era.
with all that said the thought of having to grow up today is honestly terrifying. i am old enough that social media did not become culturally dominant until high school (i had a dumbphone until freshman year), and i do feel blessed to have grown up on a pre-web 2.0 internet. you still were able to buy things and own them. a huge number of the greatest games of all time came out during this period, and every mainstream multiplayer release wasn’t just a casino with a mid fps attached to it. amazon had yet to completely conquer the earth. the government kind of worked. i don’t think i would go back because i’ve been spoiled by the sheer volume of amazing things that i have access to today and i do think we’ve made some solid sociopolitical progress, but there are definitely some things i miss
with that said, don’t be fooled by youtube drum and bass playlists or weepy-eyed disney channel retrospectives - much of the mainstream culture of this era was insanely bad. that is obviously still true today, but the difference is that the monoculture was still alive in the 2000s, so your ability to opt-out and find subcultural niches that had cool stuff going on was significantly curtailed compared to today. you basically *had* to be literally anorexic to be conventionally attractive, there was no political “left” to speak of (not that it mattered to me when i was a literal child but still), and as others have mentioned, insane 9/11 hysteria lasted well into the obama era.
with all that said the thought of having to grow up today is honestly terrifying. i am old enough that social media did not become culturally dominant until high school (i had a dumbphone until freshman year), and i do feel blessed to have grown up on a pre-web 2.0 internet. you still were able to buy things and own them. a huge number of the greatest games of all time came out during this period, and every mainstream multiplayer release wasn’t just a casino with a mid fps attached to it. amazon had yet to completely conquer the earth. the government kind of worked. i don’t think i would go back because i’ve been spoiled by the sheer volume of amazing things that i have access to today and i do think we’ve made some solid sociopolitical progress, but there are definitely some things i miss
6d ago
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How did the countercultural teens of the 90s turn into the most insufferable 40 year olds
Jun 12, 2025
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💽Most golden ages are not obvious at the time. I lucked out being in high school in a moment where grunge matured, hip hop got amazing and edm started to rise.
Smells Like Teen Spirit exploded freshman year. The grunge wave got east soon after that. On the other end of the parking lot Wu Tang was played again and again as Biggie and Tupac battled. And the skaters were shifting from punk rock to this new vibe they heard at warehouse raves as techno was escaping from the lab in Dallas and NYC.
The movie Kids catches this time really well. Words don’t quite do it justice.
Smells Like Teen Spirit exploded freshman year. The grunge wave got east soon after that. On the other end of the parking lot Wu Tang was played again and again as Biggie and Tupac battled. And the skaters were shifting from punk rock to this new vibe they heard at warehouse raves as techno was escaping from the lab in Dallas and NYC.
The movie Kids catches this time really well. Words don’t quite do it justice.
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🔌Many people on here are saying this but I especially want to rec wearing them at the show. You will have a better time and still hear the great music I promise.
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In the Netherlands for some reason this is one of the most popular breakfasts. It's untoasted bread with butter, covered in chocolate sprinkles. It's spartan and a bit sad but it's hard not to get fuckin amped eating it, especially if you like sweet breakfasts
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Is it the best beer at its price point? Maybe not. But only one beer is the champagne of beers
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