Could you return to the "good old days"?

In My Humble Opinion
1

The scope of this thread should be large enough to go beyond the Cafe Society limits, at least I hope for that.

Over the course of my lifetime I have seen the availability of things go from a few items to stores full of that same thing. I mean specialty stores for batteries!

Used to there were maybe three or four major brands of soft drinks (co-colas hereabouts) to choose from. Nowadays, dozens of colas, not to mention all the energy drinks, sports drinks, Snapple flavors, Yada-yada.

The sheer number of electronics devices is overwhelming to folks who used to count themselves upper class if they had a transistor radio to take to the beach.

Transportation devices, too.

Entertainment options.

The main question/issue here in this thread is “Could you drop back to a limited choice of options and not feel cheated?”

Better yet, identify your favorite three or fewer items in these categories, on the assumption that everything you don’t pick will be abolished:

Soft drinks
Footwear
Home entertainment electronics gear
Transportation option
OTC medicine
Bakery item
Chocolate candy
Non-chocolate candy
Potato-based snack food
Corn-based snack food
Processed cheese
Processed dairy product
Burger chain
Gasoline brand
Spectator sport

Add as many categories as you can think of where you’d be happy with three or fewer choices instead of the dozens to hundreds available today.

Think small. Think cheap. Think old-timey.

2

Soft drinks- Flavored Seltzer, Root Beer and maybe Grape pop would do it for me, but I wouldn’t want to hear the Coke/Pepsi people bitch.

Footwear- I would love it if there were 3 “standard” types of shoes- one type of sneaker/running shoe, one type of sandal, and one type of decent yet practical heeled dress shoe. These shoes would come in all sizes, which would mean that I could actually buy shoes easily. I’m definitely in the minority on this, though, because I have odd-shaped feet and have come to hate shoe shopping and variety with a bitter passion.

Home entertainment electronics gear- Three sizes of TV (for people with different size rooms) would do it for me, I hate picking that stuff. As long as I could get a turntable and a CD player hooked to speakers, I don’t care how many brands there are. I wouldn’t mind giving up my iPod, and the only reason I like my cellphone is that I hate the landline providers more. I’d adapt.
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Transportation option**- This is tough. I could do with local public transit (bus/subway), trains for long journeys and a “standard” car of some kind, but I’d hate to lose the option of air travel.
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OTC medicine**- At this point, I could make do with Advil, Sudafed (the real stuff), and Tussin cough syrup. That’s all I’ve used in years, but my guy would be lost without Alka-Seltzer. Maybe I’m misunderstanding this category.
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Bakery item**- I’d gladly go back to the days when there was actually a bakery I could go to- I’d exchange my ability to pick from 75 types of sliced bread for a shop where I could get one or two types always fresh.

Chocolate candy- I’d sacrifice choice for quality here, too, but I’m not convinced that that would happen. If I could pick three, I’d say Reese’s Cups would be the only name brand one I’d keep, and I’d take my chances with whatever dark chocolate and/or caramel confections the local sweet-monger had come up with.

Non-chocolate candy- Pretty much the same as with chocolate. I wouldn’t mind having my selection curtailed, as long as there’s some seasonal and geographic variety.

Potato-based snack food- Kettle Chips, ruffly ones and salt-and-pepper flavor chips would do it for me.

Corn-based snack food- Cheese Puffs

Processed cheese- This is hard- I think you’re not just talking about Kraft singles or Velveeta here, but cheeses from all over the world processed and shipped to my grocer. This is something that I’d hatehatehate to give up. It’s one of my favorite things about this Modern World. I don’t even want to pick, for fear of jinxing.

Processed dairy product- Hmmm. I like the convenience of being able to pick up any type of milk or dairy I need for baking, but I could make do with 2% milk, plain whole-milk yogurt and sour cream. Come to think of it, I could make my own yogurt, so how about whole milk, butter, and sour cream. Again, I don’t care about brand choice, but I’d better have good quality, Mr. Milkman! Oh, do eggs count for dairy? That makes it tough.

Burger chain- I like the fact that we have non-burger fast food, but I wouldn’t cry if there was no more Subway.
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Gasoline brand**- Is there a difference?
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Spectator sport**- I’m not qualified to make this choice.

I wouldn’t have a problem with limited choices on most of these things, if, as you suggest, they’d be *my *choices. That’s not too likely, though. I like the idea that in any one area of the country/world, there are only a few options, but those options are different depending on where you are. Like how you can only get real Frango Mints in Chicago (shut up with your “Seattle” and your “Internet”- I’m trying to make a point) or real Halfmoon cookies in Central New York (shut up with your “Black-and-white” nonsense!) - it makes these little nonessential things seem more special.

