As a kid I remember wishing radio shack was a more general consumers electronics store. As an adult I really wish I had easy access to the stuff they sold, like I've had a lot of projects that need a random transistor or whatever.

I was too young to appreciate them for what they were and they went out of business before I could.

Speaking as ex rat shacker, components and kits were already trending down as consumer electronics became more difficult or impossible to repair. Then they ultimately folded after incompetent leadership bet the farm on cell phones sales exactly while iPhones were still AT&T/Apple store exclusive.

Except that ostricizes you from your community peers. The point of these “communes” is to be able to live with others who share your lifestyle and be able to talk and share.

Yeah, but I still need my corner Radio Shack...

DVD’s

VHS you heathen

Basically how most grandparents currently live, minus social media.

ICQ was better because it was one of the first mainstream services to allow offline messages. AIM added it later but originally your friend had to be online.

Let’s not forget about IRC

That didn't last long however before it became completely spammed and unusable.