It’s undeniable that we’re living in a time that’s been christened the “Golden Age” by enthusiasts and optimists alike. While some might raise an eyebrow and argue that our world is far from perfect, there’s some excitement and progress that’s hard to ignore.
One Redditor asked, “What are we currently in the golden age of?” Now, this thread received thousands of insights, and we have listed the top 20 comments for you!
1. Information
Think about it, back in the day, if you wanted to know something, you had to trek to a library, dig through dusty old books, and pray you’d find what you were looking for. But now? Bam! Whip out your smartphone, fire up the internet, and you’ve got a world of answers waiting for you.
A discerning Reddit user commented, “I agree with everyone who says information. I remember growing up as a kid who loved reading, and how it could take weeks to get a book if it was popular, and say your grandma wouldn’t buy it for you because you already had too many books, and she was mad as you over-piled another shelf and broke it.”
Someone else replied, “But as an older Millennial, I live in constant envy of the childhood I never had that my little nieces are getting. Even as someone who was privileged enough to have had internet access in the early 90’s, which was a huge luxury, you still couldn’t really find what you needed on it.
I couldn’t find monologues for auditions, resources to learn a new language or download a book in seconds. Every drop of knowledge was a struggle to obtain. Now we have these machines in our pockets that can teach us anything. It’s amazing. I’ll never get over it.”
2. Podcasts
Remember the days when the radio was just for morning traffic updates and playing the same three songs on repeat? Well, say hello to podcasts- the cool kid version of radio that covers everything from conspiracy theories to cat psychology.
One user said, “I have an amazing 7-speaker sound system in my car, and I spend most of my time listening to people talking.”
Another commented, “I love fictional podcasts/audio dramas. It’s just so hard to find the ones I like. I’d make my own, but I don’t have the means, time, or energy to do so effectively.”
3. Paleontology
Well, hold onto your prehistoric hats because paleontology has done a total 180. It’s not just about bones and rocks anymore- it’s about piecing together the puzzle of life on Earth, from the tiniest microbes to the mightiest dinosaurs.
Someone wrote, “Paleontology. We’ve discovered more species and found more fossils that explain prehistoric animal behavior than at any other point in history, just in the past 20 years or so. We know what at least one species of dinosaurs’ bottoms looked like. What a time to be alive.”
Another person pitched in to say, “There are so many updated resources for such modern discoveries? I was just talking dinosaurs with my daughter and wondering how much we have evolved.”
4. Beer
This person shared, “Beer. I can go out every night of the week, all year long, and never try the same beer twice. And they’re all pretty delicious. Also, now I may be an alcoholic.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “I can probably do the same thing, but have every beer made within 100km of my house. It’s totally wild.”
A Reddit user shared, “I find the breweries near me are constantly making new beers. I can never run out.”
It’s not just about getting tipsy; it’s about experiencing a symphony of flavors in every sip. You’ve got brewers experimenting with crazy ingredients- we are talking about beers infused with everything from bacon to Sriracha. Yeah, you read that right.
5. Asparagus
A discerning Reddit user commented, “Asparagus, This is the Dawning of the age of Asparagus!”
Another replied, “Welchem to Germany, where we have 5 seasons. Winter Spring Spargelzeit (Asparagus time) Summer and Autumn.”
And the health benefits? Oh, they’re no joke. Asparagus is the ninja of nutrition, packing a punch of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
6. Spicy Chicken
Let’s rewind for a second. Remember when the chicken was just, well, chicken? Bland, boring, and begging for some excitement. Well, say goodbye to those plain Jane days because now we’ve got spicy chicken creations that are turning our taste buds into a full-blown dance party.
One user said, “Spicy chicken sandwiches and literally nothing else. Seems like every other week, there’s a new “So and So’s Famous Spicy Chicken” shop popping up.”
A Reddit user shared, “yes. Just about anywhere you go, you will get a delicious spicy chicken sandwich.”