Some things, though, really do need variety- like personal care products. I’d be happy with my Pears’ soap and my Mane and Tail shampoo/conditioner and my unscented Secret antiperspirant, but these products truly wouldn’t work for everyone. I hate scented stuff, many thrive on it. I have super fine straight hair- somebody with thick, or curly, or kinky hair needs totally different products. I never use hairspray or gel, many need it to maintain their looks. Perhaps the selection in the drugstore is a bit overwhelming, but I prefer that to a time when only a lucky few could get their hair in good shape.

Interesting thread.

3

I’d have no problem with limits in any of the categories except shampoo. I grew up with Prell, White Rain, Halo, and Breck’s, and I wouldn’t want to use any of those now. They’re like detergent. I haven’t found a store-bought shampoo that doesn’t dry my hair.

I’m fine with Pepsi, Lay’s potato chips, Tostito’s corn chips, Contac for a cold, and Hershey’s plain chocolate bars.

One thing I’d add is fruit juice. Growing up we made orange juice from frozen concentrate – it wasn’t very good, especially compared to my Tropicana No Pulp With Calcium.

So Redken and Tropicana.

4

And a very interesting and well-reasoned post. Thank you. (Lamont :slight_smile: )

5

I’ve actually been thinking about this stuff recently. All of the talk on the news about food shortages has got me thinking that it should at least be theoretically possible to live on food from within 100 miles of where you live, even if you choose to do otherwise.

With a few exceptions, what I like about living nowadays as opposed to [my vague ideas about what it was like to live] in the past is the degree of choice- but choice in information and culture, and the ability to choose how to live our lives, not necessarily choice of consumer goods. I love that I have such a huge chunk of human knowledge and endeavor at my fingertips as I type, though!

Good point about the fruit juice, AuntiePam. That’s up there with fancy cheese for me. Also nice pasta available anywhere, not just starchy macaroni and thick spaghetti (ick!). A big variety of herbs and spices is important to me, too.

6

Funny, this subject has been bandied about our house lately as we try to think about how to live on less cash, what with fuel prices and all.

Soft drinks: I can go without this altogether.

Footwear: Winter boots and sneakers would be fine. That’s all I’ve owned for years.

Home entertainment electronics gear: Just my PC, but I’d be bummed if I couldn’t have high-powered options for it. I guess it’s nice to have a TV, but I could even go back to a B&W unit without caring much.

Transportation option: A pickup for most distances and train for longer distances would be adequate. I’ve never flown anywhere and most likely never will.

OTC medicine: Antacids and Excedrin. I can live without all the rest of it.

Bakery item: As long as there are whole grain breads, I’m good.

Chocolate candy: Nah, not necessary.

Non-chocolate candy: Ooh, Strawberry Twizzlers would be good, but I could live without them.

Potato-based snack food: Not necessary. Potatoes, on the other hand, are necessary, but I can grow them myself.

Corn-based snack food: Must have popcorn. All others are optional.

Processed cheese/dairy products: I live in a dairy state, so I’d probably be able to get cheese from my neighbors. If not, I’d buy a cow.

Burger chain: Never use them.

Gasoline brand: Brand? Is there a difference? We already just have to use whatever station is nearby when we need gas, since there aren’t many around here.

Spectator sport: I don’t partake, but if’n I did, I would not pay to do so. There will always be free spectator sports, like watching my husband fall off the roof.

Additionally, I would be in sad shape if I did not have the ability to acquire and read many books, but they wouldn’t need to be newly published. As long as there were libraries or used bookstores or like-minded barterers, I’d be fine. I also need a constant infusion of new game software to remain sane.

7

The thing that boggled my mind three days ago in the cold aisle was that everything was exactly the same! It LOOKS like you have 8 gajillion choices, but there are really only two nasal decongestants: Pseudoephedrine (very hard to find) and Phenylephrine HCl(bloody well useless). Antihistamine? Chlorpheniramine Maleate or Doxylamine Succinate. Pain relief? Acetaminophen. They’re all the same, in rows and rows of different “choices” - the same brand will have the same ingredients in three boxes, one marked “Cold and Flu”, one marked, “Sinus and Colds,” and one marked “Severe Cold Formula”. THEY’RE IDENTICAL PRODUCTS!!! It’s not “more choices”, it’s “false choices”. And what’s worse, the “Severe Cold Formula” is almost always two bucks more a box, for the same number of tablets of the same formulation. It’s such a fucking scam!

