There are 12 ways I remember adults socializing before the internet and social networks. Some of them may sound and look familiar even today, but how many did you know about or remember?
The Post Office
Oh yes, the post office, you know that place where you’d go to get your mail, send packages, buy stamps, and stand in line for hours on end to do your business, is another place adults pre-internet would social network. You’d be surprised, even as a kid, at the stuff you would hear adults talk about at the post office.
Even today I was reminded of this past social networking place for adults with a local woman here in town. She’s not the only one I have seen doing this that has brought back fond memories of my childhood. I can be guilty of this old social networking status update since I have done it myself catching up on happenings around town.
Over a Cup of Coffee
Long before the internet, adults would meet for a cup of coffee at their favorite restaurant and talk about what was going on their lives. Some folks would meet at the local convenient store where booths were available to chat about the weather, farming, what Joe Blow had done, and catch up on all the local gossip.
This still happens quite a bit in smaller and suburban towns, but not so much in larger metropolitan cities. In the small town where I grew up and where I live now, this can still be seen through the windows of the convenient stores and small restaurants.
Mom and Pop Grocery Stores
With stores like Wal-Mart and Kroger taking over the grocery store industry, mom and pop grocery stores are becoming a thing of the past. When growing up, the local mom and pop grocery store was another place where adults could be found yaking up a storm about the latest happenings.
Luckily I still live in a town that has a mom and pop grocery store where folks still can be seen catching up on every day events. It doesn’t matter whether it’s something in town, another town, or around the world, getting info at this store can be had while doing your grocery shopping. This is also known as another way multitasking was done.
High School Sports Games
Social networking at your town’s high school sports games was another way adults could catch up with their nightly social networking. Back in the day, the biggest sporting events in town would be football, baseball, basketball, and track unless you lived in a larger town then there would be other sporting events like wrestling.
This is still another way for adults to catch up with school events, their kids, and their kids friends. The reason being, kids will never change on what they share with dear old mom and dad.
The Party Line
When the mention of a party line is mentioned, you may think of “The Andy Griffith Show.” Any time someone picks up the phone, two sisters are always tying up the line with their catching up since they live in different towns.
Even while I was still in high school in the early 80s, there were party lines still going for those who lived out in the country. Sometimes, it would seem the little ol’ women where chatting it up like the sisters on “The Andy Griffith Show,” but they weren’t.
Letter Writing
That art form pretty much has died. Emails and texts are the way of the world these days. Then there’s Facebook and Twitter where anyone who you don’t know can become your friend and follow your life.
The Front Yard
There were many evenings I would see adults standing out in their front yards talking about this, that, and the other. It wouldn’t be one or two moms and dads, but the whole neighborhood.
If you lost your parents at any point and time while at home, all you would have to do is look out the front door and there’s the whole neighborhood out there.
Over the Back Yard Fence
Even when I was a young kid, there would be times when I would remember the whole block meeting up at the fence to talk about anything under the sun. This would even include the people across the street in any direction of the house.
This social networking of the 70s wouldn’t last for 140 characters and two-seconds. It would last for a half hour or more at any given time.
Box Dinner Parties
Even as a young kid, I would remember going to box dinner parties out in the country where the women would hold their cooking classes and other events. This would be held on a Friday or Saturday night. This was one way for single parents or young adults to get a predate before the big “Will you go out with me?”
Old Fashioned Christmas Parties
Much like the box dinner parties, these were held every Christmas. There were Christmas gift bags handed out that had hard candies, nuts, an apple and an orange in it. There was a Santa Clause, a decorated tree, coffee, hot apple cider, cake, and singing. At some point, these country Christmas parties quit happening.
Home Extension Cooking Classes
While dear old mom would learn to cook through home extension classes, they could socialize with each other and learn more about keeping house. Not only that, the kids could get their first taste of socializing too.
The Farm Implement Store
Never underestimate the farm implement and repair shops of yesteryear. Farmers can be as social as the next person. If you ever wanted to know anything about a repair, tools, parts, or just farm equipment, those folks are a walking encyclopedia of everything farm.
They can also be very social with things outside of farm implements. They can tell you what time their crazy rooster woke them up this morning, how many gallons of milk their cow gave at any point and time, how long it takes the goats to mow the front yard, how John up the road crop is doing, and how many times their old coon dog farted while they were out hunting. Of course you may learn that too much information is never too much from these guys.
The Lumber Yard and Hardware Store
Yep, back in the day, any given Saturday the lumber yard was the meet up for all the dads in the area whether they planned it or not. If dad told you he was going to the lumber yard, don’t expect him back for at least an hour or five. The length of time he was gone would depend on how urgent the lumber was needed back at home.
Then again, the lumber yard and hardware store back in those days were much like Lowe’s and Home Depot today minus the appliances, plants, house cleaning supplies, and grills. That is unless the lumber yard and hardware store was sandwiched in between an appliance store and Benjamin Franklin.
Stanley Home Parties
Stanley cleaning products had home parties where you would find both men and women attending them. This one of the few times you would find moms, dads, and kids all together at one home party. The little giveaways were usually handed to the kids to play with so they would be quiet during the presentation.