OMG! Kids react to ROTARY PHONES!!

[HardyGirl]

It's really weird that no one even bother to teach kids this piece of "history". (Man, we must be really old!) Do YOUR kids know about rotary phones? I have one displayed in my living room and I really wish it worked!

[steelcouch]

Funny that you would mention that. My kids asked me the other day, if I was around when cassettes were being used. This post reminded me of that.

[Iron Mego]

Old fashioned. Oof, that hurts.

[YoungOnce]

Ha! That's awful cute.... I wish someone would invent a rotary cell phone. I think it would sell like crazy.

[Iron Mego]

There's an app for that.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rotary-phone/id364643434?mt=8

[jwyblejr]

Imagine if they had to figure out the ones you use to have to crank.

[Earth 2 Chris]

My dad still had a rotary phone until just a few years ago. My son was flummoxed by it.

Chris

[Wee67]

I was telling one of my interns that I still have over 2,000 CD's. She said, "Wow, do they still make those?"

REALLY?!?!? CD's make me old, now. I didn't have the heart to tell her I have two 8-track players.

[jwyblejr]

You should have asked if she has been in a store lately. Every store I go to still has CDs.

[Figuremod73]

My grandparents had a rotary phone growing up. I didnt like phones then, dont like them now.

[ScottA]

I actually still have one like Sheriff Andy Taylor used.

[Werewolf]

You should have asked if she has been in a store lately. Every store I go to still has CDs.

Yeah, I find it really hard to believe that someone isn't aware CDs are still being made or sold. Heck, the Books A Million in my area even carries a decent selection of new vinyl albums.

[HardyGirl]

This is one of those topics I really thought would take off. I guess this really shocks me for a couple of reasons. First b/c when I was a kid, my mom actually told me stories about when she was a kid. All about radio programs, and the things she played w/ and the comics she read and her favorite park, and how cheap her favorite foods were. So there was no shock or anything when I would see old movies on TV when things were more primitive than in my childhood imaginings. Which brings me to my second point. Don't these kids ever watch TV? Beyond reality shows and today's dopey cartoons, I mean. On some of the doll boards I'm on, some of the young girls say how they like watching Brady Bunch and I dream of Jeannie. They're rotary phones on shows like that, and I know that there are families who watch the retro type channels together, (like Me-TV, Antenna and Cozi). Are kids today actually that clueless? And are parents actually so narrow and so into their own lives and careers that they don't talk to their kids about being a kid, or at least exposing them to different ways of life? Even my pre-schoolers knew how to pick up a phone receiver and talk! (even though they play w/ push button phones), and the older kids have an old rotary phone in their classroom to play with. My little guys even know about records! Ok, I'm ranting now, but it just makes me sad that kids are so shletered and narrow these days.

[Figuremod73]

I agree. I dont think most kids watch classic shows or movies. They stick with Nick and Disney and those computer generated movies. It really is their babysitters. (I really think Disneys programming tries to make kids think they are smarter than adults) I doubt any of those kids know what a n64 or beeper is. Their attention spans seem to be shorter and the need for something new is greater.

I remember when getting a tape, videogame, or toy could occupy me for hours. I use to go to a neighbors just to see his commodore. I thought it was the coolest thing ever, now kids carry around their own cell phones.

[Werewolf]

Are kids today actually that clueless? And are parents actually so narrow and so into their own lives and careers that they don't talk to their kids about being a kid, or at least exposing them to different ways of life?

I doubt it. Just like reality tv isn't actually all that real, vids like these are set ups and exaggerated.

Like you said, your pre-schoolers knew how to use a phone and the younger people on your doll groups like and watch shows from the 60s and 70s.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.