Argh.

Sorry, maybe this is better suited to the mini-rants thread. But the same thing applies to other products: half the energy drinks out there are made, owned and bottled by Coca-Cola. They’re the same damn thing in different cans with different names. In general, I’d be happier with fewer “choices”, and that can be accomplished without actually limiting our real choices, but simply by having one label per formula in each brand. Save me a ton of time in the supermarket, that would.

8

Much as I am a TV news junkie, I could actually go back to a TV that only got the then-four networks (ABC, NBC, CBS & PBS) as long as I had a good radio and access to a library.

If I had those, I think I could even, IF I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO, go… without… the… gasp… Internet. collapses

9

Well, Maximum Strength Robitussin’s only active ingredient is Dextromethorphan, and not in greater quantities than regular Robitussin AFAIK. However, the other brands have other active ingredients that are harmful or unpleasant at large doses, so Maximum Strength is good for those wanting to consume a lot of Dex. A lot.

(I tried consuming twice as much as recommended to get rid of a bad cough, (which was only about half what they say will cause the recreational-type effects,) and I sort of freaked out cause it seemed like I my lungs were filling up with liquids cause I didn’t have to cough. So it might have been psychosomatic, but it really does seem to work, and I don’t like the effects of the non-dex additives.

10

Yep, that’s my favorite cough suppressant. Won’t do squat for nasal congestion (or actual chest congestion, come to think of it.) I buy that separately so I can use it only when I really need it (I’m not a fan of cough suppression 'cept to get some sleep), although I’m partial to Delsym, the extended release formula, 'cause then I don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to take it again. Plus, it tastes good (much better than Robitussin!), and the dosing is flexible enough that I can use the same bottle for my preschooler and myself (yes, yes, I know we’re not supposed to give cough suppressants to kids anymore. Fucko off, FDA!)
Dayum. Apparently I need an anti-parenthetical, as well.

11

Oh, delsym wins on the taste, but it seems to … go through you … digestion-wise… quicker since it’s made of edible plastic. Or maybe that was just a coincidence.

12

Soft drinks - I’m an addict. You can have my caramel soda when you pry it from my cold, dead, sugar-encrusted fingers. If I had to choose three brands I’d keep they’d be Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, and Canada Dry Ginger Ale

Footwear - I’m with The Lovely Margo Lane, I wouldn’t mind seeing the selection of models drop to one each of dress, sneaker/cross-trainer, and slipper. Especially if it meant that I’d be able to find 15 wides in shoe stores to actually try on.

Home entertainment electronics gear - Computer. Give me that and I’ll be mostly happy. Oh, and Laserdisc, since I haven’t replaced that collection, yet, and I don’t know of any PC-based LD players. :wink: For a third thing in this category, I’d choose a PDA/ebook reader. I don’t have one, but I keep lusting after one.

Transportation option - Bus, POV hybrid, and bicycle. (Yeah, I don’t travel long distances much. Does it show?)

OTC medicine - This is the tricky one. Would the meds I don’t choose become prescription only? Or would they disappear completely? I think I’d choose what I consider the big three, but this is a highly mutable list: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin.

Bakery item - No. This is not allowed. You can take the in-store bakery out of my local supermarket sometime after you take away my Elixer of Life. :wink:

Chocolate candy - no preference

Non-chocolate candy - Butterscotches and peppermints.

Potato-based snack food - no preference

Corn-based snack food - as long as there are some non-Doritos style tortilla chips I’ll be happy.

Processed cheese - you mean like sliced cheese food? Or cheese in a can? You can get rid of all of them…

Processed dairy product - Plain, lowfat yogurt. I need that for tzatziki. Sour cream. Need that for chicken paprika. As long as I have those two I can make whatever else I might need.

Burger chain - There is only Zebb’s. Anything else is just cardboard.

Gasoline brand - no preference

Spectator sport - Lacrosse, fencing and jai-alai. Though I’d be satisfied with anything that would get pool and poker off TV these days.

It has to be said, a lot of these categories the extra choices don’t matter to me. I only use one or two items in that category, or don’t care what brand I might use. But those that I do care about, I care about a great deal. So, while I’d be happy seeing some of these categories simplified, if the simplification takes away MY choices there will be blood.

13

Honestly, I’d be fine with most of it. The only things I really relish the enormous number of choices available is in media - I like that Netflix sends me stuff no local store would have shelf space for, things like that. I also like the variety of foods the grocery store carries these days - just ten years ago it was hard to find stuff like brie and sundried tomatoes outside of big cities.