There's been several pictures posted lately of high school during the mid '00s, but I wanted to go a little further back. This is a video I came across on YouTube giving a good look at what it was like to attend high school around 2002, which encompassed my freshman and sophomore years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFGIfEK8kT0

And here's a few pictures I found on Google from 2002.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-ENL8y_eB_A/maxresdefault.jpg

http://yb.cmcdn.com/yearbooks/9/4/6/2/94629544caf137186a8a8fb30c30543d/440/0002.jpg?h=5066f0e5ba84e963ecec6b89420769c4

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xQ8ER2L-x7A/maxresdefault.jpg

http://www.amtausa.com/AMTA%20Director%20Ken%20MacTiernan%20at%20Patrick%20henry%20High%20School%202002.jpg

https://thomas.dereyck.eu/gallery/var/albums/Class-pictures/4c.jpg?m=1307801032

Hot damn. I just visited a High School to get my friend's nephew and vibe that I got from that school in '17 feels different from the '02 High School vibe I'm getting from that vid and pics. I was never was in High School in the early 2000s. I was only ages 10-13 (5th to 8th grade). The youth school scene back then was upbeat (although I can't think of a time that it generally wasn't).

I remember you linking that video before. The high school era before cellphones!

It looks very quaint, calming. I don't know how else to describe it ;D

Hot damn. I just visited a High School to get my friend's nephew and vibe that I got from that school in '17 feels different from the '02 High School vibe I'm getting from that vid and pics. I was never was in High School in the early 2000s. I was only ages 10-13 (5th to 8th grade). The youth school scene back then was upbeat (although I can't think of a time that it generally wasn't).


I was a freshman in late 2002, the vibe was pretty much like the late 90s but evolved.
The whole emo vibe really started gaining traction when avril and Pop punk bands gained
steam on TRL. Wrestling was waning alot during this time.  8 mile was all anyone talked about
for the next few weeks lol.

Hot damn. I just visited a High School to get my friend's nephew and vibe that I got from that school in '17 feels different from the '02 High School vibe I'm getting from that vid and pics. I was never was in High School in the early 2000s. I was only ages 10-13 (5th to 8th grade). The youth school scene back then was upbeat (although I can't think of a time that it generally wasn't).


A big thing to note is  early 2002 of my middle school year FELT VERY different compared to late 2002 with my freshman
highschool year. Things felt more laid back because of 9/11 being atleast a year behind.

Looks way different compared to the photos of 2004-2006 and just how I remember 2000-2002.

Here's some more '02 photos

http://history.cpet.ufl.edu/SSTP/SSTP2002/images/SSTP%202002%20Group%20Photo.jpg

http://www.d.umn.edu/~jgallian/photos/8.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6XYsqI3rTqs/SdAVyHDde3I/AAAAAAAAABE/mPUEybixwok/s1600/school.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6XYsqI3rTqs/SdAVyM-JekI/AAAAAAAAABM/56EudQbFLXk/s400/seniorball.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6XYsqI3rTqs/SdAVmKtGuaI/AAAAAAAAAAk/U1itTZySjT4/s400/home.jpg

http://www.pcschools535.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/510813fe43a4a/1_1359483968998.jpg


I was a freshman in late 2002, the vibe was pretty much like the late 90s but evolved.
The whole emo vibe really started gaining traction when avril and Pop punk bands gained
steam on TRL. Wrestling was waning alot during this time.  8 mile was all anyone talked about
for the next few weeks lol.


I wouldn't say there was an "emo" vibe, yet. At least, not the quintessential 00's myspace emo since that didn't exist until 2003. blink-182 had already been making rounds on TRL since 1999/2000.

And here's a few pictures I found on Google from 2002.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xQ8ER2L-x7A/maxresdefault.jpg

God that looks so cozy! Everything from the summer atmosphere to the retro(ish) brand designs in the background.

Damn this makes me makes me so nostalgic of 2002 :D!

Its crazy how old this year feels now being thats its 15 years old. Next school year, their will be kids in high school that weren't even alive during 2002, thats insane :o.

I was watching this commercial break a couple of months ago and I felt so shocked into how old 2002 has became.
PNgB9oTfxFA

Next school year, their will be kids in high school that weren't even alive during 2002, thats insane :o.


It's even stranger for me. Over here, there are kids who started high school this year that were only born in Early 2005! I started Kindergarten when they were born and I go to school with them.  :o

Looks way different compared to the photos of 2004-2006 and just how I remember 2000-2002.

