# What became ubiquitous then went away in your lifetime? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180 "2026-04-10T22:01:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 36
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/701 "2026-09-03T22:34:40Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > How about Butane lighters? Those big weighted ornate things were seemingly on every Coffee table. How old are you? ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/702 "2026-09-03T22:37:54Z")
I came across an old stand-alone Caller ID display in my junk box. I was going to submit that, until I checked Amazon and they have them. THAT… surprised me. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/703 "2026-09-03T22:45:39Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > Grumble grumble… yeah, OK point taken. I’m old, I’m not _that_ old. > > How about Butane lighters? Those big weighted ornate things were seemingly on every Coffee table. Wikipedia tells me that modern lighters came into being in the early 20th century (and Zippos were invented in the 1930s), but it wasn’t until the 1950s when the fuel for lighters generally switched from naphtha to butane. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/704 "2026-09-03T22:59:37Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > I came across an old stand-alone Caller ID display in my junk box. I was going to submit that, until I checked Amazon and they have them. THAT… surprised me. That actually still qualifies. The OP clarifies that things don’t need to completely disappear, rather that something became ubiquitous then mostly disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/705 "2026-09-03T23:08:56Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Actually mentioned in the OP itself. bah…I actually did a search of the topic and it did not come up (memo to self: use better search terms!). I should have remembered, mea culpa. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/706 "2026-09-04T09:33:18Z")
The Hare Krishna discussion upthread causes me to suggest cults. Oh, there were always strange religious sects (e.g. the Shakers), but they were pretty inoffensive and reclusive, and weren’t much interested in you unless you were really interested in them. But when I was in high school and university (1970s and 1980s), religious cults seemed to be all over the place. The Hare Krishnas, of course, but also the Unification Church (a.k.a. the Moonies), among others. As I recall, there was a big Moonie rally at Yankee Stadium in about 1976 or 1977, and we’ve discussed the Hare Krishnas in airports. Cult members in street clothes roamed malls, offering “free” literature, and for such a fine book as this (the cult’s philosophy) or a nice fresh flower to wear in your lapel, wouldn’t you like to make a donation? It will help support our anti-drug program, or some other worthy-sounding cause. An episode of “Lou Grant” dealt with Charlie Hume’s son joining the Hare Krishnas. The 1981 film _Ticket to Heaven_ was about a fictional cult that recruited willing new members, who then donated everything they had to the cult. The message, in various places from school bulletin boards to cafeteria table talk to items in the college newspaper, was _do not get sucked into these organizations!_ Then came Jonestown, and later, David Koresh and Waco, and later than that, Heaven’s Gate; and suddenly, all the cults’ shine wore off. They were exposed as nothing more than a grift, selling nothing but dreams and demanding everything from adherents, including possibly their physical lives. Jim Jones and David Koresh and Marshall Applewhite are gone now. The Moonies are still around, as are the Hare Krishnas, but both have become much less aggressive in their proseletyzing and recruiting. If you’re interested, they’ll talk to you, but if you’re not interested, they’ll leave you alone. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/707 "2026-09-04T21:38:00Z")
coffee house culture–back in the 50-70’s, coffee houses were community centers, with 'cabaret" entertainment, meaning folk singers, poetry, jazz ensembles, even comics. There were board games like chess being played, discussions, people talking to each other. Then they devolved to what they are today, coffee shops now only sterile WI-FI connection zones, with refreshments on the side, nobody looking up from their screens ---
**Author:** ![dcbwhaley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcbwhaley/32/21437_2.png) [@dcbwhaley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dcbwhaley)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/708 "2026-09-05T15:05:34Z")
Do you still have Burma Shave signs? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/709 "2026-09-05T15:15:24Z")
> [@dcbwhaley](#): > > Do you still have Burma Shave signs According to [Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma-Shave), the signs first appeared in 1926 and were phased out in 1963. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/710 "2026-09-05T15:30:47Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > coffee house culture–back in the 50-70’s, coffee houses were community centers I’m seeing a lot of brew-pubs filling that niche in my town. Mostly board games and open-mic nights. Some have pinball tournaments, trivia nights, karaoke. One even has a weekly alternating drag and burlesque show. Many are a lot more welcoming to children and dogs than the old coffee houses were. ---
**Author:** ![dcbwhaley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcbwhaley/32/21437_2.png) [@dcbwhaley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dcbwhaley)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/711 "2026-09-05T15:51:45Z")
Many traditional public houses in UK are effectively community centres. In my local we play backgammon and darts on Mondays, have jam sessions on Wednesday and a trivia quiz on Sunday. Oh and they sell very good beer ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/712 "2026-09-05T15:55:48Z")
but the ethos I missed was the personal interactions, which I can’t see in a brew-pub, but that may be my own old azz ideas ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/713 "2026-09-05T15:59:10Z")
but of course I neglected to add that open-mic nights are still thriving ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/714 "2026-09-05T16:11:46Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > but the ethos I missed was the personal interactions Are you talking about artists creating a “scene”? Those sorts of places _are_ harder to come by and even harder to join these days. As for just meeting people, small public events like those I listed are perfect for that. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/715 "2026-09-05T16:18:28Z")
Myanmar Shave doesn’t have the same ring to it for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/716 "2026-09-05T16:25:22Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > open-mic nights Open-mike nights, which I remember from my youth, are gone, though. Oh, -ke, how I miss you. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/717 "2026-09-05T16:57:05Z")
Not around here they’re not (suburban Baltimore/Washington/Annapolis). ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/718 "2026-09-05T17:13:25Z")
I’m pretty sure Mikerophones are a defunct Michael Jordan product from the ‘90s. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/719 "2026-09-05T18:50:26Z")
I’m sorry Mr Millionaire, but a loud noisy brewpub is not conducive to intelligent debates/conversations ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180/720 "2026-09-05T19:01:04Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > The pedant in me compels me to point out it’s “Hare Krishna”, not “Hari Krishna”. To be _exquisitely_ pedantic: ISKCON spells it Kṛṣṇa. Not that anyone else is expected to, because putting those dots under the letters isn’t easy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-became-ubiquitous-then-went-away-in-your-lifetime/1029180.md?page=37)