1. Smoking… Everywhere
Back in the ’70s, smoking was nearly inescapable. People smoked at restaurants, on airplanes, in offices, and even in hospitals. There weren’t non-smoking sections yet, and ashtrays were practically part of the furniture. Today, with strict no-smoking laws, the idea of lighting up in a doctor’s office or during a flight is almost surreal.
2. Riding in Cars Without Seatbelts
Seatbelts were optional at best, and many people just didn’t wear them. Kids often piled into the back seat, sometimes even lying across the rear window. Car safety has come a long way since then, with seatbelt laws and car seats being strictly enforced. It’s hard to imagine cruising down the highway now without everyone buckled in.
3. Letting Kids Roam Free
Parents in the ’70s were known for giving kids a lot of freedom. Children would leave the house in the morning, come back at dinner, and sometimes no one really knew where they were all day. Nowadays, the idea of letting kids wander unsupervised would leave many parents uneasy, given how different safety concerns are.
4. Lawn Darts (Jarts)
Lawn darts were a popular backyard game, but they were essentially heavy metal darts with sharp tips meant to be tossed across the yard. Unfortunately, they caused a lot of injuries, and they were eventually banned. Today, toy safety standards are stricter, and the concept of throwing darts around kids sounds absurdly dangerous.
5. The Lack of Car Seats for Toddlers
Car seats weren’t mandatory or standardized in the ’70s. Many parents just held their babies on their laps in moving cars or let kids roam in the back seat. Now, not having a proper child safety seat is not only illegal but unthinkable for most parents.
6. Casual Drunk Driving
Drunk driving was seen much differently back then. While laws were in place, they weren’t as strictly enforced, and the general attitude was more relaxed. Today, public awareness and strict penalties have made drunk driving far less acceptable, and campaigns like “Don’t Drink and Drive” are ingrained in our culture.
7. Phone Calls on a Rotary Dial
Rotary phones were the norm, and calling someone involved dialing each number individually. This could take ages if there were a lot of nines or zeros! Fast forward to today’s touchscreen phones with voice assistants, and the patience needed for rotary dials seems like a thing of the distant past.
8. Wearing Polyester Everything
Polyester was the fashion fabric of the ’70s. From bell-bottoms to jumpsuits, everything came in brightly colored polyester. The fabric was affordable and easy to maintain but wasn’t breathable. Today’s trend towards natural, sustainable fabrics makes that polyester era seem like a fashion faux-pas.
9. Watching TV When It Actually Aired
In the ’70s, if you wanted to watch a show, you had to be in front of the TV when it aired. Miss an episode, and you’d be out of luck unless there was a rerun. With streaming services today, the concept of appointment viewing feels almost archaic.
10. No Bike Helmets
Kids and adults alike rode their bikes without helmets. The idea of a helmet was almost laughable, especially since they weren’t common yet. Now, helmets are a must for safety, and most parents wouldn’t dream of letting their kids ride without one.
11. Leaving the House Without Sunscreen
While sunscreen existed, it wasn’t widely used, and many people saw tanning as healthy. Some even used tanning oils to get darker! These days, sunscreen is a daily ritual for many, with an increased awareness of skin cancer and premature aging risks.
12. Everyone’s Personal Info in the Phone Book
Back then, everyone’s phone number and address were listed in a big, publicly accessible phone book. The thought of such an invasion of privacy today feels shocking. With so much focus on data privacy now, the idea of a physical book with personal contact info seems practically prehistoric.
