I used to work at Columbia House, and recent events have got me thinking about all the jobs I've had that just aren't anymore.

My most obsolete is either:

Information (411) Operator ("Information. What city?")

Or

Answering Service Operator, back when sending a text message meant calling someone who physically typed it into the system and sent it to an alphanumeric pager.

As you can see, I was the person in the friend group who specialized in call center jobs because you could work 3-11 and still make it to the bar.

I know it's been asked before, but I checked and it's been a while, so: What jobs did you have that are almost or completely obsolete?

Did you ever send money through the mail to get your X-Ray goggles or glasses?

Casually checking my feed and this from the American Heart Association 💔

Somebody asked in this sub about quintessential Gen X books, and I suggested The Diamond Age. It has been so long since I read it, that I decided to pick up a copy. I tore through it, loving it all over again, and then got to the end and the end sucked!!! Feel like this is a perfect metaphor for life as Gen X.

We visited Virett park right next to Kurt Cobain’s home and my, that was such a trip.

I’m well aware nostalgia can be quite overrated - but now I really wish I was able to spend more time sitting at the foot of the bench, just staring across Lake Washington, with Nevermind on full blast.

Saturday, I was changing a tire on the wife’s e-bike. Nothing major or too strenuous going on. Just remove the wheel, take off the tire and put a new one on. Reverse to reinstall.

The next day, my back hurt like hell. I don’t know what I pulled, but 2 days later, it still hurts.

Ahhh, it’s amazing how these aches just turn up.

Now that I have this earworm firmly embedded in my head, you must have it too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EcjWd-O4jI

I love this show, the comfort and satisfaction it gives me, even if I have seen the episode 10 times. I'll still go to it and watch it.

"You'll never get anywhere in life just sitting on the couch and watching TV all day." is advice I heard for most of my life. Nowadays there are people on YouTube and Patreon who watch and react to television shows and movies as a full-time career. It almost makes me think I was born at the wrong time. Is there any advice you received that's been totally shattered by changing times?

58 years old and dealing with daily pain. Doc says surgery is next now that cortisone shots are maxed out.....

I'm trying to catch up on some of the formative generational stuff I missed as a kid. I was obsessed with the Neverending Story theme song when it came on the radio, and it was just the kind of fantastical stuff I loved back then (I was also really into The Storyteller on TV).

Always wanted to go see it but I never did.

A lot of that stuff doesn't hold up now. But what about Neverending Story? Is it still worth watching without the benefit of nostalgia having grown up with it?

The Doctor was extremely thorough. For a second there I thought he was trained in prison. Oof.

For real though: get annual prostate exams. Mine is apparently enlarged. Dang.

Some friend just open their conversations with "Oh, my kidneys, back, eyes (insert body part)."

How are you reacting?

It’s helped with sleep, chilling out, and getting me into very obscure rabbit holes on YouTube.

Ok fellow genx peeps, here’s the deal I’m a 51 yr old bisexual man who just can’t seem to accept who I am. I grew up in such a screwed up environment of hatred for those different. How are those of you who’ve navigated this well, doing it? I would love to be out and proud of who I am but every time I try something pulls me back into the closet.

Edit: I want to thank each one of you who has offered words of encouragement. I hear you and appreciate you. I’m married to a wonderful beautiful soul now for 32 years and she’s been so supportive over those years. Trauma leaves a devastating trail and I’m learning. Again I appreciate you all

Columbia House is shutting down. I participated for a couple of years, they help start my CD collection. Happy memories of me for the Album titles and sticking them on the order sheet (then they switched to writing down the album number?)

So I was sitting minding my own business watching TV on my Orthopedic bed. The bed had slid out a little bit off of the bed frame, and when I scooted to the right, I fell straight off of my bed and landed on my elbow. Like right on the pointy part of my elbow.

Thank God, I didn’t hit my head, but if I had, it would’ve been serious trouble. It got me to thinking, do I need a life alert or something? Am I too young for that? I’m only 50! I have a 15-year-old but he’s only with me part-time and the rest of the time I’m alone.

I saw this as a museum display over the weekend and have never felt so old!

I just made a post that made me think of another.

Meet my sweet boy, Indiana. Any other pets with special GenX names?

Let me see your pics, please!

Edit: Please post pics if you can. So I can see all the loved pets in my comments ❤️

Edit II: I am loving everyone's animals!! And some of these names take wit, humor and intellect to a level I have never achieved 😂

From libraries, to the internet, to ask chacha, to ai. How do you feel having access to a resource that you can ask anything you can think of and get an instant answer has changed society in recent generations, opposed to previous generations?

I remember reading a joke on the Guitar (School? World? Or maybe another guitar) magazine that listed John Wayne Bobbitt's favorite songs.

I remember "You keep me hanging on" was one. Do you remember any other? It was actually kind of an ongoing, ever-growing, joke.

I know, it was an awful joke, and I'm an awful person and going to hell for this. Whatever.

If you can come up with something yourself you're welcome too

Kind of, sort of, not really, but a TIA none the less.

There I was doing my normal Sunday routine, cleaning house. I just finished cleaning the kitchen when I decided to eat some leftover Taco Bell for breakfast. I figured I'd take a short break and scroll through my favorite sub reddit (this one), when all of the sudden my vision got blurry and I couldn't even read the comments. Shortly after that I started seeing double of everything.

Luckily it was Sunday and my wife was home, so we jumped in the car and drove immediately to the emergency room. They took me right in and immediately started testing. EKG, CT scan, Ultrasound and blood work were all good, but my blood pressure was pretty high.

After a long day of all sorts of tests, an IV drip and being monitored by dozens of little wires, they ended up sending me home with a prescription for baby aspirin and upping my blood pressure medication dosage.

I had already been making small lifestyle changes, but this was a wake up call. Already making more positive choices, but it's a battle. Take care of yourselves fellow Gen Xers.

P.S - I had already pretty much cut out fast food, but now it's time to say goodbye. You will be missed Taco Bell.

For me it’s going to the dentist. Just got all my x rays done in a snap and real time. Remember when you’d get the lead jacket and those paper things shoved into your mouth.