Fads From The Last 20 Years That Don’t Need To Make A Comeback Anytime Soon
Plenty of fads have come and gone since the start of the new millennium. Now that we're about to enter the new '20s, it's worth looking at the best fads that we've waved goodbye to so shortly after they arrived. Some are incredibly recent, like that spinner that went from being a pastime to being another nicknack in the junk drawer. Others you probably haven't even thought about in years, like the weird "S" all the elementary school kids used to draw. From fashion to candy to the games we play, fads permeate every part of our lives. Let's look at some of the fads that we've outgrown in the past 20 years.
Segways
Segways seemed to make sense when they first arrived. And they probably could have been the new scooter or bicycle, if that didn't make the people riding them look so silly. Something about having to lean forward and backward while standing upright makes the riders look like a toddler that just started walking.
For this reason, segways became more popular on sitcoms like The Office, Arrested Development, Parks and Rec, and any other show with a ridiculous but lovable character. Unfortunately, this put anyone riding a segway into the same category as those characters, leaving most of us avoiding them altogether.
Custom Ringback
One of the many great things about cellphones becoming more complex was that you could customize them to fit your personality. People still do this in the form of choosing a unique ringtone, phone case, design, etc.
For some reason, cellphone owners went through a phase where they also wanted to inflict their personal interests onto the person calling. That's what custom ringbacks were for: so that anyone calling you could hear your favorite jam instead of a boring dial tone. This fad dissipated shortly after it began, probably because people who didn't like your ringback would just stop calling.
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero was in practically every teenager's house for a time. It seemed to have ignited the adolescent love for rock music that has permeated teens for decades. Back in the day, high schoolers would be lucky to start a real band, and that took time and skill.
Guitar Hero made everyone feel like a rockstar, even the tone-deaf. Unfortunately, those skills would not translate into real life, even for those who had mastered the game. Perhaps this sad truth is why the game has slowly faded over the years.
Dance Dance Revolution
Like Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR for short) simplified an otherwise difficult skill that takes years to develop. Those who secretly love to dance but don't have the moves can look as silly as they want while they stumble to find the appropriate arrow beneath their feet in time with the music.
While DDR could certainly help your foot-eye coordination, it still fails to teach any dance moves beyond stepping and jumping. At first, people looked really cool while they played the game. Somewhere along the lines, stepping quickly while staring intensely at a screen just stopped looking impressive.
Rubber Wristbands
Before social media became huge, the only way to express the many causes you support-- or at least know exist-- was to wear them on your sleeve, literally. These thick, rubber wristbands were the original self-identifiers before online presence took over.
You could express everything from your support to fight cancer to your love of Zumba on your wrist. For whatever reason, they were taken pretty seriously for a minute there. The problem is that it can get annoying having all those wristbands on, and how do you choose which one to take off without feeling a tinge of guilt?
Slap Bracelets
Slap bracelets were kind of like the old Jack in the Box toys: terrifying. You know what's going to happen and that it isn't going to hurt you, but the anticipation is electrifying. That must be why we loved smacking these bracelets onto our arms more than we loved actually wearing them.
Stylistically, they weren't bad, either. The bands had a variety of styles to choose from and were popular amongst boys and girls. It was probably parents who got sick of the "slap" wars that led to the end of this fad.
Heelys
In today's world, the idea of shoes that actual destabilize children would sound like any establishment's worst nightmare. Can you imagine how many kids probably fell and hurt themselves on these things? On the flip side, kids who mastered wearing Heelys looked pretty cool gliding around the playground.
Heelys snuck out of the limelight quietly, probably because they fizzled out as the kids who wore them grew older. While the shoes themselves appear to be pretty well built, it seems fewer parents want to have their kids gliding on wheels all day.
Camo Clothes
Camouflage clothing was kind of like denim because it came in every variety: camo pants, camo jackets, camo shirts, camo skirts. The pattern was a very loose replica of actual camouflage clothing used in the military.
The fashion statement didn't seem to have anything to do with representing the troops, but rather was an urban style that was casual yet interesting to look at. The pattern lost popularity, which was bound to happen with clothes that are meant to resemble mud.
Bean Bags
Bean bags were huge amongst kids, broke college students, and gamers alike. The cheap seats were a great alternative for furniture, so long as they didn't become damaged. Especially if you had a pet, you did not want these beans bags to puncture and let out a ton of little beans.
Though few chair alternatives are more cost-effective than the bean bag, the fad has faded over the years. Perhaps more people started watching HGTV and couldn't help but feel guilty about the disasterous style choice.
Guys Wearing Skinny Jeans
When skinny jeans became big, it was usually just in the women's aisles that they appeared. This didn't stop some men from grabbing a pair. They must have been confused about the different sizing because many men who wore skinny jeans seemed like they could have benefitted from a much larger size.
The fad started in conjunction with the "emo" fad, which replaced the goth fad of the 1990s. Emo male teenagers loved their black skinny jeans, and before long all the guys had to have a pair. Nowadays most guys just stick to pants that fit.
Pool Noodles
It's not like pool noodles don't exist anymore, but they don't seem to dominate the pool they way they used to. Every kid had a noodle at one point, and if they didn't, their friends probably had a million that they could choose from.
Their disappearance might have something to do with the floaty explosion that's taken over. There used to be floats to lay out on and maybe a dolphin float you could ride. These days, the diversity in floats and pool toys, in general, have made these noodles blasé.
Yoyos
Yoyos are a toy for all ages. The simple design was misleading in regards to how many tricks could be accomplished with the piece of plastic attached to a string. Especially when glow-in-the-dark yoyos came out - it was like magic watching skilled yoyoists do their thing.
The negative about this particular toy is that, like earbuds, they were destined to become tangled. When they did, it was pretty much the point of no return. We're still holding out for the mesmerizing toy to make a comeback.
Fidget Spinners
Fidget Spinners exploded in popularity and then disappeared so fast that we wouldn't be surprised if the creator was sued for whiplash. The small device was claimed to be a stress reliever, as it held the attention of the person using it.
While focusing on a menial task may be a temporary relief, the toy just isn't that convenient to keep around. Once they started showing up in gas stations instead of kiosks, it was all downhill.