7. Disinformation
Picture this: we’ve got more information at our fingertips than ever before. We’re connected 24/7, sharing memes, tweets, and cat videos all the time. But here’s the catch- not all that stuff is legit. In fact, a good chunk of it is straight-up hogwash.
Someone wrote, “Disinformation. The U.S. education system is in the toilet, so yeah, that sounds about right.”
Another person pitched in to say, “Nowadays, it is just so easy for everyone with some basic IT knowledge to set up a web page that to most laypeople is indistinguishable from an official, reliable news source, to spread whatever crazy kind of nonsense they feel like.”
8. Bad Politicians
This person shared, “Terrible oliticians. I’ve been on a recent kick of watching documentaries on the more well-known leaders and politicians in history, and they’ve always been crazy. Even the well-respected ones. Positions of leadership tend to attract narcissistic, selfish people.”
Someone else replied, “Definitely. But hope it doesn’t get even worse. This is the prime age of self-absorbed and corrupt politicians. “
These days, politicians can change their stance on a topic faster than you can say “policy shift.”
9. Yoga Pants
Another commented, “Nice yoga pants; I love the low-rise hip-huggers of the early 2000s. Little flashes of b*** crack all the time, loved it.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “God bless them!! They are so comfortable, I don’t even do yoga, but h*ll they are comfy and stretchable.”
But here’s the best part- yoga pants are more versatile than a chameleon at a color-changing convention. You can go from Netflix and chill mode to an impromptu gym session without skipping a beat.
10. Weed
We’ve got researchers and innovators exploring this magical plant. They’re turning weed into oils, edibles, and even skincare products!
A discerning Reddit user commented, “If you’d have told me back when I was a stoner that one day I could order weed legally delivered to my house, I’d never have believed it, and yet that’s a thing now. Ironically, I don’t smoke weed anymore.”
A Reddit user shared, “In Texas, of all places, I can drive down the street and purchase weed and THC products legally. I would never have thought to see the day ad a kid.”
11. Self-Centeredness
Sure, the Golden Age of self-centeredness might seem like an ego trip, but it’s also a reflection of our desire to be heard, validated, and seen. We’re living in an age where we’re more connected than ever, but paradoxically, we’re also dealing with feelings of isolation.
One user said, “Self-centeredness, too much seen in every person as an individual and in our society as a whole.”
Another replied sarcastically, “Wow. That was my original idea; who do you think you are to comment before me. God, don’t you know who I am! /s. But really, this so much.”
12. Social Media
This person shared, “I don’t think social media will die out anytime soon, just get worse and more intrusive. It used to be great, but it’s getting worse and worse.”
Another person pitched in to say, “I feel like a lot of social media sites are getting to the point where they really need to start turning a profit, and it’s getting harder to do that and not kill your platform. Combine that with how it’s becoming a greater part of the public knowledge that it’s extremely unhealthy, especially for children.”
And let’s talk about the variety. Facebook’s like the OG of social media. Instagram’s all about the visuals- your brunch, your gym selfies, and of course, those filters that make everyone look like they’re living their best life. Twitter? It’s like a lightning-fast rollercoaster of thoughts, memes, and roasts. TikTok? Well, it’s a whole new universe of short, quirky videos that can make you laugh, cry, or question your life choices- all in 15 seconds or less.
13. Pessimism
Seriously, have you noticed how negativity seems to be oozing out from every corner these days?
Someone wrote, “pessimism. For real. This is a perfect thread to actually try and uplift people, yet some are so obsessed with doom and gloom that the idea of dedicating even one thread to an optimistic view of the present is repugnant to them.”
Someone else replied, “This so much. i feel like so much of people love to focus on how bad they think things are, even on what should be a positive note/view.”
14. Stupidity
Come on, have you taken a look around lately? It’s like we’re living in a world where common sense has taken a vacation and absurdity is having a field day. We’re seeing challenges that make us scratch our heads and viral content that makes us wonder if we accidentally landed in a parallel universe.
One user said, “Stupidity. that hits too hard, and I’m blessed to be in my last year of uni; I can’t bear some people’s lack of judgment.”
