25 Things That Used To Be ‘Unimaginable’ 10 Years Ago
Things we consider normal now but were less than acceptable 10 years ago.
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Just a decade ago, the world around us was a different place. Our own lives have undergone so much change that a younger version of you would be shocked if they were given a sneak peek into the future.
So when Redditor u/Ok-Squash8044 asked online, 'What was "unimaginable" 10 years ago, but we're now totally used to?" folks had a lot to suggest. Scroll to check out the most thought-provoking answers shared in the gallery below.
Image source: JamesSmith1200, Daniel Jøshua
Image source: SituationalRambo, Polina Tankilevitch
Image source: enrod713, cottonbro studio
Image source: 16bitgamer, Emiliano Vittoriosi
Image source: MbMinx, Tima Miroshnichenko
Image source: NewTimeTraveler1
Image source: ExpertRegister1353, Mike Jones
Image source: Adhbimbo, ArtHouse Studio
Edit: not unimaginable as in "didn't know it could happen." But unimaginable as in ***surely those at the levers of power will be reasonable and take decisive action to prevent it***
Despite the decades long screams of "do something" [emissions have only fallen a little](https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions).
There are success stories like the [banning of CFCs](https://gml.noaa.gov/hats/publictn/elkins/cfcs.html) and the reduction of acid rain by lowering sulfur and NOx emissions. 2014 me thought that green house gas driven climate change would be another success like that that if not abated, would at least stabilize. There have been multiple international agreements since the 90s that haven't been ambitious enough or that were not signed by the US/pulled out of by the US. *Any progress is good* but its not enough. .
Image source: Historical-Fudge, Luis Rosero
Image source: sirona-ryan, Daniel Lazarov
My grandma is very against tattoos, it’s so funny to hear her rant about them. I have a small one that I’ve been hiding from her for 2 years now lol.
Image source: Excellent-Bill-5124, Ivan Samkov
Image source: thorpie88, cottonbro studio
#1 A felon running for president.
Image source: LMP0623#2 People being able to live a long life while being HIV positive.
Image source: JamesSmith1200, Daniel Jøshua
#3 I think almost everything about current US politics was unimaginable 10 years ago. 10 years ago we thought our country and our constitution was strong. Now we know better.
Image source: ditchdiggergirl#4 That in 2024 we would be fighting about the abortion issue.
Image source: Curmudgeon_I_am#5 A politician with free reign to say or do anything they want, with absolute impunity, and still have a legitimate number of votes to make it close or f*****g *win*.
In Clintons presidency, even ONE of these transgressions would endanger everything. The man fought tooth and nail to hide a blowie, and the nation reeled in the controversy. Today, every day, an indictment worthy statement is shot across the news, and no harm no foul. Just keep rolling towards consignment to oblivion. All conditions normal at two minutes to midnight. Image source: VeracitiSiempre#6 Diseases that have been dormant for decades coming back.
Image source: SituationalRambo, Polina Tankilevitch
#7 Reading headlines about more women dying bc they were denied lifesaving healthcare when their pregnancies went wrong, because that procedure they needed is also a type of abortion.
Image source: BookLuvr7#8 Subscriptions for damn near everything!
Image source: enrod713, cottonbro studio
#9 Computers making art, and people still doing mindless repetitive tasks. .
Image source: 16bitgamer, Emiliano Vittoriosi
#10 *gestures vaguely at the state of U.S. politics*.
Image source: ranchspidey#11 Working remotely.
Image source: MbMinx, Tima Miroshnichenko
#12 Two very uk based ones:
1. Brexit - I was a final year politics student in 2014 and no one thought we would vote for Brexit, let alone a hard Brexit as that would be economic madness. 2. The normalisation of the far right - UKIP were on the rise but very much a fringe minority. The Conservatives were dogmatic in austerity but socially they had legalised gay marriage, promoted the big society, and were at least performatively tolerant. Worlds away from the culture war nonsense now. . Image source: cheezus-rocks#13 A new Cure album.
Image source: Chris-Ord#14 How much spying our electronics do on us and we're totally cool with it.
Image source: NewTimeTraveler1
#15 Leave a pizza order on someone's front porch without even knocking.
Image source: ExpertRegister1353, Mike Jones
#16 People plastering presidential candidate flags and stickers all over their cars and houses like it was their favorite sports team. Even in a sports lens that would be seen as a mental illness.
Image source: Schmolive#17 A president who discusses the size of Arnold Palmer’s d**k.
Image source: maria17garcia#18 The cost of living. 10 years ago it was possible to have disposable income, and save up for nice things. Now the entire pay cheque goes towards bills and other living costs, then the credit line has to cover the rest.
Image source: RedSquirrelFtw#19 It being 95 degrees in f****n October.
Image source: Adhbimbo, ArtHouse Studio
Edit: not unimaginable as in "didn't know it could happen." But unimaginable as in ***surely those at the levers of power will be reasonable and take decisive action to prevent it***
Despite the decades long screams of "do something" [emissions have only fallen a little](https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions).
There are success stories like the [banning of CFCs](https://gml.noaa.gov/hats/publictn/elkins/cfcs.html) and the reduction of acid rain by lowering sulfur and NOx emissions. 2014 me thought that green house gas driven climate change would be another success like that that if not abated, would at least stabilize. There have been multiple international agreements since the 90s that haven't been ambitious enough or that were not signed by the US/pulled out of by the US. *Any progress is good* but its not enough. .
#20 Paying more than $10 for a fast food combo.
Image source: Historical-Fudge, Luis Rosero
#21 There’s been massive student-led protests in Thailand against the military junta throughout 2021 with the leaders being jailed yet barely a peep from western newspapers.
Image source: NoOpening1375#22 Maybe not 10 years ago (more like 20), but according to my grandma, everyone having tattoos. She said not a lot of people had them and even less would show them proudly, but now if you go to a waterpark or any place where lots of skin is exposed, you’ll see so many people with tattoos.
Image source: sirona-ryan, Daniel Lazarov
My grandma is very against tattoos, it’s so funny to hear her rant about them. I have a small one that I’ve been hiding from her for 2 years now lol.
#23 Going to the store to buy marijuana legally.
Image source: lagomorphed#24 Kids having constant access to an AI that will effortlessly do all their homework for them.
Image source: Excellent-Bill-5124, Ivan Samkov
#25 $17 pints.
Image source: thorpie88, cottonbro studioDE
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