this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2024
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CassetteFuturism

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this is a space for Cassette Futurism -- retro images, media, design and technology from the 70s and 80s

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[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

I’ll take most disappointing gift to unwrap for $1000 Alex.

Next worse was a Lifesavers Candy Puzzle. The box was the size to plausibly hold 8-10 rolls of Lifesavers and covered in a glossy image of the candy. Such a let down.

(I never got a game boy at the time and I’m a little bit salty about it, but now as a parent, I understand my parents’ choice not to).

[–] ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net 5 points 3 days ago

Most disappointing gift goes to Bart Simpson who wanted Bonestorm but instead got this.

[–] rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

My parents got me a gameboy but the only games I had for it was Babe Pig in the City and a copy of Ducktales that was lost in the attic before they gave it to me and wasn't found until last year.

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 days ago

Wow. My in laws used to find Xmas presents the following year (or 3) when my wife was a kid.

[–] jaschen@lemm.ee 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

As someone who grew up in the early 80s, I would have been gitty for this. While I enjoyed video games, my heart was listening to music. I much rather have a portable radio than a game boy at that time.

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I woulda been in jr high when this came out and everyone wanted either the Sony sport (waterproof) or a discman if you had rich parents (I did not).

We got a used NES and pile of used games because a cousin worked for a rental store and they started dropping NES stock when the Super NES came out. Somehow later on someone gave us a Genesis, but that and an Apple 2e were all we had for most of the late 80s- 90s.

Oh yeah, and in 92 little kids were still all about those crappy voice recorders from home alone. My little brother was all about those for a year or so.

[–] jaschen@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I had a walkman sport. It was huge and even with the headphones plugged in, you could take a shower with it haha.

I eventually got a Genesis too. Then a Dreamcast.

I'm in my mid 40s now and I miss that feeling that when my dad came home with an walkman for me. Now I dedicate my life to constantly giving my son that same feeling! Because once he becomes an adult, it's all downhill from there.

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I’m about the same age. I remember playing with the simplest dumb things. Like the roller bearings left over from some failed engineering project. Or my dad’s old calculator with the vacuum fluorescent display. It’s tricky to instill that kind of make-do entertainment in my son when the iPad can play anything you want any moment.

Actually the trickiest thing has been teaching him to ride a bike. Our street is crazy busy and short, with no sidewalks. So we have to drive to a park or quiet neighborhood to practice. He’s almost 7 and it still hasn’t clicked. He did start really swimming (and diving) this summer though. Which has been awesome.

[–] jaschen@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

Haha, my mom was an accountant and I would love playing with the calculator that would dispense the paper. Would try and draw something with numbers.

My kid is 6 and he only gets to watch videos I downloaded from YouTube or movies that I downloaded from the places and put into a playlist on VLC. I do give him free reign on Spotify with the swear words removed.

As for bicycles, we live in Taipei and it's way too dangerous to ride on the sidewalk, let alone the street. So we have to ride in the park.

I ended up paying someone to teach my kid after many failed attempts to teach on my own. After 1 class he was able to ride and after the second class he was proficient. I think the reason was my kid felt comfortable around me and if he is pushed to his limits, we don't push him harder and he knows that. With a teacher, he just had to listen and follow the directions and take bigger risks.