Why Would Anyone Want To Read About Nostalgia?
THE COMMENTS SECTION: Responding to audience comments + THIS WEEK OVER THE DECADES + Netflix Secret Codes
To be clear, this question was not hostile — it was inquisitive. Why would anyone want to read about nostalgia? Honestly, that's a great question! Let’s dive in— but first, here’s a photo from inside Tower Records in Greenwich Village, NYC from 1988. Remember when CDs were sold in long boxes?
You see what I just did there? I bet for most of you this is a very nostalgic photo and it took you back to a time when you may have bought your first compact disc from inside a Tower Records store. The simple answer is there are lots of people that love to have nostalgia dripped like a soothing cup of warm coffee rather than splashed in their face while scrolling through an app like Instagram or TikTok. Yes, there are people out there that prefer to read and be teleported to the past through stories. Can you believe that?
As That 80s Dude, I can tell you that nostalgia isn't just about reminiscing; it's about reconnecting with the best parts of our past and understanding how they shape who we are today. I assume if you’re reading this well, you’re probably a reader, like me. And you likely read a lot, also like me. I believe that those that wish to read about nostalgia are not only lovers of the written word, but they are looking for a greater connection to the past, and I know from personal experience that reading is a wonderful conduit for this connection.
Sure, you can watch YouTube or reposts of commercials on social media apps and so on, and you can even listen to your favorite playlists, but reading about these memories offers a deeper, richer experience. It allows us to delve into the stories behind the moments, to understand the context, and to engage in longer discussions.
For me, writing about nostalgia is about creating a space where we can relive those magical times together. It’s a chance to share personal anecdotes, fun facts, and reflections that go beyond the surface. When I write about the people, places, and things of the past, I aim to transport you back to those moments with vivid descriptions and heartfelt storytelling. It’s about painting a picture with words that can evoke the same emotions as hearing that old song or seeing that classic movie scene. Speaking of classic movie scenes—
— I remember sneaking into this movie with my best friend having just finished seeing The Lawnmower Man. Imagine watching this scene for the first time as a 14 year old!
DID YOU KNOW: Sharon Stone was director Paul Verhoeven's choice, but was only offered the role of Catherine after thirteen actresses had turned it down as she was not a marquee name at the time. (Source)
Reading also gives you the freedom to imagine and interpret those memories in your own way. You can take your time, savoring each story and letting your mind wander back to those simpler days. It’s a personal journey that you control, where every word can trigger happy, sometimes sad, memories, as well as forgotten feelings that give you an opportunity to think deeper about a moment in time. Do you agree?
So there you have it… now… let’s talk about SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK IN THE 80S—
1986 - “Addicted to Love" Became the #1 Song in America!
Fun Fact! — "Addicted to Love" was originally intended to be a duet with Chaka Khan, but her record company would not grant her permission to with Robert Palmer’s label, Island Records.
1985 - Gymkata, starring Kurt Thomas, Tetchie Agbayani, Richard Norton and Edward Bell was released in cinemas this week in 1985. The film grossed $5.7 Million and to this day still has the greatest pommel horse fight sequence of all time, lol! Here it is for your viewing pleasure—
1981 - Ripley’s Believe it or Not Premiered on ABC. It lasted four seasons!
1991 - “Diff'rent Strokes” actress Dana Plato received a six-year suspended sentence for robbing a video store at gunpoint. Plato was one of the child stars who had trouble adjusting once the 1980s hit television show ended. In 1991, Plato moved to Las Vegas without a job. I’ve always been a fan of Dana and was very sad when she passed away. There were a series of unfortunate events in her life and really wish things would have turned out different for her.
1996 - Woody Harrelson is arrested in Lee County, Kentucky, after he symbolically planted four hemp seeds to challenge the state law which did not distinguish between industrial hemp and marijuana.
2000 - The first "X-Men" film, starring Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, and Ian McKellen premieres on Ellis Island in New York Harbor. Did you see this in theatres? I sure did!!
2004 - After hosting the show for over 30 years, Casey Kasem gives up the hosting duties of "American Top 40" to Ryan Seacrest.
WHAT I STRONGLY DISLIKED THIS WEEK—
Madame Web is streaming on Netflix — The film miraculously made it into the box office, but only lasted 4 weeks before it was prematurely pulled and sent to streaming. The trailer was intriguing— I think people were curious.… it fooled a lot of people. It cost between 80-100million to make. It turned out to be another embarrassing film for Marvel. I have no clue where the money was spent on this film. I could barely keep watching the movie and I felt if there was ever a film that should have been cancelled for tax write-off purposes, this should have been the film. It probably would have done better being released as a mini-series straight to streaming. Anyway, super-hard pass on this one, I don’t recommend it at all.
VIBE CHECK—
If you’re a Netflix regular like me it sometimes gets frustrating not finding anything to watch. Well, here’s something I thought you would appreciated. Click Here or on image for the full document ;)
Content Creator Corner—
Recently I asked my audience on Instagram what they thought the max numbers of people they should be following before they completely lost control of their ability to view most of the posts in their feed. I’ve been intrigued lately by this for some reason. I’ve been seeing so many accounts that follow thousands of people. I mean not just a few accounts, but the majority of the accounts on IG and TT, and X, these folks are following thousands of accounts. I hear a lot of content creators complaining about why people don’t see their posts. Is it possible that most accounts are following too many people and therefore don’t see our posts as regularly as they used to when they followed fewer people? Of course that’s possible, and I’ll be sharing a little more on this topic soon. Personally, I believe you should aim to follow less than a thousand accounts max. It’s so important to curate your content feed. Do you agree?
Alright friends, thank you for reading. I’ll be back in your inbox soon… but before you go make sure you vote in the audience poll below!
Stay rad!
~ John
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