Flip phones, C.D.’s and Blockbuster Nights are some things of 2005 that students of today are feeling a little nostalgic over just a decade later.

“Back then, it was kind of exciting just to go and pick out a movie for the night,” said Paige Johnson, a junior majoring in communicative disorders. “Now, everything’s just at the touch of your hand with a click.”

Johnson said she feels like the instant access to films that we have now kind of messed with the productiveness of everyone.

“You used to take a trip to Blockbuster or the movie gallery to watch a movie on the weekends,” Johnson said. “Now people can spend five hours on Netflix.”

Johnson said she had a pretty impressive C.D. collection back then, which is almost unheard of in the age of downloads and iTunes.

“Now, you can just put it on your phone or your iPad,” Johnson said. “It’s way more accessible, but you still go through all your C.D.’s and it’s like, ‘Wow.’”

Britanny Stickney, an interdisciplinary studies senior, remembers having to carry around a C.D. player to listen to her music in 2005.

“I remember dropping mine on the bus, and then it would skip,” Stickney said. “Or it was broken. But now, you just have your phone, and you can just listen to whatever you want.”

She remembers her flip phone back then and trying to get bars when she was sitting in class.
“We would always try to get service in class by sitting by the window,” Stickney said. “Now, you can’t even pay attention in class because you have your phone with you. You’re texting someone, you’re checking Facebook or you’tr pm Instagram. You’re doing everything but paying attention.”
Andrew Schlesinger, a broadcast major, said he remembers in 2005 that most people didn’t even have cell phones.

“Now, everybody’s got them,” said Schlesinger, “and you can do everything on them.”
Schlesinger said he’s noticed things have gotten more compact.

“Video cameras were huge, now they’re tiny,” said Schlesinger. “Lap tops existed, but they certainly weren’t small like they are now.”

When asked which time they would prefer, 2015 or 2005, there were mixed responses for everyone.
“Now,” said Schlesinger. “I like all the advances in medical technology, being able to do everything over your phone…those things are good. From a literacy standpoint, no. Ease of access has made people lazy. You don’t have to study anymore. It’s just point, click, boom.”

Johnson said she would prefer today too, because she feels as though things are more productive with all of the technology, especially education.

“Its way easier to type notes and turn in assignments online rather than having to handwrite everything. It was just more time consuming,” said Johnson. “So on the education point, I find it a lot more beneficial. It’s also cool for the social media aspect.”

Stickney didn’t say there’s much she misses about 2005 except that relationships have changed, even though we’re more connected now than ever.

“Things were just simpler,” said Stickney. “Now, you can just text people, but back then you would call your friends and talk on the phone. You would actually listen to them. Less like ‘Hey, what’s up?’ with texting.”