Another commented, “This is the one I came for. These days people would kill you for knowing what plants make you feel better.”
15. Entertainment
Back in the day, we had a couple of TV channels and a handful of radio stations. Now? We’ve got a whole buffet of options, and it’s not just about cable TV anymore. We’re talking streaming services that serve up movies, shows, documentaries, and original content like there’s no tomorrow.
A discerning Reddit user commented, “Maybe Entertainment. You could kill a day with just YouTube channel subscription videos. Or Game Pass games. Or PS+ games. Or any of the streaming services. And so on. (There’s still books, TV, cinema.)”
Another person agreed to it and said, “Streaming, for sure. I came here to say that. I’ll tell ya now, when I ran out of Markiplier to watch, that stuff hit me like a ton of bricks.”
16. Board Games
This person shared, “Because almost everyone has given a bad answer, I’ll try to give a positive one: board games. There has never been a better time to be a board game nerd like me, in terms of the number of intriguing games available and the number of people interested in playing them. Compared to games like Risk, Monopoly, and Stratego, which I grew up with, it’s as if we’ve progressed from a Model T to a Corvette.”
Another person pitched in to say, “This is the comment I was looking for. The amount of modern board games is astounding, and the game-play of them far exceeds a lot of the luck-driven 3 hour snooze-fests of the past. Most people into boardgames (like myself) would readily agree we have been in a truly golden era of boardgames for the past couple of decades or so.”
From building civilizations to solving mysteries, from negotiating shady deals to saving the world from an alien invasion- there’s a game for every flavor of adventure.
17. Water Levels
Remember the days when we didn’t have to worry about our beach houses turning into beach submarines? Yeah, those days seem to be sailing away because we’re in a race against time to find ways to keep our cities from turning into Atlantis 2.0.
Someone wrote, “Water. Buckle up. Not ready for that conversation.”
Someone else replied, “The ground in the California Central Valley is literally sinking because of so much water being pumped out. And all that water just gets exported elsewhere. Whether for drinking or in the form of food. It’s staying gone. Not gonna happen. People will riot at that point.”
18. Horsepower
This person shared, “Horsepower. If you had told me just 15 years ago that it would be common to have 450+HP stock and still get 25+MPG with all the creature comforts and for a reasonable price, there’s no way anyone would have believed it. Yet here we are with the Mustang GT, Camaro SS, Challenger R/T, and even the Corvette!”
Another person agreed to it and said, “I like 450hp in an electric car too. I never imagined I’d be driving a $50k family car with a 0-60 that beats the supercars I grew up reading about.”
But hold onto your helmets because it’s not just about speed. It’s about the engineering marvels that are under those hoods. Turbochargers, hybrid systems, advanced aerodynamics- these cars are a symphony of technology and horsepower, working together to create something truly mind-blowing.
19. Artificial Intelligence
Have you seen the stuff AI can do these days? We’ve got virtual assistants that can tell us the weather, play our favorite tunes, and even crack a joke or two!
One user said, “Ai. Cool enough to play with but hasn’t completely ruined our world yet.”
Another commented, “We obviously have a long way to go, but what we have established in the advancements of ai is wow-za.”
20. Corporate Greed
A discerning Reddit user commented, “Corporate greed and inflation has doomed us all, truly can’t see how it can get any worse.”
Another person pitched in to say, “Corporate Greed. Everything just keeps going up in price: rent, gas, homes, food, water, power, and anything else you can think of. But I only can manage to increase my income if I job-hop constantly. I hit the wall of that 2 years ago, and basically, I’m just getting priced out of existence. Meanwhile, I’m getting told by millionaires/billionaires to not buy coffee or go out to eat. Like I barely do that, to begin with, and even If I sacrificed what little joy was left, it would net me what? Like an extra 5 grand a year if I really penny-pinch. I’m just tired…I just want it to stop…”
From shady business practices to mind-boggling executive bonuses, companies are playing Monopoly with real money and not a care in the world!
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This article was produced and syndicated by A Dime Saved.