Here's some more '02 photos

http://history.cpet.ufl.edu/SSTP/SSTP2002/images/SSTP%202002%20Group%20Photo.jpg

http://www.d.umn.edu/~jgallian/photos/8.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6XYsqI3rTqs/SdAVyHDde3I/AAAAAAAAABE/mPUEybixwok/s1600/school.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6XYsqI3rTqs/SdAVyM-JekI/AAAAAAAAABM/56EudQbFLXk/s400/seniorball.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6XYsqI3rTqs/SdAVmKtGuaI/AAAAAAAAAAk/U1itTZySjT4/s400/home.jpg

http://www.pcschools535.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/510813fe43a4a/1_1359483968998.jpg

I wouldn't say there was an "emo" vibe, yet. At least, not the quintessential 00's myspace emo since that didn't exist until 2003. blink-182 had already been making rounds on TRL since 1999/2000.



emo was def coming in late 2002, a girl in my AP history class had the black hot topic pants with the chains , alot of people
started wearing gauges and checkboard vans. It was the VERY early stages of emo.

emo was def coming in late 2002, a girl in my AP history class had the black hot topic pants with the chains , alot of people
started wearing gauges and checkboard vans. It was the VERY early stages of emo.


Nah, dude. I was going to pop punk and emo shows all the way up to 2005. Even in late 2002 emo still meant sweater vests and big glasses. Black tripp pants with chains were all the rage with goth kids and I remember seeing gauges pop up around 2000 or so.

Nah, dude. I was going to pop punk and emo shows all the way up to 2005. Even in late 2002 emo still meant sweater vests and big glasses. Black tripp pants with chains were all the rage with goth kids and I remember seeing gauges pop up around 2000 or so.

Well in the east coast in New York/Jersey, Girls in 2002 in my freshman class were def wearing the whole goth look with the dyed red hair,
chains on pants etc,  I think like goth kind of merged into emo a bit or emo borrowed elements of goth. Needless to say  when Good Charlotte
came out in fall of 2002 everyone started becoming a pop punk kid. New found Glory came out with an album that year, as well as Senses Fail,
it was like laying the ground work for the emo explosion a year and a half later, not that many people were " emo" in 2002 but you were starting to
see it pop up in late 2002. 
VERY EARLY stages


Start of 2002 and fall of 2002 are like 2 different beings.

Looks way different compared to the photos of 2004-2006 and just how I remember 2000-2002.

Here's some more '02 photos

http://history.cpet.ufl.edu/SSTP/SSTP2002/images/SSTP%202002%20Group%20Photo.jpg

http://www.d.umn.edu/~jgallian/photos/8.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6XYsqI3rTqs/SdAVyHDde3I/AAAAAAAAABE/mPUEybixwok/s1600/school.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6XYsqI3rTqs/SdAVyM-JekI/AAAAAAAAABM/56EudQbFLXk/s400/seniorball.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6XYsqI3rTqs/SdAVmKtGuaI/AAAAAAAAAAk/U1itTZySjT4/s400/home.jpg

http://www.pcschools535.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/510813fe43a4a/1_1359483968998.jpg

I wouldn't say there was an "emo" vibe, yet. At least, not the quintessential 00's myspace emo since that didn't exist until 2003. blink-182 had already been making rounds on TRL since 1999/2000.


That moment when you realize that '02 had a much more chill/relaxed time than most years within the 2010s. Sure 9/11 happened just a few months prior to the start of 2002, but  compared to 2013-2017 and the constant news relating to political nonsense, racial tension, shootings, deaths, and frequent small terrorist threats that keep happening 2002 seemed fine. Pop culturally the year was great. Politically I'd argue that '02 was in a better state than '16 and '17.

Speaking of high school, I would have loved to have went to high school from 1993 to 1997, maybe even 1994 to 1998. I wouldn't be interested in high school in the early 00's.

I probably wouldn't say 2002 was more relaxed than today. Society did seem less fragmented, but in the second half of the year the buildup to the Iraq War was obvious and was very contentious. In college, it was controversial. The news media focused on Iraq almost constantly and the Bush administration went from emphasizing weapons of mass destruction to emphasizing the need to spread democracy, alternating its message every few weeks, as a justification for the necessity of war. It was clear the Iraq War was a foregone conclusion and they were just looking for a reason.

In early 2003 I can recall some protests and demonstrations on campus. One was a big anti-war protest with a very shrill female student shouting slogans from a megaphone. Another was an Iraqi girl accusing the U.S. of killing 500,000 Iraqis through sanctions, and opponents were yelling at her, like "go back to Iraq!"

Maybe at the high school level, the early 2000s seemed less contentious than today, and it's true that society seemed less fragmented by identity politics and the internet (though both were around), and politically, large-scale action was still possible (like the Iraq War), but politics was really in your face to anyone who paid attention to it back then.

I probably wouldn't say 2002 was more relaxed than today. Society did seem less fragmented, but in the second half of the year the buildup to the Iraq War was obvious and was very contentious. In college, it was controversial. The news media focused on Iraq almost constantly and the Bush administration went from emphasizing weapons of mass destruction to emphasizing the need to spread democracy, alternating its message every few weeks, as a justification for the necessity of war. It was clear the Iraq War was a foregone conclusion and they were just looking for a reason.

In early 2003 I can recall some protests and demonstrations on campus. One was a big anti-war protest with a very shrill female student shouting slogans from a megaphone. Another was an Iraqi girl accusing the U.S. of killing 500,000 Iraqis through sanctions, and opponents were yelling at her, like "go back to Iraq!"

Maybe at the high school level, the early 2000s seemed less contentious than today, and it's true that society seemed less fragmented by identity politics and the internet (though both were around), and politically, large-scale action was still possible (like the Iraq War), but politics was really in your face to anyone who paid attention to it back then.

I agree with you and I was only 2-3 years old back then.

Personally, I would have wanted to be in high school from 1984-1988 or 1993-1997. The early '00s just aren't for me when it comes to being a teen :P.

Personally, I would have wanted to be in high school from 1984-1988 or 1993-1997. The early '00s just aren't for me when it comes to being a teen :P.


I agree.

I probably wouldn't say 2002 was more relaxed than today. Society did seem less fragmented, but in the second half of the year the buildup to the Iraq War was obvious and was very contentious. In college, it was controversial. The news media focused on Iraq almost constantly and the Bush administration went from emphasizing weapons of mass destruction to emphasizing the need to spread democracy, alternating its message every few weeks, as a justification for the necessity of war. It was clear the Iraq War was a foregone conclusion and they were just looking for a reason.

In early 2003 I can recall some protests and demonstrations on campus. One was a big anti-war protest with a very shrill female student shouting slogans from a megaphone. Another was an Iraqi girl accusing the U.S. of killing 500,000 Iraqis through sanctions, and opponents were yelling at her, like "go back to Iraq!"

Maybe at the high school level, the early 2000s seemed less contentious than today, and it's true that society seemed less fragmented by identity politics and the internet (though both were around), and politically, large-scale action was still possible (like the Iraq War), but politics was really in your face to anyone who paid attention to it back then.


The early '00s were on the way to where we are now politically, even the '90s were with the rise of Limbaugh and Fox News. The 2000 election was a big moment tbh when a lot of people started questioning the integrity of our elections and it's really only gotten worse from there. It wasn't as bad then at least however. W. Bush was a fool but still a true statesman compared to Trump. Clinton was also a fool in a lot of ways with his sexual escapades, but again compared to Trump the guy is like Lincoln.

Well in the east coast in New York/Jersey, Girls in 2002 in my freshman class were def wearing the whole goth look with the dyed red hair,
chains on pants etc,  I think like goth kind of merged into emo a bit or emo borrowed elements of goth. Needless to say  when Good Charlotte
came out in fall of 2002 everyone started becoming a pop punk kid. New found Glory came out with an album that year, as well as Senses Fail,
it was like laying the ground work for the emo explosion a year and a half later, not that many people were " emo" in 2002 but you were starting to
see it pop up in late 2002. 
VERY EARLY stages


Start of 2002 and fall of 2002 are like 2 different beings.


My senior year, 1999-2000, everyone was into blink-182 and Lit; early 00's styled pop punk was already heavily mainstream and imitated by this point. Good Charlotte were just another continuation of the 1998-2003 wave. New Found Glory aren't, nor were they ever, an Emo band. I'm very familiar with their music as I've seen them live many times and even met a couple of members of the band. They may have had a couple of emo tints here and there similar to bands like The Ataris or Home Grown but they weren't 50/50 emo-pop punk like The Movielife or The Starting Line. Their self-titled came out in 2000 and it's no different from Sticks and Stones in any way; a direct continuation. Senses Fail's first EP from 2002 (which wasn't really all that big until it's reissue on Drive Thru records in 2003) sounds like most emo records from 2000-2002, too. Didn't really lay the groundwork for anything. It was Fall Out Boy's release of Take This to Your Grave that kick started the faux-emo movement, though, it wasn't until Summer 2004 that it started to reach the mainstream. This is when emo stopped being about sweater vests and vintage t-shirts and became what it's known for today.


The early '00s were on the way to where we are now politically, even the '90s were with the rise of Limbaugh and Fox News. The 2000 election was a big moment tbh when a lot of people started questioning the integrity of our elections and it's really only gotten worse from there. It wasn't as bad then at least however. W. Bush was a fool but still a true statesman compared to Trump. Clinton was also a fool in a lot of ways with his sexual escapades, but again compared to Trump the guy is like Lincoln.


A lot of people point to Reagan and the 80's as the roots of today's problems, too.

My senior year, 1999-2000, everyone was into blink-182 and Lit; early 00's styled pop punk was already heavily mainstream and imitated by this point. Good Charlotte were just another continuation of the 1998-2003 wave. New Found Glory aren't, nor were they ever, an Emo band. I'm very familiar with their music as I've seen them live many times and even met a couple of members of the band. They may have had a couple of emo tints here and there similar to bands like The Ataris or Home Grown but they weren't 50/50 emo-pop punk like The Movielife or The Starting Line. Their self-titled came out in 2000 and it's no different from Sticks and Stones in any way; a direct continuation. Senses Fail's first EP from 2002 (which wasn't really all that big until it's reissue on Drive Thru records in 2003) sounds like most emo records from 2000-2002, too. Didn't really lay the groundwork for anything. It was Fall Out Boy's release of Take This to Your Grave that kick started the faux-emo movement, though, it wasn't until Summer 2004 that it started to reach the mainstream. This is when emo stopped being about sweater vests and vintage t-shirts and became what it's known for today.

A lot of people point to Reagan and the 80's as the roots of today's problems, too.


Yeah actually you can go back to Reagan with all the deregulation and the rise of the "Christian Right". Before that more people were "moderate" on both sides, now it's two extremes (especially the Republicans) with no middle. Today's Republicans would consider Nixon pretty much a commie probably.

Yeah actually you can go back to Reagan with all the deregulation and the rise of the "Christian Right". Before that more people were "moderate" on both sides, now it's two extremes (especially the Republicans) with no middle. Today's Republicans would consider Nixon pretty much a commie probably.


There's no place for the center anymore. Today's world is very "you're either with us or against us!"

Personally, I would have wanted to be in high school from 1984-1988 or 1993-1997. The early '00s just aren't for me when it comes to being a teen :P.


As much as the '43 Bush Administration was really controversial to most people, I would rather be a '00s teen than become a teen in possibly the worst decade politically and culturally (2010s). Yeah, you had people saying sheesh about Muslims since 9/11, but at least people didn't have a problem domestically (aside from the economy) in the 2000s. I cannot stand one news report where it says that somebody shot multiple people, or Trump trying to get cut most of Medicare's funds. No other Republican president before Trump tried to get rid of our own social programs from the past 80 years. People with mental, physical, and developmental disabilities would be f*cked without Medicare's support. The programs that they've been going to has been covered by Medicare. Although I would rather be a mid or late '00s teen, since being a teen in the early '00s would kinda suck.


Yeah actually you can go back to Reagan with all the deregulation and the rise of the "Christian Right". Before that more people were "moderate" on both sides, now it's two extremes (especially the Republicans) with no middle. Today's Republicans would consider Nixon pretty much a commie probably.


Honestly, people could blame Jimmy Carter because he wasn't really a strong president by the late 70s. Reagan's campaign in 1980 was the point where America was kinda f*cked and they couldn't do anything else. This is honestly why I can't like American politics.

My senior year, 1999-2000, everyone was into blink-182 and Lit; early 00's styled pop punk was already heavily mainstream and imitated by this point. Good Charlotte were just another continuation of the 1998-2003 wave. New Found Glory aren't, nor were they ever, an Emo band. I'm very familiar with their music as I've seen them live many times and even met a couple of members of the band. They may have had a couple of emo tints here and there similar to bands like The Ataris or Home Grown but they weren't 50/50 emo-pop punk like The Movielife or The Starting Line. Their self-titled came out in 2000 and it's no different from Sticks and Stones in any way; a direct continuation. Senses Fail's first EP from 2002 (which wasn't really all that big until it's reissue on Drive Thru records in 2003) sounds like most emo records from 2000-2002, too. Didn't really lay the groundwork for anything. It was Fall Out Boy's release of Take This to Your Grave that kick started the faux-emo movement, though, it wasn't until Summer 2004 that it started to reach the mainstream. This is when emo stopped being about sweater vests and vintage t-shirts and became what it's known for today.

A lot of people point to Reagan and the 80's as the roots of today's problems, too.


You have some good points, but the whole emo style that was popular in late 2004 were starting to come out in late 2002, I saw it with my own eyes and have
pictures of it lol

You have some good points, but the whole emo style that was popular in late 2004 were starting to come out in late 2002, I saw it with my own eyes and have
pictures of it lol


Well, I still remember how MakeOutClub profiles and other clone sites still looked back in late 2002 and it didn't look like emo does today.

Though, if you really wanna find the roots of where today's emo started, look no further than Justin Pearson back in 1998-1999.

Uqdw8wXqpA4

Skinny jeans, tight shirts, creeper shoes, jet black hair, etc. It's all there.

As much as the '43 Bush Administration was really controversial to most people, I would rather be a '00s teen than become a teen in possibly the worst decade politically and culturally (2010s). Yeah, you had people saying sheesh about Muslims since 9/11, but at least people didn't have a problem domestically (aside from the economy) in the 2000s. I cannot stand one news report where it says that somebody shot multiple people, or Trump trying to get cut most of Medicare's funds. No other Republican president before Trump tried to get rid of our own social programs from the past 80 years. People with mental, physical, and developmental disabilities would be f*cked without Medicare's support. The programs that they've been going to has been covered by Medicare. Although I would rather be a mid or late '00s teen, since being a teen in the early '00s would kinda suck.
Well, me not wanting to be a teen during the early '00s (or really just the 2000s in general) has little to do with the George W. Bush administration and more to the fact that I didn't like teen culture of the 2000s. I'm not saying that I couldn't find any enjoyment in being a teen then but it's just not my style.


Honestly, people could blame Jimmy Carter because he wasn't really a strong president by the late 70s. Reagan's campaign in 1980 was the point where America was kinda f*cked and they couldn't do anything else. This is honestly why I can't like American politics.

No, you can't blame Jimmy Carter because the radical/Christian right had no control over national politics under his Presidency. His presidency did make people feel that he was weak and thus elected a conservative but Ronald Reagan was ultimately the one to propagate the radical/Christian right. A lot of the famous GOPers (or GOP strategists) today met Ronald Reagan in the 1980s such as Donald Trump, Mike Pence, John Kasich, Roger Stone and Roger Ailes. Then you have a ton of influential Republicans who were inspired by Reagan such as Paul Ryan, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, etc. Now, not every Conservative liked or likes Ronald Reagan but the overwhelmingly majority of them do. Also, Reagan is the 2nd most liked President in the past 56 years (John F. Kennedy being #1).

The early '00s were on the way to where we are now politically, even the '90s were with the rise of Limbaugh and Fox News. The 2000 election was a big moment tbh when a lot of people started questioning the integrity of our elections and it's really only gotten worse from there. It wasn't as bad then at least however. W. Bush was a fool but still a true statesman compared to Trump. Clinton was also a fool in a lot of ways with his sexual escapades, but again compared to Trump the guy is like Lincoln.


I agree. A lot of seeds were planted in the 00's for what came to be political divisiveness now.

So what do you not like about teen culture in the 2000s?

I've already explained that in other threads.

I probably wouldn't say 2002 was more relaxed than today. Society did seem less fragmented, but in the second half of the year the buildup to the Iraq War was obvious and was very contentious. In college, it was controversial. The news media focused on Iraq almost constantly and the Bush administration went from emphasizing weapons of mass destruction to emphasizing the need to spread democracy, alternating its message every few weeks, as a justification for the necessity of war. It was clear the Iraq War was a foregone conclusion and they were just looking for a reason.

In early 2003 I can recall some protests and demonstrations on campus. One was a big anti-war protest with a very shrill female student shouting slogans from a megaphone. Another was an Iraqi girl accusing the U.S. of killing 500,000 Iraqis through sanctions, and opponents were yelling at her, like "go back to Iraq!"

Maybe at the high school level, the early 2000s seemed less contentious than today, and it's true that society seemed less fragmented by identity politics and the internet (though both were around), and politically, large-scale action was still possible (like the Iraq War), but politics was really in your face to anyone who paid attention to it back then.


I was only in Grade 5 and even I remember everyone being on edge. Out teacher forced us to watch a lot of the Congressional hearings and speeches on the Iraq War, and most the kids including me fell asleep. He was going to completely lose it ;D

Well one big difference that I can immediately point out and that that video reminded me of is there were no smartphones with 4K video recording in everyone's pocket. I remember back in 2002 when we went on a school trip and I brought my HI-8 camcorder that took video very similar to that. It seems like a joke today carrying this relatively bulky device to record that crappy low quality video, but that's how it was still back then. When I first used used a camcorder around 1995, I thought that was super cool high technology just to be able to home record video. LOL.  ;D People take it for granted now being able to record 4K insane resolution video just like that on a phone, but it used to be this big deal to record even low quality video.

Well one big difference that I can immediately point out and that that video reminded me of is there were no smartphones with 4K video recording in everyone's pocket. I remember back in 2002 when we went on a school trip and I brought my HI-8 camcorder that took video very similar to that. It seems like a joke today carrying this relatively bulky device to record that crappy low quality video, but that's how it was still back then. When I first used used a camcorder around 1995, I thought that was super cool high technology just to be able to home record video. LOL.  ;D People take it for granted now being able to record 4K insane resolution video just like that on a phone, but it used to be this big deal to record even low quality video.

Where? ??? Currently, there is only one smartphone that has a camera with 4K resolution and 99% of people don't have it. There are only 4K camcorders and drones and most people don't have them because they are expensive. However, overall....I get what you're saying. Technology has advanced so fast....too fast for me but that's just how the world is rolling :-\\.

Where? ??? Currently, there is only one smartphone that has a camera with 4K resolution and 99% of people don't have it. There are only 4K camcorders and drones and most people don't have them because they are expensive. However, overall....I get what you're saying. Technology has advanced so fast....too fast for me but that's just how the world is rolling :-\\.


What my iPhone 7 Plus definitely records in 4K, so do the latest Samsung Galaxy phones and a lot of the current high end phones.  ???

https://www.apple.com/iphone-7/specs/

Look under "Video Recording"

"4K video recording at 30 FPS"

What my iPhone 7 Plus definitely records in 4K, so do the latest Samsung Galaxy phones and a lot of the current high end phones.  ???

https://www.apple.com/iphone-7/specs/

Look under "Video Recording"

"4K video recording at 30 FPS"

My mistake then. However, 4K is still new.

Well one big difference that I can immediately point out and that that video reminded me of is there were no smartphones with 4K video recording in everyone's pocket. I remember back in 2002 when we went on a school trip and I brought my HI-8 camcorder that took video very similar to that. It seems like a joke today carrying this relatively bulky device to record that crappy low quality video, but that's how it was still back then. When I first used used a camcorder around 1995, I thought that was super cool high technology just to be able to home record video. LOL.  ;D People take it for granted now being able to record 4K insane resolution video just like that on a phone, but it used to be this big deal to record even low quality video.


Yeah, that's certainly true. Hell, I didn't know any kids at all that had a cell phone during the early '00s. Most people's parents had them by that point, but they were still pretty expensive, and something you weren't likely to get until you got a job and could afford to buy it for yourself. At least that's how it was for me, not getting the cell phone I'd been wanting until I finally saved up enough money to buy it around early 2005.

Well one big difference that I can immediately point out and that that video reminded me of is there were no smartphones with 4K video recording in everyone's pocket. I remember back in 2002 when we went on a school trip and I brought my HI-8 camcorder that took video very similar to that. It seems like a joke today carrying this relatively bulky device to record that crappy low quality video, but that's how it was still back then. When I first used used a camcorder around 1995, I thought that was super cool high technology just to be able to home record video. LOL.  ;D People take it for granted now being able to record 4K insane resolution video just like that on a phone, but it used to be this big deal to record even low quality video.


LOL I could relate. My family got this camcorder in 2001; it was a digital camcorder, but it used Cassette tapes to record, now thats dated ;D.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/4189E2kXYXL.jpg

This was our main video footage for various family events (birthdays, graduations, family reunions, holidays, etc.) from 2001-2007. By 2007 we stopped using the camcorder as often as we used to do. Ever since most of my family members got smartphones by 2010, the camcorder basically collected dust. I actually took the liberty of looking at a few old tapes from back then and man it sure brings me back!

While we are on the topic of the irrelevancy of camcorders in today's times, how do you guys feel with this old early 2000's home video?

CczBb4KocUw

This was from Thanksgiving & Christmas of 2002, and it definitely shows. The baggier clothes, the 80's/90's cars on the road, and the overall more relaxed mood you could definitely sense. Heck you'll notice in the video that the family pokes a little fun at George W. Bush during Christmas morning that year.

Its crazy how much things have changed in 14 (almost 15) years :o.

I was only in Grade 5 and even I remember everyone being on edge. Out teacher forced us to watch a lot of the Congressional hearings and speeches on the Iraq War, and most the kids including me fell asleep. He was going to completely lose it ;D

In the 5th grade? Are you serious? None of my grade school or even middle school teachers obsessed over politics with us!

In the 5th grade? Are you serious? None of my grade school or even middle school teachers obsessed over politics with us!


Yeah, he went nuts everytime anyone mentioned WMDs ;D

I think Grade 8 is when politics is introduced here. I remember I took a political test in Grade 8 History class, and I got Tony Blair. I hated him! I redid it and changed my answers, and got George Bush. Noooooo! ;D Then I saw the list of possible answers and it was Blair, Bush, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini etc. Where are the positive mid-2000s politicians ;D

My younger brother was late 6th grade when the Iraq War started, and he had a teacher that used to constantly rant about George W. Bush and how much of a war monger he was. She actually wound up getting fired after the 2002-03 school year, and I always wondered if that was the reason why.

As for myself, I don't really recall any of my teachers getting political over the years. Despite having my high school years during such a contentious time as 2001-2005, all my teachers thankfully stayed away from bringing up anything political.

My younger brother was late 6th grade when the Iraq War started, and he had a teacher that used to constantly rant about George W. Bush and how much of a war monger he was. She actually wound up getting fired after the 2002-03 school year, and I always wondered if that was the reason why.

As for myself, I don't really recall any of my teachers getting political over the years. Despite having my high school years during such a contentious time as 2001-2005, all my teachers thankfully stayed away from bringing up anything political.


You didn't discuss political/moral issues in English, Civics, History, Philosophy, Geography, Economics etc. classes? That would be difficult, wouldn't it? :o

Or do you mean you didn't discuss politics as in you didn't discuss the big names or the political parties?

You didn't discuss political/moral issues in English, Civics, History, Philosophy, Geography, Economics etc. classes? That would be difficult, wouldn't it? :o

Or do you mean you didn't discuss politics as in you didn't discuss the big names or the political parties?


Honestly here in America, politics is rarely discussed by teachers in school. I'm guessing due to the polarizing nature it could ensue. They took ethics & civic classes out of the curriculum in recent years in exchange for more STEM classes like Digital Media & Financial Literacy.

You didn't discuss political/moral issues in English, Civics, History, Philosophy, Geography, Economics etc. classes? That would be difficult, wouldn't it? :o

Or do you mean you didn't discuss politics as in you didn't discuss the big names or the political parties?


The teachers that I had tended to avoid discussing current political topics. When I took 9th grade civics, we discussed politics and political issues generally, but rarely spoke about current issues. When I took classes like World History and U.S. History, the teachers would always stick to the particular era being discussed and avoid relating it to anything current.

The only occasions I can recall current political issues being discussed was right after 9/11. That happened a few weeks after I started 9th grade, and teachers would take time out with students to talk about what happened and try to explain it.

W. Bush Lighting the Christmas Tree back in 2002:

2W-OLRiWeP0

Goes to show how sacrilege it would have been to insult Bush back in 2002-2003.

ZeldaFan20, you are in love with 2002 aren't you? ;D

ZeldaFan20, you are in love with 2002 aren't you? ;D


You know it ;). Just brings nothing but childhood memories for me.

But in all seriousness I kind of wish I was born around MachineHead's age so I could of had a more substantial memory of that period in the early 2000's. It was a very bittersweet time in America's history, when people were overtly patriotic but at the same time fearful. I think the video I posted above definitely evokes that mood in the country to a tea.

W. Bush Lighting the Christmas Tree back in 2002:

2W-OLRiWeP0

Goes to show how sacrilege it would have been to insult Bush back in 2002-2003.


Yep, Bush was untouchable back then. Late 2001 through about mid 2002 was the absolute peak of it. That was when he was at about 85% or 90% approval and everybody was constantly praising him for being such a strong leader. After the lead up to the Iraq War started around late 2002, though, he started to become a much more controversial figure, and he started steadily losing support after that.

Honestly, it's kind of amazing to compare the country after the WTC bombings to what it's like today. The country was so unified during late 2001 and early 2002, at least compared to the Trump era.

You know it ;). Just brings nothing but childhood memories for me.

But in all seriousness I kind of wish I was born around MachineHead's age so I could of had a more substantial memory of that period in the early 2000's. It was a very bittersweet time in America's history, when people were overtly patriotic but at the same time fearful. I think the video I posted above definitely evokes that mood in the country to a tea.

Fair enough. Personally, I wouldn't want to have been a teen in the early '00s. Music in the early '00s was decent but I don't really love anything about the early '00s except for video games from that time. The late '80s and early '90s are for me! 8).


Yep, Bush was untouchable back then. Late 2001 through about mid 2002 was the absolute peak of it. That was when he was at about 85% or 90% approval and everybody was constantly praising him for being such a strong leader. After the lead up to the Iraq War started around late 2002, though, he started to become a much more controversial figure, and he started steadily losing support after that.

Honestly, it's kind of amazing to compare the country after the WTC bombings to what it's like today. The country was so unified during late 2001 and early 2002, at least compared to the Trump era.

I know what you're saying is true about the country being unified. However, what made Bush 43 a "strong" leader during that time? (just asking....it's not a jab at you or anyone)

I know what you're saying is true about the country being unified. However, what made Bush 43 a "strong" leader during that time? (just asking....it's not a jab at you or anyone)


Well, it was really more perception than anything. Bush gave a bunch of strong speeches and started a few wars so there was this perception of him as a strong, decisive leader. That started to change after the Iraq War went south around 2004, and there were no WMD found. After that the perception of Bush became that he was basically a bumbling dummy.

Honestly, even though I was a huge fan of Bush during the early '00s, his so-called strong leadership during that time really just  managed to lead to thousands of deaths and costed the U.S. untold trillions of dollars, so it looks pretty disastrous with hindsight.

Well, it was really more perception than anything. Bush gave a bunch of strong speeches and started a few wars so there was this perception of him as a strong, decisive leader. That started to change after the Iraq War went south around 2004, and there were no WMD found. After that the perception of Bush became that he was basically a bumbling dummy.

Honestly, even though I was a huge fan of Bush during the early '00s, his so-called strong leadership during that time really just  managed to lead to thousands of deaths and costed the U.S. untold trillions of dollars, so it looks pretty disastrous with hindsight.

Yeah, that's interesting. I was saying the same thing....I don't hate Bush 43 or anything but what he did during that time is what any normal leader would do. Making good and emotional speeches during a time of national crisis and mourning is pretty standard, IMO.

Yep, Bush was untouchable back then. Late 2001 through about mid 2002 was the absolute peak of it. That was when he was at about 85% or 90% approval and everybody was constantly praising him for being such a strong leader. After the lead up to the Iraq War started around late 2002, though, he started to become a much more controversial figure, and he started steadily losing support after that.

Honestly, it's kind of amazing to compare the country after the WTC bombings to what it's like today. The country was so unified during late 2001 and early 2002, at least compared to the Trump era.


Yeah I remember that patriotism like it was yesterday. American flags being flown all over, my class singing The National Anthem at my Kindergarten Graduation, etc.

Also this iconic ad from the 2002 Superbowl (also ironically the start of the 2000's/2010's New England Patriots Golden Age :D)

1MZUvib98Rs



Fair enough. Personally, I wouldn't want to have been a teen in the early '00s. Music in the early '00s was decent but I don't really love anything about the early '00s except for video games from that time. The late '80s and early '90s are for me! 8).
I know what you're saying is true about the country being unified. However, what made Bush 43 a "strong" leader during that time? (just asking....it's not a jab at you or anyone)


Yeah its hard to really explain. Kind of what MachineHead said, which was that immediately after the attacks people felt vulnerable and thus they latched onto the support from the U.S Government. This was why the signing of the Patriot Act didn't receive much backlash due to people being fearful. It makes you wonder, if the U.S government tried to pass the controversial Patriot ACT say and/or even invaded Iraq due to (false) pre tenses of WMDs back in 1998, how the American people would've reacted. I bet that the country wouldn't support both of these actions because their would be a lack reasoning to do so.

I'm not trying to sound like Alex Jones or anything, but it goes to show how the theory of 'divide and conquer' actually has a lot of substantial balance.

Honestly here in America, politics is rarely discussed by teachers in school. I'm guessing due to the polarizing nature it could ensue. They took ethics & civic classes out of the curriculum in recent years in exchange for more STEM classes like Digital Media & Financial Literacy.


That's understandable but unfortunate :(


The teachers that I had tended to avoid discussing current political topics. When I took 9th grade civics, we discussed politics and political issues generally, but rarely spoke about current issues. When I took classes like World History and U.S. History, the teachers would always stick to the particular era being discussed and avoid relating it to anything current.

The only occasions I can recall current political issues being discussed was right after 9/11. That happened a few weeks after I started 9th grade, and teachers would take time out with students to talk about what happened and try to explain it.


Oh, okay. That makes more sense. At my school, they did discuss contemporary issues, but they wouldn't mention politicians' names or political parties, just argue the ideas or the issue on their merits.

Yeah I remember that patriotism like it was yesterday. American flags being flown all over, my class singing The National Anthem at my Kindergarten Graduation, etc.

Also this iconic ad from the 2002 Superbowl (also ironically the start of the 2000's/2010's New England Patriots Golden Age :D)

1MZUvib98Rs
I didn't get to watch that commercial live because the first Super Bowl that I watched was Super Bowl XL (40) in 2006 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.


Yeah its hard to really explain. Kind of what MachineHead said, which was that immediately after the attacks people felt vulnerable and thus they latched onto the support from the U.S Government. This was why the signing of the Patriot Act didn't receive much backlash due to people being fearful. It makes you wonder, if the U.S government tried to pass the controversial Patriot ACT say and/or even invaded Iraq due to (false) pre tenses of WMDs back in 1998, how the American people would've reacted. I bet that the country wouldn't support both of these actions because their would be a lack reasoning to do so.

I'm not trying to sound like Alex Jones or anything, but it goes to show how the theory of 'divide and conquer' actually has a lot of substantial balance.

That's true. However, I would take George W. Bush any day over Donald Trump.

Best thing about early 2000s high school would be the music.  8)

Work sucks. I know. I'll be at your show~

Fair enough. Personally, I wouldn't want to have been a teen in the early '00s. Music in the early '00s was decent but I don't really love anything about the early '00s except for video games from that time. The late '80s and early '90s are for me! 8).
I know what you're saying is true about the country being unified. However, what made Bush 43 a "strong" leader during that time? (just asking....it's not a jab at you or anyone)


I was also the same age lol a teen during early 2000s and i can tell ya the mood was so different

Well, it was really more perception than anything. Bush gave a bunch of strong speeches and started a few wars so there was this perception of him as a strong, decisive leader. That started to change after the Iraq War went south around 2004, and there were no WMD found. After that the perception of Bush became that he was basically a bumbling dummy.

Honestly, even though I was a huge fan of Bush during the early '00s, his so-called strong leadership during that time really just  managed to lead to thousands of deaths and costed the U.S. untold trillions of dollars, so it looks pretty disastrous with hindsight.


everybody had a flag the day after 9/11 remember people at walgreens going there just to buy flags, everyone was pro bush in late 2001, its surreal looking at it now.

everybody had a flag the day after 9/11 remember people at walgreens going there just to buy flags, everyone was pro bush in late 2001, its surreal looking at it now.

Yeah, Dubya had a 90% approval rating right after 9/11.

I remember Jennifer Lopez was at the peak of her music career then!  :)

I remember Jennifer Lopez was at the peak of her music career then!  :)


Even though her best song is Get Right from 2005  :-X

Even though her best song is Get Right from 2005  :-X

Even though her best song is Get Right from 2005  :-X


NNnooooooooooooooooo!  :o  :o  :o  :-[  :-[

Best thing about early 2000s high school would be the music.  8)

Work sucks. I know. I'll be at your show~


This man knows!!! 8)