# Things that haven't changed much **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 25, 2002, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868 "2002-12-25T18:55:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/1 "2002-12-25T18:55:52Z")
Incandescent light bulbs toilet paper nails and screws ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/2 "2002-12-25T19:02:31Z")
Cigarettes Ice cream Figurines of the virgin Mary ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/3 "2002-12-25T20:05:53Z")
Nails and screws are very different than they have been in the past. You obviously don’t work in the trades. Sorry to rain on your parade. Things which have not changed: Dogs Cats Teenagers (new ways to rebel or _assert their independence_, but still the same generational conflicts) ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/4 "2002-12-25T21:43:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Forbin \* > \*\*Nails and screws are very different than they have been in the past. > You obviously don’t work in the trades. > Sorry to rain on your parade. > \*\* Somehow I’ll think I’ll manage. Anywho, how have nails and screws drastically changed over the years? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/5 "2002-12-25T22:03:41Z")
The wheel is as round as ever ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/6 "2002-12-25T22:14:45Z")
Strife ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/7 "2002-12-25T22:19:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cainxinth \* > \*\* Anywho, how have nails and screws drastically changed over the years? \*\* Think: Ultra-ultra-specialization. Also the manner in which they are implemented. Not just hammers and screwdrivers, but some very high tech designs for gas charged nail guns and drill drivers. They’re not all at Home Depot, though. Have to be in the trades to know about some of them. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/8 "2002-12-25T22:31:54Z")
Yeah, but isn’t a [nail](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=nails) still just, “A slim, pointed piece of metal hammered into material as a fastener.” You can get specialized TP also, aloe vera, quilting and whatnot but it’s still basically just paper you wipe your ass with. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/9 "2002-12-25T22:38:47Z")
Ever watch old footage of football games in the 40s and 50s? Everything looks different: the field lines, the uniforms, the equipment, the style of play, etc. But the referees still look exactly the same. They’ve got better equipment and such, but their outfits appear to be totally unchanged. ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/10 "2002-12-25T22:58:33Z")
Reader’s Digest Arm and Hammer Baking Soda Bayer Aspirin Swiss Army Knife Mississippi ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/11 "2002-12-25T23:21:12Z")
Love Loss Death Sounds of small children at play ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/12 "2002-12-26T02:24:06Z")
Books. They are still paper with binding. Sure, we have eBooks now, but paper books are still the most common. Toasters. I know we have nifty designed ones, but if you get an old toaster, it’s just a metal box with two slots for the toast and the wire elements which heat up inside. Just like the new ones. Jeans. Their design hasn’t changed all _that_ much (except for the expensive “designer” kind). Basically it’s blue denim, that goldenrod heavy thread, and a zipper. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/13 "2002-12-26T02:31:43Z")
Reader’s Digest did take the table of contents off of the cover (_earth moves_). ---
**Author:** ![Lure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@Lure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lure)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/14 "2002-12-26T02:36:04Z")
TV late nite shows.Since Carson,SOS.Open with a monologue of jokes that passed the smell test in the writer’s room about the latest hot button news items,then two actors,authors,or other media faces drumming up business,then end with some band I never want to hear again. TV sitcoms wth laugh tracks Older people grousing about the dreck the young 'uns are passing off as entertainment. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/15 "2002-12-26T06:53:39Z")
One example only. There are screws that have points resembling drill bits. The threads on the point are made with little teeth like saws. They are driven by drivers shaped like cusped hexagons. _(not flat or phillips)_ They are case hardened. There are lots more new products too, but I’m not going to list them all. I have to go post in the new thread " You need a life when… ???" 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/16 "2002-12-26T07:08:21Z")
Divorce. No matter what they say, it hurts everybody but the lawyers. Thirty-five years ago, why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/17 "2002-12-26T07:18:38Z")
The night sky. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/18 "2002-12-26T07:21:14Z")
Anyone mention “fire” yet? Ah, fire. Your toasty friend since 1 million, BC. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/19 "2002-12-26T07:30:04Z")
My underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868/20 "2002-12-26T14:50:06Z")
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. Sunrise. Sunset. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-havent-changed-much/144868.md?page=2)