Oh, the ’80s—a decade when life seemed simpler. No social media pressure, no getting questioned by CPS for letting kids walk to school on their own, no debates on whether Crocs are acceptable footwear.

But for all the freedoms, there were also great agonies. In the Ask Reddit community, Reddit user 24h00 took us back to the struggle by asking the question, “What were some first world problems in 1980?” Redditors remembered it all: the bike chain grease, the traveler’s checks, having to dial 411. Some other problems of yesteryear: Television:

“Help! What time is ALF on?”

The family telephone:

Kids today will never know the terror.



Cameras:

“Nooooo! Oh well, I’ll just have to cut the people out and make a collage.”

Cassettes:

Other redditors recalled the frustration of hearing radio deejays talk at the beginning or end of the song they were taping.

Payphones:

There was very little certainty that someone would ever pick you up.

These:

Also known as: tangled balls of WHYYYYYYYYY.

And this: