This is a question I remember asking a lot, mainly in 2004 looking back. So which year would you say was worse as far as news events, pop culture, and personal life?

2002 started off depressing as it was immediately after 9/11 and the culture reflected that, and I was struggling with insomnia and anxiety. Things got better in the later half. 2003 was one of those years that had one thing going wrong after another, after another, after another...similar to 2020 in that way but not as bad, but I remember being exhausted and burnt out from so many things going wrong. 2003 also had the SARS epidemic and the beginning of the Iraq War.

Both years had a lot of good music though, but I'd give a slight edge to 2003 (for better).

Oooo boy, this is a tough one! I honestly can't decide. I love them both. Where's the option for "they're both as awful as each other"?  ;D

I like 2002 pop culture more, but for my personal life 2003 wins out. But that's what gets me; 2002's pop culture was amazing and I have fond memories of it. 2003's pop culture was aight, I'm mainly nostalgic for the technology since it was the year I got broadband and a DVD player (or those might have been late 2002). The GBA SP also came out that year, but bundled with the massive disappointment that was Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire  8-P

I love the pop culture of 2002, aside from coming off of 9/11. It's my favorite year of the early 2000s. It was a darker time for my personal life though.

I love the pop culture of 2003 as well and it was also a good time in my personal life. So I guess based off of the question I'd have to chose 2003, but If I could magically switch the year 2020 to a year in the early 2000s, I'd hands down chose 2002.

I prefer the pop culture in 2002 but, I very slightly prefer my personal life in 2003 (none of them were very good for personal life). Also, 2002 was just after 9/11 and things were pretty depressing where I was. So, 2002 is overall worse if I had to take a pick.

2003, although NEITHER of them were terrible...both years were great.

I think both are great years too.

I love the pop culture of 2002, aside from coming off of 9/11. It's my favorite year of the early 2000s. It was a darker time for my personal life though.

I love the pop culture of 2003 as well and it was also a good time in my personal life. So I guess based off of the question I'd have to chose 2003, but If I could magically switch the year 2020 to a year in the early 2000s, I'd hands down chose 2002.


I wish 2020 could have just been a repeat of 2004.

Personally I thought 2002 and the first couple of months of 2003 stunk. But May 2003 and on was awesome .

Pop culture culture in 2002 was bomb and the vibe of music was great really chill. In 2003 we went to war with Iraq which is why I picked 2002 over 2003. For my personal life both years were great.

Can there be an option for neither on the poll?

2003, since 2002 was perfect in every way.

Can’t choose on pop culture. But personally 2002 was worse because all my kid’s mom and I did was fight. She left in 2003 and after that I have some good memories of taking my daughter places and dating a handful of new people. Seems like Remedy by Jason Mraz was the song of the summer for me. I didn’t end up in court until early 2004.

2002 was my favorite 2000s year!

Can’t choose on pop culture. But personally 2002 was worse because all my kid’s mom and I did was fight. She left in 2003 and after that I have some good memories of taking my daughter places and dating a handful of new people. Seems like Remedy by Jason Mraz was the song of the summer for me. I didn’t end up in court until early 2004.


Sounds like my parents around 2004-2005. They were in court till 2006 (divorce).